OWATONNA — The United Way of Steele County is joining forces with more than 40 other chapters statewide to celebrate Minnesota United Acts of Kindness Week now through Nov. 22.

OWATONNA — “I still remember the day I was hired,” laughs Dave Pfieffer.

OWATONNA — One of the primary motivators in the Owatonna Public Schools’ push for a new high school will now be one of the guiding principles in that facility’s design. — namely, an emphasis on physical spaces that will enhance students’ college- and career-readiness in a world that looks va…

BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Walking into Blooming Prairie Elementary School on a typical Friday morning, Secretary Julie Naatz raises a mug of coffee with a smile.

STEELE COUNTY – The amount of students in Steele County who qualified for free or reduced lunch in the county's public school systems dropped during the 2018-2019 school year, according to data from the Kids Count Data Book.

MEDFORD — The Minnesota Senate’s Capital Investment Committee kicked off a tour of capital investment projects across southeast Minnesota in Rice County Tuesday, visiting several projects supported by Sen. John Jasinski (R-Faribault).

OWATONNA — “The community has spoken,” said Dale Fairbanks, a member of Concerned Owatonnans for Public Education, summing up voters’ approval Tuesday of a $104 million bond for construction of a new high school.

OWATONNA — The Owatonna Police Department is investigating a bomb threat at a local business Tuesday morning.

OWATONNA — After nearly a year of anticipation — including a failed referendum in May — the Owatonna Public Schools building bond was approved by voters Nov. 5.

OWATONNA — “Steady” is the word many election judges started off with when describing the turnout for Tuesday’s school building bond referendum.

OWATONNA — Piggybacking off the recent bonding tour for the Minnesota State House Capital Investment Committee in October, the sister committee in the State Senate made a special visit to the Steele County Fairgrounds on Tuesday to talk project dollars and public safety.

OWATONNA — After two years with the Steele County Historical Society, executive director James Lundgren announced his resignation on Monday.

OWATONNA — As the Noon Rotarians gathered together at the Owatonna Country Club on Monday, there was a special type of energy in the air.

OWATONNA — It was a short and simple Facebook post, but the reaction from the public was enormous.

OWATONNA — The leaders of four of Owatonna’s largest employers have put their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting the upcoming referendum for a new high school in town.

OWATONNA — With less than two weeks to go until the high school building bond referendum, some residents have raised concerns over the district’s agreements with potential donors.

OWATONNA – After decades of advocacy, years of letdowns, multitudes of heartbreaking accidents, and a rollercoaster start, the end is finally in sight for the long-awaited expansion of Highway 14 from Owatonna to Dodge Center.

OWATONNA — Two weeks ahead of the high school building bond referendum vote, Owatonna Public Schools has released a preliminary concept plan of what a new high school might look like on land selected by the district at the southeast end of town.

OWATONNA — For the last year or so, Minnesota manufacturers have been daunted by the workforce shortage that is rapidly becoming a bigger obstacle each and every day.

OWATONNA — “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about 10 years ago,” David Albrecht said with a soft smile.

OWATONNA — Don’t put out a rocking chair for Katie Smith any time soon because, retirement or no retirement, she’s not likely to sit in it, let alone rock.

OWATONNA — The Owatonna Soccer Association scored a winning goal this week, claiming victory for the area youth.

OWATONNA — School district officials and state legislators held a press conference Tuesday to discuss a recently increased tax credit that would subsidize farmers’ contributions to school building bonds, including the soon-to-be-voted-on Owatonna High School building bond.

OWATONNA — As residents raise flooding concerns at the site of the proposed new Owatonna High School, the school district and the City of Owatonna seek to assuage doubts prior to a Nov. 5 bond referendum that will determine the fate of the planned building.

OWATONNA — A Steele County business that had been homegrown in Blooming Prairie for the last three decades took another step toward moving 20 miles up the road as a handful of employees tossed the first chunk of dirt on what would be their future home.

OWATONNA — The annual Owatonna Foundation Legacy Luncheon drew a record crowd Oct. 9, bringing nearly 150 residents together to celebrate donors and to honor Edith and Jean Zamboni with the Spirit of the Community Award.

OWATONNA — One of the very special parts of Owatonna’s unique and rich culture are the various people who dedicate their lives to enriching their community.

OWATONNA — A new high school in Owatonna will be located in the southeast corner of the city under a proposal released by the school district on Tuesday.

OWATONNA — Nine years after the former Steel County Highway Operations Complex was damaged by flooding, a replacement facility along Hoffman Drive in Owatonna is complete and open to the public.

OWATONNA — “You know how when you do a fall or spring cleaning in your home and everything is fresh and clean and you just feel good?” asked Shirley Schultz. “The same thing happens in a downtown.”

BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The business community of Blooming Prairie is about to grow by adding a manufacturer company that is a global leader in its industry.

OWATONNA – It’s been almost three months since 24 residents of a local senior living facility had to evacuate due to a flash flood, temporarily relocating to either the homes of relatives or another Owatonna facility.

MEDFORD — It has been nearly a month since the Minnesota Department of Agriculture confirmed that the invasive beetle known as emerald ash borer, or EAB, has been found in Medford, putting all of Steele County on an emergency quarantine.

OWATONNA — The Owatonna City Council has approved the proposed 2020 budget and tax levy with the final versions to be voted on in December.

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.