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A ride to promote healing

NEW ULM – In a repeat of last year, the Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing horse riders will not only travel through New Ulm on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 but will spend two nights in the community. The annual ride is intended to honor the memory of the 38 Dakota men executed in Mankato on Dec. ...

Hanska library receives $7,500 Taylor grant

HANSKA — Thanks to a $7,500 Taylor Rural Improvements Grant, Hanska Community Library patrons will soon have more Internet access. The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved $300,000 to support 14 capital projects in towns under 10,000 through the grant ...

St. Anthony students go shopping for Santa’s Closet

NEW ULM – Friday morning, members of New Ulm’s Sertoma Club collected toys from different donors in the area as part of the Santa’s Closet program. Sertoma has organized the Christmas toy donation for more than 30 years. Throughout the year, Sertoma collects money, toys, books, hats and ...

Dist. 84 board OKs 6.63% levy hike

SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye Public School Board unanimously approved a 6.63% general fund levy hike for payable 2026 taxes Wednesday. The total 2026 tax levy of $1,310,539.69 includes a general fund amount of $1,015,104.90 which is $63,157.97 more than the 2024 payable 2025 levy. Levy approval came on a motion by board member Brian Nelson, seconded by Casey Coulson. Proposed $9.6 million budget revenues are 4.07% ($407,227) less than the actual 2024-25 budget. Proposed expenditures of $10,267.780 are 0.26% ($26,968) less than the 2024-25 budget. Tom Griffin of School Management ...

Sleepy Eye City Council approves 9.17% levy hike

SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye City Council unanimously approved a 9.17% tax levy hike Tuesday. The $5.5 million budget for 2026 includes a $169,556 budget increase that boosts taxes on a home valued at $150,000 by $7.50 a month and $90 a year. Taxes on a $250,000 house increase $14.50 a month and $175 a year. Sleepy Eye City Manager Bob Elston said city employees will receive a 3% salary hike next year. He said 37% of budget funding comes from Local Government Aid from the state legislature. Residential and commercial property taxes are 36% of the budget, city service fees are 14% of ...

NU author launches third children’s book

NEW ULM — Jefferson Elementary School media paraprofessional Gail Boe launched her third children’s book, “Surely,” Sunday at Lykke Books. Boe read the book to attendees before signing copies and answering questions about her year-long creative process. “Surely” follows Lee, an ...