OWATONNA — What arguably could have been some of the busiest days of the Christmas season, the Hometown Holiday Weekend once again brought a little something for Steele Countians — and visitors — late last week.
OWATONNA — Temperatures are set to drop past zero Tuesday and Wednesday, with wind chills reaching as low as 20-below, according to the National Weather Service. As the frigid weather arrives sooner than many expected, Steele County has a variety of services to help residents stay up-to-date…
OWATONNA — “It’s not a concert,” explained Rebecca Somers, who is helping to organize this year’s Toys for Tots benefit on Friday. “It’s truly a show.”
OWATONNA — What arguably could have been some of the busiest days of the Christmas season, the Hometown Holiday Weekend once again brought a little something for Steele Countians — and visitors — late last week.
The Minnesota National Guard has identified the three soldiers who died in the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter on Thursday near St. Cloud.
OWATONNA — A minor’s foot was run over by a float Thursday evening during the Lighted Holiday Parade, according to an incident report from the Owatonna Police Department. Police say that the mother told officers she and her daughter had just finished handing out candy, and the girl was runni…
OWATONNA — On any given Tuesday at Wilson Elementary, visitors may be surprised to see some older-than-usual faces scattered at tables throughout the school’s classrooms and common areas. Last week, local retirees and some of Owatonna’s youngest students chatted, read and played games togeth…
OWATONNA — When Floyd Piepho first returned from service at the end of World War II, he admits that he never talked much about his time in the Pacific theater.
OWATONNA — The Christmas spirit burst through the air on Thursday night as thousands of Owatonnans flooded the streets of downtown to partake in the community’s favorite annual tradition.
OWATONNA — This year’s holiday exhibition at the Owatonna Arts Center has everything: three Santa Clauses, four model airplanes, countless figurines, one fake turkey and a unicorn that Creative Director Silvan Durben says “used to be a deer.”
OWATONNA — It got late early Thursday in Owatonna, when the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train rolled into town just after 3:30 p.m. to kick off an evening of seasonal celebration. Since 2009, the locomotive has been visiting the city every other year, bringing with it musical guests and a donat…
OWATONNA — No parents are allowed on this shopping spree.
OWATONNA — “I have more time,” said Antonieta Sanchez Mendez, success coach at Owatonna High School. “I have more time to make phone calls and help the teachers build a relationship with families.”
OWATONNA — This isn’t your classic “Who done it?” show — unless you want it to be.
OWATONNA — “Was this what you were expecting?” asked Janet Miller. Instead of deep reds and greens, the historic Holy Trinity Catholic Church is adorned with royal blue and violet sashes.
OWATONNA – Now that winter is officially here with no turning back, the Owatonna City Council has taken the first steps into making public sidewalks safe for pedestrians as they maneuver through icy conditions.
OWATONNA — For nearly three decades, the Festival of Trees has helped serve as a kick-off to the local holiday season. Aside from moving the celebration date back by two weeks, the annual fundraiser for Advocates for Developmental Disabilities is being guided under new leadership.
OWATONNA — When asked about the upcoming Christmas in the Village celebration, MaryAnne Higgins had an almost endless list of activities happening this weekend in the Village of Yesteryear — wagon rides, carolers, lefse making, arts and crafts, a pump organ, “Santa in the main cabin, Mrs. Cl…
MEDFORD — A pair of new Christmas trees are set up in the Medford Public School entryway, welcoming visitors to the space and inviting them to give back this holiday season.
On the eastern edge of Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District sits a grocery store along the abbreviated downtown St. Charles strip. Outside that store, local resident Jim Decker talked politics.
OWATONNA — It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and Owatonna is ready to prove that there is no other place to start the holiday season than right here.
OWATONNA — With a drop in the number of students across the Midwest choosing to go into teaching, the Owatonna Public Schools are looking to develop a unique program designed to help train and recruit future staff members by expanding education course offerings at the high school.
OWATONNA — Shortly after Executive Director James Lundgren announced his resignation, the Steele County History Center found themselves with another empty seat at the table.
Two Wabasha County brothers — Lennie Dwayne Brooks, 34 and Randy Lorenzo Brooks, 24 —and Autumn Marie Nichols, 21, of St. Paul were sentenced to prison Tuesday for their roles in a string of violent home invasion robberies, including one in Ellendale.
