<&firstgraph>OWATONNA — At its regular meeting Monday night, the Owatonna Public School Board approved a sale of building bonds for the new high school to the lowest bidder at an interest rate of 2.25%.
<&firstgraph>BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Following a vote by the Pine Island Public School Board earlier this month, a shared facilities project that would impact Blooming Prairie is on hold for the foreseeable future.
<&firstgraph>DODGE COUNTY — Steele County Sheriff Lon Thiele is on a crusade to stop distracted driving, and after an incident on Highway 14 on Monday, this time it’s personal.
<&firstgraph>WASECA — Michael Johnson has joined the Waseca County team as the new county administrator.
OWATONNA — Keeping to its original promise of opening before the end of the month, Dollar General in downtown Owatonna is officially open.
OWATONNA — In honor of the 27th annual Hometown Sampler, organizers are hoping to raise $27,000 this weekend for the Steele County Food Shelf, now part of Community Pathways of Steele County after its merger with the Clothesline at the beginning of this year.
OWATONNA — Voters have just under a week left to cast their ballots in Minnesota’s first true presidential primary in more than 60 years. In preparation for the election next Tuesday, the Steele County Auditor’s office is open for early voting almost every day from now through Monday, and is…
<&firstgraph>WASECA — Just 17 days after the Hy-Vee supermarket closed its doors in Waseca after more than 30 years in the community, Cash Wise opened in the same spot, filling the grocery vacancy.
OWATONNA — The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, spanning across 14 states from Maine to Georgia. Every year, 3 million people visit the trail, but only a select few conquer its 2,192 miles.
WASECA — A Waseca man is in the county jail awaiting charges following a six-hour standoff Monday night with area law enforcement and local SWAT teams.
OWATONNA — The City of Owatonna now has a master plan for the extensive park and trail system, after the city council approved the final draft during its regular meeting last week.
OWATONNA — For the second year in a row, an Owatonna High School senior has been named a state finalist for the Minnesota State High School League’s Triple “A” Award.
WASECA — Nicole Matson was able to start Saturday’s CaringBridge post on a positive note, wishing readers a “Happy Arik Matson Day!”
OWATONNA — “It was a matter of inches,” Dan Feehan said as he recalled his narrow defeat to Rep. Jim Hagedorn in 2018 by less than half a percentage point.
FARIBAULT — First District Congressman Jim Hagedorn, R-Blue Earth, held a lively town hall in Faribault on Saturday, sharing his views and accomplishments over his first year in Congress while fending off harsh criticisms from some of his more liberal constituents.
OWATONNA — As a part of Owatonna’s first National Entrepreneurship Week celebration, the Owatonna Area Business Development Center inducted its first class into its new Hall of Fame on Friday, recognizing powerhouse entrepreneurs of both yesterday and today.
OWATONNA — Jon Osmundson is a lot of things — a devoted husband, a loving father, a loyal friend, a dedicated co-worker, and a professional air guitarist.
OWATONNA — It has been decided: there is simply something in Owatonna’s water than creates dynamic entrepreneurs.
OWATONNA — Despite Minnesota having an official presidential primary this year, precinct caucuses across the state will still meet to discuss delegates and party agendas this Tuesday.
OWATONNA — “You go to the sheriff’s office and you never know, but this turned out to be a good thing,” laughed Deputy Sheriff Tony David.
OWATONNA — Participants at the most recent Business Bootcamp packed the library’s Gainey Room Thursday afternoon to hear a presentation on Instagram use from Holly Sobrack, social media marketing manager with Westbrack Marketing.
OWATONNA — As a part of Owatonna’s first National Entrepreneurship Week celebration, the Owatonna Area Business Development Center will be inducting its first class into its new Hall of Fame, recognizing powerhouse entrepreneurs of both yesterday and today.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Before Monday night’s basketball game, three Blooming Prairie High School students took center stage in the gymnasium to be recognized for their achievements in class, extracurricular activities and community service.
OWATONNA — For many years, Mark Woodrich had a dream. He wanted to bring good music to downtown Owatonna, he wanted a place for people of all walks of life to gather and share their love for the art, and he wanted to expose others to new sounds they may not have heard before.
OWATONNA — Even a winter weather advisory couldn’t keep members of the Owatonna Chorale from rehearsal.
U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn announced Wednesday that he is being treated for cancer.
OWATONNA — “I didn’t feel sick,” stated Nova Maas as she snuggled under her blanket and resumed the game on her tablet.
