By Mary T. Bell On a frigidly cold Saturday morning, my husband Joe Deden and I held a bald eagle as it struggled for breath. It did not resist our touch as it died in our arms. Watching this death was heartbreaking and powerful. The previous Thursday morning, Joe was skiing along the Root River when he saw this eagle perched on the lower branches of an oak tree near the … [Read more...]
124 Century Farms honored in 2021 State Fair and Farm Bureau program salute Minnesota family farms
ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau recognize 124 Minnesota farms as 2021 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more. Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and … [Read more...]
Anhydrous safety should be top concern this spring The MDA offers safety tips for those maintaining equipment and applying and transporting NH3
ST. PAUL, MN – Many farmers and applicators will soon be applying anhydrous ammonia (NH3) ahead of the planting season. Even with a rush against time and the weather, safety should never be compromised. Recent accidents involving anhydrous ammonia have proven how dangerous and deadly the chemical can be when not handled properly. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) … [Read more...]
MnDOT asks motorists, farm equipment operators to safely share the road during planting season
Motorists traveling on Minnesota highways this spring should be aware of large farm equipment moving from farm to farm, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “Planting season is ramping up across Minnesota and farmers need the highways to access their fields,” said Brian Sorenson, state traffic engineer. “Motorists need to be prepared to encounter … [Read more...]
Virtual public meeting set April 6 for Hwy. 56 reconstruction project in LeRoy
The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the public to attend a virtual meeting Tuesday, April 6, 2021, to learn about a planned project to reconstruct Hwy. 56 in LeRoy. The online meeting begins at 6 p.m. and lasts approximately one hour. Members of the project management team will provide a presentation followed by a question and answer session. Attendees can join … [Read more...]
Fireside Pet Lodge: A new place to send your furry friend
The wake-up call usually comes at 6 a.m. and is quickly followed by 30 minutes of outdoor exercise. Next comes breakfast, and then rest and relaxation. But the rest doesn’t last long, as there are a lot more opportunities for exercise and one-on-one time with a trainer throughout the day. No, this isn’t some fitness resort for humans, rather it is Fireside Pet Lodge by … [Read more...]
Sen. Miller: “Fantastic news” federal funding is official for Preston veterans home
ST. PAUL, March 30, 2021 – The United States Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that Minnesota will receive federal funding for three proposed Veterans Homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston. Senate Republicans secured the state’s share of funding for all three homes in the 2018 bonding bill. Construction could begin as early as early fall 2021 with an … [Read more...]
Spring Grove welcomes Heart Rock Coffee Shop
Thanks to the husband and wife team, Jeff and Tricia Babinski, Spring Grove residents and their fellow neighbors in the bluff area can now purchase freshly roasted artisan coffee from the top coffee-producing regions in the world. Tricia Babinski is the roaster and general operator of Heart Rock Coffee Shop in downtown Spring Grove and her husband Jeff, a retired Air Force … [Read more...]
Mabel-Canton cheerleaders earn national, state honors
The Mabel-Canton cheer squad won awards at a national, virtual competition that was organized in Everett, Wash., to offer a unique opportunity for so many cheerleaders who were so often sidelined during a pandemic winter. In individual competition, Katelyn Kleiboer earned individual honors in that national virtual event as well as a scholarship in a statewide competition … [Read more...]
Lanesboro school going forward with senior class trip
At the March 18 Lanesboro School Board meeting, Superintendent Matt Schultz updated the board on the upcoming senior class trip. The tour bus company canceled the original trip to Washington, D.C., as the city is mostly shut down right now. After looking into different options, it was decided to book a trip to Florida with the same company. The trip will include various stops … [Read more...]