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Northfield News
New resources coming for non-licensed child care providers
Grandparents, neighbors and others who provide child care but are not licensed providers in Rice County now have access to a slate of new resources, thanks to Growing Up Healthy and a state grant. The new program will provide caregivers with educational and networking opportunities and may give some financial assistance to low-income caregivers. The goal is to build community among this growing group of caregivers and help them provide...
Local, statewide enforcement clock more speeding in recent years
Across Minnesota, more than 130 law enforcement agencies across Minnesota nabbed close to 19,000 motorists for speeding last month as part of an annual speed enforcement campaign held during the deadliest time of the year. While many might assume that wintertime would be the deadliest time to be out on the roads, with poorer visibility and slippery roads, it’s actually the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day which has consistently seen the highest number of traffic fatalities. ...
New high school principal proud to be a Raider
Transforming from a Mankato East Cougar into a Northfield Raider takes more than changing shirts, ties and jackets from black and gold to maroon and gold. It takes learning a community of many experts, said Shane Baier, Northfield High School’s new principal. Baier said he found the opportunity and reputation of Northfield “intriguing.” “I’ve spent...
Stage is set for Democrats and Republicans in November
The race for political control at the state and national levels has been set. On the statewide level, GOP insiders were able to breathe a sigh of relief after the primary elections in Minnesota, as the most high profile primary saw the GOP’s endorsed candidate for attorney general, Jim Schultz, beat back a challenge from 2018 attorney general nominee Doug Wardlow with ease. Expectations ...
Regional farmers hear Farm Bill priorities
Around 100 local farmers gathered at David Legvold’s farm near Northfield to learn about the Land Stewardship Project’s platform for the 2023 federal Farm Bill on Tuesday evening. The bill, which is already being debated by Congress, will determine how billions of dollars are spent in the agricultural industry. The Land Stewardship Project is a nonprofit collective of farmers and activists who advocate for ethical farming, sustainable land use and inclusive practices. The group is a proponent of breaking up monopolies within the agriculture industry. ...
CD1 special election win a boost for Republicans, but November still hazy
Alongside a generally lowkey set of state primary elections, voters in southern Minnesota chose last week to send Republican Brad Finstad, a former State Legislator and USDA official, to Congress to fill the late Rep. Jim Hagedorn’s shoes through 2022. The 1st Congressional District result was a significant victory for Republicans, who only need a net gain of five seats in the House and one in the Senate to regain control of Congress and halt President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda. ...
97-year-old retired professor publishes Buddhism in Sri Lanka book
Before Bardwell Smith visited India and Sri Lanka, he packed six small stones — as symbols of hope — to put in locations that cried out for reconciliation. Smith, a retired Carleton College Religion and Asian Studies professor, had learned this simple practice of bringing hope to places faces challenges from a clinical psychologist friend who viewed life through a lens of peace and justice. “It was a reminder that...
Dukes make state tournament to be played on home field
The Dundas Dukes (25-13) earned their 31st Minnesota Baseball Association state tournament bid thanks to an 8-3 victory over New Market in the Section 1B title game on Aug. 9 in St. Patrick. Dundas, which will serve as one of this year’s hosts to the Minnesota Baseball Association Class B and Class C tournaments along with Faribault and Miesville, will open play in the 16-team Class B tournament with a 4:30 p.m. game at Memorial Park in Dundas on Sunday, Aug. 21 against the Eagan...
Northfielder's travel book is compass to journeys beyond your favorite armchair
Armchair travelers rejoice: A local travel writer has penned a new book designed to be your passport to places around the globe you’d never dream of experiencing personally, as long as you can visit by turning the pages. Writing “Journey by the Book: A Guide to Tales of Travel” has been a journey for retired professor and Northfield resident Daniel Van Tassel. A decade-long journey, that is. “This book serves...
Operation Backpack celebrates 30 years of providing school supplies to Northfield youth
One large eraser. Three glue sticks. Four pencils. One box of Crayola crayons and one small size scissors. Those were just a few of the donated school supplies for kindergartners that volunteers packed into shopping bags Monday morning as part of this year’s Operation Backpack effort. Operation Backpack has been donating backpacks and school supplies for qualifying families in the Northfield area since 1993. The campaign to give children the tools they need to learn and succeed was started by several grandmothers from the Northfield...
