Following a national search, Colleen Foehrenbacher has been chosen as the next Executive Director at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center near Lanesboro, effective April 1. She succeeds founder director Joe Deden who started the organization in 1979 as the Forest Resource Center and retired in 2018. John Torgrimson served as interim director the past two … [Read more...]
New Minnesota veterans homes unfunded in VA budget
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) was notified that none of Minnesota’s new State Veterans Homes projects (to be located in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston) will receive federal funding this year. The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently released the State Home Construction Grants FY2020 Conditional Approvals. “While we are disappointed that … [Read more...]
College News
Fall 2019 Graduation List •Rochester Community and Technical College: GraceAnna Grant, Chatfield, AS, Nursing; Taylor Stokes, AS, Human Services Specialist; Haley Ostrom, Fountain, AS, Business Management - Marketing Emphasis; Tina Reisner, AS, Nursing, Honors; Dane Saxon, Harmony, AS, Horticulture Science; Laura Keune, Preston, AS, Nursing; Nicole Stene, Preston, AS, … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central moves to distance learning
“We’re going to go by all the state mandates and directives,” Principal Heath Olstad said at the March 24 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, about moving to distance learning. The board met via video conferencing. Olstad noted that the distance learning plan would be on the website later that week and that teachers were working very hard to get it ready. Dean of Students … [Read more...]
SEMAC awards arts grants
The Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) recently awarded grants to 26 applicants representing six counties for a total of $91,150 in funding. This includes nine Emerging Artist grants for $22,215, nine Advancing Artist grants for $44,750, two School Residency grants for $5,085, one Arts Management Training Grant for $600, and five General … [Read more...]
Munroe home: Attention to detail
Mike and Susie Munroe have finally moved into their new home, located on a gravel road a couple of miles northeast of Canton. And although there are still a few items to be finished at their new home (mostly landscaping and other outside work), Mike and Susie said they definitely feel good about how the project has gone, and they are very pleased with their decision to do … [Read more...]
Yurt living brings Wykoff family closer
After buying a piece of property outside of Wykoff, the Ramaker family – Damon, Kylie, Ruby, Lucy and Walter, had the difficult decision of what to do for a house. They decided that the existing home on the property wasn’t salvageable. After weighing their options, they ended up buying a yurt. A yurt, also called a ger, is a round, portable tent that is used by the … [Read more...]
Area schools implement distance learning
Area schools have unexpectedly experienced a major shift in the way they educate children. With the global threat of COVID-19 prevalent in 34 out of 87 counties in Minnesota, Governor Walz issued an executive order to temporarily close all schools from March 17, 2020, until March 27, 2020. On Wednesday, March 25, 2020, Walz announced that he was extending that executive … [Read more...]
Churches staying connected
If you’ve ever arrived late for a church worship service, that won’t be a problem for the foreseeable future. You’ve just reduced your travel time. And, you don’t have to get all dressed up in your Sunday best. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can relax in your pajamas, sit back on the couch, and watch your worship service on your phone, tablet or … [Read more...]
Business enrichment session on succession planning postponed
The Lanesboro Economic Development Authority (EDA) is sorry to announce that the Business Enrichment Session on Succession Planning, originally scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, is being postponed. This is due to the CDC recommendations to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Once it has been deemed safe for gatherings to resume, the EDA will issue a press release … [Read more...]