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...]
Whalan swears in officials
The first order of business at the Whalan City Council meeting in January was to swear in re-elected council members. Whalan City Clerk Michele Peterson administered the oath of office to Mayor Marlys Tuftin and councilmembers Owen Lewis, Tanya Cook and Thore Johnson. The regularly scheduled council meeting was held on January 11, 2021, on Zoom. Also present at the virtual … [Read more...]
Whalan Council continues with virtual meetings
With the COVID-19 pandemic gaining strength recently, the Whalan City Council met virtually through Zoom on Monday, December 14, 2020. Present at the regularly scheduled monthly meeting included Mayor Marlys Tuftin, council members Kim Berekvam, Owen Lewis, Thore Johnson and Tanya Cook, as well as City Clerk Michele Peterson. Three New Business items were added to the … [Read more...]
First brewery in Lanesboro in 100 years now open
A new business venture means more opportunities for fun and relaxation in Lanesboro, Minn., as Sylvan Brewing has opened its doors. Opening the business not only fulfills a dream Andy and Karen Heimdahl have had, but also gives local residents and tourists an additional option for making memories with friends and family. “We were kind of looking for a lifestyle change where … [Read more...]
Whalan holds public hearing prior to monthly meeting
The City of Whalan held a public hearing prior to the regularly scheduled city council meeting on November 9, 2020. The meeting was held in person and was also available via Zoom. A petition was made by Ben Ruberg on behalf of the Murphy family, requesting the City of Whalan vacate a portion of 2nd Avenue, which is an unincorporated and unopened street. Present at the public … [Read more...]
Black bear harvested near Lewiston
Living in the hills and valleys of Bluff Country, we sometimes hear stories of bear being sighted in the area. It most cases, it appears that the bear is just moving through the area while looking for a mate. Randy Hoekstra of rural Lewiston, Minn., in western Winona County, was wishing that was the case when he first start seeing pictures of a black bear from the trail … [Read more...]
Signed bonding bill delivered to Lanesboro
By Barb Jeffers “We are here today to recognize the accomplishments for the bonding bill and how that affects the project we have for our Wastewater Treatment Plant,” stated mayor of Lanesboro, Minn., Jason Resseman on Friday, October 23, 2020, as Representative Greg Davids and Senator Jeremy Miller presented him with the bonding bill signed by Governor Walz. “We were able … [Read more...]