Nobody ever said it was easy raising a family, paying bills, or dealing with daily life, especially when it can be capricious and unpredictable. But imagine for a moment sending your children to school knowing they would have to pass through checkpoints, sometimes being body searched, sometimes being detained, sometimes being pushed around by armed guards. Imagine knowing your … [Read more...]
Jake Fishbaugher: 2017 NFL Student Athlete of the Year
When you first meet Jake Fishbaugher, you might notice his broad smile, his firm handshake, his friendly voice, and his easy going manner. What underlies all of this is a true leader with a competitive nature, a willingness to work hard, an athlete’s discipline, and a strong sense of team spirit. Jake, a seventh grade student at Fillmore Central, was recently presented with … [Read more...]
Get wild at Maple Springs
Things are a little bit wild at Maple Springs Campground, and that’s just fine with new owner Andy Goemaat. But as he explains, there’s a big difference between wildlife and wild life. Andy stated, “I had been looking for a while to buy a campground, and everything kind of fell through until I ran across this one. I wanted one that was kind of quieter and family-oriented, … [Read more...]
Home Sweet Home Cafe and Cakery opens
After spending their vacations in beautiful Lanesboro, Minn., each year and not wanting to leave when it was time to go, Alan and Elizabeth (“Liz”) Mason are finally “Home Sweet Home” in every sense of the phrase, especially with the launch of their new business, Home Sweet Home Cafe and Cakery in Lanesboro. The Mason family, which includes Alan and Liz, along with their … [Read more...]
Shipwreckt Books gains authors and notoriety
By assisting writers to become published authors, Tom Driscoll, Managing Editor and CEO of Shipwreckt Books Publishing Company, LLC, of Rushford, Minn., is not only helping the authors’ dreams come true, but he is also living a dream he never really knew he had. After graduating high school, Driscoll began a student newspaper in Davenport, Iowa. He was then drafted into the … [Read more...]
Wreaths for the Fallen in Preston an emotional experience
As families of the fallen started arriving at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minn., for the first honorary wreath ceremony of Wreaths for the Fallen, the beautiful colors of fall had faded, but the heroes interred at the cemetery will never fade from our memory. Saturday, December 16, 2017, was a mild December day in Minnesota, with a high temperature near … [Read more...]
Troendle completes year-long fellowship
One of the secrets of success is to look for opportunities that can expand your knowledge and advance your career. Fillmore County native Travis Troendle accomplished both recently when he was offered and accepted a Fellowship to Address Global Hunger through Land O’ Lakes, Inc., in their Global Food Challenge Emerging Leaders for Food Security Program. Troendle, the son of … [Read more...]
PACC dedicates Christmas tree to Amos Anderson
Over two dozen relatives of Amos Anderson gathered in front of the Preston City Hall in Preston, Minn., on Sunday, December 10, 2017, as the Preston Area Chamber of Commerce dedicated this year’s Chamber Christmas Tree in memory of Anderson. Many others, including Preston residents and friends of Anderson, came to view the unveiling of the Christmas tree and to share memories … [Read more...]
Norwegian family arrives for lutefisk dinner in Preston
Each year, Christ Lutheran Church hosts a Norwegian lutefisk and meatball dinner that draws out hundreds of people. This year, over 900 people bought tickets for the dinner. They come from all over, some traveling from as far as Iowa or the Twin Cities area to eat the gelatinous white fish. But the diners who come the farthest are husband and wife Annalisa Staupe Gaard and … [Read more...]
Leah Stier joins Kingsland Board
At the regular board meeting on November 20, Leah Stier was appointed to fill the Kingsland School Board vacancy created when Deb Larson resigned from the board for medical reasons. When the other board members (Doug Plaehn, Ann Oeltjen, Jackie Horsman, Tiffany Mundfrom, and Heather Betts) each named their “top choice” from among those being considered, Stier was named by three … [Read more...]