Herald Journal Publishing is pleased to announce its newspapers will be printed by NorthStar Media based in Cambridge starting next week.
This is in response to the closing of Crow River Press in Hutchinson after this week, where the newspapers have been printed for many years.
There will be some changes in timing. Deadlines for all five HJ newspapers will initially remain much the same, except for inserts:

Find the full story in the April 26, 2024 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By Kurt Menk
Editor

The Green Isle Community School (GICS) Board, during a meeting on Tuesday, April 23, voted to not open for the 2024-2025 school year.
A message, signed by GICS Director Lindsay Paschke and GICS Board Chairperson Amanda Horstmann, was posted on the City of Green Isle Facebook page on Tuesday evening, April 23. The message read as follows:
“It is with heavy hearts that we must share some difficult news with you today. After much consideration and deliberation, the Board of Directors and Administration have made the incredibly tough decision to permanently close Green Isle Community School due to continued low enrollment.
“This decision was not made lightly. We understand the deep roots and connections that families, students, and staff have formed within our school community over the past 19 years. However, declining enrollment has created financial challenges that we can no longer sustain. Despite our best efforts to attract new students and support retention, the numbers simply do not provide a viable path forward for our beloved charter school.

Find the full story in the April 26, 2024 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

Mike & Shannon Lien, Hutchinson, were the Grand Champions and took home the prestigious large Mirrorball trophy at 2B CONTINUED’s 4th annual Dancing Like The Stars Show, the annual gala to benefit suicide prevention and mental health, held on Saturday, April 13 at the Glencoe City Center. The Show featured 12 couples from Brown, Carver, McLeod, Nicollet, Renville, Sibley, and Wright counties. Each couple worked with a professional dance choreographer to learn a dance routine for this friendly competition. Since January, the STAR couples began serving as ambassadors for 2B CONTINUED, fundraising for the organization and raising awareness about the nonprofit’s mission, through conversations, leading up to the event. Once again, it was a sold-out show with 600 people in attendance and 400+ unique logins for the free livestream. There were also 16 official “Watch Parties” held at area bar & restaurant establishments and churches to view the virtual livestream.
Scott & Patti Bates, Green Isle, received first runner up and Zach & Amber Pierce, Hector, were the 2nd runner up winners of the overall competition. Winners in each of the four categories of the competition:

Find the full story in the April 26, 2024 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

Sibley County residents and workers are needed to offer their perspective on what the county needs moving forward.
Residents and workers are encouraged to take the anonymous Sibley County survey. The survey is located on the Sibley County website or people can go to the link at www.surveymonkey.com/r/PPM7JYL. Hard copies in English and Spanish are available at the Sibley County Courthouse in Gaylord.
“Certain municipalities are extremely prolific recipients of state and federal development dollars,” said Sibley County Commissioner Christian Lilienthal. “Nothing ever comes completely free but there’s historically record high amounts of dollars available in broadband, economic development, renewable energies, small business development, and brownfield redevelopment types of projects namely through the Federal Economic Development Association, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development as well as Congressionally Directed Spending.

Find the full story in the April 26, 2024 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By Kurt Menk
Editor

The Sibley East School Board, during its recent regular monthly meeting in Arlington, unanimously approved a motion to approve the 2023-2025 Sibley East Education Minnesota (SEEM) negotiated agreement as presented. The agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2023.
School Board members Brian Brandt, Avery Grochow, Ashley Latzke, Rachel Lueth, Laura Reid and Sarah Ziegler all voted in support of the motion.
“There was a significant amount of work done this past contract to clean and refine language in the contract and bring everything up to current practices,” said Sibley East Superintendent Dr. Joe Libby. “Many of the changes that needed to occur were legislative and statutory in nature while others were negotiated between Sibley East Education Minnesota (SEEM) and the Sibley East Public Schools Board of Education.”
The following are highlights of the major changes to the contract language.

• Extended Employment: additional days are agreed upon by both parties
• Substitute Class Pay: updated language for when a teacher absorbs portions of another class
• Overload Pay: Better defines “overload” and “double prep” courses.
• Pay for Tutoring Homebound Students: Updated to BA Step 1

Find the full story in the April 26, 2024 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

In late March of 2024, the Sibley County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation regarding the use and possession of methamphetamine at a home located at 240 Seventh Street West in Gibbon.
During that investigation, investigators uncovered evidence that methamphetamine use was occurring inside the home and a four-year-old child was potentially being exposed to methamphetamine use.
Investigators obtained a search warrant to search the residence for controlled substances, evidence of controlled substance use, possession and sales.
On April 17, a search warrant was executed on the home. April Lee Marie Anderson, 41, was found to be home and present at the time of the search warrant execution.

Find the full story in the April 26, 2024 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By Kurt Menk
Editor

Two people spoke about the Sibley East Swimming Pool during the Visitor Comment session of the Sibley East School Board meeting in Arlington on Monday night, April 15.
Jodi Johnson spoke on behalf of the newly formed Sibley East Swimming Pool Committee.
She said the purpose of the group is to raise awareness about the difficulties the swimming pool is facing and work to correct those issues. In addition, the committee hopes to raise funds to subsidize the financial operations of the swimming pool.
The committee, according to Johnson, has already met once to brainstorm some ideas to improve the situation with the swimming pool. She said it is unfortunate that the committee was not formed some time ago.
Johnson reported that an online petition is been started which asks the School Board to keep the swimming pool open. To date, the petition has been signed by hundreds of people, according to Johnson.

Find the full story in the April 19, 2024 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By Kurt Menk
Editor

The Arlington City Council, during its regular meeting on Monday night, April 15, unanimously adopted a resolution to accept the low bid and award a contract for the 2024 Street & Utility Improvement Project to Holtmeier Construction, Inc. in the amount of $5,949,554.27. City Council members Curtis Ling, Christina Litfin, Jeff Matz, Dave Meyer and John Thomes all voted in support of the resolution. Bolton & Menk representative Jason Femrite said 10 bids were received for the 2024 Street & Utility Improvement Project. Femrite said the lowest bid came in about 12 percent under the engineer’s estimate for the project. He added that it will save the City of Arlington approximately $800,000.

Find the full story in the April 19, 2024 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By Kurt Menk
Editor

Doloris (Schultz) Roufs celebrated her 100th birthday at the Good Samaritan Society - Arlington on Monday, Sept. 26.

Her late husband, Cletus Roufs, would have celebrated his 100th birthday just one day later.
Doloris and two other residents were recognized for their birthdays during a celebration at the Good Samaritan Society - Arlington earlier this month.

She also celebrated her birthday with family members at the A-Town Tavern in Arlington on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Doloris will also be the honored guest during a private family party in Fairview Park in Arlington on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Doloris was born to William and Martha (Dose) Schultz in Glencoe on Sept. 26, 1922. She is the oldest daughter and last surviving child of a family of 10 children.

Find the full story in the September 29, 2022 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By Kurt Menk
Editor

Luke Ellanson, who was offered the job to fill the open police chief position, has withdrawn his application.
The full Arlington City Council was notified about the news by an e-mail on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 24.
The City Council, during its regular meeting on Tuesday night, Feb. 22, approved a motion to make a conditional offer of employment to Ellanson to fill the open police chief position.

Find the full story in the March 3, 2022 addition of the Arlington Enterprise