By Mary Bell and Joe Deden On March 31, 2016, my husband and I stood in freezing weather at the Tesla Minnesota service center to put our order in for a Model 3. We were 30th in line and we received the first long-range, dual motor, enhanced autopilot, Model 3 delivered in Minnesota, on August 10, 2018. A Tesla is an American made, all electric vehicle manufactured in … [Read more...]
Golf carts – Fun, useful, and not just for golf!
Harmony Golf Carts is a great place to visit because golf carts are just plain fun! From Hwy. 52 in Harmony, go east on 4th at Kwik Trip toward Harmony Golf Course – you can’t miss it. Owner Ivan Vreeman and his wife Tami say they sell about 100 carts a year from their huge selection of Yamaha and EZ Go, new and used, “Plain Jane” or fully loaded, gas or electric carts. One … [Read more...]
Southland Auto & Diesel does it all
If you drive a vehicle, you should know about Southland Auto & Diesel. Located in Spring Valley, just west of Ace Hardware, Southland is a hidden gem of automotive expertise. Owner Isaac Hurst explained that, “We’ve been here since 2010. I actually started out selling used cars,” but he adds, “I would work on my own cars that I bought and then sell those, and so then I … [Read more...]
Ace Hardware’s dog a customer favorite
Todd Jones of Spring Valley Ace Hardware is a dog lover, and he especially loves Doberman dogs. But when his most recent pet Doberman died, fate had a change in mind for the Jones family. Todd said, “I’ve always had Dobermans in the past. And we had a fire, and the last one died in the fire.” So they bought a “fixer-upper” house, and fixed it up good as new. Then Todd … [Read more...]
This Dozer not for sale
Harrington Enterprises, located on Highway 63 midway between Chester (Iowa) and Spring Valley, sells and services lawn and garden equipment. But lately, a Dozer has been garnering the most attention at their location. But this particular Dozer is definitely not for sale, because he’s a dog. Chad and Camri Harrington, who operate Harrington Enterprises from their home, have … [Read more...]
Lucy is a common sight at the Commonweal Theatre
When stopping at the box office of the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, Minn., there is usually a furry friend named Lucy who will greet you. Lucy’s owners are husband and wife team Adrienne Sweeney, Associate Artistic Director/Director of External Relations, and Hal Cropp, Executive Director of the Commonweal Theatre. Lucy has become a member of the theatre group and loves … [Read more...]
Meet Emerson, the Greek desert tortoise
Slow down a spell and stop at the Rushford Public Library to visit their in-house pet, Emerson, the tortoise. No need to be in a hurry, as she is always there waiting for attention. Emerson is a female Greek desert tortoise who came to live at the library in October of 2014 when a local family whose son was going away for college and would not be able to care for her … [Read more...]
A veteran’s service – American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars remember
We see them marching, flags held high while commanders call out drill commands. We see them somber at the funerals for soldiers who’ve passed on; standing with the color guard, trumpeting out a bugle’s song, firing the heart stopping three-volley salute. We see them, but who are they and what do they represent? At current count, there are 13,807 American Legion posts … [Read more...]
Honor Flight journey worth the wait for local vets
Since its inception in 2005, the Honor Flight Network has flown an estimated 159,000 thousand veterans to Washington, DC to view their respective war memorial. While the number may seem staggering, organizers can’t get flights fast enough. More than 29,000 veterans are on the ever-increasing waiting list. Recently, two Rushford American Legion members had the privilege of … [Read more...]
Patriotism led Spring Valley man to serve his country
When Gabe Kohn was asked why he joined the service, he said, “I’ve always been a patriotic person and knew that serving my country would be something I’d want to do one day.” That patriotism has taken him on a journey that has been good for both him and our country. Kohn is a staff sergeant with the 8th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force. He has been stationed in South Korea … [Read more...]