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Longtime English teacher transitions to activities director at Northfield High School
Busy. That’s how Bubba Sullivan describes his transition this summer from a 33-year career as an English teacher to activities director at Northfield High School. “It’s like drinking from a fire hose,” said Sullivan. “Feels like everything is running a hundred miles an hour.” Sullivan’s office is responsible for setting up schedules for all school...
Epic Enterprise stakeholders create Dundas mural
Epic Enterprise in Dundas held its annual picnic on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Epic is a nonprofit day program working with adults with disabilities, providing services that focus on employment opportunities, community involvement, and the arts. At the picnic, Leah Williams, Epic program director, said Epic stakeholders started work on a mural, in collaboration with attendees who participated by putting their painted handprints on the wall. The mural is located on the east side of the Epic building, facing Railways St. S. in Dundas. Over the...
Groundbreaking occurs for long-planned Northfield affordable housing development
After five years of discussions, meetings, partnerships, and planning, the city of Northfield and Three Rivers Community Action broke ground yesterday on the Spring Creek II Townhome development project. Located at 2200 Millstream Lane, the townhomes represent an effort to create more affordable rental housing units for Northfield families on the Southbridge site. Over the last several years, the Three Rivers Community Development team has been working with the Northfield...
Still more questions than answers for Northfield council on edible regulation
With five out of the seven councilors present at the Aug. 22 meeting, the Northfield City Council discussed a range of topics, from budgets to cannabinoid to office additions. Edibles City Administrator Ben Martig gave councilors a verbal update following up on questions raised during the initial cannabinoid discussion held at the previous meeting. Martig said his research into the topic brought up additional concerns regarding when an off-sale product...
Man arrested after alleged abduction, pursuits
An armed Minneapolis man would not let a woman out of his car after she got in believing he was a ride-share driver, charges say. The woman sought help when they stopped at a gas station and the man then allegedly fled from authorities in Cannon Falls, Northfield and Faribault. Daquairus Nathaniel Black, 25, was charged with felony counts of kidnapping, false imprisonment, fleeing police and illegal gun possession. Police...
Northfield football led by seniors into 2022
The Northfield High School football team will begin its second season of play under the leadership of head coach Brent Yule in 2022. The Raiders are in the midst of their preseason practice schedule, as they prep for the season opener at home Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. against Austin High School. The Raiders will be looking to repeat their success they had against Austin during the 2021 season, which included a 21-20 season opening win at Austin and a 48-14 victory over the...
Minnesota reports increase to violent crime, but not necessarily in Rice County
According to a recent report providing detailed statewide crime statistics from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, concerns about rising crime appear to be justified, as violent crime dramatically increased across the state the last two years. However, the story isn’t exactly the same locally. Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas noted that for Part I and Part II crimes, the most severe categories, crime levels countywide actually dropped to their...
Levy renewal approved for November ballot by Northfield School Board
The Nov. 8 election ballot will contain an additional item: a referendum asking Northfield voters to renew the school district's Capital Projects Levy. The Northfield School Board approved the ballot referendum at Monday's meeting, an action that would allow the board to refrain from making any immediate decisions regarding improvements to the high school. Northfield School District Superintendent Matt Hillmann explained that the levy, last passed by voters in 2011,...
Backpack drives help kids get ready for school in southern Minnesota
With the start of school just two weeks away,inflation has made paying for school supplies even more of a burden this year for low income families. Fortunately, local businesses, community leaders and volunteers across the region have pulled together to help. According to a Back to School Survey from Deloitte, the average Minnesota family will spend $700 per child on back to school supplies and clothing. Compared to just three years ago, Americans will spend $11 billion more on school supplies this year. ...
New look for 2022 Northfield swim and dive team
The Northfield High School girls swim and dive team will have a new look in 2022 as the Gators will be led by first-year co-head coaches Kristi Kortuem and Brian Porter. The pair replace coach Chris Morgan, who directed Northfield to a 5-2 record and a third place Big 9 conference finish in 2021. The Gators roster this fall features 50 student-athletes, led by 23 returning letter winners and five seniors, including captains Rylee Blandin, Madeline Moser and Molly Roethler. ...
