May 2025
SMAC Awards $114,065 to area organizations & student artist
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council
Art walk, concert held at ECHO Charter School
As the current school year enters its last phase, ECHO Charter School students, under the direction of art teacher Julia Redner, hosted an Art Apart presentation of their masterpieces Wednesday and Thursday, May 14 and 15 during school hours, and a concert was held on Thursday afternoon.
News from WRAP: What is sextortion?
Sextortion: threatening to distribute someone’s sexual images, videos, or information in order to receive something of monetary value. This is a word that is slowly becoming unavoidable when we open our social media or news articles. It is common for us to say, “Oh, that doesn’t happen here,” or “That won’t happen to me or my kid.” The truth is that it IS happening here, and it could happen to you or someone you know. Although sextortion seems like a new term or is unfamiliar, it has made a very big impact on people in our communities’ lives. WRAP staff have attended multiple trainings on sextortion. It is not only something that is a big part of the service provider world, but also with law enforcement. Sextortion is illegal and is something that can be criminally charged.
Local student awarded scholarship
Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (SMBSC) recently awarded two $1,500 scholarships: one to an immediate family member of a SMBSC Shareholder and one to an immediate family member of a SMBSC Employee. In addition, four (4) $1,000 scholarships were awarded to an immediate family member of a SMBSC Shareholder or Employee.
Ask a Trooper: Giving trucks some space…
Question: I drive truck for a living. Can you write about people that cut us off? These big riggs can’t stop on a dime. It’s frustrating because when they do that it can cause a wreck.
Beyond Reason: Beach Bod…
Before my six-year-old gets her grubby paws on Highlights Magazine, I give it the once-over because I don’t need to know more than everyone—just her. There’s a lot to unpack in every issue. My daughter, a chip off the old block, reads it for the jokes. (i.e. How do billboards talk? Answer: Sign Language.) Their investigative journalism uncovers profound mysteries. (i.e. Why are tennis balls yellow? Answer: TV) Personally, I turn to Highlights for the weather. This month’s cover: “Here Comes Summer.”
“Do you want to get well?” John 5:6b
Whenever I read this story of Jesus healing the paralytic at the pool, this question Jesus asks the paralyzed man makes me stop and think why wouldn’t this man want to be made well? We’ve learned through reading scripture as well as commentaries, that in places like this pool area many people come there to be healed. We are told in John 5 that there are like five porch areas where many people would wait, people who were invalids, blind, lame, and paralyzed like the man in this story. These people waited for healing. Healing that they believed would be given to them if they were the first person into the water after an angel came into the pool and stirred the water. So, when the water started to move, someone would jump in. The paralytic was never able to enter the water.
Mosaic murals and crosswalk art get the green light at council meeting
At Monday evening’s meeting of the Granite Falls City Council, local artist Tamara Isfeld presented two public art projects aimed at beautifying the city. With council approval, both initiatives are set to move forward this summer.
Notes from the Granite Area Arts Council: Chapters, Chapter Three…
On Saturday, my friend, her husband, and their twin cherubic, devious five-year-old boys made the brave decision to attend Art-a-Whirl with me. We wandered into the A-Mill Artist Lofts and were immediately dazzled by a sensory feast of crammed-together booths and a musician nailing Prince covers.