Even after color-coding the fair manager’s massive keyring, he still has trouble finding the right one. Peter van Sluis, the new manager of the Rice County Fair, stressed that hardworking volunteers and funding from several grants make the fair possible. From 1 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 7 p.m., the 2024 Rice County Fair returns with upgraded buildings, a lot more venders and even a new show in the grandstand. ...

Nearly two decades since the visioning process began, the city of Lonsdale put pen to paper on a purchase agreement for its final spot in the Lonsdale Business Park. Advanced Exhaust Solutions is a Northfield-based company that produces exhaust accessories and components for a number of commercial and industrial uses. It’s soon to be a Lonsdale-based company, after a $1-million purchase agreement was approved last month for construction of a $20-million, 150,000-square-foot facility in Lonsdale with 100 employees. ...

Inside incorporated cities of Rice County, businesses that are part of the cannabis industry are still permitted to operate. In the rural areas though, they’re likely to wait until next year. The moratorium was placed by the Rice County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning during a regular business meeting. It’s purpose is to give county staff enough time to study how Rice County cities have approached regulation of cannabis businesses. Cannabis is also known as marijuana, recreational use of which was made legal in Minnesota...

Tuesday night, the Le Center Braves traveled to St. Peter to continue the previously postponed 1-1 tie before quickly turning around for their regularly scheduled competition. Jumping out with a pair of runs to start the night, the Braves held on to win the postponed game 3-2 before surviving a wild shootout in the second game as they earned a 7-5 victory. Pitcher Brandon Culbert took the mound for all 10 innings played on the night and earned the win for each game. ...

After careful consideration by its administration and board, Northfield Hospital + Clinics will exit Home Care services, effective Sept. 9. NH+C is working with River Valley Home Care in Farmington to offer an alternative of comparable care, with transition for current NH+C Home Care patients. This does not impact other operations of Northfield Hospital and NH+C’s medical services. It does not impact Meals on Wheels service in Northfield. ...

Rice County took its first steps toward another ordinance regarding the newly legalized cannabis industry, this time deciding where the different types of businesses can be built. The county has several types of zoning districts, like industrial, residential, agricultural, etc. Tuesday morning's Rice County Board of Commissioners work session was mostly dedicated to getting guidance on which districts should allow which types of businesses. As Rice County Environmental Services Director...

Two hundred homes and seven businesses in Rice County were damaged in last week's historic flood, according to preliminary estimates as of July 1 from the county assessor. After the recent floods struck the area, Gov. Tim Walz and President Joe Biden declared emergencies at their respective levels of government. Rice County Communications Coordinator Suzy Rook said the worst of the damage falls under two categories: roads and bridges, as...

As the city of Faribault’s recreation superintendent, Kevin O’Brien oversees a robust schedule of community activities for people of all ages. During the summer months, many of those are at the Faribault Family Aquatics Center. O’Brien anticipated welcoming around 30,000 patrons to the pool between June 1 and Aug. 18. A leak in the pool caused a delay to the opening this year, with the pool inactive throughout June. After...

While Lonsdale’s Fourth of July celebrations weren’t able to withstand the test of time, the small town quickly makes up for it with a different patriotic program each year. Starting in 2015, Triumphant Life Church Pastor Ben Fenderson said he believes this year will be the eighth Freedom Celebration, which is an event to honor veterans and celebrate the reward of their sacrifice from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13 in the lot next to Mackenthun’s Fine Foods. ...

As communities across southern Minnesota experience a shortage of water and wastewater treatment operators, help is on the way in the form of a new training program at Riverland Community College, funded by a grant approved by the Minnesota Legislature. Championed by the Southeastern Minnesota League of Cities, a three-year, $350,000 appropriation approved as part of this year’s Jobs and Economic Development Omnibus bill will enable the creation of such a training program at Riverland’s main campus in Austin. ...

