The public showed up to comment and ask questions about the upcoming building referendum at the Houston School Board’s June 29 meeting. Before the public comment period, Vice chairman Josh Norlien (Chairwoman Mimi Carlson was absent) advised the public that the board would not be responding to the comments at that meeting and that there was a time limit of three minutes for … [Read more...]
John Loken
John Martin Loken, age 67, of Houston, Minn., passed Monday, July 3, 2023, at his beloved homestead on Oak Ridge, surrounded and supported by his entire family, after living nine bonus years following a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. He was a fearless warrior of advancing the treatment and cure for esophageal cancer. John was born June 20, 1956, in Caledonia, Minn., the son … [Read more...]
Mark Witt
Mark Arnold Witt, age 83, passed away at home Saturday, July 1, 2023. Mark was born on April 4, 1940, to Arthur D. and Marion J. (Mason) Witt, at Grandview Hospital in La Crosse, Wis. Growing up with his siblings Rachel and Mason on their farms, first on South Ridge, and then in Looney Valley, Mark graduated from Houston High School. On December 4, 1958, he was united in … [Read more...]
Houston Ambulance staff shortage
Anna Frauenkron of the Houston Ambulance visited the Houston City Council meeting on June 12 to ask for help in the struggle with summer day time coverage for the local ambulance. With some people on vacation and teachers not available during the summer hours, only two people will be around to cover on-call for the ambulance for a solid two-week period coming up. Frauenkron … [Read more...]
Marleen Morken
Marleen E. Morken, 89, of Spring Grove, Minn., died Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the Stewartville Care Center. Marleen was born December 12, 1933, in Spring Grove, to Martin and Gilma (Treangen) Dragvold. She attended different country and public schools before graduating from Houston High School. On October 29, 1955, she married George Morken at the Stone Church near Houston. … [Read more...]
Houston Council gets ready for summer
At their May 8 meeting, the Houston City Council accepted a proposed donation of benches for the Trailhead Park. Ron Evenson presented the proposal to install a concrete pad near the bandshell which would be long enough to hold four benches with spacing. The pad would make mowing easier. The benches will be similar to the ones near the basketball courts. John Langheinrich has … [Read more...]
Donna H. Bestor
Donna H. Bestor, 87, of Houston, Minn., died on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wis. Donna Helen Hermanson was born on March 15, 1936, in Spring Grove, Minn., to Herman and Beulah (Vickerman) Hermanson. She was raised in the Blackhammer, Preston and Harmony areas. Donna married Wayne Bestor on September 10, 1955. After first getting … [Read more...]
Houston swears in new police officer
Mayor Scott Wallace swore in new police officer Josh DeBoer at the regular Houston City Council meeting April 10. Josh’s mom LoAnn had the honor of pinning Josh’s badge on his uniform as he teased, “Don’t worry, I have my vest on!” Danica Stampka of Houston troop 531 visited the council to request and receive approval for her Eagle Scout project. Stampka shared that she … [Read more...]
Houston adds ½ student contact day May 12
At their regular April 6 board meeting, the Houston School Board approved adding a ½ student contact day back into the academic calendar for May 12. Superintendent Mary Morem asked for the ½ day because of the many snow days that had occurred this year. The school still had not fallen below the required student days, but she felt the students and staff needed the additional … [Read more...]
Houston Area Chamber of Commerce elects new officers
The Houston Area Chamber of Commerce elected new officers at the organization’s annual membership meeting on March 20 at Timeless Creations gift shop in Houston. Timeless Creations co-owners Vicki Olson and Kristen Collins hosted the event. Chamber of Commerce Director Margaret Knutson assisted. Ron Evenson was elected president; Rod Torgerson, vice president; Patrick … [Read more...]