OWATONNA, MN, October 23, 2017 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is seeking applications for its Early Childhood Grants. Grants up to $20,000 are available to independent 501(c)(3) organizations, units of government or public agencies in SMIF’s 20-county region. Applications must demonstrate how the grant funds will support asset-based collaborative approaches … [Read more...]
MiEnergy Cooperative members give $6,350 in local donations
Operation Round Up is funded by donations made by members of MiEnergy Cooperative who voluntarily have their electric bill round up to the next dollar. About 1,700 members currently participate with the average donation being $6 a year per member. The program is based on the idea that small change adds up. Currently, the program gives away about $9,000 each year to local … [Read more...]
Merle Francis Stamer
Merle Francis Stamer died Sunday October 22, 2017, at age 71, in his home, of cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family. A private memorial was held on October 25, 2017. Merle was born on November 13, 1945, in Spring Grove, Minn., to Alvia and Andrew Stamer. He attended school in the Mabel area. On January 5, 1965, he married Diane Lois Bush; he lost her to cancer on … [Read more...]
James Elliott
James (Jim) Dean Elliott, age 71, of Harmony, died October 26 at St. Marys Hospital. James was born May 23, 1946 to Gordon and Thelma (McCabe) Elliott and was one of 11 children. He attended Kennedy Country School and moved into town when he was in the sixth grade. He graduated from Harmony High School in 1964. James served in the Army from 1965-1967 and was stationed in … [Read more...]
Donald Curtis Haug
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 28, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., at Grace Church in Algona. Inurnment will follow at Riverview Cemetery. His family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Donald Curtis Haug was born in Grafton, N. Dak., on August 18, 1933, to Selmer and Dagny (Bakken) Haug. He enjoyed raising cattle and farming … [Read more...]
Two-time cancer survivor lives each day to the fullest
When Harmony resident, Mary Ann Johnson was told she had breast cancer in 2014, she couldn’t believe her ears. “I was feeling fine. It was a normal day and then you’re told you have cancer…you’re whole world changes in an instant.” After hearing the news, Johnson called her daughter, who immediately came from the cities to help her mom navigate through the maze of tests and … [Read more...]
Mabel-Canton school board selects another new member
Two new Mabel-Canton school board members have been chosen in the last two months. In September, the board selected Diane Wilder to replace Jeff Rein who resigned in August. And at its October meeting, they selected Lizzie Hershberger to replace Bobbie Vickerman, who moved out of the district. Hershberger, mother of four and former Amish teacher, was interviewed at a special … [Read more...]
Your Foreign Exchangers: Georgia
Hello, I’m Lizi Lomia. I’m an exchange student from Georgia. Georgia is a small country which is located in eastern Europe, on the coast of the Black Sea, near Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. I live in Rustavi — that is near the capital city Tbilisi. I don’t have a very big … [Read more...]
Government this week
Monday, October 23 • Spring Valley City Council, City Hall, 6 p.m. • City of Rushford City Council, City Hall, 6:30 p.m. • Chatfield City Council, City Hall, 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 24 • Fillmore County Commissioners, Courthouse, 9 a.m. • Fillmore Central School Board, High School Media Center, 7 a.m. • Thursday, October 26 • Fillmore County Planning & Zoning, … [Read more...]
Houston City Council: annexation, Dollar General and a new hire
The Houston City Council met for its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, at Houston City Hall. In attendance were City Administrator Peterson, Deputy Clerk Hegland, Mayor Olson and council members Krage, Sanden, Schutte and Knutson. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the council opened a public hearing regarding an annexation by ordinance. Administrator … [Read more...]