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Lancaster Fire Dept. to buy additional grass rig
By Anna Jauhola The Lancaster Fire Department will be headed to Ortonville, Minn., to pick up a new grass rig after the city council approved its purchase during the Wednesday, April 15 regular meeting. Keith Schmiedeberg and Chris Johnson told the council they received word a 1989 K-250 three-quarter ton truck came available with only…
Read MoreKittson Healthcare 1 of 8 hospitals chosen for national program
By Anna Jauhola A last-minute application to a program aimed at small facilities has landed Kittson Healthcare as the first Minnesota hospital taking part in the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program. After providing extra information, more details and an interview, CEO Andrea Swenson got word of their official acceptance in January. The program is offered through the…
Read MoreA Cornerstone of volunteers: Testament of community
By Jack Waters Once a month, an early Tuesday call from a North Country Food Bank truck driver is dispatched, as expected, to Juli Younggren, one of the managers and founders of the Cornerstone Food Pantry in Hallock. Like a Bat-Signal, this call activates dozens of volunteers across Kittson County as the driver, Greg Husfeldt,…
Read MoreCouncil looking for update on spring start for streets
By Anna Jauhola Although it snowed again last week, the Hallock City Council is already thinking about the completion of the street project. Contractors will be back in town when the weather allows to not only put the final lift of asphalt on the street they completed, but also to finish work they didn’t complete…
Read MoreKennedy water project awarded
By Anna Jauhola The Kennedy City Council approved a low bid for its water project during the regular meeting on Wednesday, April 8. It didn’t come without its challenges. The council approved a contract with Northern Plains Contracting to complete the Kennedy Pump House Project for $1,546,000. This was under the engineer’s estimate by about…
Read More4-H continues to inspire local youth through national event
By Anna Jauhola Tasting honey and determining its pollination origins is not a job for Laura Schmideberg, but it’s an experience she’ll never forget. The Kittson County 4-Her was one of only 20 Minnesota 4-Hers who attended the organization’s national Ignite Conference in Washington, D.C., March 25-29. While Schmiedeberg focused on the animal science track…
Read MoreLancaster School still struggling with new boiler
By Jack Waters The Lancaster School Board is working on continuing frustrations with the new boiler system. The board heard from Michael Peterson, who has a boiler license and assists with the system, during the regular meeting on Wednesday, March 25. The relatively newly installed boiler system has caused frustration at the school. Peterson reported…
Read MoreLake Bronson approves 20-year Otter Tail franchise agreement
By Anna Jauhola The Lake Bronson City Council approved a renewed franchise contract with Otter Tail Power Co. during its regular meeting on Wednesday, March 25. Carl Hunt, operations manager with Otter Tail Power Co. in Crookston, Minn., addressed the council. The franchise agreement is a 20-year contract, he said, adding there are a couple…
Read MoreCase continued after attorney doesn’t appear
By Anna Jauhola The case regarding a killing in Hallock was once again continued last week due to miscommunication and lack of information. In March 2025, Jordan Hanson was arrested for the shooting death of Justin Esparza at a Hallock residence. She has been incarcerated at Pennington County Jail in Thief River Falls ever since.…
Read MoreCitizen voices concern about rented watershed land, bid process
By Anna Jauhola Kris Folland, of Karlstad, addressed the Kittson County Commissioners during public comment on Tuesday, March 17. He brought up a concern regarding the Two Rivers Watershed District’s approval of a recreational land lease. Folland had previously served on the watershed district’s board, and noted that because the commissioners appoint those board members,…
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