“We are like a natural foods store that also has pop rocks and some of these weird things that no other natural foods store would have,” says Caleb Lauritsen-Norby of The Parkway Market & Coffeehouse of Lanesboro, Minn., “But that mix works,” he states. Caleb and his partner Blake Lauritsen-Norby purchased the business a couple years ago and opened The Parkway Market … [Read more...]
Ostrander Care & Rehab feels like home
There’s been a nursing facility in Ostrander for approximately 50 years, but the staff there can tell you that it’s not “business as usual.” Janice Howe, administrator of Ostrander Care & Rehab explains, “We are a family-owned company, the owners are Grant and Andrea Thayer, out of Batavia, Ill. They own five facilities in Wisconsin, and then this facility. And Grant was … [Read more...]
An innovative family business puts the customer first
Norman A. Kopperud probably wouldn’t recognize Norman’s Electric Service (NES), the business he started in 1946. “Our dad was a visionary,” Glen Kopperud said. “But even he wouldn’t have predicted how different his business is today. Technology and electronic advances have played a huge role in dramatically changing our work. What he would recognize though, is that we’re still … [Read more...]
Mabel Smokehouse is cookin’ up awesome food
When Darrell Peterson was asked what he liked best about the restaurant business, he didn’t hesitate and immediately said the people are. “I love the customers,” Peterson said. “It’s fun to cook for them and see them enjoy a good meal. The very best thing is when they come back and tell their friends and family about it!” That’s what has been happening since Peterson opened … [Read more...]
Semcac is changing lives, one person at a time
“We are helping to change lives one person at a time,” said Wayne Stenberg, Executive Director of the Semcac office in Rushford. He states, “In 1966 the Economic Opportunity Act was established and passed by the federal government. Their mission was to fight America’s war on poverty. Senator Walter Mondale awarded the organization their first $30,000 grant to help those in … [Read more...]
MinnWest Bank: Ag roots, tech growth
People in the Spring Valley and Wykoff areas have probably noticed that Security State Bank is now MinnWest Bank. The merger official happened on September 21, 2018. Market President Dwayne Ostrem recently sat down for an interview to explain what this change means to customers. Ostrem explained that the Security banks in Spring Valley and Wykoff were branches of Security … [Read more...]
Shooting in rural Chatfield
January 31, 2019 — According to Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge, a 911 call was received at 7:23 p.m. on January 31, 2019, requesting medical assistance for an unresponsive male at 32573 Ninebark Road in rural Chatfield. Upon arrival, an officer discovered that there had been a shooting, and an adult male was deceased. The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota … [Read more...]
Preston authorizes donation for veterans home
At the January 22 meeting of the Preston City Council, a resolution was unanimously adopted authorizing a donation of $335,000 in cash ($125,000) and land ($210,000) to the state of Minnesota for the construction of the Preston Veterans Home. Councilwoman Holly Zuck was not present, but participated via phone. Details were provided as to how the allocation is being funded: … [Read more...]
District 3 special election
The county board met on January 22 with four commissioners. Gary Peterson had submitted a letter of resignation, citing personal reasons, dated January 16. Peterson’s term would have expired on December 31, 2020. The state requires a special election if there is more than one year left in an unexpired term. The board accepted Peterson’s resignation with thanks for his service … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that.
THERE WILL BE A TEST, so read this column carefully! This is a fill-in-the-blank quiz. We took the kids to the Fillmore County Fair. It was 98 degrees with 100% humidity! The kids were excited about the rides and the fair food. When we adults could stand it no longer we all went to the ______________________(name of restaurant). We took the kids on a tour of Niagara … [Read more...]