News

The Crime Victim Services program of New Horizons Crisis Center has been awarded a community impact grant from the United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) in the amount of $32,500. These funds will be used by them to provide advocacy, support and empowerment to those whose lives are impacted by sexual assault and general crime. They will also work to reduce the occurrence and impact of crime and victimization in our communities. This work aligns with UWSWMN’s safety and well-being priority area.

Clarkfield recently held their 2022 Cardinal Days celebration. Organizer, Katie Kaatz, had this to say about the event, “It’s safe to say the 2022 Cardinal Days celebration was a huge success! The weather was perfect, and the food was delicious. Hillary Riecke did a great job with bingo and had some pretty awesome prizes and the kids loved the bounce houses. As usual, the face painting and the caricatures were a hit and had a steady line all day. The ice cream social was a great treat that everyone enjoyed, and the kiddos had fun searching for tokens that were hidden around town by Alee Services. The corn hole tournament and DJ were also well attended” The event, held annually, has become a gathering place for members of the community to bring family members of all ages out to celebrate together. “It’s so fun to see members of our community out and about and interacting with one another. This is why we do what we do.”

Yellow Medicine Soil & Water Conservation District After several years of partnership and consultation with Yellow Medicine County officials, the Yellow Medicine Soil and Water Conservation District is excited to publicly announce a virtual hub of maps and data with ties to the conservation of natural resources in our area. Simply visiting the map’s website will unlock a large amount and diverse array of GIS mapping at the click of a mouse.

Dakota Wicohan is celebrating 20 years of dedicated work in sharing Dakota language and lifeways with youth and families in Southwest Minnesota. A celebration dinner and Kahomni (Round Dance) will be held at Jackpot Junction Casino on Saturday, September 10th. Community members, elders, youth, families and allies will join in the celebration which will feature the next generation of community leaders and changemakers. 20 Community Leaders over 20 Days have been featured on the organization’s social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. This next generation of leaders who have participated in Dakota Wicohan over the years are now teaching and serving their communities and their families in various ways, carrying on the Dakota language and knowledge into the future. Dakotah Wicohan has remained grassroots and community based, supporting and nurturing leadership within its own homelands. “We’re excited to be celebrating 20 Years and to reflect on the huge ripple effect our work has had”, said Eileen O’Keefe, Executive Director and member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community. “We look forward to what the next 20 years will bring”.

Tami Gabrielson, of Restoring Wellness, in Montevideo opened a Granite Falls location in the Lavin Family Chiropractic building this week. Gabrielson began the business in Montevideo in 2014.

The annual RideMN1 bicycle trek across Minnesota has begun. This year the trek took bicyclists riding in order to raise awareness for cancer across the state along the Hwy. 23 corridor for a total of 366 miles from Pipestone to Superior, Wisconsin. RideMN1 is a non-profit organization that strives to raise awareness about cancer, encouraging cancer screenings, as Ride Director Wally McFarlane says “We know early detection is our best defense. Colonoscopies and mammograms are now standard procedures that are classified as preventive and are covered by almost all insurances. Get Screened.” Along the way, the group of riders that includes some battling cancer, and many who have beaten cancer, have stays scheduled at four state parks, and some private campgrounds. The organization provides all of the meals, and Central Lakes Trikes transports bikes, bikers, and luggage for a fee. The participants are from all over the state, as well as several Midwestern states.