The historical Whalan Depot in Whalan, Minn. is once again welcoming customers and travelers after decades of being closed up. Although the people that come to Whalan no longer come by rail, they do arrive by many other modes of transportation, and the Whalan Depot will give visitors and local residents another destination location. Kim Berekvam, who also opened Loubelle’s … [Read more...]
Whalan council sees plans for roadwork
With a full agenda ahead of them, the Whalan City Council began their council meeting on May 10, 2021, and began tackling the agenda item by item. All council members were present for the regularly scheduled city council meeting including Mayor Marlys Tuftin, Owen Lewis, Tanya Cook, Kim Berekvam and Thore Johnson as well as City Clerk Michele Peterson. The agenda was approved … [Read more...]
Some local events coming back, others will not
After missing so many beloved events, traditions really, in the last year due to COVID, local residents will be happy to hear that some towns are planning on holding events again this year, but they will also be disappointed that some events will not be, and may not ever, come back. One of those big events that was cancelled in 2020 was Preston Trout Days, which will be held … [Read more...]
Welcome to Loubelle’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shoppe
Local residents and visitors alike will be pleased to stop in to a new business opening in Lanesboro, Minn. After all, we all scream for ice cream! Kim Berekvam, owner of the building, which was most recently leased by Chelsey Clausen to run her business The Bite, and was formerly home to Berekvam’s own business Gil-B’s, was recently faced with a decision. “Chelsey was … [Read more...]
City of Whalan hears emergency preparedness plans
After requesting information about disaster preparedness from Fillmore County Emergency Management and the Lanesboro Fire Department, the Whalan City Council received reports from representatives of both organizations during the April 12, 2021, council meeting. Present at the regularly scheduled Whalan City Council meeting were Mayor Marlys Tuftin, council members Tanya … [Read more...]
Collaborative effort rescues Eastern Screech-Owl
The morning of February 16, 2021, started off like any other for Andy Bunge of Preston, Minn., but how quickly things can change. “It was early in the morning, about 6:30, and the sun really hadn’t come up yet, but there was snow on the ground and we have these large picture windows in the house... and I heard this thud on the window,” explains Bunge. “I thought, what bird … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Housing Solution Group looks to the future
It’s everywhere - housing shortages. What can be done about it? How does a city find solutions? Those are all questions being asked by the Lanesboro Housing Solution Group, a team that has been formed in Lanesboro that are putting their heads together to come up with a strategic plan to ease the housing shortage in town. Lead person of the group, Phil Dybing, who is also … [Read more...]
Whalan City Council has productive March meeting
The Whalan City Council approved several agenda items, continued work on other items and also brought up new items to initiate during the March 2021 regularly scheduled Whalan City Council meeting. All council members were present at the council meeting including Mayor Marlys Tuftin, council members Kim Berekvam, Thore Johnson, Owen Lewis and Tanya Cook. City Clerk Michele … [Read more...]
Whalan Council continues work on ordinances
As the Whalan City Council works to update its official ordinance book, two additional ordinances were added at the February city council meeting. All board members were in attendance at the February 8, 2021, regularly scheduled monthly meeting, including Mayor Marlys Tuftin, Kim Berekvam, Tanya Cook, Owen Lewis and Thore E. Johnson along with City Clerk/Treasurer Michele … [Read more...]
Lieb is booking it to Eagle Scout status
Determination, ambition and love of learning are three of the many characteristics of anyone who has worked their way up from entering Cub Scouts, moved their way on to Boy Scouts and then continues on even further to work toward becoming an Eagle Scout. Robert Lieb, 18, of Lanesboro, Minn., not only maintains these characteristics, but they are combined with numerous other … [Read more...]