Area News
No downside to volunteering
TED WEBSTER and DYLAN JOHNSON are National Honor Society students at Lancaster School. (Enterprise photo by Anna Jauhola) By Anna Jauhola For some, volunteering comes naturally and others find it brings them out of their shell. For five National Honor Society members at Kittson Central and Lancaster schools, it’s a mix. Senior Morgan Bergeron and…
Read MoreTax forfeit properties may be sold privately, by bids
By Anna Jauhola Local interest in two tax forfeited homes in Hallock has led the county board to remove them from public auction to offer for private sale or sealed bids. At the Hallock City Council meeting on Monday, April 3, the council discussed a dilapidated property at 120 4th St. SE. The Kittson County…
Read More‘We want to save what we have’
County residents emphasize need to retain basic and emergency care By Anna Jauhola A common theme spawned from community meetings regarding healthcare last week throughout Kittson County — we need to maintain what we have. To begin its strategic planning process, Kittson Healthcare’s board of directors hired Eide Bailly to conduct these meetings. The public…
Read MoreGrowing happy potatoes in Kittson County
By Anna Jauhola It’s likely almost everyone in Kittson County has eaten Dagen-raised, Hapka-grown potatoes – whether it’s from the freezer aisle at the grocery store or at a restaurant in the region. Justin Dagen and his family at Karlstad raise seed potatoes. Lance Hapka and his family at Halma raise Umatilla russets for…
Read MoreDAV provides van in Kittson County for veteran transportation needs
By Anna Jauhola Kittson County veterans who need rides to medical appointments now have a free, local option. The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 41, which is based in Middle River, Minn., has purchased and based a van in Hallock to provide this service in the county. It’s been a work in progress, but the group…
Read MoreFinney receives high honor for dedicated flood reduction work
By Anna Jauhola John Finney believes in public service. While many people serve on civic, church or nonprofit boards, Finney found his own niche in flood reduction management. For 40 years, Finney has served on several water management boards, including Minnesota Joe River Watershed District, chair of the Red River Watershed Management Board and co-chair…
Read MoreCity writes off $22K in delinquent utility bills
By Anna Jauhola The Hallock City Council approved a resolution to write-off delinquent utility accounts due to the statute of limitations. According to state law, delinquent utility accounts cannot be collected if they are older than six years and those responsible have not affirmed the debt. City Attorney Jeff Hane attended the regular meeting on…
Read MoreSale considered ‘a healthy move’
Kittson Pharmacy sold to private owner, retains local employees By Anna Jauhola Kittson Healthcare will continue operating with a pharmacy in-house, with local staff, but the business has changed hands. In 2022, officials at Kittson Healthcare along with a broker and attorneys officially sold the retail pharmacy business to Loften Deprez, who owns Healthy Pharmacy…
Read MoreOnline tax payment portal to be operational by June
By Anna Jauhola Kittson County landowners will again be able to pay their taxes online, but likely not until June. In May 2021, the county commissioners approved a new tax payment system from Tyler Technologies using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. While the initial information quotes an implementation process of 12 to 18…
Read MoreStruggles lead to strategic plan
By Anna Jauhola After determining Kittson Healthcare has lost almost $1 million each in 2020 and 2021, the organization and its governing board acknowledged the immediate need for a strategic plan. During the annual Kittson Memorial Hospital Association meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23, Interim CEO Everett Butler told a gathering of about 30 people the…
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