When Red’s IGA left Houston in the fall of 1998, Houston was left without a grocery store for two years. What a change from the five grocery stores in Houston in the 1950s! Sorely missing a grocery store, a group of community members got together and started a cooperative in an effort to bring a store back to Houston. In 1999, Larry Connery, Peter Denzer, Sharon Onsgard, … [Read more...]
Adrenaline and Power
Eight years ago, Dave Norby stumbled upon his ‘73 Dodge Charger in a huge Chicago car consignment building. From across the room, he knew he wanted that bright yellow Charger, a 400 tunnel ram with two four barrels and an automatic transmission. He rebuilt the first motor twice, wrecked a second motor and then put in a 500 cu.in. motor and a five-speed manual transmission. “It … [Read more...]
Hybrid and EV Repair Availability
With the increased push for electronic and hybrid vehicles, people need to worry not only about charging locations, but also repairs and battery replacements for those EVs and hybrids. Where in Houston and Fillmore County is that possible? A total of 10 repair shops were contacted. No repair shops in Fillmore or Houston County currently work on EVs; they have not even seen … [Read more...]
Holly Allen, Breast Cancer Survivor
Holly Allen remembers exactly where she was when she learned of her breast cancer diagnosis. On November 20, 2023 at 1:30 p.m., Holly was sitting at her desk at work when her primary doctor called with the news and her life changed. Holly felt like she lived at Mayo Clinic for the next six weeks as test after test was run on her. She underwent a 3D mammogram, an MBI … [Read more...]
Bringing Smiles to Bratsberg
The quiet little hamlet of Bratsberg five miles south of Rushford boasts a few houses and a couple old store fronts, but this time of the year there’s an added attraction. Mitch Paulson, who lives at the intersection of Highways 43 and 10, loves to make people smile. For the last 10 years or so Mitch has done this by creating his own Halloween display using a multitude of … [Read more...]
Houston’s Football Brothers
Stepbrothers senior Maddox Rodriguez and sophomore Lee Klunder are having a great time playing football together on the Houston High School team this year. Both boys are running backs/fullbacks for the Houston nine-man team. (The team has two running backs in the backfield.) Maddox and Lee both grew up in Houston and knew each other all along; they both started playing … [Read more...]
Police Officer Trainee Position Created for Houston
After four months of advertising for a second police officer for Houston with no applicants, City Administrator Michelle Quinn and Chief of Police Bret Hurley decided to think outside the box. At the regular city council meeting October 15, Hurley presented a proposed job description for a police officer trainee. The goal of presenting this was to help with retention of an … [Read more...]
New Teachers at Houston Schools
Houston Schools welcomed five new teachers this fall - Ethan Papenfuss, band; Samantha Michaelsen, elementary special education; Hailey Pierazek, MS/HS math; Abigail Allen, HS math; and Anna Dunnum, English and social studies. Ethan Papenfuss, an alumni of Houston High School, got into teaching because he himself had a wonderful experience as a student. He feels so … [Read more...]
The Working Women of Stinson’s Meats
Michelle Stinson and her husband Jamie, current owners of Stinson’s Country Style Meats, started the company with Michelle’s parents, David and Kathy, in 2018 doing deer processing. In 2020, they opened their retail store and began slaughtering animals for others. They had opened the business, knowing there was a demand in the area for it. Ledebuhrs in Winona had closed … [Read more...]
7 New Teachers at Rushford-Peterson
Rushford-Peterson welcomed a total of seven new teachers to its teaching staff this fall. The new teachers are: Lindsey Olson, K-8 counselor and district assessment doordinator; Emily Wahlberg, first grade; Ethan Jacobson, MS/HS business; Sophia Westcott, SPED; Kora Miller, kindergarten; Madlyn Ripka, MS/HS band director; Nathan Whitacre, MS/HS SPED. Here’s your chance to learn … [Read more...]