Area News
Reflections on the trail
Former Hallock pastor publishes book about North Shore hike By Anna Jauhola One little moth just trying to blend in and not get eaten led to a former Hallock pastor writing a book about his growth and experience hiking a 310-mile route on Minnesota’s North Shore. Last week, Frank Johnson released his book, “Rocks and…
Read MoreNORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION HOSTING REGIONAL Q&A ON MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION PROGRAM
August 4, 2021 (Bemidji, MN) – Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) staff will host a Regional Q&A via Zoom web-conferencing to present and walk through the details of Minnesota’s Main Street Revitalization program, which aims to support economic development and redevelopment. The Regional Q&A will be held from 11 a.m. to Noon on Tuesday, August 10.…
Read MoreEnergy Assistance funding available
Applications for the 2020-21 Energy Assistance Program are being taken to help households with fuel deliveries, natural gas and electric bills. To apply please either call Northwest Community Action at 1-800-568-5329 and request an application or visit our website at www.nwcaa.org. Energy Assistance eligibility is based upon household income and household size. Both homeowners and…
Read MoreKarlstad receives $5.6M in funding for new airport
By Anna Jauhola The Karlstad community is one big step closer to building a new airport. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed the state transportation budget in late June, which grants $5.6 million to the city of Karlstad. This amount will allow for a 4,000-foot paved runway. Al Lundeen, chairman of the Karlstad Airport board, said…
Read MoreUrbaniak retiring, Kujava is new public health director
By Anna Jauhola As she prepares to exit her nearly 40-year career in public health in Kittson County, Cindy Urbaniak feels the population is already in good hands. In 1982, Urbaniak began her career in nursing at Kittson Memorial Hospital in Hallock. About half a year later, a position opened with Kittson County Public Health.…
Read More40 years banking in Kennedy
Silewski: ‘It’s just like my home away from home’ By Anna Jauhola Forty years ago, Tom Silewski drove his 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 to Kennedy for a job interview. Cecil “Butch” Fossell was working there at the time and remembers him pulling up to the then Farmers State Bank in “that boat of a car.” “When…
Read MoreHockey board approves indoor training facility
By Anna Jauhola Hockey players will soon have the opportunity for more intense training on and off the ice. This spring, the Hallock Youth Hockey board approved constructing a dryland training facility specifically geared toward hockey skills improvement. Building could begin as early as this summer. “One of the goals for our program moving forward…
Read MoreCounty board insists on 1W1P collaboration, entity is not necessary
By Anna Jauhola The Kittson County Board of Commissioners is standing firm in its position to collaborate rather than form a new entity regarding the One Watershed One Plan (1W1P) implementation. During its regular meeting Tuesday, June 1, the board agreed it’s “collaboration or bust” when it comes to the 1W1P. This plan includes a…
Read MoreTax Court ruling places burden on several local jurisdictions
By Anna Jauhola Several entities in Kittson County are facing an uncertain and enormous price tag after a Minnesota Tax Court recently upheld two of Enbridge’s lawsuits regarding overtaxation. Almost 10 years ago, the Minnesota Department of Revenue reassessed values on certain types of property, specifically pipelines between 2012 and 2016. Because the state overvalued…
Read MoreKittson experiencing driest 8-month period on record
By Anna Jauhola Kittson County has steadily been listed in moderate drought since last fall. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 53 percent of the county is in severe drought and the whole county is abnormally dry. The U.S. Drought Monitor classifies severe drought by the following conditions: hard ground, expensive feed, low crop yields,…
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