New teachers in Northfield schools prepare for new school year
Seventeen new, licensed teachers joining the staff of Northfield Public Schools for the 2022-23 academic year gathered Tuesday at the high school for a day of orientation, workshops, and tours of the city and schools. The first day of classes for Northfield students is Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Area Sudanese refugees gather, pray for peace
Lul Gatluak moved from Sudan to America in 1994 to escape the inhumane killings by the increasingly violent militant regime. On Sunday afternoon, he gathered with other area Sudanese refugees at Trinity Lutheran Church in Faribault to pray for peace in their homeland. Area Sudanese community members, including those living in Steele and Rice counties, use the Faribault church for services, led by Pastor Gatluk Reat of the Sudanese Ministry of Southern Minnesota. ...
After extensive renovations, Flaherty's prepares for busy fall opening
The longest running family owned bowling business in the United States has just expanded to Northfield. Located at 1700 Highway 3, Flaherty's officially opened for business Monday. Adam Flaherty, owner and fourth generation family member, said he's excited to be operating a sports, food and bar business in Northfield. It takes over the space previously operated as Jesse James Lanes. Flaherty purchased the 16-lane bowling alley, which was formerly called...
FiftyNorth director prepares to step away after15 years at the helm
Perhaps it was the deep and special relationship she had with her grandmother. Or maybe it was her background in therapeutic recreation with an emphasis on aging. Or could it simply have been because she likes working with older adults. All of these factors are likely reasons why Lynne Pederson, retiring director of FiftyNorth, knew...
City's oldest service club: Northfield Lions
The Northfield Lions Club held its first meeting on Oct. 24, 1921 with 24 members. Over the last century, Northfield Lions has engaged in multiple fundraisers and charities. According to the club's Facebook Page: "The success of these efforts has allowed the club to contribute over $50,000 to the Northfield community, with emphasis on eye exams and glasses for kids and partnered with Health Finders to provide the same for adults. We are also active in our community with food shelf donations, meals on wheels, scholarships and more, as well as Lions International programs." For information on becoming a Lion contact Secretary Linda Banks at mbanks7878@charter.net
Chamber music festival is underway
Four concerts, featuring local and international musicians performing an array of diverse musical styles and appearing in four different Northfield venues, happens this week. Francesca Anderegg, festival artistic director, and associate professor of music at St. Olaf College, said all four concerts are free and open to the public with a suggested donation. The Bridge Chamber Music Festival kicked off Monday with a concert featuring pianist Erika Ribeiro from Rio...
4 chamber music concerts featured in Northfield this week
Four concerts, featuring local and international musicians performing an array of diverse musical styles and appearing in four different Northfield venues, happens this week. Francesca Anderegg, festival artistic director, and associate professor of Music (Violin, Viola and Chamber Music) at St. Olaf College, said all four concerts are free and open to the public with a suggested donation. The Bridge Chamber Music Festival kicked off Monday, Aug. 22 at St....
Dukes advance in state townball tournament
The Dundas Dukes advanced to play another weekend in the 2022 Minnesota Baseball Association Class B state tournament, thanks to a 4-3 victory over the Eagan Bandits before a packed house at Memorial Park in Dundas on Sunday, Aug. 21. The Dukes improved to 26-13 on season with the victory and more importantly will advance to play next weekend in the Class B state tournament against the Blaine Fusion on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 4:30 p.m. in Dundas. Blaine advanced in tournament play with a...
Sheriff sergeant will not be charged in fatal crash
A Rice County Sheriff's Office sergeant did not have time to avoid striking an intoxicated woman who was lying in a road in January, a State Patrol investigation has determined. No criminal charges will be filed against Sgt. Trevor Peterson, who struck Stephanie Wesley, 52, of Faribault, on Highway 60 just east of Morristown around 2 a.m. Jan. 29. A Minnesota State Patrol report received Aug. 9 did not recommend...
Advocates share about Northfield's '1st-in-the-nation' net zero housing project
On a chilly Friday afternoon, Aug. 12, a group of 25 environmental- and community-focused people toured Northfield’s sustainable housing project. Hillcrest Village is a first-in-the-nation Net Zero Energy emergency shelter and supportive housing development, where 100% of utilities are supplied by on-site solar panels. Located off of North Highway 3, Hillcrest Village is designed, funded and built by the community, said Scott Wopata, executive director of the Community Action Center. ...
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