Articles

Strawberries key in Cottage Grove's Top Chef Contest

In its fifth year, the Top Chef Contest continues to draw local residents with their best recipes that contain strawberries. The contest starts at 5 p.m., Friday, June 14, in Kingston Park.

• Ellee Clausen

Samsel retires from Pine Hill Elementary in Cottage Grove; new principal hired

Pine Hill Elementary School Principal Kevin Samsel is retiring at the end of June — and for real this time.

• Principal leaving

School District 833 Alternative Learning Center graduates 21 students

Twenty-one students earned their diplomas at the District 833 Alternative Learning Center’s graduation ceremony last week.

• ALC graduation

Judy Spooner Viewpoint: There are unexpected turns in search for perfect Strawberry Fest Top Chef Contest dish

The best part of the Strawberry Fest Top Chef Contest is at the end when everyone in the audience is invited to taste the best offerings of all ages of Cottage Grove cooks for free.

State funding increase creates new budget decisions for South Washington County Schools

833 may not pull back on planned cuts, including staff layoffs.

Arriving in style: Cottage Grove kids earn police car, fire truck rides

Two Armstrong Elementary School students arrived at school on the last day of year in style.

• Girls get ride on fire truck

Oltman Middle School welcomes Bubba the therapy dog

Bubba's personality 'compelling'

Flip of the caps: South Washington County graduates say goodbye

Park and East Ridge high school commencements are June 1

• Photo

Crosswinds school parents vow: 'We're not going away'

Legislators lean on EMID for a Perpich deal

District 833 to drop high school class ranking

Student ranking gives way to GPA

Columns

Judy Spooner: A kid’s summer hasn’t changed

While at Cottage Grove Elementary School for Field Day, I saw kids doing things kids love to do. They were playing with hula hoops, running, sliding and eating ice cream.

The smallest township survives

Getting beyond first impressions in Grey Cloud Island Township

Judy Spooner: State ranks high in happiness

Among the happiest states in the union, Minnesota ranks fifth, according to an article on LiveScience.com.

Judy Spooner: Revered saint, winter solstice legends lead to Santa Claus

At the South Washington Heritage Society Christmas brunch on Sat, Dec. 12, I gave a history of the Santa Claus tradition in America and I want to share the story of the transition of Catholic Bishop St. Nicholas to today’s Santa.

Judy Spooner: ‘How can you like boxing?’ asked husband Gary

Husband Gary is perplexed and he has reason to be.

Judy Spooner: Budget cuts? Not in my back yard

What do public transportation, year-round school and budget-cutting have in common?

Judy Spooner: For some, it’s about love, but I like the chocolate part

Last week, I called niece Karen in Chapel Hill, N.C., to find out how husband Steve, grandniece Emily and grandnephew Ryan are doing.

Judy Spooner: Thank goodness it’s a new day for younger generation

I had the privilege to share the inauguration of President Barack Obama with Cindy Krueger’s fifth-grade class at Grey Cloud Elementary School.

Judy Spooner: ‘To Tech Support: about winter in Minnesota’

Tonight was the second time cold weather made the national news

Making new friends in the ‘body wrap’ class

I attended a Community Education class last month about body wraps, hoping it would lead to a feature story with some interesting photographs. It was neither, but it’s a topic worth discussing.