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Monticello Times
RIVERFEST 2024: Your guide to all the fun
MONTICELLO — Here’s a rundown of everything happening during the 48th annual Riverfest, including pre-festivities, with myriad activities, events and cherished traditions taking place from Thursday, July 11 through Sunday, July 14. THURSDAY Get free food at Block Party Start your Riverfest celebrations early with a Block Party at the Monticello Community Center on Thursday,...
Longtime Lion, volunteer lauded as Monticello's Citizen of Year
MONTICELLO — At 68, Jim Dickrell is living his best life. The longtime Monticellan has been enjoying retirement with his wife of 44 years; cycling through the countryside on his bike every day; admiring the majesty of the Mighty Mississippi from his riverfront home; devouring more books in a year than some read in a lifetime; and spending time with friends and his only daughter. Now, he’s got even more...
Merrlyn Seefeldt remembered as half of beloved team
MONTICELLO — Although Merrlyn Seefeldt wasn’t born in Monticello, it is the place where she raised a family and helped to grow a successful business with her partner in industry and life. It is the place where she served as a faith leader and friend. It is the place she called home for 50 years, where she was involved in the community and beloved by all who knew her. Monticello...
Ask a Trooper: Watch for scams when buying a car
Q: I am looking at purchasing my first vehicle but I am worried about scams. Do you have any advice for me? Thank you. A: Here is some information we recently shared on our Minnesota Department of Public Safety blog. Picture this: You are excited about buying a car. You drive it home, but later find out the odometer had been rolled back thousands of miles, it was stolen, or it had previous damage the seller didn’t tell you about — all devastating news. ...
Developer plans to revitalize vacant part of Albertville outlets
ALBERTVILLE — A developer plans to breathe new life into the vacant portion of the nearby Albertville Premium Outlets by demolishing the eastern wing and redeveloping it. The redevelopment could possibly contain a grocery store, two restaurants, a car wash and a coffee shop, according to a concept plan by Plymouth developer HJ Development. The developer plans to purchase the unoccupied wing of the mall from current owner Simon Property...
Riverfest Duck Race becomes ‘Duck Splash’
MONTICELLO — Ah, Minnesota life. If there are two things you cannot plan around when organizing a summer festival in Minnesota, it is the unpredictable weather, and road construction. It seems the Riverfest Committee has been dealt both cards this year in regards to the Riverfest Duck race, which is being redubbed as the “Duck Splash,” with a new location due to bridge work and unsafe river conditions. “It is...
Movie review: ‘IF’ has charm, but tries too hard
John Krasinski seems like a nice guy. I’ve never met the man, obviously, but his “good dad” and “wife guy” energy reads as sincere. He radiates a genial, likable vibe onscreen. “IF,” Krasinki’s latest writing and directorial effort, is as likable as its maker — it’s earnest, pleasant, “nice,” But as Stephen Sondheim once informed us, “nice is different than good,” and “IF” ends up being sweet and sloppy in about equal measure. ...
Arrests, sentencings, fire calls for July 4
Wright County Sheriff arrests: • Perry John Bondhus, 56, of Monticello was arrested June 22 in Monticello on a Wright County warrant for terroristic threats. • Joel Lavern Christenson, 37, of Monticello was arrested June 22 in Monticello on a charge of second-degree DWI. • Daye Abba Kla-Diibah, 38, of Brooklyn Park was arrested June...
Senior Center helps with Riverfest Block Party
We hope to see you at the Riverfest Block Party. People of all ages are invited to this fun event that will be held on Thursday, July 11. Stop by the south side of the community center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a hotdog, chips, dessert and soda. It’s all free. Part of the senior center’s responsibility for the Block Party is to provide desserts and we need a lot. Please contact the center if you can bake bars or cookies for the Block Party, 763-295-2000. ...
Highway 25 bridge repairs begin
MONTICELLO — The moment that many drivers have been dreading is here, with repair work starting on the Highway 25 bridge. MnDOT will resurface and update the bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Monticello to Big Lake through late October. Work started on Monday, July 8. The work will have a definite impact on travel in the area, with Highway 25 reduced to one lane in each direction at all...
