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...]
Betty Hellickson
Betty Hellickson, age 86, of Preston, Minn., passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at the Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s Care Center in Wabasha, Minn. Betty Ann Roos was born February 4, 1936 in Alton, Iowa, to Edward and Esther (Hyink) Roos. She grew up in the Alton area attending a country school most of the time, until a tornado took their farm in 1944. She then moved to town … [Read more...]
Ervin “Pinkie” Russel Barth
Ervin Russel Barth “Pinkie,” age 96, passed away on Sunday April 17, 2022, at the Buckley Assisted Living Apartments in Caledonia Minn. He was born on June 24, 1925, in Preston, Minn., to Elmer Hennen Barth and Wilhelmina Agusta Barth. Pinkie grew up seven miles southwest of Preston, Minn., on the family farm. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1946 and served two years. He … [Read more...]
City of Preston celebrates Arbor Day
Arbor Day was on Friday, April 29, 2022, and the City of Preston and students from Fillmore Central Elementary celebrated with a tree planting in Preston. Pictured above, left to right, are Brandt Miller – 6th grade, Rick Grooters – Preston Tree Board member, Jax Heibel – 6th grade, Jim Bakken – Preston Public Works director and city tree inspector, Dean Schumacher – Preston … [Read more...]
Preston seats two new council members
The Preston City Council now has five members seated. Two new members were appointed at the May 3 meeting. Three residents had offered their services through letters of interest. Flossie Schultz and Steve Hall were appointed to fill the seats, until the end of 2022. The seats were left vacant by the passing of David Collett and the resignation of Robert Maust. Jon Ebner had … [Read more...]