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Politics
These Are the Only 5 Drive-In Theaters Left in Minnesota
I grew up watching movies at the '100 Twin' Drive-In just off 694 in Fridley. In Owatonna it was the '45 Hi-Way Outdoor' (later named the 'Starlite' Drive-In), and Faribault had the 'Family' Drive-In -- all three are long gone. At their peak nearly 80 existed across Minnesota, but that number has shrunk to just five. Here's where to find them.
Fallen heroes honored and celebrated at Memorial Day program
Weather did not permit the community of Waseca to celebrate Memorial Day and their fallen heroes outside and with a parade, but they still celebrated and honored the day at the Waseca Senior High School gym. Many members of the community attended the event and many participated in the event as well. Music by the Waseca High School Band, the Waseca Male and Female Sextets, Muriah Miller-Keith, Emma, Keith, Layla Keith, and Jerome Broughton was performed. ...
13 Free Concerts + Perfect Pizza at Beautiful Minnesota Hidden Gem
Minnesota's Best Family-Friendly Outdoor Music Venue 🎶. Picture this: It's a gorgeous summer evening in SE Minnesota. The sun's going down, the breeze and temperature are just right. Now, fill the air with the mouth-watering smell of fresh wood-fired pizzas sizzling in nearby brick ovens, there's a stage buzzing with...
New face of Owatonna's riverfront continues to take shape
One of the most visible projects has continued to take shape at Owatonna's front door, and those spearheading the project say they couldn't be happier with the progress being made. With the roof and windows added to ASCEND — Owatonna's first multi-use complex that is redeveloping the underutilized 300 block of Walnut Avenue and the Straight River running through downtown — Scott Mohs, co-owner of Redline Development and owner of Mohs Contracting, happily reported they are on schedule with the large project. ...
Construction projects and school calendars discussed at local school boards
As the school year draws to a close and students step out of the buildings for summer break, NRHEG and JWP are moving forward with projects that will result in much needed upgrades for the districts’ schools. The projects were discussed at the districts’ school board meetings Monday, May 20. Both school boards also talked about school calendars, with JWP making changes to its 2024-25 calendar, and NRHEG establishing its 2025-26 calendar. The Waseca School Board talked about its 2024-25 calendar at its Thursday, May...
Purple Heart recipient lost a toe in Vietnam but came out 'a better person
A Vietnam war veteran and a lifetime area resident who currently lives in Waterville, Tony Ernste is the honorary grand marshal for this year’s Memorial Day ceremonies in Faribault. Ernste graduated from Bethlehem Academy in 1967 and worked in construction before joining the United States Army just shy of his 20th birthday in 1969. “A friend of mine was drafted in March and I checked and my number was up...
Military service provided travel and taught respect to grand marshal
A year after graduating from Faribault High School in 1953, Wayne Winjum joined the United States Army Reserves and then put in for active duty with hopes of using the GI Bill to pay for his college education. A lifetime area resident, Winjum’s military experience began with his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood near the Ozark in Missouri. “After eight weeks there, I went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to...
Morristown joins Faribault in honoring veterans with street banners
Some veterans have declined to be on Hometown Heroes banners due to fears from past experiences with antiwar protestors following Vietnam. But local veterans working on programs honoring veterans in Faribault and now in Morristown said these sentiments have mostly…
City councilors 'not giving up' on ice skating in park
Faribault city councilors are moving ahead with part of the plans for a new park downtown, while still debating what to name it and what a scaled down ice skating feature might look like. There were no official votes taken at a council workshop Tuesday evening, but there was consensus to seek some preliminary ideas and cost estimates on an alternative skating amenity. And the majority of councilors expressed support for giving the park a name of Viaduct Park. ...
Council approves formal exploration of Owatonna community center
It has been on the top of the wishlist for the community for well over a decade, and there is now hope that the wish may finally come true. On Tuesday, the Owatonna City Council approved an agreement with ICS consultants to develop a scope of work for constructing a community center in Owatonna. The agreement also includes supporting staff in providing community engagement opportunities that will help determine the size and scale of the project. ...
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