On August 13, the Mabel-Canton School Board held a special meeting, with only one agenda item: planning for the upcoming school year. Athletic Director Lonnie Morken gave the board an update on sports, saying that the plan is for football and volleyball to have their seasons in the spring, roughly March 15-May 15. Other fall sports (cross country, soccer, tennis, and … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Public Schools approves the hybrid model for 2020-21
The Spring Grove Public Schools Board met in person on Monday, August 18, 2020, at 7 p.m. in the media center while adhering to the Governor’s guidelines for capacity (10 people total). The public and media attended remotely through Google Meet. Board members in attendance included President Aaron Solum, Stephanie Jaster, Christian Myrah, Kelly Rohland, Jenny Stender. Rhan … [Read more...]
Bug-friendly at Wold Strawberries
At Wold Strawberries, in rural Mabel, they’ve built a reputation for excellent pick-your-own strawberries. As the berry season closed, Suzanne Wold-Burkness recently answered questions about the latest addition to the berry farm. Strangely enough, the latest addition isn’t anything meant for human consumption or sale, but simply wild flowering plants. Suzanne and her … [Read more...]
Spring Valley ups EMT call pay
The Spring Valley City Council held a regular council meeting on August 10, with all members attending (Luan Ruesink, Chris Danielson, Mike Hadland, John Dols, and Mayor Tony Archer). Also attending was City Administrator Deb Zimmer. One of the main topics discussed was the suggestion to increase the EMT call rate. Deb Zimmer explained that two of the ambulance crew … [Read more...]
Wykoff looks to fill zoning and firefighter vacancies
On August 10, the Wykoff City Council met in regular session. All council members were in attendance (Lyle Morey, Richard Gleason, Mayor Al Williams, Mary Tjepkes and Mary Sackett) as well as City Clerk Becky Schmidt and Deputy Clerk Luann Hare. No visitors had signed up to address the council on non-agenda issues. Wade Baker gave a report on the fire department. He … [Read more...]
PawPrint Brewery blazes a trail in Chatfield
“It just evolved, with the right people, and the right place,” states James Kenison, owner of Chatfield’s first brewery, PawPrint Brewery. Kenison has spent the majority of his life serving the public and the time came when he wanted to serve the public in a much different capacity. Having served in the Air Force and in law enforcement simultaneously for 25 years, Kenison … [Read more...]
Fillmore County businesses make a difficult decision in lieu of the July 25 Executive Order 20-81
The latest COVID-19 Executive Order 20-81 to come down from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s office has made it difficult for four Fillmore County businesses to continue business as usual. With only three days to prepare, the Harmony Gardens and Floral indoor gift shop, Home Sweet Home Café and Cakery, Burdey’s Café, and The Sweet Shop and Sandwich Shoppe made the emotionally … [Read more...]
RAGBRAI teams ride the Root River Trail in the first and last FAKEBRAI
Iowa’s famed RAGBRAI did not happen this year in its usual form, but it did not stop RAGBRAI teams from pulling on their jerseys and shorts and riding the paved bike trails in SE Minnesota. This past week over 100 bike riders gathered in Fillmore County to ride the trail along the scenic Root River. The pseud-RAGBRAI earned the name FAKEBRAI for obvious reasons. RAGBRAI … [Read more...]
Rural Fountain woman fighting breast cancer to be recipient of B&B Bowl’s “Pay it Forward” breakfast
Tara Hershberger always had a feeling that she would get cancer. Her mother had breast cancer when she was young and survived. Tara then did the BRCA gene test and did not have the breast cancer gene. She dealt with two episodes of melanoma, once when she was 29 and again when she was 30. But at the end of February she was diagnosed with stage three lobular carcinoma, the … [Read more...]
Wykoff residents recognized for their service to the livestock industry
In the 86-year history of the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association Hall of Fame, there have been three inductees from Wykoff. Hog breeder, Henry A. Derenthal was inducted in 1949, and this past March, Normen and Doris Peterson were inducted for providing exceptional service to the livestock industry. “The Petersons are good and honest people who treat their customers very … [Read more...]