Department 1: Game Horses: Jumping Figure 8 (11-13 yrs.): Else Plzak, Reserve Jumping Figure 8 (14-17 yrs.): Madison Winjum, Grand Barrel Racing (11-13 yrs.) :Tegan Dahlstrom, Grand Barrel Racing (18 & Over): Christine Novak, Reserve Pole Weaving (11-13 yrs.) Elese Plzak, Grand Pole weaving (14-17 yrs.): Ava Hoscheit, Reserve Key races (11-13 yrs.): Breelyn … [Read more...]
History plays feature local World War 2 veterans’ tales
After months of oral interviews, Pop-up Plays: Lanesboro WW II and Beyond brings to the stage local accounts of soldiers in D-Day, German prison camp, the Norwegian Resistance, Japanese nurses in Rochester, and farmers growing food for Europe. Area veterans Orval Amdahl, Don Ward, Bob Earley, Dr. Westrup, Paul Abrahamson, Ruby Nelson, Signe Soma will come to life again on … [Read more...]
Canton family loses everything in devastating house fire
“You hear about people having fires and getting out with just the clothes on their back. We didn’t even have that,” Jamie Knutson said. He and his family lost their home in Canton to a house fire in the early morning hours of September 10. As it happened around 3:30 a.m., the family members were still in their pajamas and didn’t have time to grab anything on the way out. Due … [Read more...]
Kingsland staff shortages create challenges
Kingsland School Board held a regular meeting on September 20 with all members participating (Jackie Horsman, Natasha Howard, Gwen Howard, Maranda Emig, Pamela Freet, and Superintendent James Hecimovich). Business Manager Amber Herbrand, Kyle Rader, and Activity Director Mark Fitzpatrick participated via remote technology. No members of the general public attended to speak … [Read more...]
R-P changes close contact and quarantine policies
With board members Matt Helgemoe and Jeff Michel joining via Zoom, the Rushford-Peterson School Board met Monday, September 20, 2021. The board looked at current school COVID data and made a change to their definition of close contact at school and required quarantines. If students were wearing masks, they would not be considered a close contact nor would they need to … [Read more...]
Harmony council discuss sewer issues on Wickett Drive
The Harmony City Council met on September 14 with all council members present in person, except for Tony Webber who joined the meeting via telephone. Jay Jermier from Minnowa Construction addressed the council about the sewer line issues on Wickett Drive NW. At a June 17 special meeting, the council opened bids for the Dairyland Power Utility extension and accepted a bid from … [Read more...]
Fillmore County seeks architectural services to prepare jail plan
At the board’s September 14 meeting, the Jail Needs Assessment Report was discussed. The nearly 100 page report was presented to the county board over a month ago. The Jail Needs Assessment committee spent 18 months developing the report that looked at four options for the future of the county jail. Options included closing the jail and totally outsourcing, a 72-hour book … [Read more...]
Why no Dollar General in Mabel?
Mabel’s city council met on September 14. Attending were Mayor James Westby, Terry Torkelson, Adam Wilder, and Cory Wilson. Kirsten Wyffels participated via phone. Also participating were City Clerk Karen Larson, Bob Meirau and Jeff Rein. During the visitors section of the agenda, Mike Gjere (of Gjere Construction) addressed the council. He stated, “I’m asking the … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards a record $200,075 in Small Town Grants
OWATONNA, MN, September 7, 2021 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved 25 grants totaling $200,075 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. … [Read more...]
Spring Valley to hold hearing on hazardous housing
The Spring Valley city council held a regular council meeting on Setember 13, with all members present (Luan Ruesink, Chris Danielson, Greg Brooks, John Dols and Mayor Tony Archer). Also attending was City Clerk/Administrator Deb Zimmer. No visitors had signed up to address the council on any concerns. The council discussed the Jeff Sass property, located at 610 Hillcrest. … [Read more...]