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After Alpha News provided scrutiny in the form of old-fashioned journalism, DFL State Senator Omar Fateh recently withdrew his bill that would have directed $15 million in taxpayer money to the WE WIN Institute. This comes on the heels of Senator Fateh's shepherding of $3.5 million to WE WIN via the state legislature and Governor Tim Walz during the 2023 legislative session. The 2025 legislation supporting the WE WIN Institute would have directed $15 million for "culturally specific programming...
Governor Tim Walz spoke at the 158th annual Minnesota Newspaper Association convention on Friday, January 31. The MNA convention was held at the Minneapolis Marriot Northwest hotel in Brooklyn Park that week. The attached video features Walz speaking at the Friday afternoon banquet that day on topics such as the 2025 state legislative session as well as ideas the government can work with on helping the health and well being of newspapers across the state. Walz's appearance was followed by a...
Bitter cold has gripped the Bonanza Valley area this week. Temperatures plunged to 20 or more below zero on Monday night, February 10, with the temperature before school began shown in the attached photo on Tuesday, February 11. By 11:30 a.m. it rebounded to a "balmy" negative one degree. Negative 22 is in the forecast for Wednesday night. It's a great time to have wood heat, which is more and more rare today....
On February 12, Congresswoman Fischbach (MN-07) introduced the Investing in Rural America Act to provide critical capital resources to rural communities through improvements to the Community Facilities Loan and Grant Program. "Rural communities across the country are struggling to retain population, much less attract future generations. One way Congress can support them is by eliminating unnecessary regulatory barriers to capital investment, particularly on critical community facilities like hos...
During the first day of the month of February last Saturday, the Smilin' D Arena held the Wild Henke Youth Day, which was dubbed as a "day for kids" at the arena. Youth of various ages competed across 10 different equine competitions. The attached video features Teagan Jenniges and Jack Anderson competing in the ages 11-14 category during the Bell Boot race that morning. Anderson nailed it during his run with at time that beat the 10-second mark. He is a seventh grader at B-B-E middle school....
Minnesota House Republicans have drafted a package of bills Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, said would make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. Anderson said the bills, authored as part of the GOP's "Make Minnesota Affordable" initiative, focus on lowering energy costs, reducing the tax burden, and ensuring budget surpluses benefit hardworking Minnesotans. "Minnesota families and businesses have had it tough in recent years, with soaring price increases, along...
At the Brooten city council meeting last Monday, January 13, Brooten Fire Department Secretary Thor Amundson provided the 2024 report. On the current roster of 28 fire department members, the longest-serving firefighter is Gary Olson with 46 years (start date of January 1, 1978). Next is Calvin Hanson with 41 years. He is followed in seniority by Kern Nelson (28 years) and Todd Trustheim (27 years). Matt Ogdahl and Dave Bast each have 24 years on the department. Chris Strom has 22 years on the...
Snow fell on Sunday, January 12 ranging from 2 to 4 inches across the Bonanza Valley area. Stubborn, icy conditions came with it, however, as the precipitation began as light rain on Saturday night. Many local road ways had wide stretches of black ice....
Roger Sagedahl, died peacefully surrounded by his family in the Glenwood hospital on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at the age of 90. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooten. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 19th from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the church. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service on Monday. Interment will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Brooten. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral...
A wealth of far-reaching consequences are playing out in real time on Saturday night, January 18, from the recent ban of TikTok in the United States. For domestic users, TikTok stopped functioning shortly after 9 p.m. Central Standard Time. This ban is based on the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, H.R. 231, which was passed into law by the 118th U.S. Congress (2023-2024). In some cases, users with V.P.N. Internet access are still able to use the TikTok...
Suzanne Sagedahl, age 68 of Brooten died Sunday, January 5, 2025 at home surrounded by her family and friends under the care of hospice. A memorial service celebrating Suzanne’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooten. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. After the service the celebration will continue at the Ka-De-Shack in Brooten. Suzanne’s wishes were for those attending the service to wear their favorite Minn...
The Smilin' D Arena and Events center in the heart of Colfax Township hosted a bull riding night with youth and adult divisions on Saturday, January 4. Smilin' D is a family-owned arena built for cutting, roping, ranch sorting, and western events. The attached video features a few rounds of bull riding that night. Grit, Glory and Good Times! From their website: "Nestled in the heart of Central Minnesota, Smilin’ D Arena is the ultimate destination for those who live for the thrill of the ride. Whether you’re here for the grit of cutting com...
