Theobald-Schlaphoff’s

Congratulations to the Theobald-Schlaphoff family of Sherburn on recently winning the Family Heritage Award from the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities. The family has taken daily weather measurements for the National Weather Service as a Cooperative Weather Observer on their farm for two generations.

Beginning in 1966, the family provides daily measurements of temperatures, precipitation, snowfall, and snow depth as well as monthly updates of hourly precipitation data, which are a treasured part of Minnesota’s climate record. The Theobald-Schlaphoff family is a testament to the kind of dedication that can be found in many Martin County residents.

GHEC FFA program

Kudos to the Granada-Huntley-East Chain school district and its community members for getting a new FFA program up and running. Living in a rural area means that FFA is an invaluable resource for many students throughout Martin County. Star Schipper is the new Ag/business teacher, and she is obviously not only willing to put in the kind of work necessary for such a program but is also excited and ready to see her students succeed. The program will be a great addition to the district.

Prairie Lakes Transit

It’s good to see the Prairie Lakes Transit System finding ways to adapt and service the Faribault/Martin County communities during an admittedly rough time for everyone. The service is much needed, considering everything they accomplish. From partnering with area food shelves for food delivery to temporarily suspending fares and providing transportation for vaccines, all while experiencing decreased ridership levels, the transit system just keeps on running.

We’re glad to see fares being reinstated and especially glad that riders are more than happy to pay. This sort of thinking will hopefully keep the transit system around for a long time to come.

Eytcheson’s new book

Congratulations to Marcus Eytcheson of Local Roofing LLC, for successfully authoring a children’s book about his career. His book “Up on the Rooftop” follows the story of Marcos the roofer during a typical day in roofing season. Educating local youth in the trades is a big need for many communities. This seems like a fun way to share to get kids interested and thinking about their future.