Lonsdale residents planning to get tipsy for the Fourth of July are going to need to find a designated driver, because no major celebrations are taking place in town this year. This is true for several towns in the area, and the number of towns with Fourth of July festivities appears to be shrinking. However, there are some events in nearby communities, plus a celebration of freedom in Lonsdale the week after Independence Day. ...

Several Rice County roads remain closed following days of heavy rain that caused area rivers and lakes to flood nearby properties, farmland and roads. Nine county roads were closed as of noon Thursday. Although two roads reopened Wednesday, a culvert failure on County Road 13 near Cannon Lake Wednesday afternoon closed a large section of road along the west side of the lake. County Highway and law enforcement officials caution...

Over 20 in three hours. That’s how many fish Lonsdale Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanna Gutzke-Kupp said 25 local youth reeled in Friday, June 21, at Rezac Nature Preserve Fishing Pier during the second Badges & Bobbers kids fishing event with the help of local police officers and firefighters. “The excitement when they caught a fish was priceless,” Gutzke-Kupp said. “Badges & Bobbers Kids Fishing Event was a little...

Those planning to use cannabis to boost their appetite for food at the Rice County Fair this year will need to do so beforehand and secure a ride. The ride is to avoid driving while under the effects of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that gives users a “high” and can cause a wide range of effects, like boosting appetite or causing paranoia. The reason for taking the substance prior to attending the function is because the Rice County Board of Commissioners banned the...

Nearly two dozen city streets, county highways and township roads remain closed throughout Rice County due to floodwaters. The number seems unprecedented. Closures include several streets in Faribault along the Cannon and Straight Rivers. More rain is possible later today. Exactly what we don’t need. However, Faribault city officials noted both rivers began to drop Monday morning. As inconvenient as these road closures may be, especially to locals, it’s nothing compared to the flooding of businesses, homes, campgrounds and more, especially in neighboring Waterville. The...

Lonsdale business owners sat in the City Council chambers Tuesday, expressing curiosity and frustration over new labor regulations hitting Minnesota in the coming months. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Systems, Communications and Educational Interventions Principal Dave Skovholt was brought in by the Lonsdale Economic Development Authority for a special presentation centered around some key regulations that came from the last legislative session, like Earned Sick and Safe Time, the Women’s Economic Security Act, and Paid Family Medical Leave. ...

Rice County will utilize state funding to compensate property owners who had their lands seized after a federal ruling last year made the payouts necessary. A Minnesota law from 1935 required counties that make any profit selling a property seized over unpaid taxes disperse those profits to schools, cities and the county. But the Supreme Court said that isn’t constitutional in May 2023. That decision led to additional litigation and a subsequent statewide settlement funded by the Minnesota Legislature, according to a summary by Goodhue...

The Faribault Lakers town ball baseball team won a June 14 game in dramatic fashion with a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Lonsdale Aces. The game was tied in the bottom of the 11th at 3-3 when Jack Jandro singled, scoring Drew Conrad for their fourth win this year. Joe Grote was once again solid on the mound for Faribault, as he was the winning pitcher in relief in the last five innings, giving up only three hits and one run. ...

DID YOU KNOW? Petalina Mercantile is open year round Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday afternoons from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The store, located at 313 Division Street. S in Northfield, is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. 46d3a8fc-cf48-4b9b-a025-b0232a5528bf Petalina Mercantile owners Derek Kruse and Ethan Solheid want their new store to be a destination gift shop. The 1,900-square-foot store at 313 Division St. S. is...

After more than a month of organizing and researching complexities and concerns surrounding a possible gravel mine in northeast Rice County, many residents of Nerstrand were left disappointed. The Rice County Board of Commissioners approved the controversial interim-use permit to allow the mining operation and denied an Environmental Assessment Worksheet at the end of a four-hour meeting Tuesday morning. The decision left several members of the public feeling frustrated, especially after their coordinated effort to gather 100 signatures and petition for a third-party EAW. ...