At the February 7 school board meeting, board members Jill Harstad, David Sovinski, Josh Thompson and Tom Keefe were present as well as Superintendent Ed Harris, principals, Shane McBroom and Eric Nelson, and Trista O’Connor, business manager. Student Senate members Kylie Sinn and Jorja Fishbaugher were also present. Board members Mark Johnsrud and Katie Priebe were … [Read more...]
Fins and Films Returns to Ostrander Brush Dump
The City of Ostrander city council held a characteristically brief meeting the evening of Tuesday, February 6. Little to no budgetary discussion was held, the fire department had no calls from the previous month to report, a few small items of business were acted upon. The meeting opened with an address by the sole visitor, Doc Shipton of Fins and Films. Fins and Films, a … [Read more...]
Houston County to Receive Sizeable Increase in State Transportation Funding
Houston County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski announced at the February 6 Houston County Commission meeting that his office received notice in January from MnDOT that instead of the anticipated statewide transportation funding increase of 2-4%, the county will now see an increase of just over 10% for 2024. Pogodzinski explained, “What that means for Houston County is that we … [Read more...]
Twin Sisters Charged in Fatal Amish Buggy Accident
Samantha Jo Petersen, 35, is facing 21 criminal charges relating to a fatal accident on the morning of September 25, 2023, that claimed the lives of two Amish children. Her twin sister, Sarah Beth Petersen, is facing 16 criminal charges relating to the same fatal accident. Back on September 25, 2023, a horse drawn Amish buggy carting four children on County Road 1 in the … [Read more...]
Fountain Grapples with Wastewater Repair
The Fountain Council again discussed needed repairs to the wastewater treatment plant lift station pump at the February 7 meeting. The current pump issues have been known for some time. There is no backup for it should it go out entirely. At the meeting, via conference call, was Mike Morris from MMS Environmental, with whom the city contracts for reporting and maintenance at … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Bike Trail and Bridge Bonding Agreements
The Fillmore County Board considered access agreements for a bike trail and bridge bonding agreements at their February 6 meeting. Highway Engineer Ron Gregg explained the bike trail agreements are with the Department of Natural Resources for access to the road right of way of CSAH 44 and 30 to extend the Harmony/Preston Valley State Trail to the Iowa state line and also … [Read more...]
Houston Considers HUDL
The February 1 Houston School Board meeting had Superintendent Mary Morem attending virtually and two board members, Nickki Johnson and Marissa Bailey, absent. Morem presented the Houston Hurricane Hero award to Heidi Wick, an MNVA math teacher, who also attended virtually. Morem joined parents, staff and students in lauding Wick for her creativity as an online math … [Read more...]
City of Rushford Village Awarded Safe Routes to School Grant
Rebecca Charles of CEDA (Community and Economic Development Associates) appeared before the City of Rushford Village Council Meeting on February 6 to present her monthly report and the news that she had just been informed that CRV had been selected for funding through the Minnesota Department of Transportation recent Safe Routes to School solicitation. Charles shared that the … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $90,000 in Inclusive and Equitable Communities Grants
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved nine grants totaling $90,000 to support inclusive and equitable initiatives in SMIF’s 20-county region. The Inclusive and Equitable Communities Grant supports projects which grow racial diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities in the area of entrepreneurship for southern Minnesota. The Inclusive and … [Read more...]
Applications Open for Grants to Strengthen Minnesota’s Food Supply Chain
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for a new grant program to help strengthen Minnesota’s food supply chain. The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant Program offers competitive grants for Minnesota businesses and organizations operating middle-of-the-food-supply-chain activities that support local agricultural products. … [Read more...]