At the regular March 3 Houston School Board meeting, High School Principal Michael Mangan presented an update on next year’s high school course offerings to the board. A new course entitled Financial Foundations will provide students a path to “financial success built on knowledge and wisdom carried out over their lifetime.” According to Mangan, it’s “the stuff people say they … [Read more...]
Lanesboro School contracts with SMS for business services
At their March 9 regular meeting, the Lanesboro School Board approved a contract with SMS (School Management Services) to provide business services to the district. All the services that resigning business office manager Julie Schreiber has been providing will be covered by SMS with the exception of daycare director and COVID coordinator. An employee will be guaranteed to be on … [Read more...]
Harmony citizens sound off about retail variety store ordinance
March 1, 2022, around 80 citizens of Harmony had the opportunity to share their views on a proposed retail variety store ordinance with the city council at a special hearing. The hearing began with Greg Schieber, city lawyer and EDA member briefly recounting the recent history of the proposed ordinance. Harmony EDA first discussed last fall whether a variety store such as … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson prepares to interview superintendent applicants
The R-P School Board has begun the process of finding a new superintendent after learning last month that Jon Thompson plans to retire at the end of the current school year. Two sets of interview questions, an initial and a second round, have been created and were accepted by the board after slight wording changes. A staff input form has also been prepared for staff attending … [Read more...]
Exit Bremer Bank, enter Rushford State Bank in Houston
When Bremer Bank sent letters to their Houston customers in early January about their pending April 15 closure of their brick and mortar bank, it came as a complete surprise to many. Bremer Bank’s vice president of communications, Clarise Tushie, explained the move, “Like many others in the banking industry, we are seeing digital adoption accelerate throughout our footprint … [Read more...]
Johnson’s Rolling Acres named Producer of the Year
Minnesota Milk chose Johnson’s Rolling Acres of Peterson, Minn., as Producer of the Year at their annual meeting in December. In order to be chosen, someone in the industry nominates a farm; the farm then fills out an application. Rolling Acres has been nominated for the last five years; this year they were chosen. Peers in the community of milk producers choose the award … [Read more...]
Houston Council makes staffing decisions
At their regular monthly council meeting on February 14, the Houston City Council chose to keep the assistant librarian salary as had been decided in November. Any adjustment to the wages will need to be made in advance of the next budget cycle. Two individuals had been interviewed in the search for a Houston Nature Center assistant; one however withdrew from consideration and … [Read more...]
Bernard Bus — family-owned business for 75 Years
Locally owned in Chatfield, Bernard Bus Service is celebrating 75 years of family-owned business. Mike Bernard’s grandparents, Art and Evelyn, opened the business in 1947. Mike’s uncle was in charge when they retired with Mike’s parents, Chip and Lana, taking over the business in 1985. At that time, they had 9-10 routes in Chatfield with all the buses running on LP; they worked … [Read more...]
Canton’s new branding
At their regular meeting on February 9, the Canton City Council approved the new branding of Canton. Touting Canton as the first incorporated stop on highway 52 in Southeast Minnesota, the branding features a curved highway bordered by grass and trees with the Highway 52 sign prominently featured in a green/blue color scheme. The logo is intended for use on city stationery, … [Read more...]
Houston Schools purchase two buildings
At their February 3 regular meeting, the Houston School Board officially approved two buildings’ purchase prices. St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 202 Sheridan Street will be purchased for $200,000. Funding for this purchase will come from the school’s general funds. The school has been granted lease levy authority for the sale of bonds to fund the purchase of the ABLE, Inc. … [Read more...]