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Northfield News
Biden visits local farm to tout investing in rural America
As they huddled under a heat lamp outside the pole barn door at a rural Northfield farm Wednesday morning, Rice County 4-H members Marisa Devito-Winget and Sam Harner said they were shivering but fired up to have President Joe Biden visit rural America. The teens and county 4-H leader Kelly Chadwick were taking a break from helping directing vehicles to the VIP lot. They had gotten to the Kluver farm at 10 a.m. even though the president's motorcade wasn't scheduled to drive down the gravel...
President Biden speaks at Dutch Creek Farms in rural Northfield
The President of the United States Joe Biden arrived at Dutch Creek Farms, located north of Northfield, Wednesday afternoon as part of his administration's campaign in rural America. The visits are intended to highlight how increases in government spending can help improve people’s lives. Biden’s focus on the state comes just five days after Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota announced he was running for president, becoming the party’s first elected official to challenge Biden in the 2024 primary. ...
Northfield cross country runner Jason Aldorfer to carry on family legacy at state
The upcoming MSHSL cross country championships will feature a Northfield legacy, as Raider sophomore Jason Aldorfer will carry on a family tradition of running in the state’s premiere event that started with his grandfather, Bob Aldorfer back in the early 1960s. Jason Aldorfer qualified for the 2023 Class AA championships. along with the rest of the Raiders. thanks to a second-place team finish at the recent Section 1AA championships on Oct. 26 in Albert Lea. Jason Aldorfer placed 14th at the meet individually with a...
Friend finishes, publishes Lashbrook Park book written by deceased Northfield author
GET A COPY For anyone who would like to purchase the book, individual copies are $20 and available at Petalina Scandinavian gift shop, the Northfield Historical Society or by contacting Philip Spensley at pspensley@earthlink.net. DID YOU KNOW? To become a Friend of Lashbrook Park, the annual membership fee is $10. Membership dues go toward immediate park need as well as long-term projects that include new woodland trails, buckthorn removal and flora and fauna preservation. Membership and contributions should be sent to: Friends of Lashbrook Park,...
Development agreements for downtown Northfield stall out
After more than a year of preliminary design work, which received a unanimous thumbs up from the Northfield City Council, city staff was unable to come to official agreements needed to move forward with two ambitious proposed downtown redevelopment projects. Having hoped to return to the council last month with agreements in hand, Michael Lander of Twin Cities-based Lander Group reported that negotiations have stalled, putting the proposed Fifth-Washington Street and Fifth-Water Street developments in jeopardy. ...
Northfield girls swim and dive takes 2nd at Big 9 meet
In a final tune up before section playoffs, the Northfield girls swim and dive team competed in the Big 9 championship in Rochester on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28. The team finished second in a field of 12 teams. The winner of the meet was Rochester Century, with a team score of 411.5 points. Northfield finished the weekend with 364 points. Rochester Mayo was third with 271.5 points. Led by...
Soaring with the eagles 5,000 feet above Stanton Airfield
On a cloudless and windless Sunday afternoon, 5,000 feet above the Earth’s surface, a pilot and a reporter found themselves soaring like an eagle — literally. As a lone eagle banked and soared, veteran glider instructor Mark Cleare began to mimic the mighty raptor’s movements and patterns. For a few unbelievable seconds, his plane was gliding in tandem with the bird until the eagle’s long, broad wings carried it out of eyesight. ...
Woodcarver entrepreneur shares craft at FiftyNorth
Santas, gnomes, walking sticks and wood spirits fill about half of the back room of woodcarver Chris Whillock’s downtown Faribault studio. The other half of the room holds shelves and shelves of carving tools and supplies ready to be shipped to buyers around the world. Chris Whillock, the son of renowned wood artist Ivan Whillock, has been carving wood since he was 20 years old. But now at 55, his focus has shifted from strictly carving projects to a more diverse business portfolio that includes...
Northfield superintendent proposes timeline for bond referendum
After a discussion about the 2023-24 academic calendar and the need to add additional English language teachers, the Northfield School Board settled into the meat of last week’s meeting: getting a bond referendum on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot. Calling his proposal “a first draft,” Northfield School District Superintendent Matt Hillmann outlined numerous steps leading to the eventual goal of having voters decide what changes would be funded related to updating the Northfield High School building the majority of which dates back to 1966. ...
The Key hosts local youth in a dynamic space
On Saturday, October 28th, The Key, Northfield’s drop in youth center, opened its doors to the community for an unforgettable Fall Festival. Located at 109 Sixth St., The Key provided a dynamic space for local youth to showcase their creativity and community spirit. From 1 to 4 p.m., visitors of all ages enjoyed a plethora of engaging activities. The youth volunteers served up delightful treats including cotton candy and snow cones, adding a sweet touch to the festivities. Attendees also had the opportunity to transform...
