Governor Tim Walz last week announced the appointment of Allison Whalen as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Eighth Judicial District. Whalen will replace the Honorable David L. Mennis and will be chambered in Benson in Swift County.   The Eighth Judicial District includes Pope County.    “Allison Whalen will be an excellent addition to the Eighth Judicial… Read More

By Aaron Wittnebel, member  of Flag Redesign Commission  While I knew that the minority caucus in each legislative chamber disapproved of the new official state flag because of shared concerns about process, the claims in a recent press release from Minnesota Republican Party Chairman David Hann and Deputy Chairwoman Donna Bergstrom are troubling.  More to the point, they… Read More

From Minnesota Department of Revenue The Minnesota Department of Revenue will open the state Individual Income Tax filing season on Monday, January 29, 2024. This date matches the opening day for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The filing deadline to submit 2023 Minnesota income tax returns is Monday, April 15, 2024. This date matches the filing… Read More

Submitted by  Rita Larson, Secretary  Our December meeting had all 7 board members in attendance plus 3 visitors.  A few showed up in ugly Christmas sweaters, Dan in full camo including Davy Crocket’s fur cap, and the Mayor in a super crazy tie.  Ann Beuckens wins my vote for the best.  Her get-up included a full… Read More

Donors urged to give now as nation faces lowest number of blood donors in decades The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and… Read More

Championship debate to be held at Cyrus High School From the Pope County Tribune, Thursday, January 17, 1924. Frank, Christine and Lilian Benesh were out to Johnnie Chan’s Saturday evening. There was a party over to Frank Chan’s near Lake Mary, and a large crowd attended and a fine time was enjoyed. The Alexandria and Cyrus High… Read More

Warmer temperatures break long cold spell Jan. 16, 1964 – Pope County property owners would pay a record tax bill of over $1,700,000 into state, county, city, village, township and school coffers during 1964. The 1963 tax abstract, prepared by county auditor Bill Boyle, revealed that the amount was perhaps the single largest increase in the… Read More

110 YEARS AGO From Jan. 16, 1914 Mrs. Alfred Smedstad died at her home in the village Friday evening at the early age of 23. The cause of death was hemmorrhage at child birth. The little babe was dead when born and the mother died a couple of hours later. She is survived by her husband and… Read More

The Minnewaska Area boys basketball team placed fourth at the Howard Lake-WW Holiday Tourney, Dec. 29-30.  The Lakers fell to the host team in the opener, 88-66, and then lost to Como Park in a low-scoring game the next day, 55-47. One week later, the Lakers opened up the 2024 portion of their schedule with an… Read More

The K-3 students at MAES participated in some holiday craft projects led by Danielle Lien and Kristie Taffe. Danielle led the K-3 students in painting a holiday snowman and Kristie led the 1st-3rd graders in making their own adorable gnomes.  A huge thank you to Danielle and Kristie for volunteering their time during this busy time… Read More