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The Kenyon Leader
Wanamingo's Reckitt-Mead Johnson shares plan to regulate wastewater acidity
After warning Reckitt-Mead Johnson last month about continued apparent failures to properly regulate wastewater acidity, Wanamingo received a response shortly before its first council meeting of the year detailing the steps the company is taking to resolve the situation. Located on the north end of town, Wanamingo’s Reckitt-Mead Johnson plant is one of the city’s largest and most important employers, processing infant formula for the New Jersey-based company’s customers around the country and globe. ...
'The Trial' at K-W passes 25 years, still loved by students and staff alike
On Dec. 21, the day before leaving for winter break, students at Kenyon-Wanamingo High School gathered for one of the most anticipated events of the school year. Under the direction of social studies teacher Dan Rechtzigel, K-W students staged a trial, complete with prosecutors, defense attorneys, jurors and more. “The Trial” was the culmination of an annual game that simulates the inner workings of the criminal justice system. According to...
Kenyon Police Department implements body cameras
“Even without the body cameras, policing is kind of like a fish bowl,” said Officer Mitch Taylor. Though it’s been an adjustment, Taylor has found that wearing a body camera every day at work isn’t as different as he expected. As a police officer, he was already accustomed to having his actions watched closely in public. The Kenyon Police Department implemented body cameras for its officers in mid-November. The initiative...
RSV passes peak, flu and COVID still on the rise
With cases of respiratory illnesses making their annual winter climb, local public health officials and care providers are urging the public to get vaccinated, stay home when sick and take extra precautions during holiday gatherings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report indicates that Minnesota has had among the mildest flu seasons in the country, with states across the southeast, southwest and east coast feeling most of the impact so far. ...
YEAR IN REVIEW: Kenyon Leader 2023 top stories include new restaurants, new superintendent and a brave 3-year-old
Last year brought many exciting transitions to the area — new businesses opening their doors, established ones changing hands and a closely watched selection process for the new superintendent of Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools. Many of the notable events of 2023 offer encouraging signs for the future, while others show the lingering effects of the past. It was not an easy year for everyone, as local families grappled with tragedies and tribulations — but at the very least, they did not struggle alone. ...
Kenyon loses three impactful women in 2023
2023 saw the passing of many tremendous people of the Kenyon area or with connections to our community. In October, three incredible women passed away who were dedicated to their church, family, and community. On Oct. 11, Helen Aase passed away at the age of 102. Helen received many accolades during her life, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota Nurses Association, a WCCO Good Neighbor Award winner, and...
Goodhue County board reduces tax levy but still a 4.2% increase
After giving preliminary approval in September to a budget and levy that included a 6.1% increase in property taxes, the Goodhue County Board of Commissioners approved a final budget this week, trimming the levy increase to 4.2%. Due to property valuation increases, the new levy will push the county’s tax rates below last year’s while still raising about $1.7 million in new revenue, allowing the county’s budget to rise from about $85 million this year to $90 million next year. ...
Kids learn robotics at library science club
REGISTRATION INFO Kenyon Public Library will host the next session of Science Club on the next K-W early dismissal day, Feb. 14. Pre-registration is required. Learn more at: kenyon.lib.mn.us/events 238f09bd-ce43-4088-aa20-889584120052 Once a month, a group of kids meets after school on early release days to keep the fun and learning going. ...
Wanamingo council approves largest levy increase in over a decade; development will offset impact
At its final meeting of 2023, Wanamingo’s City Council signed off on a levy increase of 9.2%, but with new developments coming onto the tax rolls and property valuations going up, that figure actually represents a tax rate cut and only a modest increase for the average Wanamingo property. The approved preliminary levy increase of $90,000 is the largest increase in over a decade, and it didn’t secure council approval without significant consternation and questions from several councilors, especially Jeremiah Flotterud. ...
K-W School Board approves maximum levy, smaller than 2023
At its last meeting of 2023, Kenyon-Wanamingo’s School Board approved the maximum allowable levy and heard a Truth in Taxation presentation from outgoing Business Manager Todd Lechtenberg. However, it was a facilities review which ended up stealing the show. Even though costs are increasing for Kenyon-Wanamingo Public Schools and other levels of government are raising levies, K-W’s 2024 levy will in fact be slightly smaller than the 2023 levy by about 0.6%, or $20,000, as the district deals with the legacy of declining enrollment. ...
