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Northfield News
First tour of aging high school showcases problems to solve
James Crow hadn’t walked the hallways of Northfield High School since his graduation in 1969, until he joined a group set to inspect the building’s aging infrastructure. During the school tour held on a recent Saturday morning, Crow wasn’t the only alum to walk the halls. On the first of several tours open to community members were Jeff Quinnell, school board member and 1979 graduate; Bubba Sullivan, NHS English teacher and 1985 graduate and Justin Raabolle, school district building and grounds director and 1996 graduate. ...
Chamber hosts listening session about city initiatives, taxes, development
About 40 concerned citizens filled the Police Training Room at the Northfield Police Station Tuesday morning to hear what business owners and residents had to say about recent City initiatives and the potential impact of these initiatives on their businesses. The listening session was hosted by the Northfield Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by Chamber members Randy Yoder and Laura Stelzer. Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell and City Administrator Ben Martig were invited guests and presenters. ...
Gators swim and dive competes at state
The Northfield girls swim and dive team completed its 2023 season with an 11th-place finish at the Minnesota State High School League Class A championships Nov. 16-18. The MSHSL championships were held this year at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center in Minneapolis. The Raiders compiled 67 points at the meet, while Visitation won the team title with 253 points followed by Orono (186), Monticello (176), Breck (157), Delano (154), Mound Westonka-Holy Family (138), St. Cloud Tech (95), Blake (86), Mankato West (84) and Cretin-Derham...
City of Northfield eyes new developer to head major downtown projects
Though ultimately unable to come to terms on a development agreement with Twin Cities-based Lander Group, the Northfield City Council continued to express support for parts of a major downtown redevelopment project which would include a new municipal liquor store. To help keep the project at Fifth and Washington Streets moving, the city has turned to architects at TSP, a South Dakota-based design firm with an office in Rochester. TSP has an extensive track record of working with the city and with City Administrator Ben...
A whirlwind start for St. Olaf College's 1st female president
Throwing the first pitch out at a Minnesota Twins baseball game. Delivering her first Chapel Talk on the hill to the greater St. Olaf College community. Challenging Carleton College President Alison Byerly to a rousing game of corn hole during the halftime festivities at the homecoming football game of the cross-town rivals. Those are only a tiny portion of the highlights Susan Rundell Singer has experienced since taking office on June 1, 2023 as President of St. Olaf College. Rundell Singer succeeded David R. Anderson,...
CVEC announces course offerings for winter term classes
With the shorter days and longer nights of winter fast approaching, perhaps taking a class through Cannon Valley Elder Collegium is just the stimulation needed to stay intellectually sharp. Sign up for CVEC’s 2024 winter term course offerings begins Monday, Nov. 20 through Dec. 11. Fifteen courses are on offer: five online via Zoom and 10 at locations around Northfield. Winter term classes begin Jan. 8 and run until Feb. 28. Each course is $50 for the entire term. ...
Cannon River FC soccer program brings Northfield and Faribault together
A new indoor soccer program is helping bridge the gap between the communities of Faribault and Northfield as the Cannon River FC is in its first season of play in the 16U league at the TOCA Soccer Center in nearby Burnsville this winter. Cannon River FC is currently fielding two boys teams and one girls team in the 16U league during the first session of play and it includes a mix of players that call the two communities along the Cannon River in Rice County...
Lieutenant governor visits Northfield to highlight state's affordable housing investments
To shine a spotlight on affordable housing investments in Greater Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan visited Northfield Tuesday morning for a tour of a couple units at the Spring Creek II project. Spring Creek II on Millstream Lane offers project based voucher units for those with income restrictions and is operated by the nonprofit human service organization Three Rivers Community Action, Inc. Since the late 1990s, Three Rivers has built, rehabilitated and/or secured financing for 1042 units of affordable housing throughout southeast and south central...
Where are the workers? Local business community continues to seek labor
With a recent report from the Minnesota Business Partnership showing Minnesota’s economy short some 168,000 workers, local businesses are working closely with Chambers of Commerce, educational partners and others to ensure sufficient staffing. Titled “Minnesota’s Vanishing Workforce,” the report found that while Minnesota businesses have made some progress in recovering from the pandemic’s impacts, they still remain 23,000 workers short of having a labor force the same size as before the pandemic. ...
Northfield girls hockey establishes itself as top contender with dominant rivalry win
The Northfield girls hockey team made a resounding statement in its first Big 9 contest that it's the team to beat in 2023-24. Up 5-0 late in the third, the Raiders cruised to a 6-2 win in a total team win with everyone contributing. Northfield (4-0, 1-0 Big 9) had lost 2 of 3 against Owatonna (1-1, 0-1) last year and lost to them in the section final. But that was last year, and Northfield brought back their core this year. And their underclassmen gaining...
