Spring Grove scored on three of its first four possessions against Kingsland at Spring Valley on October 30. It would be a 27-point eruption before halftime before the Lion offense sputtered during the second half of an eventual 34-8 sub-district victory. However, the Spring Grove starting defense never wavered, limiting the home team to only 1-of-13 success on third downs and … [Read more...]
Lanesboro runs over, past Spring Grove, 36-14
Visiting Lanesboro snapped a 10-game losing streak versus Spring Grove with a suffocating defense and a ground-gouging offensive attack. The Burros scored the first three times they had the ball and despite spoiling a 90-yard drive with a fumble at the 3 yard-line, still cruised to a 28-0 halftime lead at Lion Homecoming on October 23. Scoring with their first possession of the … [Read more...]
Lion girls swept by M-C, edged late by Randolph
The Spring Grove girls, like all other Mabel-Canton volleyball opponents, were swept in three sets against the No. 6, state-ranked Cougars on October 20. In sharp contrast two nights later, it was a back-and-forth, five-set setback at Randolph. After winning their first three matches of 2020, the Lions ended the week at 3-2 (3-2 SEC). Mabel-Canton 3, SG 0 (25-11, 25-13, … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Brewery, Honey Bee Butter, two-state tavern used to be in Bee
By Lee Epps If a Minnesota law officer entered on official business, the suspect or lawbreaker could quickly walk across the room and be safe from arrest. With the state line running through the saloon, the other side of the room was in Iowa. It worked in reverse if one wanted to avoid an Iowa lawman. For many years, the state line was marked by a hitching post (iron rings … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Many bricks, a buffalo, a campground and currency in the creek
The question frequently arises as to how the village of Money Creek got its name. One tale of floating bills persists, but I have not yet seen an explanation for the previous names of Clinton and Hamilton. The curious name of the creek finally became the name of the village when the first post office could not use Hamilton, the name of an already established post office. The … [Read more...]
Grove gridders dominated by Grand Meadow, 40-6
Superlark standout Dustin Copley scored on his team’s first play of the game and again on the Larks’ first snap of the second half. But the Grand Meadow defense did not need much help during a dominating 40-6 victory over visiting Spring Grove on a cold October 16 night. The Lion attack was limited to only 125 yards, most of which (84 yards) were coming late against … [Read more...]
Lion girls go to 3-0, conquer Cardinals, Knights
The Spring Grove volleyball girls improved to 3-0 (3-0 SEC) with a straight-set, home win against LeRoy-Ostrander and a come-from-behind 3-1 road triumph at Spring Valley versus Kingsland. It was the first loss for both the Cardinals (1-1) and the Knights (2-1). The Lions (3-0) shared the East Division lead with Mabel-Canton (3-0) and Lanesboro (3-0). SG 3, L-O 0 (25-19, … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: County high schools were private, parochial before public
The first high school education in Houston County was offered in Caledonia, as late as 1868, by Yale University graduate, the esteemed Julius Emmons. The next year, the first edifice, constructed exclusively for high school students, opened under the direction of Caledonia’s Trinity Episcopal Church, its rector Rev. William R. Powell and Bishop Whipple. The Minnesota state … [Read more...]
Spring Grove extends volleyball win streak to 12 versus Wolverines
Spring Grove served an amazing 97% with 16 aces (Paige Jahnke 6, Maggie Lile 4) as Spring Grove opened the 2020 season with a three-set road win at Glenville-Emmons, 25-17, 25-12, 25-10. All six Lion servers scored from the service line. Sophomore Addyson McHugh scored 16 points with 13 kills, 1 ace block and 2 service aces. Sophomore Kenadee Gerard was the most efficient … [Read more...]
Second half sends Spring Grove past Houston, 33-16
After a back-and-forth first half, Spring Grove dominated the second stanza to defeat Houston, 33-16, at Blayne Onsgard Memorial Field in the October 11 season opener of 2020. Trailing 16-7, the Lions drove 65 yards to make it 16-14 just 41 seconds before halftime. It became two touchdowns within 56 seconds on the game clock when sophomore Hunter Holland took the second half … [Read more...]