By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) Even since the days of the pandemic, I have been very careful with taking needed precautions with regard to COVID-19. Well...it finally caught up with me early in January 2025. I was fully vaccinated so I am thankful the symptoms were mild. … [Read more...]
Eagle Bluff Executive Director Recognized for Leadership in Outdoor Education
North East, Md, January 12, 2025 – Colleen Foehrenbacher, executive director of Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, has been honored with national recognition by the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA) as the recipient of the Outstanding New Leader Award at the Outdoor School Summit. Foehrenbacher received this prestigious award in front of an audience of … [Read more...]
State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Accepting Century Farm Applications
PAUL, MN – Minnesota families who have owned their farms for 100 years or more are invited to apply for the 2025 Century Farm Program. Produced by the Minnesota State Fair in conjunction with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, the Century Farm Program was created to promote agriculture and honor historic family farms in the state. More than 11,000 Minnesota farms have been … [Read more...]
SEMAC Announces Recent Organizational Grant Awards
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. On November 19, 2024, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded $378,430 in arts programming grants to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This includes one … [Read more...]
Man in Custody After Spring Grove Manor Fire
On January 23, 2025, shortly after midnight, the Houston County Emergency Dispatch Center received a 911 call of an apartment fire at the Spring Grove Manor apartment complex on Maple Street in Spring Grove, Minn. Houston County Deputies and Spring Grove Fire Department, Spring Grove Ambulance, Caledonia Police Department, and Eitzen Fire Department were dispatched to the … [Read more...]
Fillmore and Houston County Police Reports
Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office Troy Alan Bothun, 39, Decorah, Iowa, 11/14/2024, Speeding (69/55), Fine $50, Total Fees $135. Mia Jade Hernandez, 19, China Grove, Tex., 1/6/2025, Speeding (79/60), Fine $60, Total Fees $145. Casey Lee Nelson, 40, Ellendale, Minn., 12/27/2024, Speeding (45/40), Fine $40, Total Fees $125. Steven Burdette Vrieze, 72, Wykoff, Minn., … [Read more...]
Clifford O. Eide
Clifford O. Eide, 87, of Rushford, Minn., died Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford. Clifford was born on the family farm in Fremont, Minn., on October 9, 1937, to Julian and Agnes (Jonsgaard) Eide. He was one of 10 children. Clifford was united in marriage to Rosemary (Flak) on July 27, 1957, in Winona, Minn. To this union three children … [Read more...]
Robert “Bob” Biel
Robert “Bob” Biel, of Harmony, Minn., passed away on January 26, 2025, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., at the age of 71. Robert Royal Biel was born on July 14, 1953, to Russel Henry and Martha Elizabeth (Lietz) Biel in Cresco, Iowa. Bob was baptized and confirmed at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Granger, Minn. He attended school in Harmony and graduated from … [Read more...]
Merlin Fredrick Meyer
Merlin Fredrick Meyer, age 89, of Caledonia, Minn., passed away Monday, January 20, 2025, at Claddagh Senior Living. Merle was born September 8, 1935, to Frieda (Beneke) and Henry Meyer in La Crosse, Wis. He married Luella Breeser on January 30, 1958, at St. Peter’s Christian Community Church in New Albin, Iowa. They lived all of their years together in Caledonia. They were … [Read more...]
Margaret Joan (Lommen) Ranzenberger
Margaret Joan (Lommen) Ranzenberger passed into eternal life in the early hours of Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Spring Grove Assisted Living at the age of 92. Mom was born on November 14, 1932, in Spring Grove, Minn., to parents Harry and Stella Aasum Lommen. She said “Daddy” cut wood to pay for her hospital bill. She was baptized on December 11, 1932, at Trinity Lutheran … [Read more...]