Election judges sought for upcoming races
Wright County residents interested in serving as an election judge for the August Primary and November General Election are encouraged to fill out the county’s election judge interest form. The county is not responsible for recruiting or hiring election judges. This form will forward applicants’ information to a local election clerk, who will contact applicants if they need additional judges. Your information may be shared with other local clerks who are short on election judges. To access the online application form, visit www.co.wright.mn.us/FormCenter/AuditorTreasurer-Forms-12/Election-Judge-Interest-Form-96.
All Paws Vet Clinic fills local need
BIG LAKE — All Paws Vet Clinic recently opened just over the bridge in Big Lake, giving local pet owners a new compassionate care option for their four-legged and feathered friends. The comprehensive veterinary clinic opened its doors May 20 next to Laundromutt Grooming at the corner of Highway 25 and County Road 11, after the building underwent an expansion, doubling in size to accommodate the new business. Co-owners Dr....
Monticello High School adds agriculture program
MONTICELLO — Local students with an interest in agriculture, who are considering careers in farming, veterinary care, environmental science and more, will soon have some new course options at Monticello High School. During its most recent meeting on Monday, June 17, the Monticello School Board gave it unanimous approval to four new classes for the 2024-25 school year. Comprising a brand new agricultural-education department at MHS, the courses are Intro...
West Bridge Park evolving into recreation destination
Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part package on the evolution of Monticello’s West Bridge Park. Next week’s article will explore planned improvements to the playground. MONTICELLO — As downtown revitalization ramps up, a key cog in the wheel of Monticello’s rebirth lies with West Bridge Park, a riverfront gem that local leaders aim to turn into a recreation destination. Since opening 25 years ago, in 1999, West...
Big Lake woman looks to become stronger advocate for disabled
BIG LAKE — LanaLee Lambrecht of Big Lake is one of just 30 Minnesotans who recently completed a free advocacy training course, Partners in Policymaking. A nurse with four children, three of whom have disabilities, Lambrecht believes this course will help her continue to be an advocate for the disabled. This nationally acclaimed program is for adults with developmental disabilities and parents/legal guardians of younger children with developmental disabilities. ...
Times Past: Look back at this week in city history
30 YEARS AGO: JUNE 30, 1994 • Monticello phone customers overwhelmingly voted to join the metro calling area. • Sister Carolyn Fink of St. Henry’s Catholic Church, known as the painting nun, completed art school. • A transportation study was presented before the City Council that focused on the future of County Road 75. ...
Cargill donates to Romp ‘n Stomp upgrade
Cargill Kitchen Solutions, which has facilities here in Monticello, donated $3,500 this month for the Romp 'n Stomp indoor play structure at the Monticello Community Center. The multi-level playground, which opened in 2022, is getting an upgrade, to add a swirl slide, additional crawl tubes and protective rubber surfacing. The total cost of the project is $45,000 to $50,000, and more funding is still being sought. More than $33,000 has been raised so far, and Cargill’s contribution brings the upgrade one step closer to fruition.
Movie review: Pixar returns to world of emotions in ‘Inside Out 2’
The folks at Pixar are great world builders. It’s been one of their primary strengths since the halcyon days of that original 10-or-so film run starting with 1995’s “Toy Story.” They create striking new universes, and populate them with delightful details. Pixar has historically been so good at creating original worlds, in fact, that it makes their more recent trend toward sequels doubly disappointing. With the exception of the “Toy...
Monticello School District thanks donors, volunteers
The Monticello Public School District and its School Board hosted a special event on Monday, June 17 to celebrate and recognize donors and volunteers who contributed during the 2023-24 school year. Held ahead of the regular school board meeting, the reception saw a significant turnout from those who have generously contributed their time and resources from July of last year to June of this year. Over this time period, 60 different businesses, individuals, groups and organizations gave the district a total of $184,235 in donations, plus an additional $162,150 in scholarship donations. In addition, the Monticello School District received the support of 344 dedicated volunteers, whose contributions have made a substantial impact.
Downtown Mosaic Art Project spawns school of funky fish
MONTICELLO — Some vibrant, funky fish are adding river-based personality to the downtown in the form of mosaic artwork. Earlier this month, MontiArts held the first workshop of the year in its Downtown Mosaic Art Project, and the results are now on display for all to see, with the colorful sea creatures swimming in the center median on West Broadway Street, near MontiArts’ headquarters. “We had a total of 11...
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Monticello Times has been serving the local community since 1857. Published Thursdays by APG of East Central Minnesota. 24/7 local coverage found online at www.monticellotimes.com
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