OWATONNA — “We listened.”

OWATONNA — It has been almost a full year since the first study session brought Tobacco 21 to the forefront of the Owatonna City Council, but as of Tuesday night the conversation is over.

OWATONNA — Jostens, a company with roots deep in Owatonna, has announced changes in its leadership.

OWATONNA — Despite advocacy from the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism to restore and keep in place the recently discontinued traffic signals at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Vine Street, the Steele County engineer has confirmed that the plan to remove the lights will move f…

MASON CITY, Iowa — Three months after Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel announced on Facebook that an Owatonna, Minnesota-based business was looking to expand into town, ground was broken.

BLOOMING PRAIRIE — During its regular meeting on Monday night, the Blooming Prairie City Council unanimously approved the preliminary 2020 budget, as well as the preliminary 2020 tax levy.

OWATONNA — Manufacturers in Minnesota continue to be enthusiastic and optimistic about the economy, according to survey results of those manufacturers across the state.

MASON CITY, Iowa — Three months after Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel announced on Facebook that an Owatonna, Minnesota-based business was looking to expand into town, the groundbreaking has been set.

OWATONNA — “This is an exciting night for Owatonna,” said city council member Kevin Raney.

OWATONNA — Despite the recent resurgence of life in downtown Owatonna, there is still a fair amount of empty buildings littered along the streets.

OWATONNA — The final details have been ironed out as the Steele County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday officially approved a purchase agreement with Bradford Holdings for the sale of an assisted living facility and a vacant senior care center.

MEDFORD — It has been over a year since Medford began the process to implement a program that is aimed at revitalizing the main drag of the city and now the first grant has officially been awarded.

OWATONNA — Over the past several years, weary travelers have been stopping in to hotels on the north side of Owatonna during the dead of night with the same story and concern: “It sure is dark on that exit.”

OWATONNA — An Owatonna business that was celebrating its 160th anniversary this year will be closing its doors on Friday, the company has said.

OWATONNA — After eight years in Owatonna, the local Family Video store on Oak Avenue will be closing up shop next month, but the assistant district manager asserts that its closure has nothing to do with business numbers — or a lack thereof.

MEDFORD — During its regular meeting on Monday night, the Medford City Council on Monday unanimously approved the preliminary 2020 budget, as well as the preliminary 2020 tax levy.

OWATONNA — It has been a trying week on downtown traffic as the Rose Street road construction began and the preparation has started to transition Oak Avenue from four to three. To add to the stress, the Canadian Pacific Railway decided Monday to begin work on the railway crossing that connec…

OWATONNA — For more than three decades, Minimizer has been a staple in the Blooming Prairie community as a manufacturer for truck fenders and fender bracket kits in the heavy-duty trucking industry. The company employs 83 people with a total payroll of approximately $4 million per year, with…

OWATONNA — Heading into its third year, Steele Co. Works, with its mission of matching local individuals to jobs in the community, is “starting to really take shape,” said Anisha Zak, workforce entry coordinator, as more students — and their parents — discover it, and more businesses jump on board.

OWATONNA — Family members became irate and staff members began to shed tears as the Steele County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the sale of Park Place Assisted Living and the empty Cedarview Care Center to Bradford Holdings, solidifying the eventual relocation of 50 Park Place …

OWATONNA — In a surprising Facebook announcement, Sterling Drug alerted the Owatonna public that its convenience store and gift shop will be permanently closed come the end of the day Saturday.

OWATONNA — Adenuga “Nuga” Atewologun, president of Riverland Community College, discussed his own history with community colleges, their benefits, and Riverland’s plethora of programs, with the Rotary Club of Owatonna Monday afternoon.

OWATONNA — It was a full house on Tuesday as family members of Park Place residents expressed their concern, if not disdain, to the Steele County Board of Commissioners over a potential purchase agreement for the assisted living facility.

OWATONNA — After a year on the market, two Steele County-owned buildings appear to be sold — or nearly so.

OWATONNA — The developer of two recently opened apartment complexes in Owatonna took a step toward building a third Tuesday when the city council set a date for a public hearing related to the project.

OWATONNA — Two local downtown businesses have hit a milestone and are celebrating the achievement.

OWATONNA — The long-rumored building of a Costco Distribution Center in Owatonna’s industrial park — bringing with it up to 200 new jobs — will be taking steps toward becoming a reality in the upcoming weeks, city officials confirmed on Tuesday.

OWATONNA — Jamie Vogt still remembers it like it was yesterday.

OWATONNA — Much has changed since Deml Heating and Air Conditioning started up in Owatonna in 1969, and Brian Deml, the president and owner of the company, has been around to see all the changes.

OWATONNA — Local entrepreneurs met Thursday at Riverland Community College to discuss challenges of starting, maintaining, and growing businesses, as well as to learn more about resources available to them.

OWATONNA — Owatonna-based Federated Insurance has been named one of the top workplaces in the state of Minnesota and its CEO and chairman of the board, Jeff Fetters, named the top CEO for large companies in the state.

OWATONNA — In recent years, climate change and the overall state of our environment has become a hot-button issue for both the general public and politicians alike.

OWATONNA — The workforce shortage crisis was once again a focal point during the presentation of Enterprise Minnesota’s annual survey results regarding manufacturing in Minnesota.

OWATONNA — With the self-imposed June 1 deadline staring him squarely in the face, real estate developer Mac Hamilton made good on a promise and opened his new apartment complex in downtown Owatonna to residents over the weekend.

OWATONNA — About 100 new jobs will be created, most of them in town, when a new Twin Cities-based construction company takes up residency in an Owatonna facility later this year.

OWATONNA — It has been about a year since the City of Owatonna, working in collaboration with the MainStreet Owatonna program, embarked on a streetscape study to make the vision of a more beautiful and lively downtown a reality.

OWATONNA – The secret is out: there are more jobs in Owatonna than there are people to work them.

MEDFORD — Dressbarn, the women’s clothing chain founded in 1962 as a place where women in need of career-wear “could find fashion at a value,” is closing all its stores — including the location and Dressbarn Woman location at the Medford Outlet Center.

OWATONNA — Movers and shakers in the local tourism industry were recognized Wednesday the roles they play in tourism here as part of Owatonna’s celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week.

OWATONNA — By less than 1%, voters Tuesday rejected a proposed bond referendum to finance a new Owatonna High School.

OWATONNA — To celebrate their 100th anniversary this year, Kottke Jewelers has partnered with St. Mary’s school to give three local mothers beautiful gems this Mother’s Day.

OWATONNA — On a rainy Wednesday, 54 students from Owatonna High School, Owatonna’s ALC, and Medford visited local businesses like Viracon and Cybex for the last of this year’s three Made in Owatonna Days.

OWATONNA — After a heated debate at Thursday’s Steele County Free Fair Board of Directors meeting, the 2019 fair will officially have a tent for the sale of beer, wine, and hard liquor.

OWATONNA — Steele County commissioners were making good on their promise to clean up the county Friday morning — quite literally.

OWATONNA — During the inaugural Steele Co. Works signing day Wednesday night inside Owatonna High School, several Steele County high school seniors were able to celebrate their commitments to their immediate — and future — careers.