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Northfield News
Black bear seen roaming around Northfield
According to the Northfield Police Department, an adult black bear was spotted several times in and near Northfield Friday night. The bear was first seen by a resident in the 10900 block of Farrel Avenue around 11 p.m.. Then it was seen again in the 1600 block of South Highway 3, this time spotted by Northfield police officers at 2:30 a.m. The MN DNR was contacted. The DNR advises to leave the bear alone and not approach it. Minimizing food sources will encourage the bear to go back to its natural habitat. Bringing bird feeders and garbage cans inside for the next week will help in this effort, as the bear has been seen rooting through these in residential yards. More information on living with bears in Minnesota can be found on the MN DNR website. Residents can report sightings at 507-645-4477.
Thousands of plants distributed on Arbor Day
More than 20,000 trees and shrubs found their way to their new home on Friday, Arbor Day. The plants came from two groups: the Rice County Master Gardeners and the Rice County Soil and Water Conservation District. While the Master Gardeners were giving away a variety of plant species, the RCSWCD sold theirs as a fundraiser. From 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., members of the RCSWCD handed out 20,000 trees...
Northfield girls and boys track and field athletes rack up personal bests
The Northfield High School boys track and field team claimed six first-place finishes and also charted 48 career bests in its Big 9 triangular meet against Mankato West and Austin on Tuesday, April 28. In their only home meet of the season, Northfield placed second in the team scoring with 93.75 points, while Mankato West placed first at 122 and Austin was third at 30.25. The day opened with Northfield’s...
Plea deal reached in 2020 crash that killed a doctor (copy)
A woman who caused a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 in Rice County in 2020 has pleaded guilty to two felonies but likely won’t serve any jail time. Kaytlen Paige Greenlee, 25, of Austin, collided with traffic stopped in a construction zone on the southbound freeway near Highway 19 west of Northfield on Sept. 25, 2020. Michael Rae Bendel-Stenzel, 55, of Edina, was killed and Greenlee and three others were injured. ...
Social media management the topic of Chamber luncheon
“Everything is content,” exclaimed Jackie Johnson, at the April Chamber membership series luncheon. Johnson, owner and CEO of Johnson House Creative in Northfield, told the crowded room at the Northfield Golf Club that “social media is a consistent relationship.” Wednesday’s Chamber luncheon turned into more of a workshop when Johnson, guest speaker and social media guru, handed out worksheets and suggested attendees partner up. One worksheet explained social media content...
Carleton College hosts sustainability tours of campus geothermal units
To help explain how Carleton College hopes to be carbon free by 2050, two of the college’s sustainability interns, Jeremy Fleishacker and Beck Woollen presented PowerPoint slides on the steps taken to advance Carleton’s geothermal system. The talks were delivered and the tours were conducted on Saturday morning to mark the college’s sustainability efforts on Earth Day. Seniors Fleishacker and Woollen discussed how Carleton’s clean energy journey began with construction...
12 bands to perform at this summer's Vintage Band Festival
The music at Vintage Band Festival 2023 in Northfield will begin at 9 a.m. and continue without interruption until 10 p.m. Twelve bands from an array of musical genres will perform on the Wenger stage in Bridge Square throughout the day on Saturday, July 29. One highlight of the day will be the first appearance at Vintage Band Festival of the Minnesota Pipes and Drums, a nationally recognized competition and performance bagpipe and drum corps based in Minneapolis. Their mission is “to carry on the...
Commissioners wary of renovation cost
Tuesday morning’s Rice County Board of Commissioner’s meeting was the culmination of several work sessions regarding renovations to several areas of the Government Services Building. Although commissioners gave the go-ahead to advertise for bids, not all of them are fully supportive of the estimated $854,000 project, at least not at the moment. During the discussion at the last work session, nearly all of the commissioners shared concerns about the cost. ...
New commission begins consideration for new Northfield branding
More than a century after it was first coined, Northfield’s “Cows, Colleges and Contentment” slogan has stood the test of time. And while the slogan remains popular in the community, city leaders are hoping to add some new branding ideas to the mix. To help develop develop those ideas, the city launched its Branding Advisory Committee last fall. Led by Jennifer Sawyer, co-founder and partner of Rebound Enterprises, the committee included a wide variety of voices from the private and nonprofit sectors, as well as...
Northfield boys golf proves its depth in home meet victory
The Northfield High School boys golf team claimed four of the top five spots in a triangular meet at the Northfield Golf Club on Monday, April 24 to earn a pair of Big 9 wins over Rochester John Marshall and Red Wing. The Raiders tallied a team total of 313 to finish first at the meet, while Rochester John Marshall was second at 320 and Red Wing was third at 347. Senior Jeb Sawyer led the Raiders with a second-place score of 74, while freshman Elias Ekern was third at 77. Sophomore Will Cashin and senior Ike Vessey tied for fourth with scores of 79. The week ahead will be a busy one for Northfield as it will travel to the Big 9 tournament in Faribault on Thursday, April 27, compete in a tournament at Hastings on Friday, April 28, play in a quad meet at Austin on Monday, May 1 and finish with a Big 9 triangular match at Owatonna on Tuesday, May 2.
