At the June 9 Houston City Council meeting, Mayor Scott Wallace presented Ambulance Director Christine Cox with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for Houston Ambulance’s 60 years of service to the community. The certificate had been delivered by a representative from U.S. Congressman Brad Finstad’s office. A flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol accompanied … [Read more...]
New Location, Same Passion: MDGA Spring Show Shines in Southern Minnesota
The Minnesota Dairy Goat Association (MDGA) Spring Show was held in late May at the fairgrounds in Preston - marking the first time the event has taken place this far south in the state. Several MDGA board members expressed excitement about the new location and shared their hope that the show will return to Preston next year. An exhibitor even remarked that the building is the … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Resumes Activity Fees
Superintendent Heath Olstad reviewed the recent elementary field trips with the school board at their regular May 27 meeting. “The variety of experiences the kids get to have is awesome,” he said. The spring concerts at both the elementary and high school have been completed. Thanks were extended to elementary music teacher Matthew Patterson for his years of service and … [Read more...]
“I Was Almost Scammed Out of $10,000”: Fillmore County Sees Surge in Fraud Targeting Seniors
Jerome Grehl thought he was on Wells Fargo’s website when he tried to make a small online purchase for one of his grandchildren. What happened next nearly cost him $10,000. “I noticed there was an extra $10,000 in my account,” Grehl said. “It wasn’t mine. I figured it was a mistake, and there was a number on the site, so I called.” The man who answered had an accent Grehl … [Read more...]
Chatfield Builds New Press Box
Chatfield School District used their new press box for the first time this year at a track meet on April 24, 2025. The new building has storage area in the bottom level and two more levels that will be used by CCTV, Chatfield coaches, timers, announcers and visiting team personnel. Each of these levels has three separate rooms. During the track meet, this reporter asked … [Read more...]
Spring Grove May Premiere on TV Series “My Town”
Spring Grove City Council members met Tuesday, May 20 at 168 West Main Street in room #100. Mayor Bryan Wilhelmson called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. then led with the Pledge of Allegiance. All council members were present in addition to City Clerk/Administrator Jana Elton. The council unanimously approved both the Agenda and Consent Agenda. No participants spoke … [Read more...]
Wykoff Council Appoints New Member, Addresses Infrastructure
The Wykoff City Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Mayor Ryan Breckenridge presided, with City Administrator Becky Schmidt, Administrative Assistant Luann Hare, and council members Barbara Fate and Jane Baker present. Council member Jeffrey Hare was absent due to vacation. The first order of business was filling the vacant council seat … [Read more...]
Level 3 Grievance Presented to Houston School Board
Kiel Koehler, a teacher for 28 years at Houston, teachers’ union president and rights advocate appeared before the Houston School Board on May 1 to present a level 3 grievance. Koehler stated that the grievance was brought about when the district started a new ALP (Alternative Learning Program). The teaching positions were correctly posted, but staff already contracted with the … [Read more...]
Veterans, Community Gather for Tradition and Tribute at 18th Annual Military Ball
Veterans representing all branches of the military from Southeast Minnesota gathered at the 18th Annual Military Ball on Saturday evening, April 26, at the Fest Building in Spring Grove. The event, steep in history and tradition, welcomed approximately 120 attendees, including veterans, their spouses, and members of the public. Col. Fuller’s speech focused on … [Read more...]
Whalan Council Learns About the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail
The Whalan City Council was educated on the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail that is being planned and how Whalan could be included in the trail. Present at the regularly scheduled council meeting on April 14, 2025, were Mayor Hallum, along with councilmembers Owen Lewis, Thore E. Johnson, Sheila Higbe and Kim Berekvam. City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell was also … [Read more...]
Show and Shine Coming to Preston
Get ready to enjoy Show and Shine at Preston Trout Days Car Show on Saturday, May 17! Trout Days festivities have featured a car show for 35 years according to the current show organizers, Justin Jones and Craig Bond. Originally, the show was an actual judged car show when it first began; now it is a Show and Shine. How is a Show and Shine different from a judged show? There … [Read more...]
Houston County’s ALICE Model Saves Lives
On Thursday, April 3, Houston County Investigator Chris Frick and Sergeant Zach Swedberg led two active shooter training seminars. Approximately 50 Houston County employees attended the informative sessions. The Houston County Sheriff’s office uses the ALICE model – an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate - for training purposes. The ALICE model, one of … [Read more...]
From the Sidelines to Center Court: Gavin Hubka’s Return After Open-Heart Surgery
Gavin Hubka was in the middle of a typical Minnesota summer when everything started to change. His family had been spending a lot of time outdoors – camping, hiking, just enjoying the season. That’s when his mom Sally noticed something strange about Gavin’s chest. It stuck out in a way that didn’t seem normal. They might not have caught it otherwise, but out in the open air … [Read more...]
Chatfield to Update Comprehensive Plan
At the March 24 meeting of the city council, a proposal submitted by Widseth was approved to update the city’s comprehensive plan. Approval of the Widseth proposal was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Logan Tjossem, project manager/planner at Widseth, explained in a letter that the revision of the comprehensive plan will be a benefit to residents, … [Read more...]
Life Can Change in an Instant, Reminding Us to Cherish Each Moment
“It’s never you. Until it is you,” whispered Andrew Serio of Preston, encapsulating the shocking reality that many of us often overlook. On the crisp morning of February 25, 2025, just as the sun began to cast its golden light over the landscape, Andrew’s phone rang, breaking the peaceful silence of his routine. It was a call no husband ever pictures receiving, the kind that … [Read more...]