The Shakopee boys basketball team is right in the hunt to defend its South Suburban Conference title. The Sabers have won three of their last four league games, including a 74-49 home victory over Apple Valley Jan. 31. Junior Jalen Langsy led the way with 17 points. Shakopee (10-5 overall, 7-2 in the SSC) went […]

The Prior Lake girls lacrosse team’s offense has been in high gear to open the season. The No. 3-ranked Lakers have scored 45 goals in their first three games, rolling to a 16-1 home win over Shakopee April 25 in their South Suburban Conference opener. Prior Lake opened the season with a 10-8 win at […]

Melanie Gearhart from Gearhart’s Floral & Gifts in International Falls has recently been designated as an FTD master florist. Only 15 percent of FTD member florists are qualified for the master florist designation, said Kelly Turner, FTD field business consultant covering North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Gearhart’s Floral & Gifts is receiving the FTD […]

The nation is having a contentious debate over whether illegal migrants coming over the Southern border should be transported further inland, and if so, where and by whom. Should they stay in San Antonio or end up in New York City, get bussed to a rural town no one has heard of, or get flown […]

Tom Smith grew up on a farm right across from the John Deere implement dealership in Litchfield, the son of Ervin and Maxine Smith. Farming was in Tom’s blood, he says, but was not necessarily his passion. His dad was a Navy man who served in World War II in the South Pacific and returned […]

The Prior Lake girls soccer team is looking to snap two skids this fall. The Lakers have lost in the section quarterfinals the last six seasons and have had a losing record in the last three. Can Prior Lake be more of a factor in the South Suburban Conference and in Section 2AAA? The Lakers […]

The week of Sept. 11, 2023, might as well be known as rivalry week for Carver County high schools, as Chaska and Chanhassen squared off in multiple sports Sept. 14 while Southwest Christian and Holy Family battled in soccer Sept. 12 and tennis Sept. 14. Here’s a look at some of the notable results between […]

Jan. 26, 2023 Tony W. Miller, 40, of Litchfield, formerly of South Haven, died unexpectedly on Thursday, Jan. 26, at his home. A memorial services to celebrate Tony’s life will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Annandale with a gathering following at the funeral home. Tony Wayne Miller […]

April 13, 2023 Gretchen Wollin, 96 of Litchfield, formerly of Winner, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on April 13. Interment will be at 4 p.m. May 11, at Winner City Cemetery. Gretchen, one of 13 children of Ingvald and Dina Iverson, was born in Bernadotte, on Jan. 18, 1927. She married Edwin Wollin, Jr. in […]

After being ranked as the top team in its class for most of 2023, Southwest Christian will have the opportunity to show what they are made of on the state tournament stage. For the second time in three seasons, the Stars reached the Class AA state tournament by beating Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 3-1 in the section 2AA […]

The first official snow of the season arrived on Halloween in the Twin Cities Metro as most Minnesotans woke up to a blanket of snow covering their neighborhoods. This is our first measured snowfall that’s over a trace of snow, said Melissa Dye, meteorologist for National Weather Service Twin Cities. We had a trace of […]

A project to overhaul Fireman’s Park on the north end of downtown Hutchinson was honored this past week. The firefighter-themed playground renovation effort began in 2019 with funding from Southwest Initiative Foundation to upgrade the picnic shelter. But supporters of the park dreamed of new play equipment as well. It came to pass with help […]

John Hellendrung, of Chanhassen, son of William (Bill) Hellendrung and Carolyn Ness, died unexpectedly on Monday, November 20, 2023 at his residence. A Celebration of John’s Life will be held on Friday, December 15, 5 to 8 p.m. at Turtle’s 1890 Social Centre, 112 Lewis Street South, Shakopee. The inurnment will be at a later […]

The Prior Lake girls basketball team opened the South Suburban Conference season with a close home win. Senior Julia Thoms grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the go-ahead bucket with 17 seconds left in the No. 10-ranked Lakers’ 53-51 home win over Lakeville South Dec. 12. Prior Lake had the ball with 52 seconds left […]

Hutchinson hopes to stay ahead of a federal interest rate increase later this year with an upcoming bond sale. The City Council unanimously approved this past week issuing $1.46 million in bonds for four summer road projects. Funds are for: Roberts Road improvements between Dale Street Southwest and Alan Street Southwest; pavement management on Century […]

The Prior Lake girls basketball team earned a little revenge Feb. 6 in South Suburban Conference play. The Lakers rolled to an 84-50 home victory over Burnsville with juniors Brooklyn Holmberg and Haven Fisher combining for 50 points. The Blaze won the first meeting, 69-68 back on Jan. 9. Prior Lake (11-10 overall, 8-4 in […]

The Prior Lake boys swimming team capped off another perfect season in the South Suburban Conference pool. The No. 4-ranked Lakers used its depth for a 99-87 home win over No. 6 Lakeville South Feb. 6 to finish 9-0 in league duals for a second straight season. It’s also Prior Lake’s fourth conference crown in […]

January was a tough month for the Prior Lake girls hockey team. Will February be better? The Lakers are hoping so since Section 2AA quarterfinal play starts Feb. 9. Prior Lake finished the month of January with a 3-7 record, including a 3-1 loss at Eastview Jan. 27 in South Suburban Conference action. The Lakers […]

BOYS BASKETBALL WRIGHT COUNTY CONFERENCE EAST STANDINGS Team;Conference;All Delano;0-0;4-2 Holy Family;0-0;4-1 Hutchinson;0-0;5-0 Jordan;0-0;4-2 Mound Westonka;0-0;3-2 Southwest Christian;0-0;3-1 Dec. 11 result Minneapolis Washburn 76, Mound Westonka 65 Dec. 12 result Jordan 74, Maple River 71 Thursday results Hutchinson 84, St. Cloud Apollo 67 Minneapolis Southwest 68, Mound Westonka 62 Holy Fami...

Southwest Christian athletic director Darin Keizer is heading home. Keizer, Southwest Christian’s athletic director since 2014, was announced as the new athletic director for Dordt University located in Sioux Center, Iowa on Monday, Jan. 22. I have been so blessed to be a part of this awesome community for the past 10 years, and I […]