Presidents, founding fathers and especially military heroes were memorialized in Houston County with village namesakes, such as Hamilton, Jefferson, Reno, Houston, Winfield and San Jacinto. Only Houston, Reno, and with a name change, Hamilton survived. Although Mexican War heroes figured most prominently when choosing village names, two founding fathers were also remembered. … [Read more...]
Spring Grove girls prevail over L/P, overwhelmed by ‘Canes, Rebels
The Spring Grove girls, within four nights, faced three opponents with widely varied win-loss records. A losing streak against Lyle/Pacelli ended as the week began with a 56-49 home victory over the one-win Athletics on March 2. Two days later, it was a decisive 63-23 home loss to undefeated, 11-win Houston. The next night, it was a similar score, 68-24, at Adams against … [Read more...]
Team scores consistent for Cal/SG gymnasts
Braelyn Lange earned the highest score on the balance beam and the Caledonia/Spring Grove gymnasts (2-8) posted their second-best team score of the season, 114.575, during a March 2 home gymnastics dual meet ,with Stewartville, which earned a team score of 126.500. Then on Friday, March 5, the Warriors logged a team total of 113.975 while home team La Crescent-Hokah posted a … [Read more...]
Lion boys win the East, help decide the West
The Spring Grove boys (12-2, 11-2 SEC) nailed down the SEC East Division basketball championship and then went a long way in deciding the West Division title. There were two matchups between the top three teams in the league. The Lions began the week with a 68-47 home non-conference win over Fillmore Central before facing both co-leaders of the SEC West. SG first fell at … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Houston County “Old Fuss and Feathers” mystery solved
Part five of a Civil War series It was not a mystery in 1861, but the lack of clarity in an 1882 history of Houston County made it a mystery to me in 2021. One name – Winfield Scott – all but jumped off the page. Winfield Scott was the era’s most famous army general and a major 1852 presidential candidate. Known as Old Fuss and Feathers for his insistence on military … [Read more...]
Lion girls’ winning streak versus L-O ends at 25
Spring Grove freshman center Katelyn Kraus posted career highs with 18 points and 5 steals while matching another personal-best 12 rebounds, but it was not enough as the visiting Lion girls lost a game they once led by 12 points. With the 65-47 decision, LeRoy-Ostrander broke a 25-game losing streak against the Lions, who had won 36 of the previous 37 games in the series. Both … [Read more...]
Lion boys’ defense hobbles Burros twice in one week
The Spring Grove boys remained atop the SEC East Division while dealing two devastating blows to Lanesboro title hopes in one week. The Burros remained in contention throughout the first half of an eventual 28-point home loss (67-39) on Feb. 16, but they were left behind early in a 39-point road rout (63-24) on Feb. 19. Lanesboro came into the week averaging 56 points per game … [Read more...]
Cal/SG gymnasts earn first wins over Kasson-Mantorville/Triton
The Caledonia/Spring Grove gymnasts (2-6) earned their first wins in at least four seasons (maybe five) with two victories over Kasson-Mantorville/Triton along with a loss to La Crescent-Hokah. The Lancers (126.8) dominated a Feb. 13 triangular with C/SG second (113.125) and host KM/T third (107.425). At home on Feb. 25, the Warriors achieved a season-best team total while … [Read more...]
Spring Grove girls out-run, out-rebounded by Lanesboro – twice
The fifth-place Spring Grove girls could not come close to third-place Lanesboro in two attempts last week. In a 21-point home loss (66-45), the young Lions were competitive for most of the first half. But it was a Burro blowout from the beginning of the 15-point, road rematch (53-38). In both games, Lanesboro (6-5, 6-4 SEC) ruled the rebounding and flourished with fast breaks. … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past The boys will shout; the ladies, they will all turn out
Part four of a series The song “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” written during the Civil War in 1863, was instantly and widely popular, sung in both the north and south as well as in England. When Johnny comes marching home again Hurrah! Hurrah! We’ll give him a hearty welcome then Hurrah! Hurrah! The men will cheer and the boys will … [Read more...]