At their July 20 regular meeting, the Rushford-Peterson School Board did a first reading of the proposed MSHS Handbook for the 2026-2027 school year. This proposed handbook presented some changes to the middle school policies regarding backpacks and cell phones. Middle school students would be required to leave their phones and backpacks in their lockers from the first bell … [Read more...]
Spring Grove School Board Discusses PSEO Attendance, Softball Field Updates
Spring Grove High School Principal Matt Rosaaen updated the school board on the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) proposed attendance guidelines during the July 20 board meeting. Rosaaen said he will be sending information to parents of students in grades 10, 11 and 12 explaining the guidelines, PSEO students will be required to attend school in person instead of flexing … [Read more...]
Village Gets Clean Audit
At the July 21 meeting, the Rushford Council heard from Bill Sherry of Engleson & Associates regarding the results of the 2025 audit. While there were no areas of major concern, Sherry did note a few key points and one area to watch. The village’s general property taxes were up $28,000 for the year. This countered an $8,000 reduction in Local Government Aid, an amount set … [Read more...]
Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center Highlights Crisis Response Services
At the July 21 meeting of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) Mobile Crisis Response Program Lead Dina Robinson and Crisis Response Practitioner Tiffany Vance presented information about the organization’s mental health response services. Robinson first reminded the commissioners of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, which … [Read more...]
Steuart’s Natural Health Began With Teat Heal
In May 1982, Gary Steuart started making a single product in an apartment in Owatonna. The product? Teat Heal. Steuart had a friend who was an inventor who came up with the formula. Teat Heal was intended to be used on cows with sore teats. A dairy farmer decided to try it on his own badly cracked heels. Word spread that the formula worked well on people as well; soon orders … [Read more...]
Gateway Cafe Rises From the Ashes, Rebuilt by a Community Determined To Bring It Home
If you drive down Gold Street in Wykoff most mornings, you’ll find a familiar sight that was sorely missed for more than a year. The coffee is pouring, the air is thick with the scent of breakfast, and the Gateway Cafe has reclaimed its rightful place as the heartbeat of the community. Following the official reopening on May 1, co-owners Jennie Moreland, Leroy Ellis, and Mary … [Read more...]
Jim and Ellen Gardner: The Next Generation of Farmers
For Jim and Ellen Gardner, farming isn’t just a career, it’s a shared passion that began in college. The couple, who grew up on opposite sides of Minnesota, met while studying plants in college. Jim, who also earned a minor in soil science, and Ellen discovered they shared a love for the land and a vision for farming that works with nature rather than against it. They married … [Read more...]
Houston School Board Ratifies Lease-Purchasing Agreement
After board member Lisa Schultz read the lengthy resolution, the Houston School Board ratified a lease-purchasing agreement for the construction of the elementary building’s safe and secure entry at their July 9 meeting. The agreement was for $850,000 with interest not to exceed 6%. While the entry will not be completed by the start of school, Assistant Principal Angela McQuinn … [Read more...]
Small Town Event. Big Time Entertainment.
If you are looking for a small town to visit, look no further than Houston and Whalan, Minnesota. Both communities are hosting signature events this coming weekend: Music in the Bluffs and Houston Hoedown Days. Small Town Vibes in Whalan Whalan, population 67, hosts three outdoor concerts throughout the summer, one each month. The community’s next Music in the Bluffs concert … [Read more...]
Wykoff Approves Dangerous Dog Fee, Addresses Neglected Properties And Park Safety
Potentially dangerous dog licensing fees, neglected properties, playground safety and several community projects were among the topics discussed during the July 13 Wykoff City Council meeting. Mayor Ryan Breckenridge presided over the meeting with council members Jeffrey Hare, Jane Baker, Barbara Fate and Missy Musel present. City Administrator Becky Schmidt also attended. … [Read more...]