Being drawn by the flourishing audiobook market, Tom and Ben Kelley bring their exciting vision of The Audio Bakery to Spring Valley. The transformation of the old Spring Valley Bakery is underway with the introduction of this new audio-bakery business. “Our audiobook production facility offers a real ‘baker’s dozen’ on Broadway Avenue with a lovely glass store-front and all … [Read more...]
Spring Grove unites in aftermath of fire
The Spring Grove fire on December 22, 2022, is about stories with exclamation marks. The fire began in the apartments above the Mulqueen’s True Value store in downtown Spring Grove Thursday afternoon around 2:45 p.m. The hardware store consisted of two buildings connected by a door built after a fire ravaged the former hardware store in 1926 that occupied the same footprint. … [Read more...]
Spring Valley man wins two golds at Pan American Games Nick Kappers sets his sights on World Cup Events
Nick Kappers started archery under the humblest of circumstances. In November of this year, he won two gold medals while representing his country – one for individual and another for the men’s compound team at the Pan American Championship Games in Chile. The gold medals Kappers explained there are three categories that a person can medal in at a world tournament, but many … [Read more...]
Honorable Judge Opat retires with a full courtroom
The Fillmore County District Court had a full house on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Hundreds of people from near and far funneled in and out of the courtroom to congratulate Judge Matthew Opat for his service to the area. In the State of Minnesota, judges are required to retire at the age of 70, which is why Opat was signing off as a full-time judge. It was apparent that … [Read more...]
Adept new administrator heading up county district
Fillmore County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a long-standing organization striving to promote natural resource stewardship through educational, technical and financial assistance. Led by staff and a board focusing on various aspects of conservation and stewardship, it offers programs and services in soil health, water management, grazing and nutrient … [Read more...]
The future of vegetable farming has arrived in Wykoff
The vegetable farm of the future has arrived in Wykoff, a small farming community in Southeast Minnesota just 40 minutes from the hi-tech city of Rochester. Spouses Tony and Kelly Rahe are the owners of Rahe of Sunshine Farms. The farm is located behind the old bank in Wykoff and instead of vegetables growing in a garden of rich black dirt, the farm is a vertical hydroponic … [Read more...]
Open doors, open to ideas
On a blustery, snowy November evening, buildings in downtown Rushford had their doors open for visitors in the Open Doors, a Tour of Business Opportunities, event. From 5:30-8 p.m., November 17, interested parties could tour the entire buildings including the “behind the scenes” areas of 10 available businesses and buildings. Open Doors was the brainchild of Jen Hengel of the … [Read more...]
B & B’s Fremont Store lives on
Once again the Fremont Store has reopened after a recent remodel and update. Minnesota’s oldest continuously-run grocery store was built by Luther Rice in 1856, two years before Minnesota became a state. It was originally located at a nearby settlement called Neoca, but a few years later the entire building was moved to its current location. Rice named the store in honor of … [Read more...]
Groundbreaking for new Penz Automotive Building
Saturday, November 5, was indeed a groundbreaking day in Spring Valley for Penz Automotive Group. Penz has owned the Spring Valley Chevrolet Buick in Spring Valley for about a year and is currently leasing the building they are using. Groundbreaking was held at a new location at 1100 N. Broadway Street on the northside of Spring Valley just off of Highway 63, for the brand new … [Read more...]
Harmony welcomes new Chamber director
“There’s a lot of great reasons to live here and visit,” Allison Whalen said about Harmony. Whalen is the new director of the Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce and is excited about her new job, which she began on October 3. Before accepting her position as Chamber director in Harmony, Whalen worked at F&M Community Bank in Preston for 14 years. “I loved working at the … [Read more...]
