For Rose Weichert, piano lessons have always been more than learning to play the piano. As she reflected on her 61-year teaching career, it became clear that every lesson has also been about developing confidence, discipline, responsibility and poise, life skills that extend far beyond the keyboard. At the end of the interview, Rose summed it up simply. “I’m not a performer,” … [Read more...]
Fountain’s Sugar Creek Vineyard and Meadery
Brothers Kevin and Bryan Logue first opened Sugar Creek Vineyard and Meadery to the public in 2021 in rural Fountain. With the COVID pandemic ongoing, they opened an outside area to accommodate visitors for the first few years. In 2023, in a perfectly timed move, they added an indoor tasting room. Providing an indoor spot proved to be great when smoke from wildfires moved into … [Read more...]
The Goal: Preston to Forestville Bike Trail
Efforts to build a bike trail from Preston to Forestville State Park failed to go forward over two decades ago due, in part, to an inability to acquire needed right-of-way across private property. Progress toward that goal is being made over the past couple of years by individuals that believe in and are dedicated to that goal. The Forestville Trail and River Committee last … [Read more...]
His Path to the Final Four Began in Houston
He is arguably the most celebrated college athlete from Houston County, an All-American who helped lay the groundwork for what became the most successful Division I college basketball program in the nation. John Green began his basketball career at Houston, Minnesota, long before being pictured on the cover of Sports illustrated on the way to March Madness, playing a leadership … [Read more...]
Emerald Lane: 19 Shops in One Stop
Meet Caledonia’s go-to girl if you want to get something done. That’s how residents described Kristina Hauser, the driving force behind Emerald Lane, a vendor market co-op located at 211 S. Kingston St. The idea for the mall came to Hauser while she was driving home from La Crosse. “God literally dropped this idea in my brain,” Hauser said. “Everything just kept flooding in. … [Read more...]
Brownsville Council Reviews MnDOT Intersection Project Updates
Mayor Jean Meyer gave the latest updates to the Brownsville City Council at their July 1 on the proposed Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) project at the intersection of County Road 3 (CSAH 3) and State Highway 26. This is the entry point to Brownsville. Meyer said that she and Councilor Barb Hurley attended the June 29 meeting with MnDOT and other decisionmakers … [Read more...]
Maximizing the Value of Local Agriculture; Beef Tallow Skin Care
From their home in Lanesboro, Brian and Sue Roelofs have turned a personal health mission for their daughter into a business. Brian grew up near Greenleafton, Minnesota, and went to high school in Preston. He went to college at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and moved several times throughout his career. Eventually, he ended up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he met Sue, … [Read more...]
Harmony Veterinary Clinic Receives Excellence Award from UMN
For the past 14 years, the Harmony Veterinary Clinic owned by Dr. John Rein and Dr. Jeff Collins has collaborated with the University of Minnesota to provide real life experience for future veterinarians. Recently UMN honored the clinic with its prestigious Clinical Training Sites of Excellence Award. Past recipients of the award have included Mayo Clinic, St. Luke’s Health … [Read more...]
A Celebration of Life in a Barn
On June 13, 2026, Katie Ruen’s celebration of life was held in an old barn that had been built in 1910 by local farmers near Lanesboro. Why was this barn chosen for such a purpose? What did that barn mean to Katie and her family? Katie and Ed Ruen had bought the family homestead over 40 years ago. It became a private retreat for family get-togethers. They treasured it and … [Read more...]
Stork Award for Rushford Ambulance Crew
The Rushford Ambulance crew had a surprise guest at their regular meeting June 15. Alex Catevenis, the executive director of Southeastern Minnesota Emergency Medical Services, came to their meeting for a special reason. Catevenis was there to acknowledge some of the crew for their participation in the delivery of a baby! Back on January 10, 2023, a call came in for a “woman in … [Read more...]