April 29, 2020 — Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently awarded 525 emergency grants totaling $254,950 to child care providers in SMIF’s 20-county region. At the urging of Governor Tim Walz, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations, including SMIF, created the Emergency Child Care Grant Program to provide immediate relief to child care providers caring for … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation approves $1 million in loans through DEED’s Small Business Emergency Loan Program
May 13, 2020 — Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved 41 loans to businesses in its 20-county region through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Small Business Emergency Loan program totaling $1 million. This program provides partially forgivable loans to restaurants, bars, hair salons and other public … [Read more...]
Wykoff man finishes the Iditarod
When Damon Ramaker was a child, his family took a trip to Alaska. While they were there they took a tour of the Iditarod. His parents brought home a map of the route and it has hung in their house since then. What he didn’t know then was that that map would take on a whole new significance when he was an adult. “It didn’t have a lot of meaning except something cool to look … [Read more...]
Historic Memories of Fillmore County A look back at The Preston Methodist Episcopal Church
By Dianne Ruud Continuing on, at least 60 years ago, as my siblings and I made our way to school from the south hill neighborhood, we passed by the old Preston Episcopal Methodist Church. It stood on the corner right across from the Preston Library. I wish the photo was in color as those stained glass windows must have been gorgeous! Sometimes we walked closer and looked up at … [Read more...]
Spring Grove resident Darrell Sinclair proof that life is a verb
Numerous sites on the world wide web defend the notion that life is a verb and not a noun. One such website, MBS Performance Counseling, argues that “life, as a noun, is a limiting way to define our existence.” Listening to 93-year-old Darrell Sinclair’s stories illustrates that he was an active participant in his life. Sinclair did not wait around for life to happen. He lived … [Read more...]
MiEnergy Cooperative members give $5,950 in local donations
MiEnergy Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Trust Board met in March and elected to donate $5,950 to the following local organizations: • $750, Caledonia United Methodist Church, to support the Helping Hands Giveaway which ensures students in Houston County have the supplies they need for the school year. • $700, Thunder Rode, Decorah, Iowa, to support the youth empowerment … [Read more...]
Spring Grove City Council finalizes summer programs
Due to COVID-19, the regular May 19, 2020, Spring Grove City Council meeting was held remotely via Zoom to comply with social distancing policies and practices. City Council members in attendance included Sarah Schroeder, Karen Folstad, Travis Torgerson, Scott Solberg and Chad Roland. The Council approved the consent agenda items, including April 21, 2020, regular meeting … [Read more...]
USDA announces details of direct assistance to farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
May 19, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box … [Read more...]
Mabel-Canton sets contingent dates for graduation
Mabel-Canton’s School Board held a regular meeting on May 19, via remote technology, due to coronavirus prevention guidelines. Board members participating included Chris Miller, Mark Wiedemann, Cristal Adkins, Jason Marquardt, Traci Livingood, Diane Wilder, Dustin Tollefsrud, and student representatives Colton Heintz-Kuderer and Sarina Stortz. Also in attendance were … [Read more...]
Kingsland meal delivery to end after May 28
The Kingsland School Board met in regular session on May 18, with some members attending via remote technology. All board members were in attendance (board chair Jackie Horsman, Tiffany Mundfrom, Noella Lund, Natasha Howard, Maranda Emig, and Kyle Rader), as well as Superintendent Jim Hecimovich, Principal Scott Klavetter, and Building and Grounds Director Jason … [Read more...]