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As a sign of the dire financial situation the state's agriculture faces, the Minnesota House and Senate last week passed by a combind 201-0 vote legislation that stops foreclosures until December for farmers who elect to take part in creditor mediation. This extension of protection from foreclosure was advanced by the Land Stewardship Project's (LSP) Farm Crisis Campaign, which was launched in September by the organization's members from across the state. The bill's authors, Representative Todd...
Press release on Wednesday, May 20 Governor Tim Walz today announced the phases in his Stay Safe Plan, including a cautious, strategic turn of the dial to allow limited outdoor dining at restaurants and bars starting June 1, 2020. The Governor also announced that salons and barbershops will be allowed to open June 1 at 25 percent occupancy to ensure the safety of both the employees and the customers inside. In both industries, customers will be either strongly recommended or required to wear...
Official press release from the state of Minnesota On Wednesday, May 13, Governor Tim Walz announced the next phase of the COVID-19 response in Minnesota. Citing progress made to prepare for peak of infection, the Governor announced a measured, cautious turning of the dial toward a new normal. With the Stay Home Executive Order set to expire on May 18, the Governor will replace it with an order continuing to encourage Minnesotans to stay close to home but allowing for gatherings of friends and f...
On Tuesday, May 5, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) is releasing an updated budget projection for the current biennium, Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021. Minnesota's budget and economic outlook has significantly worsened since the coronavirus pandemic. A deficit of $2.426 billion is now projected for the current biennium, which is almost a $4 billion change compared to the February forecast. Revenues are expected to be $3.611 billion lower and spending, including appropriations enacted since February, is expected to be $391 million higher. The...
Press release on Thursday, April 30: As the state continues to make progress in preparing for the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tim Walz today extended the Stay Home Order in Minnesota until Monday, May 18. In an effort to get more Minnesotans back safely to work while the order remains in effect, the Governor announced that retail businesses and other non-critical businesses will resume operations with curbside pick-up. "From building out critical hospital capacity to launching a...
State Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, issued the following statement Thursday after Gov. Tim Walz indicated his stay-at-home order for Minnesota will be extended to May 18, while allowing more retail businesses to open with restrictions. "Minnesotans have done a great job of remaining patient throughout this stay-at-home order, but this latest extension may be a step too far for many people in our state," Anderson said. "Businesses have been shut down for weeks and some may never come back....
Stearns County is working collaboratively with Minnesota Department of Health, CentraCare Health, Pilgrim's Pride in Cold Spring and Jennie-O in Melrose in response to employees testing positive for COVID-19 in their facilities. Action plans for response are currently in progress, including the potential for testing ill employees and isolation and quarantine as needed. Both companies proactively implemented strategies to keep employees safe while continuing their operations. Once plans for follow-up are finalized, employees will be notified...
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced today that the agency has begun making Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments to people who are self-employed, independent contractors, and other eligible recipients who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits. PUA is a new program that was authorized by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and signed into law on March 27, 2020. "In less than one month,...
Our downtown Box Office and Art Gallery with Central Square and Civic Center is not physically open at this time. However, employees are working from home and checking the voicemail daily. Please don't hesitate to call or email us. Stay tuned for our updated website which will include inventory from the gallery AND it will be available to buy online! In an effort to protect our residents and patrons, Central Square is not open to the public at this time. We will continue to update our Facebook...
Below is video from the St. Patrick's Day parade in Padua, where the Padua Pub celebrated their 40th annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. Photos from the parade were published in the April 2 issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper....
Public Health Asks for Residents Help to Stop Virus Spread A local hotline number has been set up to answer questions related to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Stearns and Benton Counties established a joint hotline staffed by Public Health professionals. That hotline number is 320.656.6625 or 1.877.782.5683 and is answered 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individuals can also call the Minnesota Department of Health hotline, which is staffed 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. seven days a wee...
Kentucky Thunder is excited to be coming to Brink's 104 Club in Sunburg on Saturday, February 29. They will be performing live from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. that night. Come on out and enjoy the show along with great drink and food specials!...
Minnesota's 1,781 townships will hold their annual town meeting on Tuesday, March 10. Known as Township Day, these annual meetings are held every year on the second Tuesday in March. Residents of the townships will meet to voice their opinions about local issues with other township residents and also vote directly on their annual tax levy; direct democracy in action. Citizens attending annual meetings also often discuss and vote on other local issues. In addition, many of the state's townships will hold their township officer elections on...
