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Dist. 84 board discusses school-city facility addition

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye Public School Superintendent John Cselovszki the school board Wednesday that he recently visited with Sleepy Eye Mayor Wayne Pelzel regarding a city offer to the school district. “The mayor said the city (economic development authority) was offered a (substantial) donation for a community recreation center with pickle-ball courts. The city feels there is a need for some type of recreation center to make us viable, retain people and attract new people,” Cselovski said. “The mayor asked me if the school was interested in being a part of a joint venture of ...

Students want bearcats mascot

SLEEPY EYE — After extended discussion Wednesday, the Sleepy Eye Public School board unanimously approved a resolution for superintendent John Cselovszki to email four school mascot name changes to a local Native American tribe and Sen. Mary K. Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton for approval. Action came on a motion by board member Adam Barka, seconded by Casey Coulson. Assistant Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Kunesh authored a legislative bill that became law outlawing Native American mascot names at schools next fall. The school district’s final four list of new mascot names, whittled ...

Intersection survey approved

NEW ULM — By a 4-1 vote Tuesday, Brown County commissioners approved a county highway department survey to realign the MN 4/CSAH 22 intersection to 90 degrees. The intersection is about seven miles south of Sleepy Eye. Action came on a motion by Commissioner Brian Braun, seconded by Scott ...

Menagerie members sing, remember

NEW ULM — Menagerie alumni, friends, family and supporters hugged each other, talked of the good old days and sang their favorite oldies in harmony at the New Ulm Country Club Saturday. Ted Wirtz of Carver, the son of original Menagerie director Bob Wirtz of Florida, said the sing along was ...

Deaths outnumber births in Brown County

BROWN COUNTY — Deaths have outnumbered births in Brown County in recent years, according to data from Brown County Public Health (BCPH) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). There were 258 more deaths than births in Brown County from 2020 through 2023. Brown County data showed 328 deaths in 2020 — 349 in 2021, 316 in 2022 and 292 in 2023 for a total of 1,285 deaths in four years. There were 1,027 Brown County births over the period — 258 in 2020, 265 in 2021, 270 in 2022 and 234 in 2023, according to BCPH. “We know here in Brown County we have an aging population and ...

SE bar and grill wants Sunday a.m. liquor sales

SLEEPY EYE — Dawg Haus Bar & Grill owners Geneva and John Bendix recently requested the Sleepy Eye City Council amend city code to allow Sunday liquor sales to begin before noon. The city council approved the first reading of such an ordinance Tuesday, motion by Councilor Nate Stevermer. ...