Around this time 20 years ago (August 30th, 2002) I was a new reporter at the Tri-County News in Cottonwood, covering a murder that shook Montevideo to its core. I remember distinctly receiving the call that a body had been found in the rural Hanley Falls gravel pit the local teens used to swim in.
Larry Cole, who grew up on a farm near Hazel Run, visited Minnesota’s Machinery Museum in Hanley Falls, as well as the KCC in Granite Falls on Saturday for book-signing events. Cole, who now lives in Texas, published a book in November of 2021 about his life experiences, including playing for the NFL. In June of 1964 at the age of 17 and a half, Cole left the local area for the Air Force Academy and an entirely new lifestyle. When he left the academy after two years, he was recruited by other teams. Cole ended up being drafted to the Cowboys team where he spent the next 13 years. He finished college at the University of Minnesota during the off season. In one of the off-seasons, Cole decided to start his own business, and he and his wife started a family. “I have shared in the book how I started the business and raised a family. The book is about the man inside the story and it’s meant to share more with the audience. I get a lot of feedback that you can read all the stats and everything, but what the player was feeling and what was happening each year tells a different story,” he says. His book, “Living the Dream on America’s Team” was on hand for purchase Saturday, as well as copies of action photos from Cole’s time in the NFL. Photo by Jessica Stölen-Jacobson
Who is Todd and why does he have a cottage? Recent community folklore has brought attention to a river squid named Todd. Melissa Peterson, of Granite Falls, has a quaint, darling home that she refers to as Todd’s Cottage. She acquired the house back in January 2022. She said they revamped the entire inside of the house and now have it listed as a place to stay on the Air B ‘n B website/app.
Luwaina Al-Otaibi, of Granite Falls, has spent the last few weeks finding her way as the new Community Engagement and Events Coordinator of The Yes! House, located downtown in an original brick building.
On Sunday, July 24th, Terry Baxter, co-founder of GoServ Global will be speaking at the Echo Community Center about an opportunity to participate in a worldwide humanitarian project. The project involves turning Sukup grain bins into homes, school classrooms, birthing centers, dental clinics and orphanages.
Hunters can apply for special youth deer hunt permits through Friday, Aug. 19. These hunts are for youth ages 12-15 at the time of the hunt. Youth archery hunters in Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area in Sherburne County can be ages 10-17. There is a limited number of permits for each hunt. Individual hunts will be held in several state parks, and in the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, on various dates in the fall. Adults must accompany youth during these hunts. More information is available in on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/Hunting/ Deer/Youth-Deer- Hunts.html). Special youth deer hunts are different from the statewide youth deer season, which takes place Oct. 20-23 and does not require an application.
On behalf of the Fagen family, we would like to thank everyone who helped to make the June 18th 2022 Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow – Pride of the Pacific a huge success despite the heat and wind. We’d like to thank our family members, friends, volunteers, and employees, Granite Falls Ambulance team, North Memorial Health Air Care helicopter, Yellow Medicine County Sheriff, Granite Falls Police Dept., Granite Falls Fire Dept., Maynard Fire Dept., Granite Falls Area American Legion/VFW Color Guard, the Chord-Ayres Men’s Choral Group, Pastor John McCosh, Citizen’s Alliance Bank, YME FFA members under the direction of advisors Darrel Refsland and Perry Oftedahl for water sales throughout the day, and YME Trap team under the direction of coaches Jeff and Sandy Berthelsen for trash pickup throughout the day, and Civil Air Patrol under the direction of Chad Hokuff.
Some Like it Hot It’s hot out there. Real hot.
Dave Smiglewski The demolition of Xcel Energy’s landmark NSP Minnesota Valley Generating Plant is slowly proceeding and is sure to become more noticeable in the coming weeks. Nearly all windows in the 1930 brick portion of the plant have already been removed as well as the asbestos that surrounded them.
Daniel Hagen, 84, of Granite Falls passed away on Sunday, July 10, 2022, at the Granite Falls Health Care Center. A visitation was held on Monday, July 18 from 1 to 3 p.m.