May 2022

Ridgewater Community & Technical College Practicing estheticians and recent Estheology graduates who meet eligibility requirements will now be able to take their skills to the next level for their skincare clients, thanks to an Estheology program expansion at Ridgewater College, Willmar campus. Launching this summer, a 20-credit Advanced Esthetics certificate will be available to licensed estheticians and cosmetologists who wish to expand their expertise to such skin treatments as light therapy, dermaplaning, and other advanced skin treatment protocols.

Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths (TZD), an organization that was designed to study the causes of traffic fatalities and serious injuries, and work to pursue public support of traffic safety as a priority, hosted a seminar at Prairie’s Edge Casino and Resort in Granite Falls last week.

So many people have been commenting to me this past week, that “we have gone from winter-like weather right into summer-like weather!” We have seen warmer temperatures and even some thunderstorms along the way across the state over the past week. These warmer temperatures and windy conditions have helped to dry things out a bit for the farmers, but it has also created some wildfire concerns.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is currently seeking volunteers in the Granite Falls area to help with an annual project monitoring Minnesota’s lakes and streams. The program is in its 49th year, having been started in 1998 at the University of Minnesota before being transferred to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency a few years later.

Monday morning, a storm moved through the area bringing heavy rain and large hail. Dick Petersen collected a dozen egg-sized pieces of hail at his home in Clarkfield.

Curtis Sannerud, a longtime resident of Clarkfield, recently won his third award from the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF). Sannerud’s first award came in 2-11, when he was one of 51 gold medalists chosen from nearly 4,000 entries into the NVCAF. It was the 18th time Sannerud had entered the competition. Sannerud, who served as an Army Combat Engineer from 1952-1954, stationed in Yugoslavia. He will be celebrating his 92nd birthday May 16th.

Chief Deputy Wayne DeBlieck was the guest of honor at a retirement party held at The Rock Dining & Events Friday afternoon. DeBlieck retires after 37 years of service in police departments. He began his work in Granite Falls in 1992, after six years in Tracy at the Police Department, with a couple of part-time jobs before that.