Is the new Public Safety Center worth the investment?
”Every study has shown we need a new jail,” says Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas. “In 2007, that jail was about $18 million. We didn’t build it.” With ever-rising inflation, everything from milk to construction materials has gone up in price and will continue to do so. According to Thomas, Rice County feels the effects just the same as everyone else. “Now, gas goes up,” he said. “Everything keeps going...
Short plays and workshops on tap for biannual theater festival in Faribault
Thespians from across the state will descend upon Faribault Aug. 19-20 for the biannual festival of 20-minute plays called Fast*Fest. Sponsored by Minnesota Association of Community Theatres, the festival will feature workshops and productions from eight community theater groups from across the state. For the first time, Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault will host the unique theater event. Julianna Skluzacek, board member of the Minnesota Association of Community...
Northfield native and Defeat of Jesse James Days Ambassador crowned Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes
Get ready to curtsy; there’s royalty in Northfield. Kaia Schomburg, a 2019 Northfield High School graduate, was crowned Queen of the Lakes by the Aquatennial Ambassador Organization. Her court includes Aquatennial Princesses Kezia Lee, of Cokato, and Brooklyn Werner, of Gibbon. The trio are part of a Minnesota tradition that has been promoting positive role models since 1940. The trio will make over 250 appearances across Minnesota and North America...
Northfield native and Aquatennial Ambassador crowned Queen of the Lakes
Get ready to curtsy; there’s royalty in Northfield. Kaia Schomburg, a 2019 Northfield High School graduate, was crowned Queen of the Lakes by the Aquatennial Ambassador Organization. Her court includes Aquatennial Princesses Kezia Lee, of Cokato, and Brooklyn Werner, of Gibbon. The trio are part of a Minnesota tradition that has been promoting positive role models since 1940. The trio will make over 250 appearances across Minnesota and North America...
Laura Baker Services Association celebrates 125 years of service
Fridays with Doug. A meal, some laughs, a few games. That’s how Kent Holden describes his weekly meeting at Perkins with Doug Olson, one of Laura Baker Services Associations oldest and longest clients. Usually the pair are joined at Perkins by one or two other Laura Baker clients. “He’s a good guy,” said Holden about...
Endorsed candidate wins District 58 Republican primary
Endorsed Republican candidate Bill Lieske handily defeated a challenger Tuesday to advance in the race for Senate District 58. Lieske, a chiropractor from Lonsdale, had nearly 62% of the primary vote. Jake Cordes, a Farmington School Board member lost by over 1,200 votes. Lieske will run in November against Clarice Grabau, a teacher and Northfield City Council member who received the DFL endorsement. The district includes much of northern Rice County, including Northfield, Dundas and Lonsdale.
Thomas, Spicer advance in Rice County sheriff race
In the Rice County sheriff primary, Incumbent Sheriff Jesse Thomas and Sgt. Ross Spicer advanced to the November election. Thomas, who was appointed sheriff in November following a retirement, was the top vote-getter by a sizable margin. He received 5,245 votes — nearly 64%. Spicer, who is an investigations sergeant in the Sheriff's Office, received 1,864 votes —about 23%. Former Northfield police officer Richard Bailey finished third with 1,113 votes — 14%.
Sokup and Estrada advance from Northfield City Council at-large primary
At of 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, political newcomers Davin Sokup and Thelma Estrada will both be on the November ballot vying for the open Ward 1 City Council seat in Northfield. According to unofficial results from the Minnesota Secretary of State, 1,103 voters gave Sokup the top vote-getting spot with 41.85%; 799 voters gave Estrada 30.31% of the vote. Third-place finisher David DeLong came in with 734 votes at 27.85%. The general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. In addition to the at-large council race, Northfield voters will decide on other council and local elections, plus state and congressional races.
Rice County Public Safety Center breaks ground
The Public Safety Center has been a controversial project, Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas and other county officials acknowledge. They insist a new facility is necessary to keep up with regulations and an increasing population. Just before the shovels hit the dirt at the Public Safety Center groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday morning, the sheriff addressed some of the public’s concerns and outlined a few of the reasons he says the new jail and sheriff’s office facility is needed. ...
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Northfield News has been serving Rice County, MN since 1876 and publishes Wednesdays and online at www.NorthfieldNews.com
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