Tree lighting, parade cap off Christmas in Kenyon
Christmas spirit was burning bright in Kenyon this weekend, even if the weather wasn’t entirely cooperative. After a full day of Christmas in Kenyon festivities, a crowd gathered in Veterans Park Saturday evening for the annual Community Tree Lighting Ceremony, followed by the lighted parade. Kenyon Boy Scout Troop 232 and the Fire Department lit bonfires in the park earlier in the day, providing desperately needed warmth throughout the cold,...
K-W band and choirs enjoy 'amazing' trip to Duluth, Split Rock
The Keynon-Wanamingo band and choirs made their way to Duluth in November on a trip that featured a special tour of the Split Rock Lighthouse. Kenyon-Wanamingo alum Hayes Scriven runs the lighthouse, opening up the unique opportunity to students. “It was an unusual experience to have one of our own open the lighthouse on an otherwise closed day where he brought out his staff to give us the family and...
K-W School Board discusses finances and audits
Kenyon-Wanamingo Public Schools got a clean bill of health on the 2023 audit completed by Smith Schaeffer, without the difficult surprises of last year, but the numbers indicate that extra cuts will need to be made. Despite a major drop in federal aid, the district received an overall boost in revenue last year. However, major increases in instructional and administrative costs left a deficit of about $720,000 for fiscal year 2023, driving the unassigned general fund balance over $1.6 million. ...
Longtime Kenyon resident turns 100
“You should see my birthday cards,” said Kenyon’s Jean Overby. She received over 40 of them this year. This was no ordinary birthday for Overby — the longtime Kenyon resident recently turned 100 years old. She considers herself blessed and attributes her remarkable health to many years of farm work. She and her husband Cordet lived on a farm three miles south of Kenyon for most of their 66-year marriage,...
K-W wrestling: 2023-24 non-conference schedule preview
This article originally appeared in the Nov. 29 edition of the Kenyon Leader. In the winter sports season at Kenyon-Wanamingo, conference play composes about two-thirds of the season for boys and girls basketball. In wrestling, the conference slate is only about a fifth of the equation. Between individual and team tournaments, as well as a...
Northfield boys hockey beats Rochester Century
In an early season battle between two of the Big 9 Conference’s top teams, the Northfield High School boys hockey team (3-1, 1-0 Big 9) brought home a hard-fought 4-3 victory from Rochester Century/John Marshall on Thursday, Nov. 30. Of note, Northfield won the Big 9 championship with a 14-3 record and Rochester Century/John Marshall was second in the standings at 12-4 in 2022-23. The Raiders gained an early upper...
K-W Theater staging one-act plays
TICKETS AND SHOWTIMES The show begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, followed by a performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3. Tickets are available at the door, $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. dfc65d79-67a4-40bd-932d-a098d146b81e Kenyon-Wanamingo High School drama students are about to show off two very different takes on classic stories. The students are busily rehearsing “Flowers for Algernon” and “Lord of the Pies,”...
K-W boys basketball: 2023-24 non-conference schedule preview
Kenyon-Wanamingo’s boys basketball season opener is around the corner. The Knights get their 2023-24 campaign underway 7:15 p.m. Dec. 1 at Winona Cotter. It’s the first of seven games played away from the Gopher Conference. Below is a breakdown of these non-conference tilts, which include some new and familiar opponents. ...
2023-24 Gopher Conference boys basketball preview: West division
It was an interesting 2022-23 season for Gopher Conference boys basketball. The championship game was a thriller with West division champion Maple River capping an unbeaten conference season with a 73-70 double overtime victory on home court over East champ Hayfield. It was a resurgent season for Kenyon-Wanamingo, which was in the East division title race well into February. That division preview is coming next week. ...
2023-24 Gopher Conference wrestling preview
The Gopher Conference was stratified in wrestling in 2022-23. Kenyon-Wanamingo ruled the roost going undefeated with all dual wins coming by double digits. Medford was the clear-cut No. 2 with just one loss coming at K-W. The middle of the Gopher was jumbled with three teams tied for third at 3-3. ...
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