The vegetable farm of the future has arrived in Wykoff, a small farming community in Southeast Minnesota just 40 minutes from the hi-tech city of Rochester. Spouses Tony and Kelly Rahe are the owners of Rahe of Sunshine Farms. The farm is located behind the old bank in Wykoff and instead of vegetables growing in a garden of rich black dirt, the farm is a vertical hydroponic … [Read more...]
Open doors, open to ideas
On a blustery, snowy November evening, buildings in downtown Rushford had their doors open for visitors in the Open Doors, a Tour of Business Opportunities, event. From 5:30-8 p.m., November 17, interested parties could tour the entire buildings including the “behind the scenes” areas of 10 available businesses and buildings. Open Doors was the brainchild of Jen Hengel of the … [Read more...]
B & B’s Fremont Store lives on
Once again the Fremont Store has reopened after a recent remodel and update. Minnesota’s oldest continuously-run grocery store was built by Luther Rice in 1856, two years before Minnesota became a state. It was originally located at a nearby settlement called Neoca, but a few years later the entire building was moved to its current location. Rice named the store in honor of … [Read more...]
Groundbreaking for new Penz Automotive Building
Saturday, November 5, was indeed a groundbreaking day in Spring Valley for Penz Automotive Group. Penz has owned the Spring Valley Chevrolet Buick in Spring Valley for about a year and is currently leasing the building they are using. Groundbreaking was held at a new location at 1100 N. Broadway Street on the northside of Spring Valley just off of Highway 63, for the brand new … [Read more...]
Harmony welcomes new Chamber director
“There’s a lot of great reasons to live here and visit,” Allison Whalen said about Harmony. Whalen is the new director of the Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce and is excited about her new job, which she began on October 3. Before accepting her position as Chamber director in Harmony, Whalen worked at F&M Community Bank in Preston for 14 years. “I loved working at the … [Read more...]
M-C Cougars host open house for renovation viewing
The sky may have been cloudy, but the mood at Mabel-Canton school Sunday afternoon, October 16, was upbeat as alumni, former staff, and community members stopped by to tour the recently renovated school. Superintendent Gary Kuphal said, “When they walk in the door, they will feel a sense of pride.” Kuphal explained that the Mabel-Canton school building for K-12 is one … [Read more...]
Ernie’s Station part of documentary
Ernie’s Station in Whalan, Minn., has drawn attention from local residents and tourists for some time. Recently, it was noticed by the Executive Producer of Heritage Films, Matt Dacy who happened to be driving by with his wife when he came upon the vintage gas station and knew he wanted to film something there. On October 11 they did just that. Ernie Johnson purchased the … [Read more...]
Chatfield Center for the Arts remodel: the result of persistence
Saturday, September 24, was a big day for Chatfield; the long-awaited reopening of the Chatfield Center for the Arts finally occurred. From a committee sitting around a table with a vision in 2009, to construction beginning in 2015-2016, to fruition in 2022, a lot of people worked persistently to make the reopening happen. At the ribbon cutting Saturday morning, Mayor Russ … [Read more...]
Granny’s Liquor robbed in broad daylight
Thursday, September 15, was a beautiful sunny day in the charming little town of Lanesboro, Minn., like many days in the small community nestled between the bluffs. Lori Bakke, owner of Granny’s Liquor, was getting ready to open her store for the day. She had gone out in front of her store on Parkway Avenue, and watered her plants and swept the entryway. It was a busy … [Read more...]
Lanesboro residents speak out about grain bin
A public hearing was held at the September 7 Lanesboro City Council meeting to discuss the proposed sidewalk improvements. Lanesboro resident Anna Loney addressed the council to ask how those particular sidewalks were chosen for improvements. “I would like to distinguish whether our objective is to have a walkable community,” she said. “I’m not sure if a blanket policy is where … [Read more...]