Anyone interested in sustainable farming and seeing bison up close are encouraged to attend a field day promoted by the Practical Farmers of Iowa association and Pheasants Forever, which will be held on June 20 at Craig and Elizabeth Fischer’s farm.
Each summer the city council works on the next year’s budget in a process that involves several meetings and much preparation by City Manager Bob Elston. The council is required to submit a preliminary budget to Brown County in September. That budget can be revised downward before the final budget is submitted in December, but it cannot increase.
Slow and steady is the name of the game for the ongoing Ross Park renovation project. The complex, which was awarded state monies earlier this year, is in need of significant repairs on its plumbing, sewer system, and roof, as well as new doors and windows.
The Brown County DFL will hold its annual picnic on Monday, June 9 at Herman Heights Park in New Ulm from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Confirmed guest speakers are Jake Johnson, who is running for Congress in the 1st District, and Rep. Luke Frederick from Mankato. Others are invited. Music will be provided by Scott Sparlin.
Several weeks ago we reported on a new style and format that CherryRoad Media is bringing to a number of its newspapers around the country. Our group in southern Minnesota is the next to go to the new digital printing method, starting with the June 5 edition.
A group of locals who are looking into the logistics of building a splash pad in Sleepy Eye presented their findings at the city council meeting on Tuesday, May 13. The group had met with Mayor Joann Schmidt, City Manager Bob Elston, and Director of Public Works Mike Hardin previously to broach the topic and were encouraged to take their research to the council.
On the evening of May 20, 2025, Sleepy Eye Police Department was contacted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office and the department was informed that the adult victim, Katie Rehbein, had died as a result of her injuries that were sustained on May 8, 2025, in a residential fire that occurred in the City of Sleepy Eye.
At the School District 84 board meeting on May 14 the board discussed a request for a two-year leave by Special Education Instructor Nichole Voigt. During discussion board members said they learned that Voigt had accepted a position at River Bend Education District in New Ulm (which also serves Sleepy Eye students). Voigt was in attendance and said she’d been told by school administration that she would have a new assignment for next year and then applied for the River Bend position. In reply to an emailed question prior to the meeting, Superintendent John Cselovszki told the Herald-Dispatch the leave request was for the purpose of retaining her position in case she wanted to return to the Sleepy Eye District in the future. Later during the action part of the agenda the school board denied the request for leave.
Winning bidder at the Brown County Sheriff’s sale May 13
The Sleepy Eye City Council’s May 13 meeting agenda included this eye-catching item: Discussion on a request from a community group wishing to help build a splash pad.