Spring came in quietly on Monday after we enjoyed some sunshine and highs generally in the lower 30s across much of the area. Spring arrived officially at 4:24 p.m. our time on Monday with the spring equinox. This is when there is equal daylight and nighttime. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is our spring, and in the Southern Hemisphere it is the start of their fall.
Part One of a Series: Norma Lucille Hanson Luedke Kennedy Norma Lucille Hanson was born in Granite Falls on 03-30-28. Her parents were Ludwig and Nellie (Dotseth) Hanson, whose families were early homesteaders in Yellow Medicine County, and very involved in the early days of the communities of Clarkfield, Normania, and Spring Creek.
She couldn’t help it. Something was missing. Something deep inside wasn’t right; like an ocean wave without the sound. Vacant. Lost. A vacuum created by guilt. She was waiting, but she didn’t know what she was waiting for…to fill that void, she took another drink. Then like the psalmist she cries out on her knees, begging, “O Lord, hear my voice! Open your ears and hear me. O Lord, if you keep track of sins, I know I’m not worthy? O Lord, who could be?” She was at her bottom. Again, God heard her voice and sent words of hope. Words she finally heard. Words that filled her with life-giving air, renewing her hope for life.
Eleven years ago, Ray Martin retired, and after just a few months decided he was bored at home. When the opportunity arose to help out with the Knights of Columbus food drive for lent, Ray volunteered to bring the donations to the Neighbors United Resource Center Food Shelf. What he didn’t know at the time, was that this place would become a part of his daily life.
At Tuesday morning’s meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners, County Highway Department Engineer Jeremy Gilb was in attendance to give a report on recent projects. In his report, Gilb noted that last week’s snow event proved challenging for the highway department’s equipment.
The Minnesota State Climatology Office is looking for volunteer rainfall monitors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). The network includes more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide who measure precipitation in their backyards using a standard 4-inch-diameter rain gauge.
The public is invited to attend an in-person construction open house on Monday, April 3, to learn about the Highway 212 resurfacing and Sacred Heart reconstruction project. The open house will be held at Sacred Heart Community Center, 309 1st Ave., Sacred Heart, and run from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. There are no formal presentations and people are invited to stop by at their convenience during open house hours. MnDOT staff and the contractor will be available to answer questions about the construction phase of the project, including the timeline and detours.
Brandon Johnson grew up in the Clarkfield area, and will be returning along with his St. Cloud based band, the Honeybadgers, to perform at the Clarkfield Fire Department’s St. Patrick’s Dance to be held at the Hazel Run City Hall Saturday, March 18th.
March is Women’s History month, and the Granite Falls Area Historical Society (GFHS) is inviting the area communities of Granite Falls, Clarkfield and the Upper Sioux Community to submit stories about the great women of Granite Falls, which have historically been overshadowed or gone untold.
Countryside Public Health Director Liz Auch was in attendance at Tuesday mornings meeting of the Yellow Medicine County Board of Commissioners to give a yearin- review report for 2022. Auch explained that the mission of Countryside Public Health is facilitating a safe and healthy future for the residents.