Thirty years ago, in 1991, Jim and Debbie Kitchens made the decision to purchase Nordic Lanes in Rushford. Jim made the move first from Alaska to Rushford while Debbie tied up loose ends in Alaska and followed later with their daughters Donata and Danielle. They had been looking for an empty building to buy for a bowling center in North Pole, Alaska, but even in the 1980s such … [Read more...]
Lewiston cyber attack underscores threat City paid $60K ransom only to be extorted again
By Chris Rogers, Winona Post This was not what Bobby Falcon had in mind for his third week on the job as Lewiston city administrator. He came in on the morning of July 22 to find his staff locked out of the city’s network, the only place where some of its most important files were stored. It was crippling. “That essentially closed us without any ability to operate for the … [Read more...]
Chatfield Public Library undergoes renovations
It all started on February 15, 1911 when Chatfield resident Medora Morrill proposed to the Commercial Club that a public library be opened in Chatfield at the public Rest Room. She was given the go-ahead to form a committee which collected 1,000 donated books, allowing the library to open to the public less than a month later on March 9, 1911. Just two years later, the … [Read more...]
Valley Design in Fountain celebrates 35 years of business
It started in 1986 as a small powder coating business run out of the old Fountain Body Shop building with less than 3,500 square feet of space. Thirty-five years later, Valley Design still operates out of Fountain, but has grown to a 100,000 square foot facility across the road from where it originally sat, that serves the entire United States into Canada. “Most people don’t … [Read more...]
Houston County EDA receives $20,000 grant for shared office space
Commissioners Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert Burns, Teresa Walter, and Greg Myhre were all in attendance at the September 7 meeting of the Houston County Commission. Chairman Burns called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and led board members and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners approved the meeting agenda, minutes from the August 24 regular meeting, the … [Read more...]
Stellar 181 Taphouse a confluence of passions in Spring Valley
By Axel Gumbel Stellar 181 Taphouse - Spring Valley’s newest eatery - was buzzing last weekend. Locals and visitors are catching on quickly to the many offerings owner Alex Slifka and his team are serving up. That includes 20 beers on tap, a full liquor lineup and a quarterly menu that Slifka describes as a “step up from regular bar food” with a focus on house made and not a … [Read more...]
Minimum wage increases January 1, 2022
Minnesota’s minimum-wage rates will be adjusted for inflation January 1, 2022, to $10.33 an hour for large employers and $8.42 an hour for other state minimum wages. The current large-employer minimum wage, $10.08, will increase by 25 cents to $10.33. Other state minimum wages, including the small-employer, youth and training wages, as well as the summer work travel exchange … [Read more...]
Announcing – Whalan Auto Body, LLC
As of September 1, 2021, Whalan’s number one auto body shop, Doc’s Auto Body and Repair, will have a new name: Whalan Auto Body, LLC. New owner Jon VanMinsel will officially take over the shop from former owner Dale Peterson. Peterson owned the shop for almost 19 years; VanMinsel worked for Peterson for over 11 of those years. The transition had been in the works for several … [Read more...]
Preston Veterans Home groundbreaking scheduled for Monday, August 9
The groundbreaking event for the new Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston will be held on Monday, August 9. This is a change from the Thursday, August 19 date announced at the meeting last week when MDVA officials visited with Preston stakeholders to provide an update on the new veterans home. More details on the groundbreaking event will be shared soon. We look forward to … [Read more...]
Geneva’s Hideaway — same name; new owners
As of May 1, Geneva’s Hideaway in Peterson has been under new ownership. May was already a busy month for new owners, Matt and Jenny Helgemoe; it was planting time for farmer Matt, while Jenny was busy wrapping up her 19th school year at Rushford-Peterson as a counselor. When the couple learned that previous owner Terry Highum was ready to sell Geneva’s, however, they decided … [Read more...]