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Owatonna People's Press
PHOTOS: Youth take over downtown for Gem Days
Gem Days was all about the kids Friday morning. Festivities began with a kids parade down Cedar Avenue, with kids and families migrating to Central Park for more fun afterwards. RE/MAX's annual Crazy Hair Contest in the park featured the wildest hairstyles in town. Emma Harris, 5, won first place in the 6 and under category for her hair, which was braided into a swing set for a doll. She was followed by Natalie Westphall in second and Dawson Gill in third. Avelaine Westphall, 8, took first place in the 7 and up category, sporting a bun styled into the solar system. She was followed by James Harris in second and Julia Niegebauer in third.
Post 77 wins last game of regular season
The Owatonna Legion Post 77 baseball team ended its regular season on a high note Thursday night against the Rochester Century Legion team, who go by the Rochester A’s. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Owatonna came back to win the game 8-3. The win was its fourth in a row, as Owatonna goes into the playoffs on a positive streak. Mitch Seykora started the game as Owatonna’s...
FALSE PROMISES: Think tank presentation argues Minnesota is failing young people
A nation, or state’s, future will be determined by its young people. That’s the thinking behind the False Promises tour, a traveling presentation from the Center of the American Experiment, which argues that progressive policies are failing young people in Minnesota. A group of Owatonnans gathered Wednesday for the local stop of the tour, hearing data gleaned from polling and focus groups of young Minnesotans. ...
Local gardeners welcoming visitors for Secret Garden Tour
From secluded oases in the middle of town to lush crops of fruits and vegetables, gardens are a source of life and beauty throughout the community. Rather than passing these gems by, the Secret Garden Tour welcomes people to stop and smell the proverbial roses — to appreciate the beauty of nature, and the hard work and creativity of local gardeners. The latest installment of the tour, an annual fundraiser...
Retired Owatonna dentist continues to help kids smile
Between his long distance bike rides and spontaneous travel, retired Owatonna dentist Dr. Richard Dresser has still been finding time to mask up and get to work. Though Dresser sold his private practice, Dresser Family Dental, in July 2023, it was only a matter of time before the notoriously effervescent Holly Jorgensen convinced him that retirement didn’t have to mean hanging up the dental drill for good. Since April, Dresser has been spending every other Wednesday inside Let’s Smile, Inc., the nonprofit founded by Jorgensen...
School Board approves $7.77M facilities bond, 10-year plan
With a slate of facilities projects on the horizon, Owatonna Public Schools has put a plan in place for when to complete them and how to pay for them. The Owatonna School Board approved a 10-year long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) plan at its Monday meeting, as well as facilities bonds totaling $7.77 million. Both resolutions were approved in a 5-0 vote, with board members Elizabeth Hedlund and Deborah Bandel absent. ...
Owatonna Post 77 dominates Kasson after dominating Byron
With a stellar pitching performance Sunday and a three-run home run Tuesday, Mitch Seykora had himself a great couple games with the Owatonna Legion Post 77 baseball team to add onto a great summer playing baseball. Owatonna faced Byron at home Sunday afternoon and won 16-0, thanks to dominating offense and a dominating one-hit pitching performance by Seykora. Owatonna returned to Chuck Fuller Field on Tuesday to face off against Kasson in a 11-1 route backed by another pitching performance, this time by Connor Wiese. ...
Classic Gershwin musical dances onto Paradise stage
Taking the stage at the Paradise this month, with one more weekend to catch the show, is “Crazy for You” a joyous romp of a musical that won all the best musical awards from Broadway, London and Toronto that year. Presented by Paradise Community Theatre, “Crazy For You!” features music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, book by Ken Ludwig. The musical is directed by Rachel Haider with music direction by Will McIntyre and choreography by Mary Hahn and Megan Proft. ...
Owatonna Silver Streaks senior softball defeats Northfield
The Owatonna Silver Streaks senior softball team’s season is two-thirds the way over after they picked up a win at home against Northfield’s team on Tuesday morning. Northfield jumped to an early lead in the first inning of the game, scoring three runs. Owatonna answered back right away though as they hit a grand slam home run to take the lead 4-3. The game consisted of many good hits and...