Dingalings are ringalinging again after a serious health scare
Did You Know? The Salvation Army desperately needs more ringers on weekends Fridays and Saturdays as well as the weeks prior to Christmas. Sign up at RegistertoRing.com or call Jim Dale at 715 733 0575. 2f76d57f-66ed-4886-9b0f-baef428f565f In 1978, Dedee Little and Becky Krippner graduated together from Northfield High School, where they knew each other but didn’t run around in the same friend group. Fast forward 45 years. ...
Rice County United Way officially opens used bookstore in Faribault
More Information Books on Central is located at 227 Central Ave. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, email booksoncentral@gmail.com , call 507-210-4066 or stop by Friday afternoon. Donations of most gently used books, excluding reference books, are accepted any time the store is open. The doors are open in downtown Faribault at Rice County United...
Petitioners question weed treatment on area lakes
Although experts say blue-green algae and other invasive aquatic plant species are toxic to Rice County’s lakes, some residents are petitioning that the chemicals used to kill those plants are even worse and that the plants are “part of nature.” Many of those living on Rice County’s lakeshores are part of an association that works to maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Those associations are typically made up of just the residents who live on the lake, which is part of the problem for Robert Kuchinka. ...
First free laptop given to Rice County Habitat for Humanity family
Sam Millen, a freshman at Carleton College, wants to eliminate the digital divide in Rice County one donated laptop at a time. Last week, Millen presented the first donated laptop to the Elwood family, whose recent move into a Habitat for Humanity home in Faribault was evidenced by the unpacked boxes stacked around the living room. The family includes parents Dane and Brenda, sixth grader Dominic, fifth grader Kiara and third grader Leah. ...
Han's Kitchen features authentically prepared Vietnamese food at Northfield Eagles Club
When customers walk into the dining room of the Eagles Club Thursdays through Sundays, many of the regulars call out “xin chao” to Han, the chef in the kitchen, and Kyle, the waiter, cashier and to-go bagger standing at the counter. Han and Kyle Fredrickson, who met in 2019 and married in 2021, opened Han’s Kitchen in October. The restaurant specializes in authentically prepared Vietnamese dishes and is open four days a week for dine in and take away service. ...
Northfield man injured in crash on Highway 19
A Northfield man was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital after a three-vehicle crash on Highway 19 at I-35 Tuesday. Thomas Frederick Winter. 27, was in a car getting off of I-35 onto Highway 19 and collided with a straight truck that was eastbound on Highway 19 at approximately 12:45 p.m., according to the State Patrol. Winter’s car then collided with a pickup that was westbound on Highway 19. Winter was taken to North Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life threatening. The driver’s of the other two vehicles — a 37-year-old man from Northfield and a 74-year-old man from Iowa — did not have any serious injuries.
County begins short-term rental discussions, readjusts zoning draft
While Dan Gruber said he doesn’t have a problem with his neighbor’s side hustle, Rice County officials said this might not always be the case. In addition to reviewing the latest changes made to the drafted zoning ordinance during a joint work session Monday evening, the Rice County Planning Commission and Rice County Board of Commissioners took the first step toward setting some rules around short-term rentals in the county. ...
Northfield Gators claim top spot in section, send several to state
A first-place team finish at the 2023 Section 1A championships has resulted in providing the Northfield High School girls swim and dive team with a large contingent of qualifiers for the upcoming state Class A championships. The state meet will be held on Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18 at the University of Minnesota’s Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. The Gator/Raiders claimed the top spot at the...
Parks and Streets manager prepares city crew for winter
Northfield’s 80 centerline miles of streets, 25 miles of trails, 70 miles of sidewalk — including those maintained by homeowners in the winter — and 15 miles of on-street bike lanes all require asset management. Those miles of streets, trails, sidewalks and on-street bike lanes are top of mind for Charlie Fredericks, Streets and Parks manager for the city of Northfield. Fredericks, who joined the city staff six months ago, is by now well-versed in the needs of the community. ...
Northfield girls hockey captains ready for big year
The 2023-24 Northfield High School girls hockey team will feature a veteran dominated roster that will see the Raiders return its six top point producers from last winter along with the squad’s starting goaltender. “I would say we are strong in all areas. We have returned a lot of players on the offensive and defensive side so I’m excited to see what we can do,” said returning All-State forward and senior team captain Ayla Puppe. ...
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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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