By Wenda Grabau Spring is here! Springtime Awakens on the Farm Wenda Grabau©2020 First signs of spring have come and gone; Now the full blown season is here. Young leaves color the oak trees, Bird songs twitter on the breeze. The sweet scent of lilac wafts in the air, The sun sheds its radiance To highlight bright, bold colors Over the verdant countryside. Tulip … [Read more...]
Essay winners explain what makes America great
Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions were recently sponsored by theVFW Post and Auxilliary of Preston, Minn. The following essays were chosen for first and second place, with winners each receiving a plaque, certificate and cash award for their effort. - Voice of Democracy - What makes America great Oliver Hoelztle, 1st Place In general terms, the United … [Read more...]
More from the “Old Soldier”
By Ron Scheevel Before I get to far into this commentary, I need to give another big Thank You to everyone who made it possible for Pat and I to be Grand Marshals of last year’s Trout Days celebration. What a great honor for us to represent our city and community. As Memorial Day comes around this year, many of our programs and ceremonies have either been canceled or … [Read more...]
SMIF awards $30,000 in Grow a Farmer Assistance Grants
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently awarded three organizations $10,000 each through the Grow a Farmer Assistance Fund. These organizations will use the funding to support local food growers in SMIF’s 20-county region whose businesses have been impacted by the current health and economic crisis. The pandemic has resulted in restrictions of face-to-face … [Read more...]
SMIF awards $254,950 in immediate relief to child care providers
April 29, 2020 — Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently awarded 525 emergency grants totaling $254,950 to child care providers in SMIF’s 20-county region. At the urging of Governor Tim Walz, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations, including SMIF, created the Emergency Child Care Grant Program to provide immediate relief to child care providers caring for … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation approves $1 million in loans through DEED’s Small Business Emergency Loan Program
May 13, 2020 — Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved 41 loans to businesses in its 20-county region through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Small Business Emergency Loan program totaling $1 million. This program provides partially forgivable loans to restaurants, bars, hair salons and other public … [Read more...]
Historic Memories of Fillmore County A look back at The Preston Methodist Episcopal Church
By Dianne Ruud Continuing on, at least 60 years ago, as my siblings and I made our way to school from the south hill neighborhood, we passed by the old Preston Episcopal Methodist Church. It stood on the corner right across from the Preston Library. I wish the photo was in color as those stained glass windows must have been gorgeous! Sometimes we walked closer and looked up at … [Read more...]
Athlete of the Decade: Lexi Chase
MiEnergy Cooperative members give $5,950 in local donations
MiEnergy Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Trust Board met in March and elected to donate $5,950 to the following local organizations: • $750, Caledonia United Methodist Church, to support the Helping Hands Giveaway which ensures students in Houston County have the supplies they need for the school year. • $700, Thunder Rode, Decorah, Iowa, to support the youth empowerment … [Read more...]
USDA announces details of direct assistance to farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
May 19, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box … [Read more...]