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THUMBS UP Candidate filing for school board opens next week The filing period for most school districts in the region begins Tuesday and closes Aug. 13. This includes the District 88 school board. The New Ulm board will have four seats open for elections this year. Any prospective candidates who want their names on the ballot this November must register with the district office with this time frame. In addition to school, any city where a primary is not held must open its candidate filing period on Tuesday for city office. This includes the Sleepy Eye City Council and Mayor ...

Promoting biofuels good for environment and MN farmers

Two recent announcements involving biofuels are important developments for the Minnesota agriculture industry and the environment. We join the Minnesota Biodiesel Council in applauding the recent letter sent to the Environmental Protection Agency by members of Congress, including Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad, encouraging more usage of biofuels in the U.S. The letter from the U.S. representatives follows a letter sent by U.S. Senators, including Amy Klobuchar. Of course, it’s not a big surprise to see Minnesota politicians joining others from agricultural states in support ...

Common-sense approach needed for child care rules

Last April the Minnesota Department of Human Services released updated licensing standards for both child care providers and child care centers. The 97-page document includes updates to nearly every current statute. It includes specifics such as the number of certain types of toys each home must have, a requirement that refrigerators need to be cleaned and sanitized monthly and calls for bare soil to either be covered or tested for lead by a national EPA-recognized lab. State Sen. Gary Dahms addressed the draft standards in his July e-newsletter. Dahms said the changes will be the ...

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THUMBS UP Festival season starts with Bavarian Blast Bavarian Blast started this week marking a beginning to the season of festivals in New Ulm, “The City of Festivals.” For the next few months New Ulm will either be celebrating a festival or be preparing to celebrate a festival. Next weekend, New Ulm celebrates downtown with Crazy Days. The first weekend in August, downtown Minnesota Street will be filled with over 600 tons of sand for the 2nd annual Spikin’ in the Street sand volley ball tournament. Only a few days after Spikin’ in the Street ends, the Brown County Fair ...

Many reasons to shop at farmers’ market

“Nothing tastes better than fresh green beans out of the garden. You can’t beat it,” Becky Sellner was quoted in a New Ulm Journal article on the start of the farmers’ market season. It’s those fresh green beans and other vegetable delights that make shopping at farmers’ markets so delightful. But they offer much more. They are great outlets for other delicious products such as honey, meat products and delicious desserts. The University of Minnesota Extension offers seven reasons to shop at Minnesota farmers’ markets. 1. Freshly picked fruits and vegetables taste ...

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THUMBS UP Warta to receive Roger J. Wolfe Achievement Award  The Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC) will award Denis Warta the Roger J. Wolfe Achievement Award Monday during a special ceremony at the Mayo Civic Center in Mankato. Warta is receiving the award for a lifetime of leadership, volunteerism and community-related contribution to New Ulm and Brown County. Warta was nominated for this award by Brown County Commissioner and New Ulm Police Chief David Borchert. Borchert said he saw Warta as the perfect person for this award as few others are as committed to the ...