At their September 12 council meeting, the Caledonia City Council unanimously approved the request to inflate and display three hot air balloons at the Veterans Park on October 22, from 5-8 p.m. In the past, hot-air balloons have flown from the high school but this fall balloons will not fly in the skies over Caledonia. City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson did not know why … [Read more...]
Rushford approves draft purchase agreement
At the September 12 meeting, the Rushford City Council unanimously approved a draft purchase agreement for the former Farmers Win Cooperative site in the heart of downtown. The council reviewed the proposed purchase agreement in a closed meeting before the start of the regular meeting. According to City Clerk Kathy Zacher and a draft provided at the meeting, the focus of the … [Read more...]
Family fun at the Wykoff Fall Festival
Families, make plans to attend the Wykoff Fall Festival this weekend, September 23-25. Festival organizers announce, “We’ve added lots of events this year!” The weekend kicks off with a concert on Friday night featuring Matt and Brenda Stier, and the 4-H soft-serve ice cream social. Afterwards, sit back and enjoy a drive-in movie while devouring a bag of hot buttered popcorn … [Read more...]
Pop-up Plays Lanesboro: Roma, Norskies and Bumtown 1935
Pop-up Plays Lanesboro: Roma, Norskies and Bumtown 1935, produced by History Alive Lanesboro, takes you into the world of 1935 in small town southeast Minnesota. Experience a local Roma or gypsy camp (from an elder’s memories) and watch a lively revived local Norwegian play from 1935. Meet town “character” Cyclone Johnson as well as Cecil Ward – local journalist and movie … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $190,215 in Small Town Grants 22 organizations receive grants
OWATONNA, MN, August 17, 2022 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved 22 grants totaling $190,215 to support small towns of 10,000 or less in SMIF’s 20-county region. The Small Town Grant program was launched in 2017 to support smaller communities which can benefit from additional financial resources to help them grow and address challenges. Since … [Read more...]
Rushford Village approves contract extension; digs into budget
At the September 6 meeting, the Rushford Village Council heard details of offers for garbage and recycling collection contract extensions. Jeff Holmquist, sales manager for Harter’s Quick Clean-Up, was on hand to discuss the options. As the current contract will expire in February 2023, the village wanted to explore the option of no longer owning the rolling carts as a way to … [Read more...]
Fountain council approves preliminary levy
The Fountain Council approved the preliminary tax levy for 2023 at the September 7 meeting. While the final levy can ultimately be less than the amount approved, it cannot be higher. The final levy will be approved in December. The total preliminary levy was $231,142. The represents $123,142 for general tax levy, $65,000 for the sewer fund $35,000 for Capital Improvement, and … [Read more...]
CUP to repair Root River levee approved
Houston County Planning Commission held a meeting on Thursday, August 25, 2022, to review a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Environmental Services from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to repair a levee along the Root River in a flood plain district in Hokah Township. The CUP application states, “fill material for the repair will be obtained from on-site, previous ag fields … [Read more...]
SEMAC announces October 1 grant application deadline
The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council announces a call for arts programming proposals by nonprofit organizations. All proposed projects must begin no earlier than December 1, 2022, and be completed within 12 months, culminating with a capstone event that is accessible and open to the public. Online applications will be available throughout September with an October 1, 2022, … [Read more...]
Kingsland hears options for gym roof repair
During the Kingsland School Board meeting on September 7, the board heard from Brian Miller, representing the Garland Company. Miller showed pictures from 2020 and 2021, and explained that the windstorm in 2021 partially lifted the roofing, which allowed the insulation to be shifted around, resulting in an uneven roof surface. He said this causes pooling of water, which will … [Read more...]