At the July 21 meeting of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) Mobile Crisis Response Program Lead Dina Robinson and Crisis Response Practitioner Tiffany Vance presented information about the organization’s mental health response services. Robinson first reminded the commissioners of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, which … [Read more...]
Steuart’s Natural Health Began With Teat Heal
In May 1982, Gary Steuart started making a single product in an apartment in Owatonna. The product? Teat Heal. Steuart had a friend who was an inventor who came up with the formula. Teat Heal was intended to be used on cows with sore teats. A dairy farmer decided to try it on his own badly cracked heels. Word spread that the formula worked well on people as well; soon orders … [Read more...]
Gateway Cafe Rises From the Ashes, Rebuilt by a Community Determined To Bring It Home
If you drive down Gold Street in Wykoff most mornings, you’ll find a familiar sight that was sorely missed for more than a year. The coffee is pouring, the air is thick with the scent of breakfast, and the Gateway Cafe has reclaimed its rightful place as the heartbeat of the community. Following the official reopening on May 1, co-owners Jennie Moreland, Leroy Ellis, and Mary … [Read more...]
Jim and Ellen Gardner: The Next Generation of Farmers
For Jim and Ellen Gardner, farming isn’t just a career, it’s a shared passion that began in college. The couple, who grew up on opposite sides of Minnesota, met while studying plants in college. Jim, who also earned a minor in soil science, and Ellen discovered they shared a love for the land and a vision for farming that works with nature rather than against it. They married … [Read more...]
Houston School Board Ratifies Lease-Purchasing Agreement
After board member Lisa Schultz read the lengthy resolution, the Houston School Board ratified a lease-purchasing agreement for the construction of the elementary building’s safe and secure entry at their July 9 meeting. The agreement was for $850,000 with interest not to exceed 6%. While the entry will not be completed by the start of school, Assistant Principal Angela McQuinn … [Read more...]
Small Town Event. Big Time Entertainment.
If you are looking for a small town to visit, look no further than Houston and Whalan, Minnesota. Both communities are hosting signature events this coming weekend: Music in the Bluffs and Houston Hoedown Days. Small Town Vibes in Whalan Whalan, population 67, hosts three outdoor concerts throughout the summer, one each month. The community’s next Music in the Bluffs concert … [Read more...]
Wykoff Approves Dangerous Dog Fee, Addresses Neglected Properties And Park Safety
Potentially dangerous dog licensing fees, neglected properties, playground safety and several community projects were among the topics discussed during the July 13 Wykoff City Council meeting. Mayor Ryan Breckenridge presided over the meeting with council members Jeffrey Hare, Jane Baker, Barbara Fate and Missy Musel present. City Administrator Becky Schmidt also attended. … [Read more...]
Harmony Council to Review Second Draft of Data Center Ordinance
At the July 14 Harmony City Council meeting, the consent agenda was approved and included the minutes of the special and regular meetings on June 9, the claims and June checks, the investment report and cash balances, the budget year-to-date, and an annual step increase for Financial Clerk Karen Apenhorst. Pay request #7 in the amount of $103,306.80 for the wastewater … [Read more...]
Rushford Approves Cooperative Pathway
At the July 13 meeting, the Rushford council unanimously acknowledged a plan for a cooperative pathway for the redevelopment of the former Farmers Win Cooperative site. According to City Administrator Hayden Stensgard, there is a group interested in being in a partnership with the redevelopment. Currently, Rushford’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) has been heading up … [Read more...]
Caledonia Approves Liquor Liability Insurance Ordinance, Utility Rate Study
Mayor Jeremy Leis called the regular Caledonia City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. Monday, July 13, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members Bob Klug, David Fitzpatrick and John Rauk were present, along with Mayor Jeremy Leis. Council member Amanda Ninneman was absent. Rauk moved to approve the minutes from the June 22 regular council meeting. Fitzpatrick … [Read more...]