Owatonna
Politics
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. ...
Memorial Day parade and program set to take place in Waseca
Waseca will once again honor and remember loved ones on Memorial Day this year, as the Waseca Memorial Day Committee is organizing a parade and program followed by a breakfast served at the VFW. This year’s speaker at the program is a familiar face to Waseca, as Col. Abraham L. Jackson will be the speaker of the day. Jackson is a Waseca native and currently resides in Eustis, Virginia. Jackson...
Local health care leaders convene at Chamber Growth Breakfast
For several months, there have been grumblings throughout the community that something negative has been happening with health care in Owatonna — and the rumors have largely been pointing blame at alleged friction at the Allina and Mayo campus. On Thursday, leaders from the two locally established systems, along with a leader from the newcomer clinic set to open next year, put those rumors to rest, with the overwhelming message of health care being a team sport. ...
🚧 Update: Ongoing Road Construction Reported Near Owatonna, MN
The time displayed is local to the original 511 traffic site in Minnesota. Local drivers may expect traffic disruptions due to reported road construction activities occurring between Exit 32 on Steele County Road 4 and 28th Street Southwest, approximately four miles south of Owatonna. Details of the construction were provided by a user of the Waze navigation app and were subsequently shared with the community via the Minnesota Department of Transportation's 511MN system. While the exact timeline of the construction work was not specified, travelers in the affected area should plan for potential delays and consider looking for alternative routes. It is important to note that while this information has been made public, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has not verified the accuracy of the report and therefore cannot guarantee its validity.
At seven weeks without administrator, Kenyon council eyes new interim candidate
After considering a strong candidate in former Prior Lake City Administrator Frank Boyles, then peppering City Attorney Scott Gerdes with process questions at its monthly meeting, Kenyon’s City Council is preparing to take another stab at hiring an interim City Administrator. A special meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 22 to consider hiring a yet unnamed candidate to serve as City Administrator on an interim basis, providing at least a partial replacement for abruptly departed City Administrator Mark Vahlsing. ...
Commissioners approve search firm for county engineer in 3-2 vote
Steele County is one step closer to finding its next county engineer, a notoriously difficult position to replace. The Board of Commissioners approved a bid from South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) at its Tuesday meeting, authorizing the North Mankato-based firm to conduct a search for county engineer. It proved to be an usually close vote for the board, with Chair Jim Abbe and Vice Chair James Brady dissenting. SCSC will...
How to help businesses grow in Waseca discussed at GreenSeam workshop
Many people in the business community, whether through manufacturing, local government, economic development initiatives, agriculture, or a number of other areas, came out to the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca to hear about growing businesses on Friday, May 17. The workshop was hosted by GreenSeam, an organization created in 2016 with the mission of creating a world class food and agriculture center in Minnesota. This was the second workshop hosted by the organization, with the first one taking place a...
Have You Seen the 2024 Steele County Free Fair Grandstand Lineup?
Think summer! The Steele County Free Fair has announced the artists that will appear on the grandstand stage this August -- and it's gonna be another country music party in Owatonna. 2024 Steele County Free Fair Grandstand Lineup. TUE 8/113: Classic Antique Tractor Pull. WED 8/16: Hailey Whitters. THU 8/17:...
MNPrairie holds conference on kinship caregiving
At 55 years old, a Mantorville grandpa didn’t foresee himself changing diapers and dropping kids off at daycare. His plans in life were dramatically reshaped when he and his wife decided to adopt their two grandsons after their daughter landed in drug court. His sister adopted their granddaughter, keeping all the children in the family. Joe, the grandfather, was one of several panelists who shared their stories Friday, the opening...
Former Kenyon resident Greseth experiences Honor Flight
The Honor Flight program provides free flights to honor United States military veterans for their service and sacrifice to visit war memorials in Washington D.C. When Ben and Phyllis Greseth lived in Kenyon five years ago, Ben applied for an Honor Flight that would leave from LaCrosse, WI, but was told they were only flying World War II veterans, but to check back later. A few years later, he got...
School Board discusses 4-day week, outdoor learning
As Minnesota legislators consider lowering barriers for districts that wish to implement a four-day school week, Owatonna Public Schools is one of many districts in the state eying the possibility. Under current state law, districts must receive approval from the education commissioner to implement a four-day work week. Several districts in Minnesota already have. However, HF1242, a bill introduced into the House last year, would remove that requirement, leaving the...
Farm dealership expansion and housing tax break approved
An extension of a moratorium on marijuana retailers and a tax break for a county housing project were among the items that quickly gained approval from the Faribault City Council Tuesday night. A proposal to expand a tractor dealership garnered more discussion. The conditional use permit for Matejcek’s Implement was ultimately unanimously approved, but with a long list of conditions after city staff discovered the site currently is violating multiple city rules. ...
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