News

Duncan: BP has an alcohol, drug epidemic

The top leader for Steele County’s United Way is calling for a change in what she describes as an epidemic that’s out of control in Blooming Prairie. United Way Director Annette Duncan said Blooming Prairie is on “everybody’s radar right now” when it comes to drug and alcohol prevention. “State...

Bill Hanisch of the Hanisch Bakery and Coffee Shop of Red Wing came up with the idea to give all Red Wing seniors their own special cake on graduation day. Jennifer Walsh of Keller Williams Real Estate in Blooming Prairie liked the idea and ordered 50 cakes for Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossom graduates of 2020.

‘My favorite was a little town: Blooming Prairie’

The coronavirus pandemic has left an indelible mark on all of us. Baker Bill Hanisch of the Hanisch Bakery and Coffee Shop in Red Wing "pulled out all the stops for high school seniors graduating during the pandemic," wrote Guideposts writer Mari Pack in the February issue. Guideposts is a...

WANTED: Players, volunteers for alternative baseball

As he got older, Taylor Duncan noticed there were fewer opportunities for people, like himself, who have autism or other disabilities and for some people, mostly those who reside in suburban and rural areas, there are no services to continue their path toward independence. “We need to do better at...

Blooming Prairie all-time career leader in rebounds and steals, Megan Oswald, leads the Awesome Blossoms’ fast-break offense after colleting a steal.

An AWESOME Blossom career

Is there anything on the basketball court that Blooming Prairie senior Megan Oswald can’t do? Not only is she in the top five all-time for career assists and career points, but this past month, she broke two school records, career rebounds and career steals. After last Friday’s game, Oswald has...

Medford Mayor expects city to be fined by state

Medford Mayor Danny Thomas spent his first 60 days in office trying to right the ship while facing a barrage of issues. Some of those issues, Thomas attributes to past mistakes or policies, while others, he said, are issues that face every municipality. “The public has pushed me to a point where I...

Andrew and Sam Hardecopf welcome a new addition to their family, a baby girl born on Jan. 23. Harper Jo is settling in with her new parents at their Blooming Prairie home.

Touchdown for the Hardecopfs with a new baby

Andrew Hardecopf is used to coaching football players on how to score touchdowns, but he and his wife, Sam, recently scored a touchdown of their own. The Hardecopfs welcomed a baby girl, Harper Jo, to their family on Jan. 23. Harper is believed to be the first baby born in 2021 within the Blooming...

Mountain was the oldest living priest

The longest living ordained priest in the Diocese of Winona has passed away. Rev. Edward Mountain of Owatonna died peacefully Monday at Benedictine Living Community in Owatonna. He was 96. Mountain was ordained on June 1, 1947 in Mankato. Throughout his long career, he served at various parishes...

Blooming Prairie High School students get off the bus and enter the school on Monday, Mar. 8. For seventh- through ninth-graders, Monday was their first day back learning in-person. Sophomores through seniors will resume in-person learning four days a week next Monday.

In-person learning resumes at BP High School

After nearly a full year of distance or hybrid learning, Monday marked the first day back at school for in-person learning for all Blooming Prairie seventh-grader, eighth-graders and freshmen. The students will be in school every day except Wednesday, which is designated as a distance-learning day...

Blooming Prairie senior Allison Krohnberg looks for an open teammate during the final minutes of the Awesome Blossoms’ 51-33 win over the United South Central Rebels.

Blossoms keep rolling

After three wins by seven points or less, the Blooming Prairie girls basketball team has handily beaten its past two opponents, including its 51-33 drubbing of United South Central on Friday, Feb. 26. After trading baskets for the first few minutes of the game, the Blossoms used a small 5-0 run to...

Westfield’s Bo Zwiener controls the right shoulder of St. Clair/Mankato Loyola’s Eli Kruse while his legs are wrapped around his torso. Co-Head Coach David Lassahn said Zwiener’s win by decision was especially impressive considering Kruse was a state participant last year.

Westfield runs winning streak to six matches

After not winning a single match throughout January, the Westfield wrestling team has turned its season around by winning seven of its first nine matches in February, including the past six after beating New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (NRHEG) 54-24 and St. Clair/Mankato Loyola 55-15 on...