Farmers, rural residents and other concerned citizens from across Minnesota will gather at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Mankato on Saturday, February 29. The meeting centers on a Farm Crisis Forum involving farm families and allies, Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Peterson and the Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The farm crisis forum will take place between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the hotel, located at 901 Raintree Road, Mankato. During the past several months, h...
Irrigators mark your calendars to attend an Irrigator's Clinic to be held at the Minnewaska House on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. This event will be of interest to anyone who is actively engaged in irrigation on agricultural lands. A great line-up of speakers has committed to participating in the event representing: University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Soil RX Inc., Bonanza Valley Irrigators Association, Natural Resource Conservation Service, West Central Irrigation, and local irrigators. Topics to be addressed during the...
Below is video from the dairy crisis meeting at the Greenwald Pub on January 30....
Release dated February 24, 2020 Senate Republicans today announced a multifaceted plan to return Minnesota's budget surplus to taxpayers. The Senate Republican tax plan emphasizes putting money back in the pockets of families and individuals, particularly middle-income and low-income earners, so they have more security, freedom, and flexibility to chase their dreams. This is the marquee piece of Senate Republicans' Vision 2020 Agenda, which was unveiled in January. The Get Your Billion Back...
The video embedded here features the sermon given by Pastor Wayne Kopitzke at First Lutheran church of Norway Lake on Sunday, February 2, 2020....
At the Dairy Crisis meeting hosted at the Greenwald Pub in Greenwald on Thursday, January 30, numerous farmers and other interested individuals spoke out against the way the agriculture economy is stacked against small- and medium-sized family farmers. One man spoke his strong frustration at the time he attended a meeting hosted by a large agriculture co-op with over 300 people. He said that he was the only one who questioned leadership at the meeting. "I didn't come here for a ham sandwich,"...
Agriculture producers and other interested parties are invited to stay on the leading edge of regenerative agriculture by attending the Sustainable Farming Association's annual Midwest Soil Health Summit, set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, at Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd NW, Elk River. The seventh version of this dynamic event, titled "Farm as Reflection of Farmer," features a bevy of expert farmer speakers, including keynotes Jon Stika (right), author of "A Soil Owner's...
The Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to their 32nd annual Farm Toy Show on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at the ElmerZ event center. The event center is located at 1225 Timberline Drive in Sauk Centre. Doors open to the Farm Toy Show at 9 a.m., and the event runs until 3 p.m. with admission just $4, and kids five and under are free. Proceeds go to Dollars for Scholars College Scholarship and Arnie Wiener Memorial Scholarship. To be a vendor or for more info, call the Sauk...
Feedlot producers in the North Fork of the Crow River Watershed District are invited and encouraged to attend a free Manure Management Workshop put on by the North Fork Crow River Watershed District, Stearns County Environmental Services Department, Stearns Soil and Water Conservation District and the University of Minnesota Extension Service. The workshop is designed to help producers see the advantages of and options for properly managing manure. Many producers are required to keep records of...
How can we work together to create a solution to the current crisis that is engulfing dairy farming in central Minnesota and beyond? That will be the focus of a special Land Stewardship Project (LSP) meeting Thursday, Jan. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Greenwald Pub (310 1st Ave. North). Registration for this free meeting begins at 10 a.m., and dinner will be served at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact LSP's Matthew Sheets at 320-766-4395 or msheets@landste...
The Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to their 32nd annual Farm Toy Show on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at the ElmerZ event center. The event center is located at 1225 Timberline Drive in Sauk Centre. Doors open to the Farm Toy Show at 9 a.m., and the event runs until 3 p.m. with admission just $4, and kids five and under are free. Proceeds go to Dollars for Scholars College Scholarship and Arnie Wiener Memorial Scholarship. To be a vendor or for more info, call the Sauk...
Feedlot producers in the North Fork of the Crow River Watershed District are invited and encouraged to attend a free Manure Management Workshop put on by the North Fork Crow River Watershed District, Stearns County Environmental Services Department, Stearns Soil and Water Conservation District and the University of Minnesota Extension Service. The workshop is designed to help producers see the advantages of and options for properly managing manure. Many producers are required to keep records of...
