Father Nicholas Gawarecki, pastor of the local Holy Family Catholic Parishes, has many hobbies including cooking, woodworking, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working out at the gym, playing piano, singing and sewing. Fr. Nicholas has applied his sewing skills to sew somewhat unique items – his own vestments. As a child, Fr. Nicholas learned to sew from his mother. She had cut … [Read more...]
Semester Tests and Virtual Meetings Discussed at Lanesboro
Much of the Lanesboro School Board meeting on March 11 was spent discussing two items – semester tests linked to attendance and virtual options for school board meetings. The first discussion came after Superintendent Matt Schultz updated the board on the policy committee meeting held the week before. Schultz informed the board that the committee had spent an hour and a half … [Read more...]
Audit Review for City of Houston
Andrew Forliti of CohnReznick presented an audit review for the city of Houston, Minn., at its regular city council meeting on March 9. An unmodified “clean” opinion was issued. In his review, Forliti shared that the general levy was up $24,000 from the previous year, a 3% increase. Most of the increase was for the vehicle fund and the infrastructure fund. Forliti pointed … [Read more...]
Houston Approves Offering Germany Trip
At the March 5 Houston School Board meeting, the board gave its blessings to offering a trip to Germany and Austria to take place in June of 2027. The trip was proposed by a German teacher from MNVA, but will be open to students in both MNVA and the onsite school. Activities planned for the trip include guided cultural tours, an apple strudel baking class, a visit to … [Read more...]
Land Management with Prescribed Burns
Prescribed burns to the uninitiated might sound like some strange treatment a doctor might do, but in this case the term prescribed burn refers to the “intentional, expert-led application of fire to wild lands fuels.” One of the ideal times for prescribed burns is quickly approaching with the coming of spring. Once the winter snow and ice have disappeared and the dead growth is … [Read more...]
What Does it Take to Run a Track Meet?
While many high school sports fans are focused on tournament play for the winter MSHSL sports season (Minnesota State High School League), spring sports season preparation is full-steam ahead at schools that run track meets. In Fillmore and Houston Counties, that includes Caledonia, Chatfield, GMLOKS (Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Kingsland/Southland) and R-P/H … [Read more...]
Hayden Stensgard Accepts Position of Rushford City Administrator
At the regular city of Rushford council meeting on February 23, the council approved an employment agreement with Hayden Stensgard for the city administrator position. Stensgard will begin in the position April 1 at a salary of $104,598 per year; he will start at step 10, level 6 and have the same basic benefit package as other city employees. A laptop and cell phone will be … [Read more...]
Reflections on RP’s Recent Referendum Vote
The Rushford-Peterson School Board officially canvassed the votes from the recent building referendum vote at their regular board meeting on February 17. The vote was 444 (37.34%) in favor and 744 (62.66%) against. 48% of the voters voted in the election compared to the typical low turnout of 15% and typical high of 25%. Superintendent Ben Bernard opened up a discussion of … [Read more...]
Houston Plans for Stoddard Street and Spruce Street
The Houston City Council heard from Bolton & Menk’s Derek Olinger at their February 9 regular meeting. The city of Houston had received a letter from Gary and Vickie Frauenkron expressing interest in purchasing 10 lots currently owned by the city. The lots have been partially developed by a previous party before being forfeited. At this time, there is no cost estimate to … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Semester Tests – Pro and Con
The semester test policy was a focus at the regular Lanesboro School Board February 11 as three speakers at the public input period spoke about them and the board had set aside time to discuss the policy. Stena Lieb, an art teacher at Lanesboro and a parent of several students spoke first. Lieb declared, “I dislike the semester tests – as a matter of fact, I abhor them!” … [Read more...]