Caregivers, volunteers sought for new respite program
Neighbors Helping Neighbors volunteers, like Rolf Haaland and Heather Bahe, prefer to be outside stretching their muscles while helping older adults and adults with disabilities stay in their homes. Prospective volunteers looking for a less physically taxing assignment than mowing lawns and shoveling driveways might be interested in a new program that Family Service Rochester is starting in Rice County. The Caregiver Respite program will match volunteers with caregivers in...
Greenvale Township board divided on Highway 19 billboard proposal
A proposed new billboard along Highway 19, just west of Northfield, has divided the Greenvale Township Board of Supervisors and upset neighbors. Now, it’s the Minnesota Department of Transportation that will give the final say on whether or not it goes forward. Former Township Clerk Linus Langer is leading opposition to the billboard, arguing that putting up a billboard in the proposed location would present a significant safety hazard. Langer also argues that the township doesn’t have the authority to issue the IUP. ...
Northfield softball on 3-game win streak
Rain and weather conditions changed the location to the Dundas Dome for the Northfield High School softball team’s Big 9 matchup against Faribault on Thursday, April 20. Northfield (5-2, 4-2 Big 9) went on to chart a 6-3 victory in the game, which saw the Raiders outhit the Falcons 10-5 in the contest. “We were able to get our entire bench in the game early on. Everyone was able to get valuable reps against a young, up and coming pitcher for Faribault,” Northfield coach Josten...
Chilly Earth Day celebrated in Northfield with lectures, tours, activities
Northfield held its 14th annual Earth Day celebration with a mix of workshops, concerts, lectures and activities. Saturday’s chilly temperatures and spotty rain showers forced the cancelation of some events and prompted the rest to move inside Northfield First United Church of Christ. Event planner Mary Jo Cristofaro said the morning events, mostly family friendly workshops which included tree planting in the arb, water conservation, composting, indigo dyeing, an Emerald...
Popular CVEC class focuses on Northfield's rich architectural history
Taking a class taught by Cannon Valley Elder Collegium instructor Barbara Evans is like a field trip with Mary Poppins: a joyful adventure. Evans, who has been teaching the popular Northfield’s Historic Architecture course for the last several years, leads her CVEC class with humor, intelligence and insight. As well as precise organization, no surprise from a former teacher who spent 34 years teaching for Rochester Public Schools, mostly at...
1 dead, 1 injured after 2-vehicle crash in Northfield
An 85-year-old man has died, while a teenager was severely injured, resulting from a two-vehicle crash Thursday on Jefferson Parkway at the intersection with the Highway 3 service road in Northfield. According to Northfield Police reports, the collision happened at 10:31 a.m. The vehicles involved were a Toyota sedan and a Kia SUV. According to a Northfield Police Department release, the initial investigation showed that the driver of the sedan, 18-year-old Aiden Mandsagar, of Dundas, was traveling at a high rate of speed when he...
HealthFinders dentist recognized for humanitarianism
Dental health is more than just getting a cleaning every six months, according to Dr. Jerry Appeldoorn, a volunteer dentist and dental director for the HealthFinders Collaborative of Rice and Steele counties. The Minnesota Dental Association took notice of the work he’s put into the nonprofit health care provider, improving patients’ dental health and mentoring the next generation of dentists. The association recently named him recipient of its 2023 Humanitarian Service Award. ...
Aging Services volunteer drivers shortage includes Northfield
When making your way around the house is a hassle, getting to a doctor’s appointment can feel downright impossible. That’s where volunteers like Linda Hoescht take the lead. For the past two and a half years, the Le Sueur resident has spent her retirement providing older adults with safe rides to and from medical appointments as a driver for Aging Services for Communities. Founded in 2004, the Montgomery-based nonprofit agency...
Chase ends in crash into Northfield building and officer assaulted, police say
A Northfield man allegedly fled from Farmington police, crashed into a Northfield apartment building, then assaulted a Farmington police officer. Farmington police officers responded to a report of gunshots and tried to pull over a vehicle that might have been involved, according to a court complaint. The pursuit entered the city of Northfield around 7:45 p.m. April 18, according to a news release from the Northfield Police Department. ...
Arts a la Carte showcases works by NHS honors art students
Besides a passion for making art, Northfield High School honors art seniors Lauren Hendrickson, Tove Sorenson, Svec Morrell and Kiara Artley, along with juniors Jennifer Salinas and Whitney Gray, all share another love: a deep affection for art teacher Katherine Norrie. “Miss Norrie is my biggest inspiration for wanting to be an art teacher,” said Hendrickson. “She makes me feel happy, safe and supported. I love her. She’s always there for me.” ...
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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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