City Engineer Brett Grabau presented plans and specifications for the Circle Heights Drive Improvement project at the Preston City Council’s June 20 meeting. Grabau introduced a tentative project schedule. Plans and specifications and the authorization to advertise for bids were both approved. As the project will cost more than $175,000, it must go through the public … [Read more...]
Pastor devotion – Guard your speech
By Pastor Stuart Weist First Baptist Church of Preston Have you ever heard someone tell you to “watch your mouth”? Well, I have because unfortunately, in my youth, my tongue would often get me in trouble. Those little backhanded comments to parents, speaking ill of bosses or coworkers, or simply venting my anger though vile language, I have been guilty of it all and once … [Read more...]
Free summer music series at Historic Forestville
Historic Forestville and the Friends of Forestville have partnered with the Preston Area Community Foundation to present a free concert series at the historic site in Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park this summer. The music series opened with a square dance led by Bob Bovee, Pop Wagner and Anni Spring on June 11. Upcoming events feature rootsy music by local favorites River … [Read more...]
State veterans home scheduled to open next summer
Local and county officials, veterans home committee members, and interested citizens met for an in-person meeting at the Preston Servicemen’s Club on June 21. Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke opened the meeting. The focus of this meeting was the need to find and contract with community suppliers for services. Herke introduced a number of MDVA … [Read more...]
Popcorn stand memories
“Peanuts, popcorn, cracker jacks!” Della Marie Jetson Mehaffey can still hear her Grandpa Linstroth calling out those words to attract customers to his popcorn stand. “I’m not sure where the cracker jacks came from,” she laughed. She remembers the popcorn and the peanuts, but doesn’t recall him ever selling cracker jacks. Francis Linstroth grew up in Preston and moved to … [Read more...]
Preston Hires city administrator
Preston’s search for a city administrator began after the resignation of Joe Hoffman, effective February 25, after over 17 years with the city. At the June 7 meeting of the city council the hire of Ryan Throckmorton as the city’s new city administrator, effective June 13, was approved. An employment agreement has been drawn up and is being reviewed by city attorney Dwight … [Read more...]
Richard “Rich” C. Milne
Richard “Rich” C. Milne, age 76, of Preston, died on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in Preston, Minn. Funeral service for Richard will be Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 11 a.m., at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston, Minn., with Pastor Dan Bredberg officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, from 5-7 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, and will continue for one hour prior … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – “Faith’s Check Book” inspiring and uplifting
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) Uanited Methodist Churches During a particular rough time in my life, I very much appreciated the inspiring, uplifting, encouraging words of a wonderful pastor who lived in England. Charles Spurgeon lived from 1834-1892 and he was a prominent clergyman during this … [Read more...]
Janelle A. Britton
Our beloved angel, Janelle A. Britton, age 48, daughter of Neil and Linda Britton, flew off too early to heaven on May 25, 2022, surrounded by family members in her home in Eau Claire, Wis. Janelle was born September 14, 1973, into a loving and caring family in Preston, Minn. She had been blessed with an older sister, but the family continued to grow with the addition of … [Read more...]
Muriel Melva Hanson
Muriel Melva Hanson, 89, of Preston, Minn., died Thursday, May 26, 2022, at Gundersen Harmony Care Center in Harmony, Minn., surrounded by her family. She was born in Whalan, Minn., on December 2, 1932, to Ralph and Myrtle (Olson) Ramsey. Muriel started school (1st and 2nd grade) in Oronoco, Minn. She attended 3rd and 4th grade at Northrup School in Rochester, Minn., and … [Read more...]
It takes a village to keep a community safe
The Preston Police Department recently implemented a new program to protect the town’s residents and businesses. The department is creating a database of surveillance cameras in private homes and local businesses to assist the department in case of a crime or an emergency. The project is new to the area and is completely voluntary. “Just like it takes a village to raise a kid, … [Read more...]
Golfview Doherty First Addition
The Final Plat for a new subdivision, Golfview Doherty First Addition, was approved at the Preston City Council’s May 16 meeting, as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The subdivision is to be located along the eastern side of Golfview Dr. and is to consist of eight lots for single family homes. City Engineer Brett Grabau noted that a site grading plan had … [Read more...]
Wanda Lou (Gatzke) Schmidt
Wanda Lou (Gatzke) Schmidt, 85, died peacefully October 31, 2021, in Fort Collins, Colo. Wanda was born July 5, 1936, near Preston, Minn., the sixth child of John and Winnie (Bigalk) Gatzke. She attended school in Preston, was very social, playing trombone in band, singing in the choir, and participating in many extracurricular activities. She graduated Preston High School … [Read more...]
Preston woman shares memories of growing up on the railroad
Not many people remember a time when trains ran through Preston, but for life-long Preston resident Ila Mae Olstad, those memories are near and dear to her heart. “My dad worked on the railroad. He was section foreman here in Preston,” Ila Mae explained. Her parents, Art and Melda Noel, moved to Preston around 1921 and she was born 10 years later. Ila Mae’s father had a … [Read more...]
Richard “Dick” Cutler
Richard “Dick” E. Cutler of Tarboro, N. C., died on February 23, 2021. He is preceded in death by his parents Max, Enid, and Doris Cutler, sisters Arlene Thatcher and June Hanson. His sister-in-law Mavis Paulson Nixon recently died April 2022. Dick was born May 8, 1936, in Preston, Minn., and graduated from Preston High School. He was a gifted athlete lettering in four … [Read more...]