Celebrate innovation, learn about Fred Jones
By Anna Jauhola Frederick McKinley Jones is arguably Kittson County’s most notable citizen, having invented the refrigeration units that enabled long-distance frozen food distribution. As February is Black History Month, it’s only fitting to honor Jones. Jones, better known around Hallock and Kittson County as “Casey,” arrived in town on Christmas Day in 1912. He…
Read MoreHallock Youth Hockey PeeWees take second in district playoffs
Hallock Youth Hockey’s PeeWee team took second place out of 19 teams in the district playoffs Feb. 13-15 in Red Lake Falls. They took down East Grand Forks (11-1) and Crookston (11-2) before an overtime loss to Red Lake Falls (3-4) in the championship game. Hallock will advance to the Minnesota Hockey PeeWee B1 North…
Read MoreVintage Snowmobile Show – Lancaster
AROUND 70-80 SNOWMOBILES of varying vintages and recent models parked outside the Lancaster Municipal Building on Saturday, Feb. 7. The Vintage Snowmobile Show was a part of Lancaster Business Association’s annual Frost Fest event. Snowmobiles from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s were the vintage showstoppers still in operation, many of which took their owners on an 8-mile…
Read MoreSWCD offering gravel pits assistance to move toward being ‘weed-free’
By Anna Jauhola Kittson County’s ag inspector is working on reducing noxious weeds, and he explained the process during the regular commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Trent Youngstrand works in Kittson Soil and Water Conservation District, and also serves as the ag inspector. He is specifically focused on getting gravel pits weed free. He…
Read MoreHallock Council approves off-sale liquor license for Miller’s Farmers Store
By Anna Jauhola The Hallock City Council approved a liquor license request during its recent meeting, which didn’t sit well with one council member. During the regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 2, Miller’s Fresh Foods Farmers Store representatives requested to obtain the available off-sale liquor license. Jerilyn Braaten, operations manager for Miller’s Fresh Foods, said…
Read MoreKittson Central finishes teachers’ master contract, discusses contact days
By Jack Waters The Kittson Central School Board held the year’s first meeting, where they discussed the recently settled teachers’ master contract details, and how to best allocate remaining flex student contact days versus e-learning. They maintained last year’s board positions and committee assignments as Eric Ristad remained chairman, with Mike Olsonawski as vice chair,…
Read MoreKittson Healthcare: Deficit for fiscal year ’25
By Anna Jauhola As Kittson Healthcare continues to complete its 2025 audit, officials presented estimated numbers during the Kittson Memorial Hospital Association annual meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27. Approximately 20 stockholders attended and heard an update on the facility’s overall operations. Neil Frizzell, Kittson Healthcare’s CFO, presented the financials. It is estimated the facility will post…
Read MoreStudents are getting ‘Caught Being Kind’
By Anna Jauhola Five years ago, a Kittson Central graduate started a nonprofit to support children throughout Kittson County. This year, Jacob Hook, co-founder of KIDSon Cares, began working on another initiative with the school’s counselor to insulate the district’s efforts to produce kind students. Although the “Caught Being Kind” movement just started with elementary…
Read MoreDorothy Muir, 89
Dorothy Jean Muir, 89, of Hallock, Minn., passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at the Kittson Healthcare Center, surrounded by her family. Dorothy was born on July 7, 1936, in Hallock, to Philip and Marjorie (Gillie) O’Hearn. She attended Moen School through the eighth grade before transferring to Hallock High School, where she graduated in…
Read MoreDonna Kohut, 84
Donna (Gamble) Kohut, 84, passed away suddenly at her home in Carman, Man., Canada, on the afternoon of New Year’s Day, after spending Christmas with her family. Her 85th birthday would have been on Jan. 6. Donna was very proud to be from Hallock, Minn. She was born and raised there, graduated from high school there…
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