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Monticello Times
Hot Dish: Keep this versatile pizza dough at the ready
You never really know who might be a foodie. They’re lurking among us, and some fly under the radar more than my food-obsessed self, who will take just about any opportunity I can get to gab about all things gastronomic. I recently sat down with Superintendent of Schools Eric Olson for a chat, where I learned that, in addition to possessing a passion for educating local youth, he’s also quite the gourmand. ...
Bring grandkids to bingo at Senior Center
Be sure to invite your grandchildren to play bingo at the Senior Center on Thursday, Aug. 15. The games begin at 1 p.m. and prizes will be given to the winners. All the kids will receive a prize before they leave, and root beer floats will be served to everyone after bingo. Please sign up in advance, indicating the number of kids you will bring. There is no charge to attend. We hope to see you and your grandkids at this fun event. If you...
Movie review: ‘Horizon' is love letter to Western
Arguably once the most popular form in American cinema, Westerns have been on a slow, steady decline since at least the 1960s or ’70s, with only occasional flagging efforts at relevance. That makes Kevin Costner’s latest film, “Horizon: An American Saga,” a kind of gift for aficionados. It plays as though Costner is trying to personally, individually fill in the void of missing Westerns by making one movie that counts for six. ...
Times Past: Look back at this week in city history
30 YEARS AGO: JULY 14, 1994 • The Monticello-Big Lake Hospital Board received a report that the hospital would run in the black in the following year. • Wright County Commissioner Ken Jude joined the race for the Minnesota Senate seat held by the retiring Betty Adkins. • The MnROAD road research center on Interstate...
Student news
• Reed Bottema of Big Lake was named to the Honor List for the past spring semester at Minnesota State University. • Sydney Brandt of Monticello was named to the Honor List for the past spring semester at Minnesota State University. • Makayla Caligiuri of Big Lake was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at St. Cloud Technical & Community College. ...
Historically Speaking: Earliest views of Broadway from late 1800s
Beginning on Aug. 22, 1968, the Monticello Times published a weekly “Monticello Yesteryears” photo that was usually submitted by readers. This feature consecutively lasted until April 18, 1976, continuing from there sporadically until July 28, 1977. Of particular note in this article I present to you both the west and east views of Broadway that appeared in the June 10 and June 17, 1976, columns respectively. These two photos are...
Costco clears final hurdle; eyes late 2025 opening
OTSEGO — Plans for a Costco Wholesale store in nearby Otsego have cleared the last significant hurdle, setting the stage for the retailer to possibly open as early as late 2025. The Otsego City Council voted 4-1 at its July 8 meeting to approve several items related to the development. “Costco has all their approvals to proceed with the development,” Otsego City Planner Dan Licht said in an email following...
Project Pencils looks to make difference in Wright County
Project Pencils has expanded well beyond the 40 students it first helped back in 2010, when social workers started collecting donations to help clients who couldn’t afford school supplies. The organization assists families with children enrolled in public schools within Wright County, supplying students with school supplies every year. A total of 669 students received school supplies last year and, this year, that number is expected to be at least...
Father-Daughter Dance coming to Ellison Aug. 6
MONTICELLO — The city’s annual Father-Daughter Dance is returning to Ellison Park in August after a winter version back in February was canceled due to low attendance. Fathers, grandfathers, older brothers, uncles and any other father figures, along with their girls of all ages, are invited to this fun and meaningful night honoring their special relationship. The dance will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m....
Arrests, sentencings, fire calls for July 25
Wright County Sheriff arrests: • Stacy Ann Lynch, 50, of Big Lake was arrested in Monticello July 15 on a charge of third-degree DWI test refusal. • Katie Rose Kissner, 46, of St. Cloud was arrested in Monticello July 16 on a charge of fifth-degree controlled substance. • Fatima Guadalupe Choto Prieto, 24, of St,...
MCC will offer modern take on line dancing in August
MONTICELLO — Line dancing is coming to the Monticello Community Center in August, with two classes planned, in addition to a Line Dance Party, where participants will be able to show off all of their new moves. This is not your grandma’s line dancing, according to MCC fitness instructor Donna Finnell, who will be leading the classes. “The old line dancing is getting a new face,” she said. “I see...