OWATONNA — As a part of Owatonna’s first National Entrepreneurship Week celebration, the Owatonna Area Business Development Center will be inducting its first class into its new Hall of Fame, recognizing powerhouse entrepreneurs of both yesterday and today.
OWATONNA — Director Erik Eitrheim calls “Once Upon a Mattress” the best musical you’ve never heard of, and he and his students are preparing to debut the production for local audiences this Thursday at Owatonna High School.
OWATONNA — Although this year’s Snow Week medallion hunt was scheduled to run through last Friday, it only took Emilee Moffett until Wednesday to find the much sought-after cutout and cash it in for a brand new television.
OWATONNA — As a part of Owatonna’s first National Entrepreneurship Week celebration, the Owatonna Area Business Development Center will be inducting its first class into its new Hall of Fame, recognizing powerhouse entrepreneurs of both yesterday and today.
Northfield, Owatonna and Faribault are among the safest cities in the state and certainly among the cities in southeastern and south central Minnesota, according to a report issued this week.
OWATONNA — Being a mentor for a child or teen doesn’t require intense training, a specific degree or even a drastic lifestyle change.
OWATONNA — Inspired by other districts across the state, Owatonna students held an inaugural Unified Dance during last week’s mid-winter festivities.
A Waseca man was driving one of two vehicles involved in a crash in Freeborn County Monday that claimed the life of a teenage girl.
OWATONNA — A sixth Kwik Trip location is set to open this Thursday in Owatonna, attached to Sterling Pharmacy along Hoffman Drive.
OWATONNA — As a part of Owatonna’s first National Entrepreneurship Week celebration, the Owatonna Area Business Development Center will be inducting its first class into its new Hall of Fame, recognizing powerhouse entrepreneurs of both yesterday and today.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — A Saturday evening benefit for the owners of two Blooming Prairie Main Street businesses drew a massive crowd, as town residents came together to help out following a Jan. 28 fire at The Bakery.
WASECA — A Waseca Police Department officer who was gravely wounded while responding to a call last month was able to walk Thursday with assistance from physical therapists.
OWATONNA — The City of Owatonna’s building safety department has been named the Building Department of the Year by the Association of Minnesota Building Officials.
OWATONNA — First-grade teacher Michelle Simon has been named the 2020 Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies. An educator at McKinley Elementary, Simon found out that she had received the award earlier this month after being nominated by colleagues Jen…
OWATONNA – “Entrepreneurship is vital to Owatonna’s growth and prosperity, and Owatonna recognizes and supports entrepreneurship as an economic equalizer crucial to the long-term growth of local communities, the state, and the nation.”
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Another fundraiser has been set up for Gregg Fristedt, owner of The Bakery in Blooming Prairie. The business was destroyed in a Jan. 28 electrical fire, which also caused significant damage to neighboring Sportstitch, Inc.
OWATONNA – Coming fresh off a record breaking fundraising year, the United Way of Steele County President announced to the public on Friday that she will be leaving her position at the nonprofit come April.
OWATONNA — At its prime, Timber Lodge Steakhouse Inc. operated dozens of restaurants both around the state and across the country. Now, numbers have dwindled down to likely just one remaining location — the independently-owned business off of Interstate 35 in Owatonna, which is now listed for sale.
OWATONNA – Traditionally the month for lovers and all things heart related, February also reminds us to take care of our heart. This Valentine’s Day, a local doctor wants to encourage everyone to take the health of their heart to heart as a part of American Heart Month.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — At its Monday night meeting, the Blooming Prairie City Council signed off on a donation from Arkema Inc. to the Blooming Prairie Police Department for purchase of the force’s first ballistic shield.
OWATONNA — After finally getting some sunshine for a handful of days, Beth Svenby has her fingers crossed that this will be a sign of what to expect come spring. Despite whatever the weather brings the first weekend of May, though, the From the Heart Run/Walk will go on — rain, shine, blizza…
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — In helping inform design plans for the reconstruction of Highway 218 through town, a core group of community stakeholders met Tuesday at Blooming Prairie Elementary School.
OWATONNA — Over the course of the next month, the Owatonna Arts Center will once again be hosting its “Try Art” series — offering residents the chance to test out and learn about different media at an introductory level.
OWATONNA – It was been nearly two years since the Minnesota Workforce Center in Owatonna abruptly closed its doors, but the parent non-profit agency reports that they are still doing important work locally.
