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...]
Houston School Board reaches consensus
At their third special workshopping session with SiteLogiQ, the Houston School Board reached a consensus on their proposed building referendum. While no vote was taken and nothing is written in stone, the board decided on an approximate cost, the projects to be included, and the question (questions) to be asked when the public vote is held. To begin the session, Andy Fields … [Read more...]
Clean audit for city of Houston
Andrew Forliti of Smith Schafer presented the audit recap for 2022 to the city of Houston at their regular meeting March 13. The certified levy for the city increased 2% (an additional $11,000 increase. LGA revenues were only up $676 for the year with an expected $4,000 increase anticipated in 2023. Unassigned fund balance ($377,802) as a percent of expenditures for 2022 was … [Read more...]
RULER curriculum in use at Houston Elementary
Houston Elementary social worker Jessie Reed joined the school board at their regular March 2 board meeting to explain RULER, an emotional intelligence curriculum, being used at the elementary school. RULER, which stands for recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating, was developed by Yale. To begin her presentation, Reed had the board jot down as many … [Read more...]
Dale H. Egland
Dale H. Egland, 80, of Houston, Minn., died on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Lewiston Senior Living in Lewiston, Minn. Dale Hurvey Egland was born on October 4, 1942, in Houston, Minn., to Hurvey and Jane (Clawson) Egland. He was raised in Houston and was a graduate of Houston High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and education from Winona State … [Read more...]
Ruth Arnett
Ruth Arnett died at her home on Friday, February 24, 2023. She was born on May 1, 1930, in La Crosse, Wis., to Clarence and Frieda (Kleinback) Witt. She was baptized on July 27, 1930, by Rev. L. E. Boddy, confirmed in 1939, and was received into church membership on April 18, 1943. On May 30, 1949, she graduated from Houston High School and went on to attend Westmar College … [Read more...]
Houston Council passes OHV exit resolution
In a special meeting on February 17, the Houston City Council passed a resolution to exit the OHV trail agreement that had been made with the DNR. The meeting had only one agenda item, the OHV exit resolution. Prior to the council discussing and voting on the resolution, the meeting was opened for public comment. Dan Larson, representing the Minnesota 4 Wheel Drive … [Read more...]
Margaret Doloris (Gaustad) Anderson
On February 17, 2023, Margaret Doloris (Gaustad) Anderson made her transition to Heaven while at Valley View Healthcare in Houston. Within three weeks she suffered a stroke which was followed by the onset of COVID-19. Margaret was born on March 24 1930, to Peter and Senell (Gundersen) Gaustad. In 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Anderson. They celebrated … [Read more...]
Have a hoot at the International Festival of Owls
After two years of only basic activities, the International Festival of Owls is back to normal! You’ll find a staggering array of owl-themed activities for everyone from children to adults with a serious interest in owls throughout the weekend of March 3-5 in Houston, Minn. The main attraction is the Illinois Raptor Center’s live owl programs featuring Snowy, Eastern … [Read more...]