The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released the State Home Construction Grants for 2021. Governor Tim Walz announced on March 30 that the three proposed new State Veteran Homes will each receive federal funding this year. The veterans home in Preston will be the only skilled nursing home for veterans in southeast Minnesota. Walz said, “We are pleased to be able to expand … [Read more...]
New owner, same great service at Matt’s Body Shop
“Business ownership was kind of always in the back of my mind as something I wanted to do,” Greg Melartin said. Melartin recently purchased Matt’s Body Shop and Tire Service in Spring Valley and fulfilled his dream of owning his own business. It started back in the fall of 2020 when Melartin stopped into the body shop for some business and noticed a “For Sale” sign. He didn’t … [Read more...]
A DSP story
By Karen M. Larson ARC Minnesota Souteast Region What is a DSP? Direct Support Professional. Some other titles you may be more familiar with are… nurse, job coach, family care provider, personal assistant, personal care assistant, and habilitation specialist. DSPs assist people with daily living and work activity. Depending on an individual’s needs, some of the duties … [Read more...]
Mabel woman serves community through graphic design
Communicating a message through visual content is the essence of graphic design. Eye-catching event posters, elegant wedding invitations and promotional business cards are just a few of the many ways graphic design serves individuals and business owners. JWS Graphix is a new business started by veteran graphic designer Janet Sanden and is operated by her and her husband Danny … [Read more...]
KSMQ Public Television series to air nationwide
FEBRUARY 11, 2021, AUSTIN, MN — For the first time in its near 50-year history, KSMQ Public Television has produced a series that will be seen on television screens across the country. The KSMQ production Let’s Go, Minnesota! will air on Create TV every Monday at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for 14 weeks beginning March 1. Each episode runs 30 minutes. “KSMQ’s Let’s Go, Minnesota! … [Read more...]
Forty years of quality hardwoods
Root River Hardwoods came from humble beginnings in 1980 when Andy Bahl’s dad Richard Bahl and his partners, Mike Merritt and Jeff Wand, purchased a sawmill in Preston, Minn. In 1988, Andy started working with millwork, supplying kiln-dried lumber to furniture and cabinet makers. His next step included purchasing a Weinig molder, the Cadillac of molders; he hired additional … [Read more...]
Houston County EDA awards over one million dollars in CARES funding to county businesses
On February 2, 2021, Chairperson Robert Burns called the Houston County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting to order at 9 a.m. Commissioners present included Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert Burns, Teresa Walter, and Greg Myhre. Commissioners approved the February 2, 2021, meeting agenda and the meeting minutes from January 26, 2021, regular meeting session. … [Read more...]
Journal earns seven awards
The 154th annual Minnesota Newspaper Association conference and trade show was not quite the same this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, that didn’t prevent the big show from coming together in a virtual presentation. Each year, hundreds of newspaper professionals from more than 200 daily and weekly newspapers throughout the state of Minnesota gather in … [Read more...]
Schultz takes on new role with Journal
In January of 2021, Sherry Hines retired as an advertising sales representative with the Fillmore County Journal after serving customers in Southeast Minnesota and Northeast Iowa for 35 years. With Hines retiring from the Journal, Sara Schultz has taken over her territory. Schultz started her career as a graphic designer with the newspaper in October of 2019. With … [Read more...]
Father and son committed to continuing personalized service at Harmony lumberyard
In 1975, a father and son, Jim and Joe Hahn, started Hahn Lumber in Harmony. At the end of 2020, another father and son joined forces to invest in that same lumberyard to continue a tradition of small-town service, offering a full range of building supplies. Gary Nolan and his son Will have purchased the lumberyard and have aptly named their new business Nolan Lumber. While … [Read more...]