Northfield volleyball advances to section title game with comeback win
The Northfield High School volleyball team (22-7) advanced in the Section 6AAA tournament on Friday, Oct. 27 with a 3-1 victory at home over Mound Westonka. The victory advances the No. 1 seeded Raiders to a meeting with No. 2 seeded Delano in the Section 6AAA championship match on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. The match will be played at Waconia High School. Delano (27-2) advanced in the section bracket with a 3-0 win over Holy Angels. ...
Northfield advances with last second field goal
A 34-yard field goal with :03 left on the clock spelled the difference in the Northfield High School football team’s 24-21 victory over New Prague in the Raiders’ opening game in the 2023 Section 1AAAAA tournament on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Memorial Field in Northfield. On a chilly night with the first sight of snow for the winter, Northfield survived a see-saw battle thanks to the field goal by senior kicker Stephen Kallestad, who is also a standout on the NHS boys soccer team. ...
Minnesota Ark sails into Division Street window
A 3D wooden ark that celebrates Minnesota’s familiar icons has docked inside the front window at Petalina. Petalina, a Scandinavian gift shop at 313 Division St., has had the ark on display since last Saturday. The sculpture is mounted on a rotating base and is visible from the street. Certainly the best spot for examining the intricately carved details is from inside the shop. “Minnesota Ark” was carved by Iowa...
Rash of ribbon cuttings reflects Northfield's dynamic business growth
In the past two months, the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated six ribbon cutting ceremonies, reflective of a dynamic and growing community. Ribbon cuttings are ceremonial events held to mark the official opening, addition or remodel of a new business, facility, or public project. The ceremonies are a symbolic gesture that signifies for a new business the beginning of a new chapter; as well of serving to showcase community support and local pride. ...
Sweet Charity struts with pluck onto NAG's stage in November
Charity Hope Valentine, a hopelessly romantic but comically unfortunate New York City dance hall hostess, struts her unique stuff in the fall musical hitting the Northfield Arts Guild Theater stage in November. Marc Robinson, director, said he’d been looking for a musical that was female-centric, but he wanted to avoid old chestnuts, like “Hello Dolly” or “Mame,” that had the “same old musical pattern.” “It’s been a long time since...
Northfield boys soccer run ends at state tournament in OT
A remarkable late season run for the Northfield High School boys soccer team (9-8-0) came to an end with a 1-0 overtime loss against Orono (16-1-2) in the quarterfinals of the MSHSL Class AA championship on a rain soaked field at Eden Prairie High School on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The Raiders took the top seeded Spartans to the limit in the contest as a sterling defensive effort on both sides of the field resulted in a scoreless draw in the first half. Orono owned a...
Purr-fection cat grooming opens in Northfield
More Information Purr-fection Salon, a feline exclusive grooming salon, is located at 7125 320th St. W in Northfield. For appointments, contact Ashlynn Chappuis, owner and groomer at 507-323-0753 and purrfectionsalon@outlook.com fcfc228e-d8a8-47ba-872a-487ac8ff60e0 On Aug. 21, cat groomer Ashlynn Chappuis became a certified feline master groomer, a title bestowed on her by the National Cat Groomer Institute. Her business, Purr-fection Salon, not only has a clever name but is filled with cat-loving...
Highway 19-Interstate 35 roundabout moves forward
A six-legged roundabout in northern Rice County will be the first of its size in the county, after its construction next summer. Approval of the contract for the roundabout’s construction was on the agenda of Tuesday morning’s Rice County Board of Commissioners meeting alongside several other items, including a new work-from-home policy for county staff. Commissioner Steve Underdahl shared his excitement for the new roundabout at Interstate 35 and Highway...
Social issues explored in fall play at Northfield High School
Tempers and tensions flare on the set of the Northfield High School fall play “12 Angry Jurors,” which tackles a set of controversial social and political issues that feel eerily similar to contemporary times. The dialogue-heavy drama is adapted from the script written by playwright Reginald Rose, originally titled “12 Angry Men.” All of the action in the play occurs around the long table where 12 jurors meet to discuss a murder case. ...
Northfield Viking Terrace resident joins lawsuit brought against mobile home park ownership company
The Northfield community is involved in a class action lawsuit involving mobile home parks — and the treatment of residents in them — that stretches across the United States A class action complaint has been filed in the Northern District of Illinois against Lakeshore Communities, the owners of Viking Terrace trailer park in Northfield, by the Minneapolis law firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen, P.L.L.P. The named plaintiff, Jorge Zuccolotto, lives at Viking Terrace in Northfield and is the president of the Viking Terrace residents association. ...
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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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