Our network

Out With the Old; Recycle

Out With the Old; Recycle

The Conserve & Save® Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program, servicing Austin Utilities (AU), Owatonna Public Utilities (OPU), and Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), is back by popular demand. The program, which had an incredible response during 2011, is set to begin May 15 and will continue through October 31, 2012 or until funds are exhausted.

Through this program, which is managed by a local Minnesota based company Appliance Recycling Centers of America Inc. (ARCA), participating utility customers who turn in operating but energy inefficient secondary refrigerators and freezers will be eligible for a $35 incentive for each qualifying appliance, with a maximum of two units per program life. ARCA will perform the in-home collection of qualifying refrigerators and freezers and properly recycle the units locally in Minnesota.

Community Sponsors

Dates are filling up fast for riding lessons
Established in 1979.
When all else fails...we don't!

Honors Choirs of SE MN Looking for a Few Good Singers

Honors Choirs of SE MN Looking for a Few Good Singers

The Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota is holding auditions in May and early June. The regional non-profit goup is made up of four choirs for grades 3-12. In this, the group's 20th year, more than 250 singers from 27 southeast Minnesota communities took part.

Honors Choirs offers motivated singers a unique opportunity to experience artisitc challenge and growth. The choirs rehearse Sunday afternoons and evenings throughout the school year in Rochester.

Singers pay tuition, but scholarships are available for those in need.

You can get more information at www.honorschoirs.org or call 507-252-0505.

 

 

Refrigerator & Freezer Recycling Program Starts May 15th

Refrigerator & Freezer Recycling Program Starts May 15th

The Conserve & Save program, serving Austin Utilities, Owatonna Public Utilities and Rochester Public Utilities, is back for a second year. The program allows people looking for new refrigerators and/or freezers to turn in operating but energy inefficient units for a $35 incentive. The incentive is good for each qualifying appliance, with a maximum of two units per program life.

This is the 2nd year for the program, which generated an incredible response in 2011. The 2012 program starts today, May 15th, and runs through October 31, 2012 or until funds are exhausted.

In order to qualify, the refrigerator or freezer must be 10-30 cubic feet, operating secondary unit, in working order and owned by an RPU customer. The appliance will also be picked up, free of charge, inside the customer's home from the address listed on their billing account.

You can get more information by calling 1-877-341-2259 or at www.rpu.org

Walz Leads Push for New Veterans Cemetery in Preston

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- There's a project in the works to create a third veterans cemetery in Minnesota. It's something Congressman Tim Walz, a veteran himself, is working hard to make a reality. He and other veterans say time is running out for many of Minnesota’s older service members. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, thousands of Minnesota's veterans die every year which is why when it comes time to find a final resting place, local veterans say there isn't an option close to home.

"[Creating this cemetery] is very near and dear to me. I, I was recently - three years ago…diagnosed with lung cancer from Agent Orange," says former Veterans’ of Foreign Wars state commander, Steven O'Connor. The battlefield has changed for O'Connor, who instead of worrying about the dangers in Vietnam, now struggles with knowing he may die soon.

Community Sponsors

Extra Seat Belt Patrols Unite to Recognize Teen Crash Survivor

Extra Seat Belt Patrols Unite to Recognize Teen Crash Survivor

(ABC 6 News) -- You’ve heard it over and over again, and Monday more than 30 law enforcement agencies from across southern Minnesota gave "click it, or ticket," a whole new meaning. From Faribault to Caledonia, law enforcement from 11 southeast Minnesota counties united to send a clear message about seat belt use.

The numbers don't lie, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. To help drive that message home, they introduced a woman who wouldn't be here today, had she not been wearing a seatbelt.

"When the car stopped, the seatbelt was like pushing me up against the seat, so I just know that my seatbelt kept me where I was," said crash survivor Dani Fiebelkorn. She rolled her car 7 months ago and credits her seat belt for that second chance. "I was wearing my seat belt and without it I probably would have died," she said.

Spring Valley in Bloom

Spring Valley in Bloom

Spring Valley Garden Club Plant Sale 

The Spring Valley Garden Club Annual Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, May 19, in Spring Valley at the Growers’ Market located off Hwy. 63 across from Spring Valley Utilities from 9 am to noon.

Browse hundreds of perennial and annual flowers, and bushes all grown in our native Spring Valley soil and climate, that can be placed in English cottage gardens, prairie gardens, woodland gardens, rain gardens, native gardens, water gardens and more. House plants and composted sheep manure will also be available.

All proceeds are used to create the lovely planters in downtown, fill the flagpole and visitor center gardens with annuals, and beautify other areas in Spring Valley. These flowers are being offered at great prices for a wonderful cause!

Many Rural Post Offices to Stay Open

Many Rural Post Offices to Stay Open

Good news for hundreds of rural Post Offices.

The United States Postal Services says they'll stay open but with shorter hours.

As many 3,700 low revenue post offices had been set to close next week.

That includes this post office in hope, though it's still not clear which post offices will stay open.

The Postmaster General says the new plan will save the agency a half a billion dollars a year.