Steele County

Johnnie Jaeger recounts worries and preparations surrounding Y2K in Owatonna and Steele County, including a community celebration in Medford and extra police patrols in other communities. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KRFO-AM YouTube channel and krforadio...

The Steele County Toys for Tots could still use a few volunteers to help them shop for Christmas toys on Thanksgiving night. It should take about an hour or two. They could also use help with the set-up and distribution of the toys on December 14-17 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna...

Authorities have said five men from southern Minnesota, including one from Faribault, have been arrested for targeting children online for sex. They were caught after chatting online with someone they thought was a 14-year-old girl and also arranging to meet with the girl for sex...

June Voss displays the shovel that broke ground for construction of the new Steele County Historical Society building, and tells how it was built with no taxpayer money. The building is a popular meeting place, and its event rooms are often booked by outside groups...

U.S. Representative, District 1 Jim Hagedorn: Republican, 166,603, 49.59% Tim Walz: Democratic-Farmer-Labor: 169,116, 50.33% State Senator, District 24 John Jasinski: Republican, 21,885, 58.52% Vicki Jensen: Democratic-Farmer-Labor, 15,462, 41...

On Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency of FEMA denied individual assistance to individuals and households in our area that were seriously affected by heavy rainstorms and flooding on September 21 and 22. Gov. Mark Dayton has announced that he will formally appeal that decision...

The Steele County Toys for Tots campaign is underway. Volunteers are dropping off toy collection boxes at about 60 businesses this week. You will then be able to drop off new unwrapped toys in these boxes through December 13. Clicking on this link will take you to participating businesses with toy collections boxes...

The Steele County Historical Society’s Jerry Ganfield shares the history of the Village of Rice Lake. In the 1850s, it was just east of the entrance to Rice Lake State Park and was a major stop on the stagecoach route from Rochester to Owatonna...

There are several more influenza vaccination clinics scheduled for area schools. On Monday, October 24, the public can get flu shots in the High School Media Room at the Blooming Prairie schools. Hours will be 4:30-7:30PM. There will also be a clinic on Monday at the Ellendale school from 4-7PM...

The annual Pheasants for Hospitalized Veterans benefit auction is Saturday, October 15, at the Owatonna VFW. The kitchen will open and the silent auction will run from 5-7PM. The live auction begins at 7PM. Jeff Kath and Larry Born will once again serve as volunteer auctioneers...