There is a new team in SE Minnesota, and over the past month it has grown rapidly. Grady’s Gladiators is comprised of family and friends, local businesses, area schools, non-profit organizations, and strangers that have stepped up to host fundraisers, donate money, support the fundraisers, and assist the family. Seven-year-old Grady Lundgren, known for his full head of blond … [Read more...]
Preston Christmas star has special meaning for Severson family
“They loved spending time with everyone close to them and I think Christmas was just a time that brought that all full circle,” Shelia Marzolf reminisced about her mom Carol Severson and sister Jodi Severson. In June of 1997, both Carol and Jodi tragically lost their lives in a car accident on their way to Rochester to do some shopping. Jodi’s eight month old son Jordan … [Read more...]
Hop & Barrel aims to be “community center with beer”
Jason Pahl calls Hop & Barrel – the new craft brewery in Spring Valley – his playhouse. That’s because he is the head brewer and loves his job. “I’m a research nut,” he says. “I love figuring out how styles were traditionally done, trying to adapt that to modern ingredients and then finding a way to make a style that is true to style, and finding some ways to play with it … [Read more...]
Henrytown Lutheran Church’s Blessing Box
Manifesting the theme “Sharing is Caring,” the children at Henrytown Lutheran Church recently took on a project to create a Blessing Box to ensure that the families, church members and non-church members in their community do not go hungry. A Blessing Box is an honor system food pantry where people who are in need can anonymously take food. Also, this is an easy way for those … [Read more...]
Quilts for Veterans
The ladies of the Quilter’s Therapy Quilt Club design and either hand or machine sew colorful red, white, and blue patriotic themed quilts for the community’s veterans through their project, Quilts for Veterans. The quilts protect and provide warmth and comfort for veterans every night. Traditional quilt patterns are often used: Ohio Star, Fence Rail, and Log Cabin. Many of … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson waits for court results on OHSA ETS
Superintendent Jon Thompson informed the Rushford-Peterson School board at their November 15 meeting that R-P falls under the mandate issued by federal OSHA that calls for employers of over 100 people to require employees to have COVID vaccines or take weekly COVID tests and wear masks. This is supposed to go into effect December 5, 2021. Currently, there are several court … [Read more...]
Joy Ridge Event Center now open
“A place to bring the community and families together” is how the owners of Joy Ridge Event Center describe their new business located in Chatfield. Owners Sue Tangen, her son Michael Tangen and his wife Kirsten have taken on this exciting new venture together, with a huge amount of help and support from family. The idea for an event center began after Michael and Kirsten’s … [Read more...]
New Trout City Brewing owners to expand beer, food, community offerings
By Axel Gumbel Craig and Vickie Hildestad already love the Preston community. Those sayings about Minnesota Nice? Vickie says they are so true. And that’s a good thing. The Hildestad’s recently kicked off their retirement in southeast Minnesota after living and working in the Jacksonville area for 30 years. But they are not sitting still. Craig and Vickie are the new owners of … [Read more...]
MiEnergy adds 9 MW of solar energy
At a media event called “Here Comes the Sun!” held on October 25, a bright and suitably sunny day, MiEnergy announced it has entered into a power purchase agreement with OneEnergy Renewables to buy up to nine megawatts (MW) of solar energy generated by solar arrays located in Rushford Village, Fountain, Lanesboro, and Stockton. To put it into perspective, 9 MW will power … [Read more...]
The legacy of Darian
If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever. ~ Winnie the Pooh Darian O’Connell, born on July 15, 1999, passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) on October 23, 1999. Darian’s parents, Karla and Dave O’Connell, and her two sisters, Kaylee, 20, and Kortni O’Connell, 16, and Darian’s extended family … [Read more...]