Laughter filled the room Friday as the Stearns County Mental Health Outreach (SCMHO) support group gathered for their weekly meeting at the Palmer House. Richard, Fred, JoAnne, Mike, Brad, Greg and Gerry spoke freely as they always do, the camaraderie and ease with which they expressed themselves a product of meeting every Friday since 2013, but this Friday was special. It was a day of celebration, but also reflection as they said their farewells to Nancy Weldon, a student of theology from St. John’s University, who for the past four months has joined them to help raise awareness of mental health issues in Central Minnesota.

Valedictorian, salutatorian tradition ends

A tradition will end during Friday night’s graduation ceremony at Melrose Area High School.

Havard looks back on 31 years at Holy Family School

With totem poles stacked outside her classroom and a friendly squirrel sitting in a tree made of construction paper on a wall inside her classroom, Connie Havard’s third grade classroom at Holy Family School is a comforting, fun and inspiring place to learn. 

Longstanding and fun traditions like the totem poles and the squirrel have held strong over the past 31 years for Havard. But so has the constant development of curriculum, technology and of course, an ever-changing group of learners.  

Jill Klaphake has been surrounded by sports her entire life. Her father, Jim Klaphake, has been the volleyball coach at Sauk Centre High School for 13 years. As a little girl, Klaphake would tag along with her dad to each volleyball practice so she could learn the tricks and basics of the game.

Melrose-Despite a 7-0 loss to St. Cloud Cathedral Friday, the Dutchmen could very well be the home team in the 6AA playoffs that begin on Thursday.