The Houston Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting January 21 at the American Legion in Houston. Director Margaret Knutson presented a snapshot of its 2023 activities. A successful membership drive ended with over 40 members for the Chamber in 2023. The Chamber received a $5,000 Explore Minnesota grant; so far some of the grant has been spent on an ad in the Visit Bluff … [Read more...]
Mabel-Canton Board Asks Decorah for Joint Meeting
At the Mabel-Canton School Board meeting January 16, Superintendent Gary Kuphal shared that he was “disappointed, but not surprised” when the Decorah School Board basically said they were no longer interested in doing anything with Mabel-Canton. Kuphal shared that he was not quite ready to give up on the situation. At the December Decorah board meeting, Kuphal was given only … [Read more...]
A Quilt for Every Veteran’s Bed
In the fall of 2019, when Spring Valley quilter Jan Poldervaard learned that the proposed new veterans home in Preston was to become a reality, she knew how she wanted to help. Jan had a vision of a handmade quilt on every one of the home’s 54 veterans’ beds. She contacted the Veterans Services Office in Preston to share her idea, and, after a three month wait, Jan got the … [Read more...]
Smooth Start for Lanesboro Schools in 2024
By Wanda Hanson The Lanesboro School Board spent much of their January 17 meeting organizing their operation for 2024. Superintendent Matt Schultz presented the mandatory Health and Safety Plan for the school. This is required as long as the school continues to receive and spend ESSER money. The plan remains the same as it has been for the past 18 months. Parents are asked … [Read more...]
Leaders Who Made the Veterans Home a Reality
More than seven years ago, a group of veterans gathered together at the Preston Servicemen’s Club in Preston to consider the possibility of a veterans home being built in Preston. At that time just one home was being considered in Minnesota. Last spring, veterans Don Gildner, Ron Scheevel, Don Brockway and Cliff Sackett met once again to share the work they did to make the new … [Read more...]
Houston School – Organized and Audited
The Houston School Board began their regular January 4 meeting with their organizational meeting to start off the new year. Little changed - Rushford State Bank was named the official depository; the district legal counsel also remained the same. Wire transfer authorization was given to Superintendent Mary Morem and Director of Finance Gwen Rostad. Once again Mimi Carlson was … [Read more...]
Houston Considers Stop Signs Request
At their regular January 8 council meeting, the Houston City Council discussed a citizen request to add stop signs at the intersections of Chase and Spruce and Chase and Maple. Jeri Virock, who has lived on Chase Street for 17 years, said she personally has witnessed two accidents at the intersections. According to Virock, some drivers “blow right through,” paying little … [Read more...]
Holidays With the Hidden Heroes
Thursday, December 21, many people in southeast Minnesota were wondering exactly what was going on as caravans of emergency vehicles with lights blazing went through the small towns of Hokah, Brownsville, La Crescent, Dakota, Nodine, Wilson, Money Creek, Rushford, Newburg, Mabel, Spring Grove, Eitzen, Caledonia, and Houston. In La Crescent, 18 or 19 vehicles came around the … [Read more...]
R-P’s Truth in Taxation Hearing
The yearly Truth in Taxation hearing was held at the beginning of the regular Rushford-Peterson board meeting December 18. Using the MREA template, Business Manager Toni Oian presented the proposed taxes that will be collected in 2023-2024 and used to finance the school for the 2024-2025 school year. The state continues to lag behind inflation in its funding. Funding will … [Read more...]
Trout City Brewing Reopens Under New Ownership
Operating a brewery is a brand new challenge for new owners Christa and Aaron Magnuson. The Magnusons took over Trout City Brewing in Preston, Minn., on September 18 and reopened it November 4. When the couple purchased the business, the former owners had already closed the brewery and were packing up to leave Preston. Christa left her old job in insurance behind and took … [Read more...]