Last May, Rushford-Peterson’s Go Green Club collaborated with the Rushford Lions to establish a plastic bag recycling program with the goal of getting plastic bags out of landfills. Plastics take over 1,000 years to disintegrate. R-P’s Go Green advisor Jacob Kramer had learned of a program called NexTrex sponsored by Trex designed to recycle plastic bags. One of the pillars … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Area Community Foundation Hosts Annual Banquet
There was community spirit in the air during the Lanesboro Area Community Foundation (LACF) annual banquet held on April 7, 2024. The banquet, which was held at the Lanesboro Community Center, is an annual event that the city of Lanesboro and the surrounding area have come to look forward to with anticipation each spring. Highlights of this year’s banquet included speaker … [Read more...]
Lanesboro School Policy Regarding Background Checks
Friday, April 5, found many people heading to the Lanesboro School for a special school board meeting to review School Board Policy 404 which deals with employment background checks. Chairwoman Christine Troendle noted that the special meeting was being held because of “recent concerns and discussions from the public.” Superintendent Matt Schultz had researched the topic … [Read more...]
Houston to Restructure Administration
At the April 4 Houston School Board meeting, Board Chair Mimi Carlson and Superintendent Mary Morem explained recent superintendent contract negotiations. Morem had asked for a six-year contract. Carlson presented an offer of two three-year contracts. The first contract would extend the current contract for three years with … [Read more...]
Famed Viking RB Spoke at PACF Dinner
On the evening of Monday, March 25, 2024, the Branding Iron hosted a large crowd for the 17th annual Preston Area Community Foundation dinner and auction. Board member Alison Leathers welcomed the crowd, with Pastor Kris Kincaid giving the invocation. Leathers presented the “year in review” with Sheila Craig sharing information on behalf of the Preston Historical … [Read more...]
Norsland Lefse Looking to the Future
When owner Mark Johnson put Norsland Lefse up for sale in hopes of retiring soon, the people of the Rushford area began to worry - would Norsland Lefse continue? Would they be able to still get their essential lefse for the holidays? When the news got around that Lori and David McDonald from Milwaukee were purchasing it, people still worried - what were their … [Read more...]
A Day for the Birds at Good Earth Village
It would be difficult to find a better way to spend a sunny March day than time spent at Good Earth Village (GEV) near Spring Valley, Minn. Add to that a delicious lunch, and a speaker as knowledgeable and witty as Al Batt and you have a trifecta. The Lunch and Learn event, held at Good Earth Village (GEV) on Tuesday, March 19 was titled “Birding with Batt,” giving a hint … [Read more...]
Winona Judge Issues Restrictive Order on Public Access to Audio and Video Statements
Adam Fravel, 30, who is facing two counts of 1st Degree Murder and two counts of 2nd Degree Murder in the death of Madeline Kingsbury, appeared in court on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, for the first of three pre-trial omnibus hearings. Kingsbury was reported missing on Friday, March 31, 2023, with her body discovered on June 7, 2023, hidden in a culvert along Highway 43 in eastern … [Read more...]
Rushford Village to Take Part in Trail Meeting
As part of the monthly Community Economic Development Associates (CEDA) report, the Rushford Village Council will take part in an upcoming virtual trail discussion. The Safe Routes to School grant, provided through the Minnesota Department of Transportation, is something CEDA Community and Business Development Specialist Rebecca Charles has pushed the village to utilize the … [Read more...]
Abby Blake: You’re Going to Hollywood
With a golden ticket in hand from “American Idol,” Caledonia’s own Abby Blake is headed to Hollywood. Blake made her debut on Season 7 of “American Idol” in her adopted home of Nashville, Tenn. The episode aired on Sunday, February 25. Local fans gathered at Elsie’s Bar and Grill in downtown Caledonia to support Abby as she sang the hit song “What About Us” by P!nk. Despite … [Read more...]