Summer Challenge maximizes fundraising for Help Center
MONTICELLO — The Monticello Help Center is currently taking part in a food shelf Summer Challenge that will help maximize local fundraising efforts during July. With only one week left, now is the time for the community to offer assistance, helping fill a need at a time when donations are at their lowest, during the slower summer months. Organized by Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless and Hunger...
Cargo train derails in Big Lake; no one injured
BIG LAKE — A train derailment early Saturday morning in Big Lake created quite a mess, but led to no injuries or threat to the public, according to the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office. A BNSF train carrying consumer goods derailed near Big Lake at approximately 3:15 a.m. last Saturday with 15 rail cars impacted, the SCSO said. While authorities said no one was hurt and no hazardous materials were spilled,...
Polecats win Sauk Valley League East
The Monticello Polecats amateur town ball team has had another excellent summer and is ready for the Sauk Valley League playoffs. Three separate win streaks, including one of seven games, helped Monticello go 13-5 over the regular season and 10-1 in league play. After winning their last eight league games, the Polecats won the East by four games over Clearwater. The Sauk Valley League playoffs begin this week. Monticello plays the Clear Lake Lakers in the opening round on Friday. Monticello beat Clear Lake 14-3...
Bats heating up for Monticello Legion baseball as playoffs approach
The Monticello Legion Post 260 baseball team has played in a lot of close games this summer and that trend continued over the last two games. On Thursday, July 11, Monticello tied played STMA Golds 6-6 and then lost a marathon 16-15 games to Hutchinson on Monday earlier this week. At 2-8-1, the team hasn’t seen as many wins as they would have liked so far, but four of those losses have been by one run. They didn’t add to the win total but the...
Blast From the Past Sports: July 2024
50 YEARS AGO: JULY, 1974 Dan Frie wins berth in a national golf tournament. The Monticello 17-year-old earned a berth in the United States Amateur Golf Championship in Fairfield, Connecticut. Frie missed the cut by one stroke the year before but shot a 72 in the 1974 Minnesota sectional tournament at Hillcrest Country Club in St. Paul to claim second in the 36-player field. The top four scorers advanced to...
Klersy earns Clay Target State co-championship
The Monticello High School trapshooting team finished second in the conference this past spring. Senior Emily Bohnsack and junior Lance Klersy both finished third in individual conference scoring. Klersy shot an average of 24-of-25 during the season and ranked in the top 100 scorers in the state out of over 11,000 participants. That was good enough to qualify for the Minnesota State High School League Clay Target Trapshooting Tournament at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake on Friday, June 21. ...
RIVERFEST 2024: Family Fun Night caters to kids, car lovers alike
MONTICELLO — The aptly named Family Fun Night held Friday evening at Pioneer Park kicked off a weekend of traditional Riverfest festivities, and appeared to be one of the most well-attended events. “This is the official start of Riverfest,” said longtime Lions Club member Larry Kounkel. Thousands of families flocked to the annual festival-within-a-festival, where they were greeted with clear blue skies, a menu of sloppy joes, hot dogs and...
RIVERFEST 2024: Trio of new Royal Ambassadors crowned
MONTICELLO — Three new Monticello Royal Ambassadors were crowned on a steamy, sun-baked afternoon last Sunday as family, friends, community leaders, fellow royalty from nearby cities and myriad members of the Aquatennial Ambassador Organization looked on. Out of 10 candidates, Aurorah Kimble, Claudia Martin and Lily Tiemann were chosen to represent the city in 2024-25, when they will be embarking on a life-changing journey filled with community spirit, pride and service. ...
RIVERFEST 2024: Mayor triumphs in pie-eating contest
MONTICELLO — As if there’s not enough hoopla already going on at Family Fun Night, the official Riverfest kickoff is also when the annual pie-eating contest pits community members against one another in the messiest showdown of the year. Former two-time champion Mayor Lloyd Hilgart triumphantly reclaimed his trophy Friday night, handily beating out the other nine brave souls who volunteered to publicly humiliate themselves by face-planting into whipped-cream laden pudding pies. ...
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Monticello Times has been serving the local community since 1857. Published Thursdays by APG of East Central Minnesota. 24/7 local coverage found online at www.monticellotimes.com
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