Fairmont Raceway
Al and Becky Thoreson became co-owners of Fairmont Raceway this February after making a successful presentation to the Race Committee at Martin County Fairground and later, the Fair Board. The Thoresons lease the raceway.
Rolloff Electric
Elmer Rolloff wended his way between tables and shelves of boxes containing electrical items most of us have never heard of. He perched on a stool. Toothpick in mouth, he began to tell how the electrical business used to be back when he began seven decades ago.
Your Time Fitness
While growing up in Frost and attending Blue Earth Area schools, Kris Krause had far more energy than most children. Her mother tried channeling her endless enthusiasm—first into dance classes and then gymnastics.
Bright Pixel Design
Matt Borowy opened Bright Pixel Design in his St. Peter home within the last year. He spends half his time designing homes and home renovations, and the other half doing 3D illustrations for developers and corporate architects in Iowa and Minnesota.
Editor's Letter, Insights, Publisher Perspective
No Ordinary Families
Family Ties, Family Matters, All in the Family, Family Guy, The Addam’s Family—all these American TV shows became successful by featuring family relationships and dynamics.
Hacker’s Tree Farm, Nursery and Greenhouse
Driving two-lane Highway 14 over slippery Sleepy Eye snow, across gravelly prairie hinterlands, and just a frozen spit or two north of eye-blink Cobden (pop. 36)—to the edges of the Earth—the wayward traveler spies an army of 6,000 evergreens surrounding the North Pole at the corner of Christmas Tree Lane and Evergreen Boulevard.
Insights, Off-The-Cuff, Opinion
OFF-THE-CUFF
As 2012 was ending, many southern Minnesotans were reminded from media reports of the Dakota hangings of 150 years ago in downtown Mankato. This wasn’t southern Minnesota’s greatest day ever—it was one of our worst. In part, the Dakota weren’t given legal counsel or translators.
Mike Donohoe
Mankatoan Mike Donohoe has found his anam cara in the writings of the late Irish priest John O’Donohue, author of the popular book Anam Cara: Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World.
Anam cara is Gaelic for “soul friend.” Author O’Donohue believed people become soul friends when their souls are knitted together in a trusting, mutually appreciative, and transparent environment. You can reveal anything to an anam cara and he or she will always accept you for you.
Schmidt’s Meat Market
As you step through Schmidt’s Meat Market’s doorway under the “Willkommen” sign, the old-time smokehouse aroma quickens your taste buds. You walk past a wall displaying numerous awards, and your eyes feast upon the beef jerky, specialty sausages, fresh meat cuts, and other mouth-watering morsels.