By Wanda Hanson The Houston School Board started off its July 16, 2020, meeting with this simple observation by Superintendent Kim Abraham as she updated the board on the COVID-19 situation. Abraham had attended a news conference that day, but many questions will be waiting to be answered until after Governor Walz’s presentation scheduled for July 27. In their in person … [Read more...]
Dr. Gary D. Olson
Dr. Gary D. Olson, age 80, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at Dougherty Hospice House, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Gary was born on July 30, 1939, to Raymond and Ethel (Storlie) Olson who resided in Houston, Minn. In 1947 his parents purchased a farm in Wilmington Township near Spring Grove, Minn. Gary graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1957, … [Read more...]
Multimedia storyteller documents culinary resilience in Houston County and nearby communities
Houston, MN – “A table tells a story.” The Crystal Creek Citizen-Artist Residency is excited to announce its 2020 citizen-artist-in-residence (CAIR), food explorer, Elisabeth Fondell. The artist is a recent transplant to Decorah, Iowa, and will be immersing herself in the food and culture of Houston County, Minn., July through September 2020. Elisabeth will be the single CAIR … [Read more...]
City of Houston deals with COVID-19 changes
By Wanda Hanson Meeting on the second floor of the community center, socially distancing, and wearing masks when necessary, the Houston City Council dealt with several changes brought about by COVID-19 Monday, July 13. Houston Hoedown has been cancelled, but the queen contest is being held. A request before the council for a small parade consisting of the queen, her court, and … [Read more...]
Arless Raymond Markegard
Arless Raymond Markegard passed away July 2, 2020, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, surrounded by family. Arless was born in Rushford, Minn., on November 29, 1928. He was the son of Roy and Anna (Tveten) Markegard. Arless lost both parents at an early age. He attended Big Spring and Rushford Public Schools. In 1947, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States … [Read more...]
Opening a new business at the beginning of a global pandemic
Envision spending two years preparing to open a financially laden business from the ground up nine days after the start of COVID-19, a global pandemic. That is what the owners of the Stinson’s Country Style Meats were faced with when they opened their business in the farming community of Houston, Minn., on March 20 of this year. Upon walking into the breakroom to interview the … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Trespassing spelling pranks, late-night hijinks high above Houston
There was a morning when residents of Houston, Minn., looked up to see the word “HOKAH” in huge white letters on the hillside above town. Another morning, the letters spelled “TOOLBOX,” the nickname of a Houston schoolteacher. The lettering originally spelled “HOUSTON,” and most mornings it did. The 24-foot-high, 14-foot-wide letters were originally arranged with local surface … [Read more...]
Karrol A. Gielow
Karrol A. Gielow, 80 of Rushford, Minn., died on Sunday, May 31, 2020, at Lake Winona Manor in Winona, Minn., following a battle with a long illness. Karrol was born on December 12, 1939, in Rushford to Elmer and Evelyn (Bratz) Gielow. He was raised on Vinegar Hill and attended school in Houston, Minn. On November 8, 1966, Karrol was united in marriage with Diane Erdmann at … [Read more...]
S&A Petroleum implements measures to keep BP employees and customers safe
The global corporate office for the familiar lime-green BP convenience store brand proudly announces on bp.com that “Safety is our core value.” The site lists recommended safety measures that their retail stores follow as well as “stores not operated directly by BP to help them operate to similarly high standards.” How have they adapted for employee safety? There are not any … [Read more...]
Houston Public School and Minnesota Virtual Academy
Aneesa Adams 10 years, MNVA Visual Arts Michelle Allmon 12 years, MNVA Elementary Michelle Andres 10 years, MNVA Physical Education Arley Armstrong 2 years, MNVA Special Education Jacqueline Artymiuk-Moe 1 year, MNVA Ag Stephen Bacon 8 years, MNVA Special Education Tina Barness 13 years, MNVA Counselor Tammy Bartz 25 … [Read more...]