New county administrator ready for collaboration, problem solving
The path that brought Renae Fry to one of the top roles in Steele County was far from a straight line. Fry was selected as county administrator earlier this year, and has served in that capacity since June 17. It’s the latest chapter in a career that’s included stints as an attorney, elected official and educator. “I don’t know how I’d ever map that out for someone else, but it...
Local music educator continuing legacy at Tone Music
Throughout her childhood and teen years, Mara Schack — then Ostermeier — was known to wander along the nooks and crannies of her local music shop. Two short weeks ago, Schack took down the “Business For Sale” sign that had taken up permanent residency in the window front of downtown Owatonna’s Tone Music. Purchasing the business from Jerry Besser, Tone Music owner and operator for more than three decades, Schack is excited for both her own new chapter in life, as well as continuing the...
Exchange Center hosting monthly diaper drive
DIAPER DISTRIBUTION WHEN: 1-3 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month WHERE: Exchange Club Center for Family Unity (1820 Hartle Avenue) The next diaper distribution event is scheduled for Aug. 6. Families must bring birth certificates or footprint cards for each child in need of diapers. For more information, call Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota at 507-287-2047. 228e4f51-50cf-42d0-8e37-9ee7ed9ba7e6 At best, managing a household budget can be a tedious process. ...
Steele County resident recounts storm chasing adventures
Rarely has a tornado improved someone’s day. And yet, as storms swirled around southern Minnesota in May 2021, local storm chaser Zach Folie didn’t feel dread or fear, but excitement. “I was actually kind of in a bad mood that day, and my fiancee convinced me to go out. We punched the core of the thunderstorm, and noticed a little purple dot that appeared on the weather radar,” Folie recalled. ...
'We had to stop being quiet' — Pride in the Park returns for 2nd year
Standing in Dartts Park, surrounded by rainbows and smiling faces, Bri Hansen marveled at how much the community has changed in a few short years. Hansen lived in Owatonna for years before coming out as a transgender woman. Now, as a co-vice chair of local LGBTQ group Rainbowatonna, she is part of a celebration that once seemed impossible. Rainbowatonna’s first pride event, a small picnic in 2022, drew around 50...
Local families, Community Pathways supporters gather for annual fundraiser
Community Pathways of Steele has forged many strong relationships in the community, with individuals, businesses and other nonprofits. One night out of the year offers Community Pathways staff and volunteers the opportunity to join with some of their most committed supporters for food, drinks and good times. The nonprofit hosted Pathways Palooza, its annual fundraiser, Friday evening at the Steele County Fairgrounds Beer Garden, with proceeds going to provide food...
Owatonna VFW baseball teams lose to Mayo in doubleheader
The Owatonna VFW baseball regular season is drawing to a close, as its last regular season game takes place Monday night. The VFW team had its final doubleheader of the season on Saturday, as they traveled to Rochester to take on the Mayo VFW baseball team. The Owatonna VFW 10 team played first and lost in a 4-3 walk-off victory for Mayo, while the VFW 9 team played in the second game of the doubleheader and lost 11-1 in six innings. ...
Aces unable to play home games due to rain, opponent forfeit
A six-game home stretch for the Owatonna Aces was cut down to three games, and they are now on a four-game road stretch. The Aces ended the month of June with a doubleheader at home against the Winona Chiefs. That doubleheader was expected to be the start of a six-game home stretch lasting until Friday, July 12. The Aces ended up splitting the June 30 doubleheader with Winona and played...
Historical Society takes visitors on trip to yesteryear with annual Extravaganza
Some hot and sticky weather didn’t prevent visitors from taking a walk through history Sunday afternoon at the Village of Yesteryear. The Steele County Historical Society hosted the annual Extravaganza, bringing back activities, crafts, music, vendors and more, as rendezvous campers set up shop and shared the history of the 16th through mid-19th centuries, the time of trappers and traders. Linda Dudley, of Austin, has been a guest at the...
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Owatonna People's Press, your #1 news source for Steele County, has been serving Steele County since 1874 and publishes Tuesday - Thursday and Saturday and online at www.Owatonna.com
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