Spring Grove Herald

Smartphones may make us dumb, but they also help us find our way

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/06/2018 - 1:22pm

 

I was in the Twin Cities early Saturday afternoon just as the recent winter storm began pounding southern Minnesota. I had some doubt whether it was wise to make the journey home that day, but since my route was on major highways, I trusted the state snow plow operators more than the weather forecasters who often seem to hype storms in order to get people to tune in to their weather reports.

Secure pork supply workshop for producers set in Rushford

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/06/2018 - 1:19pm

University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health will be hosting a secure pork supply workshop at the Rushford Community Center, 43038 State Highway 30 West, Rushford Village, on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. Local swine producers are encouraged to attend and complete their own secure pork supply plan during the workshop.

Matzke, Folz repeat top awards; seven Lions honored

Published by Herald on Wed, 12/05/2018 - 1:55pm

Ethan Matzke and Alex Folz, for the second straight season, received two of the top three district football awards as five Spring Grove gridders were 2018 All-District selections with two others receiving Honorable Mention.

Folz repeats as Back of the Year and is All-District for a third season. Matzke is once again the sub-district Lineman of the Year while garnering a second All-District nod.

Grove girls begin with blowout split

Published by Herald on Wed, 12/05/2018 - 1:54pm

It was opposite sides of the same coin as the Spring Grove girls opened the 2018-2019 basketball season first with a Tuesday runaway 72-56 home loss to Lytle/Pacelli and then a 73-45 Friday road rout victory at Lanesboro. Friday's win was the first for new head coach Kody Moore.

The second halves of both conference matchups were closely contested, half-court encounters, but both games had been decided before halftime when they were full-court mismatches. In both games, both teams began defending full court.

Senior-laden Spring Grove boys embark on another title trail

Published by Herald on Wed, 12/05/2018 - 1:53pm

Expectations continue to be high for the Spring Grove boys who come off seven straight 20-win basketball seasons and eight straight SEC East Division championships.

League rivals take little consolation in graduation claiming an all-conference center and an honorable mention guard, because the Lions bring back more proven firepower than any other SEC squad - two repeat All-SEC performers, including Conference Player of the Year and three-time All-SEC point guard Alex Folz.

Students learn design ins and outs of architecture

Published by Herald on Wed, 12/05/2018 - 1:51pm

High school students are learning the ways of architecture, thanks to a local architect and a grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF).

The idea stemmed from a brainstorming session with students last fall. High school students met with several community members, members of the EDA and staff from Spring Grove Public Schools including Superintendent Rachel Udstuen and teacher Karen Tisthammer. 

Passing on the teachings of yoga; Spring Grove couple shares yoga benefits, offer classes

Published by Herald on Wed, 12/05/2018 - 1:49pm

There’s a major difference in yoga students before and after they attend a yoga class.

Mostly, it’s the stress they come in with and then the peace they feel after the class ends, literally leaving their stress at class.

That’s what Nora Beckjord see when they teach Svaroopa© yoga classes. Beckjord and her husband, Charles, are certified yoga instructors in Svaroopa© yoga and they bring their stress and tension relieving poses and strategies to Spring Grove.

‘Tis the season to be merry and generous Festival of Trees raises $25,000

Published by Herald on Wed, 12/05/2018 - 1:46pm

“’Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la – hey look how much Festival of Trees raised!”

Not only is it caroling season, but also giving season. A generous number of people turned out at the annual Festival of Trees event, with at least 120 people at the gala and more visiting the Fest Building for open viewing, Santa Clause visits, holiday treats and kids activities.

Festival of Trees raised more than $25,000, said Jacqui Van Minsel, treasurer. That amount will be divided equally among three Houston County groups and several other organizations.

Legal Notices

Published by Herald on Wed, 12/05/2018 - 1:31pm

PROCEEDINGS
OF
THE
BOARD
OF
COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS

Date: Tuesday, November 20, 2018 5:30 p.m.

Place: Commissioners Room, Courthouse, Caledonia, MN 

Members Present: Jack Miller, Justin Zmyewski, Teresa Walter and Fred Arnold

Presiding: Fred Arnold, Chairperson

Call to order.

Motion was made by Commissioner Miller, seconded by Commissioner Zmyewski and unanimously carried to approve the agenda.

City employees displeased by new city administrator’s PTO time

Published by Herald on Thu, 11/29/2018 - 11:04am

The council committed an “oops” when negotiating terms with new city administrator Anne Selness. What was not negotiated in the hiring letter was PTO (paid time off). 

Before the council on Tuesday, Nov. 20 was a resolution to grant 11.38 hours of PTO time per pay period, which was prorated for .8 time at 9.1 hours per pay period or 29.59 days per year, retroactive to the hiring date of Aug. 20, 2018.

That would put Selness at the top of the PTO hours schedule, which would equal working a feat of 15 years.