Area News
Strengthing Sibley’s Future makes stops in Winthrop, Gibbon
by Michael Mattison A group of county residents toured several businesses in Winthrop and Gibbon on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Strengthing Sibley’s Future started the morning at Roots Coffee House in Winthrop and continued to City Hall. Stops were made at Conklin Hill, WinFit and Maverick Automotive. Next came Gibbon with stops at the water treatment…
Read More2025 Year in Review—January through April
Forget what happened at the beginning of 2025. Check out the December 31 issue of the Winthrop News to find out.
Read MoreSjostroms surprised by Best Christmas Ever presentation
by Ruth Klossner When Lindsay and Jacob Sjostrom’s son Chet was diagnosed with leukemia two months ago, their world turned upside down. The Lafayette community helped right things Sunday, Dec. 21, when volunteers surprised the family through the program Best Christmas Ever. After a world-wind few weeks of fundraising, a big group of friends and…
Read MoreWersal receives 4-H Alumni Award
by Michael Mattison Erin Wersal received the Sibley County 4-H Alumni Award joining Donavon Steele as Business Friend of 4-H and Kylie Messner as Outstanding Volunteer. “I was pretty surprised,” Wersal said. “I knew I had been nominated but I guess I wasn’t expecting to get picked.” The award goes to someone who was active…
Read MoreSchneider creates original crafts
by Ruth Klossner After a working career spent behind the wheel of a van, car, bus or truck, Pam Schneider has returned to something she enjoyed in high school. When she won art awards as a high school student at Kasson-Mantorville, people thought that she might end up in that field. She did—but it took…
Read MoreOpenEd starts enrolling students in GFW
by Doug Hanson Good news was the topic at the beginning of the GFW School Board meeting on December 15. Superintendent Allen Berg reported that on January 5, GFW will be enrolling 125 home school students as part of the OpenEd contract. OpenEd provides resources for home school students who registered with one of its…
Read MoreLafayette approves general fund budget not whole budget
by Doug Hanson Only a portion of the City of Lafayette’s budget was approved at the regular meeting on December 8th. The general budget, that does not include the utilities enterprise funds was approved after a lengthy discussion on rates. The discussion on the general fund was started by Councilman Tom Polich, who thought the…
Read MoreLafayette lighting contest
For more photos of Lafayette’s lighting contest and a list of all 10 winners, check out the December 24 issue of the Winthrop News.
Read MoreSanta and Mrs. Clause stop in Winthrop, Lafayette
Messner receives 4-H volunteer award
by Michael Mattison Giving back is something that Kylie Messner has been doing for decades to 4-H in Sibley County and she was recently honored with the 4-H Outstanding Volunteer Award. “I was very surprised,” Messner said of receiving the award. “It was really special that Ellie (her daughter) presented it to me.” Others in the area…
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