MEDFORD — An audit of the Medford Public School’s financial statements from the previous fiscal year came back clean, according to a report given by CliftonLarsonAllen at Monday’s school board meeting. Two representatives from the independent auditing firm were present to talk with officials…
OWATONNA – The beginning of December is commonly a hectic time of year for most people, and those helping coordinate the area’s largest toy donation are no exception.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — With snow on the ground and a slight chill in the air, it’s once again time for Blooming Prairie’s annual Holiday Dazzle. This Friday, downtown businesses will be offering a number of special promotions and, in the evening, a full slate of activities for adults and kids.
OWATONNA — “They just kept bringing food, and bringing food,” said Nancy Ness, executive director of the Owatonna-based Steele County Food Shelf. “All of them made several trips because we had so much food donated.”
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — They arrived just before the second winter storm of the week, sirens blaring and voices raised as the Blooming Prairie High School football team turned down Main Street in the middle of a police and fire department escort. Players had left town hopeful earlier that morning…
MINNEAPOLIS — Athletes the size of Gabe Hagen, all 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds of him, typically find a home on the offensive line, especially on teams playing in the state’s second-smallest high school classification.
OWATONNA — For many people, waking up early to go shopping on Black Friday is simply a part of their family Thanksgiving tradition.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Blooming Prairie football program has churned out some darn good teams in Chad Gimbel’s 20-plus years as head coach, particularly in the last decade.
OWATONNA — Tenth-grader Nolan Baker is back with a holiday lights display that now takes up three houses just south of downtown. A student and robotics team member at Owatonna High School, Baker and friends have been programming the show for three years, synchronizing each neighbor’s decorat…
MINNEAPOLIS -- Buoyed by the nearly unstoppable quarterback-receiver combination of Kaden Thomas and Gabe Hagen, the No. 2-ranked Blooming Prairie football team pulled away in the second half and defeated No.1 BOLD, 41-15, in the Class A state championship game on Friday.
OWATONNA — As temperatures drop, the risk for carbon monoxide leaks and fires in the home can rise, according to Owatonna Fire Department Commander Todd Ulrich. He noted that local firefighters tend to respond to more calls during the colder months, with a lot of issues stemming from heating…
OWATONNA — Fans of the Owatonna High School Carolers may notice some new faces on the risers this holiday season, but despite this being their first season, the recently-appointed singers have already been hard at work memorizing lines and perfecting moves.
OWATONNA — The drive home from the holidays is going to be slick, but not in the sense that it will be easy.
OWATONNA — The T-shirt that Star Torrez wore on Thursday said it all: “Thankful, Grateful, Blessed.”
OWATONNA – ‘Tis the season to be giving, and the Free Clinic of Steele County is hoping you’re in the mood to do just that.
OWATONNA — Hussein Osman was brought on by the Owatonna Public Schools in October to take over the role of Somali bilingual liaison after his predecessor — who had been with the district for roughly a decade — moved on from the position. Osman is now also coming in at a time when the title o…
STEELE COUNTY — Through a surprising and enormous act of generosity, the dream of bringing a K-9 unit back to the Steele County Sheriff’s office just became reality.
STEELE COUNTY — Assessment officials with the county have an important task: to keep the jurisdiction’s tax rolls fair and equitable. In order to do so, the assessors must stay on top of any property changes that occur such as a new construction, improvements, updates, and demolitions.
OWATONNA — Bringing everything full circle, the Villarreal family was able to once again show its support for the Crisis Resource Center of Steele County in memory of one of the center’s most dedicated and passionate volunteers.
OWATONNA — Just before daybreak on Tuesday morning, the comforting aroma of a home-cooked meal began wafting out of the Owatonna VFW, while inside, a group of loyal volunteers gathered as they continued the prep-work for Owatonna’s biggest community dinner.
MEDFORD — Things may be getting wild soon at the outlet mall located in Medford, but that, say city officials and the creatures’ keepers, is a good thing.
OWATONNA — Students and families in the Owatonna Public Schools will now be able to apply to receive computers, tablets and other technology no longer in use by the district, thanks to a new policy approved by the school board on Monday.
OWATONNA — Two initiatives encouraging Owatonna residents to shop local this holiday season are back following Thanksgiving.
FARIBAULT — A change of leadership has occurred at the Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault.
FARIBAULT — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota is celebrating a decade-long partnership with Faribault’s Cheese Cave that has brought new members and donors to the nonprofit community organization.
OWATONNA — The weather outside is about to get frightful — just in time for the busy Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — With only a couple days left to train, Turkey Day enthusiasts in Blooming Prairie are gearing up to raise money for the town’s youth club at the 8th annual Gobble Wobble Fun Run and Walk.