Roger Sagedahl, died peacefully surrounded by his family in the Glenwood hospital on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at the age of 90. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooten. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 19th from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the church. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service on Monday. Interment will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Brooten. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral...
Christmas Eve worship was held at South Lake Johanna Lutheran church of Crow Lake Township with a crowd of nearly 70 attending. A video featuring most of the service is attached here. At around the 10-minute mark of the video, Pastor Ron Knutson's sermon begins....
Grace Lutheran Church in Belgrade held a Christmas Eve worship on Tuesday, December 24 right around sunset. Attached here is a video featuring Pastor Lisa Meshke's sermon during the worship....
Children age 5 and younger were enrolled in a vaccine trial for RSV in the United States, during which they were tested out with injections of a mRNA technology-based gene therapy drug. Because of rampant concerns and safety signals coming from the trial, the program was shut down. The federal government's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee made this announcement on December 12. In the announcement, data was revealed that showed that the group of children who were...
At Big Grove Lutheran church in North Fork Township, the Sunday School children performed their Christmas program and participated in the worship service on Sunday, December 15. The final song of worship called "Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness" is featured in the attached video....
PRESS RELEASE on December 13 from Senator Westrom's office. On Thursday, Dec. 12, nine Democrat state senators announced the formation of the “Blue Dog Caucus” in the Minnesota Senate, aiming to “pursue a practical, bipartisan path forward for all Minnesotans.” The state senators include Senator Matt Klein (DFL-Mendota Heights), Senator Nick Frentz (DFL – North Mankato), Senator Judy Seeberger (DFL – Afton), Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL – Hermantown), Senator Ann Rest (DFL – New Hope), Senator...
On Saturday, December 7 in downtown Brooten, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus arrived at Lucky Shots Bowling Alley to a full house of area children who were excited to meet them and talk about their Christmas wish list. In the attached video, the Brooten Fire Department is featured providing chauffeur services to the Clauses to downtown Brooten. Altogether, over 110 children registered for door prizes, the purchase of which were financed by area businesses and the Brooten Fire Relief Association....
On Sunday, December 15, Sunday School children at Big Grove Lutheran church held their Christmas program. Two pictures featuring the group of children singing in the sanctuary that morning were featured on page one of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. In the attached video, you can watch the children singing "Joy To the World" and also "Silent Night" during the program....
The Belgrade Commercial Club hosted Santa Day at the Belgrade Municipal Hall on Saturday, December 14. Santa Claus was on hand for pictures with children, and treats and refreshments were also available including Belgrade Bakery Christmas cookies. The top attached video features part of the fun that morning. The B-B-E Just For Kix dancers also performed two separate dances, and the second attached video features the final JFK dance....
A crowd surpassing 60 worshipers attended a Christmas Eve worship on Tuesday, December 24 at South Lake Johanna Lutheran church. The service was led by Pastor Ron Knutson. Video attached here features all but the first 5 minutes of the service, and it begins with Tony and Marie Halls performing a singing/guitar duet. Pastor Ron's gets into his sermon beginning at around the 10-minute mark....
Lucky Shots Bowling Alley was the site of the Brooten Santa Day on Saturday, December 7, and it drew over 100 children and their families to town. The attached video features a glimpse of children sitting with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus plus other activities that took place at the bowling alley. It was right around the same time of this video that the B-B-E Cub Scouts Pack No. 667 was getting their chili feed underway across the street at the KaDe Shack. Additional coverage was published in the...
The Brooten Activities Club and a lengthy list of locally-owned businesses have once again teamed up to bring Brooten Santa Day for all ages to enjoy. The Santa Day is this Saturday, December 7 starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Lucky Shots Bowling Alley. The Winters are excited to host part of Santa Day at Lucky Shots, which now has its back room fully completed in the building's former cafe area. Other activities will be across the street at the KaDe Shack plus at the Trinity Lutheran Church...
Submitted by Minnesota District 12A State Representative Paul Anderson of Starbuck The state issued a new economic forecast on Wednesday, December 4, and it projects a $616 million surplus through the 2026-27 biennium – a decrease of $1.1 billion from previous estimates – and a significant future shortfall. The new economic report from Minnesota Management and Budget indicates reductions in income and sales tax revenues combined with higher spending for long-term care and special education res...
