By Katie Drewitz University of Minnesota Extension On average, nearly two dozen people are killed each year in the U.S. in grain entrapment incidents. Flowing grain is dangerous, and behaves much like quicksand. In four seconds, a full grown adult can sink knee deep from the suction of flowing grain. In just 20 seconds, they can be completely buried. The pressure of the … [Read more...]
Veterans home update highlights resident applications, staff recruitment
SEPTEMBER 26, 2022, ST. PAUL, MINN. – Preston Veterans Home advocates attended a virtual meeting with officials from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) on September 21 to receive an update on the future Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston. Construction continues on schedule for the facility that is located at 1112 Overlook Drive on a 15-acre bluff-top site … [Read more...]
Blood drive in Harmony collects 38 units
The blood drive held in Harmony on September 27, 2022, succeeded in collecting 38 units of blood. There were 40 donors presenting with one first-timer. Congratulations to these six donors who reached the following milestones: •Lynn Eich, 11 gallons •Mary Hershberger, 4 gallons •James Neppl, 9 gallons •JoAnn Runkel, 10 gallons •Emery C. Stutzman, 8 gallons •Mark Webber, 8 … [Read more...]
SMIF announces second Prosperity Initiative cohort of 2022
OWATONNA, MN, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is pleased to announce the members of the second Prosperity Initiative cohort of 2022, a program which provides free coaching and training to minority entrepreneurs. Four entrepreneurs have joined the program. Prosperity Initiative clients commit to a six-month period of working directly with an … [Read more...]
Government this Week
Monday, October 3 •City of Houston Planning Commission/EDA, City Hall, 5:30 p.m. •Lanesboro City Council, City Hall, 6 p.m. •Preston City Council, City Hall, 6 p.m. •LeRoy City Council, Community Center, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 4 •Fillmore County Commissioners, Courthouse, 9 a.m. •Houston County Commissioners, Courthouse, 9 a.m. •Ostrander City Council, Community … [Read more...]
Caledonia School District is off to a good start
By Kaitlin Longhauser Caledonia School Board members met in Caledonia Elementary School’s music room #162 on Monday, September 26, from 6-8 p.m. Board members present included Matt Blocker, Erin Hammell, Leigh King, Melissa Marschall, Daniel Small, Wendy Woyczik, and Spencer Yohe. The board approved the consent agenda and the minutes from the August 15 regular board meeting … [Read more...]
Derek Skadsem
Derek Blayne Skadsem, age 60 of Wisconsin Rapids, and formerly of Spring Grove, Minn., passed away unexpectedly on September 17, 2022, of a cardiac arrest. Derek was born on September 24, 1961, in Caledonia, Minn., to Terry and Gloria (Eddy) Skadsem. He was baptized at Faith Lutheran in Black Hammer, and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran in Spring Grove. He attended Spring … [Read more...]
MaryAnn Heidtke
MaryAnn Heidtke passed away on September 21, 2022, at the Chosen Valley Care Center, where she was currently residing. She was born on December 23, 1944, in Preston, Minn., to Walter and Erna (Busitzky) Heidtke. She attended and graduated as salutatorian, from Wykoff High School in 1962. She then attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, Minn., majoring in Political … [Read more...]
Steven George Sobieniak
Steven George Sobieniak, a nationally known maker of bamboo fly fishing rods and owner of Root River Rod Co., a full-service fly shop in Lanesboro, Minn., died Thursday September 22 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 67. Steve was born November 11, 1954, in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and lived in Lewiston, N.Y., for many years. He began fishing as a boy, and learned fly … [Read more...]
Hope Renae Diekman
Hope Renae Diekman, of Stewartville, Minn., passed away on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the age of 50, after a lengthy illness. She came into the world on May 2, 1972, to her loving parents, Paul and Sharon Erickson of Rushford, Minn. Hope often fondly recollected early memories of growing up on the farm outside Rushford and playing kickball with her father and two younger … [Read more...]