Drivers go to great lengths to ensure what’s under the hood of their vehicles is well taken care of. But it’s equally beneficial to tend to the exterior of a vehicle, including its paint job. According to Popular Mechanics, oxidation can adversely affect iron-based metals. That can put vehicles in jeopardy and take significant time off their life expectancy. The good news is … [Read more...]
Hybrid and EV Repair Availability
With the increased push for electronic and hybrid vehicles, people need to worry not only about charging locations, but also repairs and battery replacements for those EVs and hybrids. Where in Houston and Fillmore County is that possible? A total of 10 repair shops were contacted. No repair shops in Fillmore or Houston County currently work on EVs; they have not even seen … [Read more...]
Holly Allen, Breast Cancer Survivor
Holly Allen remembers exactly where she was when she learned of her breast cancer diagnosis. On November 20, 2023 at 1:30 p.m., Holly was sitting at her desk at work when her primary doctor called with the news and her life changed. Holly felt like she lived at Mayo Clinic for the next six weeks as test after test was run on her. She underwent a 3D mammogram, an MBI … [Read more...]
A Journey of Strength and Hope Through Breast Cancer and Pregnancy
Pregnancy is often a joyful time for families, and that was certainly true for Kirsten DeJarlais Snell, her husband Paul, and their two children, Kendall, age 4 ½, and Gable, age 2 ½. The family was eagerly anticipating the arrival of their newest member. The Origins Story Kirsten, 36, refers to the beginning of her breast cancer journey as the “origin story.” At 35 … [Read more...]
The Working Women of Stinson’s Meats
Michelle Stinson and her husband Jamie, current owners of Stinson’s Country Style Meats, started the company with Michelle’s parents, David and Kathy, in 2018 doing deer processing. In 2020, they opened their retail store and began slaughtering animals for others. They had opened the business, knowing there was a demand in the area for it. Ledebuhrs in Winona had closed … [Read more...]
A Friendly Face at Spring Valley’s Post Office
By Zech Sindt When you enter Spring Valley’s post office, you will be greeted by one of the friendly postal workers. These postal workers dedicate their lives to making sure when you walk up to their counter with a box or an envelope, it will get to wherever in the world you want it to go. One of those friendly faces is Kersten Drees. Drees is a busy woman. As a … [Read more...]
Michele Peterson, The Amazing Woman Helping to Guide Chatfield Into the Future
By Zech Sindt When Chatfield’s city administrator, Michele Peterson, was fresh out of high school, she didn’t know much about city government. “I didn’t even know this was a job. It wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I knew this was a job,” she laughingly revealed. Peterson may seem like just another paper-pusher behind a desk in a small southern Minnesota city office … [Read more...]
A Creative Approach to Achieving Work-Life Balance
Balancing work and life is a challenge many women face, but Courtney Bergey Swanson has found her path through creativity. For many women, juggling responsibilities like childcare, sick kids, and figuring out dinner – beyond frozen chicken nuggets – can be overwhelming. “It’s a huge balance,” Courtney emphasized. Courtney lives in Rochester, Minn., with her husband James, … [Read more...]
Pigs are More Than Just an Animal, They are a Learning Tool
By Janee Kale The title of this article are words spoken by a young man who has spent a significant amount of time in his life breeding, raising and showing pigs. Jacob Welch of Spring Valley owns and operates JW Show Pigs with his fiancée Olivia. Together they run a 10 head show pig sow operation, consisting of Durocs, Spots, and Crossbreds. They farrow two times a … [Read more...]
Safely Sharing the Road During Fall Harvest Season
MnDOT asks motorists and farm equipment operators to safely share the road during fall harvest season. Motorists traveling on Minnesota roads this fall should be aware of large farm equipment transporting crops to markets, grain elevators and processing plants, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Crash data shows there were 446 crashes involving … [Read more...]