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Dairy producer ordered to pay $250,000

REDWOOD COUNTY — A large dairy producer with facilities in Redwood and Stearns counties was ordered to pay $250,000 in back wages Thursday, according to a settlement with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The civil lawsuit settlement stems from one of the largest wage theft lawsuits in Minnesota history filed in Stearns County in January. Defendants Evergreen Acres Dairy, Evergreen Estates, Morgan Feedlots, and dairy operation owners Keith Schaefer and Megan were ordered to bring employee housing up to code and document pay terms and conditions of employment. The settlement ...

New tenants coming to Lamplighter

A new winery will open in the former Lamplighter Bar and Grill building after it was unanimously approved by the city council. The former Lamplighter building experienced a major fire in September 2022, and suffered smoke damage. New Ulm City planner John Knisley addressed the council, ...

Politicians urge people to vote

Staff photo by Fritz Busch First District Congressman Brad Finstad, R-New Ulm, talks at the Brown County Republican Fun Raiser at the Sleepy Eye Event Center Tuesday. SLEEPY EYE — Republican politicians agreed at the Brown County “Fun Raiser” Tuesday that they need good voter turnout ...

Narren arrive at Twins game

Dain Moldan of Dain’s Dutchmen plays the concertina outside Target Field for Twins German Heritage Night Friday as the Narren of New Ulm celebrate. The Minnesota Twins contacted The New Ulm Chamber of Commerce earlier this year and invited residents of New Ulm to attend the game. More ...

SE students putting ‘Mary Poppins’ on stage

SLEEPY EYE — Students have been rehearsing the Broadway musical "Mary Poppins" for six months. Based on one of the most popular Disney movies of all time that has received multiple Oliver and Tony Award nominations, the production with a cast of 35 will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday and ...

SW Minnesota farmer chasing the big lights of country music

MARSHALL — Performing under the spotlight in one capacity or another has always been Blake Schmitz’s career aspirations, but it changed from competing in stadium lights to singing under stage lights. Schmitz, a local farmer from Currie, is making his way through the music industry as a ...