Vaccinations to prevent COVID-19 became available early in 2021 in Faribault County.

No. 1 – COVID-19 continues to affect our lives in Faribault County

Our top story for 2020 was the COVID-19 pandemic and how it was affecting life in Faribault County. And, although as we close out 2021 it is not having quite the impact on our lives as last year, the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a big effect.

One of our first stories of 2021, in our Jan. 4 issue, dealt with the fact that COVID-19 cases in the county were approaching 900. Our Jan. 18 story reported the case number topping 1,000.

But, on Jan. 25, the Register story was about the County Board passing a resolution to let certain closed businesses open again. However, also reported was that COVID-19 deaths had reached 16.

A story on Feb. 8 related no vaccinations had been given at UHD yet, but the next week we reported they had started. On Feb. 22, cases were up, and vaccinations were continuing at UHD. By March 1, 12 percent of the county had been vaccinated..

On March 8, the County Board decided to keep the courthouse front door locked, but by March 22, they had decided to open it. The number of deaths hit 17, then 18.

By April 5, UHD had administered 1,200 vaccination doses; by April 12 we reported death number 19. On April 26, total vaccinations in the county were at 5,276, and total cases since the start of the pandemic were 1,426.

On May 31, it was announced masks would not be required at both BEA and USC graduations.

By fall, it was announced that masks would not be required at school, but would be strongly encouraged. And, fall sports started at their normal times and went through a full season.

However, deaths due to COVID continued to be reported, with Faribault County topping the 30 mark, and are still climbing.

No. 2 – Millions of dollars come into Faribault County for many different reasons

Aseries of stories throughout the year detailed a lot of money coming into the county from various sources, for different purposes. And, it all totaled up to some serious numbers.

Although a lot of money flowed into the county and cities in 2020 in the form of CARES Act funds, in January the County Board received an additional $268,000 in coronavirus relief monies. They transferred the money to the County EDA, which dispersed it to deserving businesses.

But there was more. USC School District got $600,000 in Esser Funds, and the city of Wells received a DEED grant of $15,000 to cover lost Flame Theatre income. The city of Easton received $912,000 in PFA funding for their water infrastructure project (in grants and loans), and the BEA School District also received $690,000 in Esser Funds.

Then in September, the County Board learned it was receiving $2.6 million in ARPA funding, and went to work deciding how to use it.

In November the Faribault County Historical Society received notice that the county would be getting two grants totaling $354,000 for repair on the Walters Jail and the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal church in Blue Earth. And, in December, both BEA and USC School Districts learned they were going to receive $15,000 each, this year and every year in the future, through a generous endowment fund.

An awful lot of good things are going to happen in the county thanks to this influx of big funding.

No. 3 – Several new leaders join the Wells community

The resignation of Wells city administrator CJ Holl in June took many in the community by surprise. It took until September before any kind of an update on the search for a new administrator was announced.

In October, four finalists were named and interviews held. The Oct. 18 Register announced the Wells City Council had chosen Connor LaPointe as the new Wells City Administrator and he started in November, right before Thanksgiving.

There were other new additions to leadership in the community.

In May, Jennifer Taylor was announced as the new USC Elementary principal. And, on Oct. 4, Tabitha Swenson started her new position as the executive director of the Wells Chamber of Commerce.

No. 4 – New County Attorney, and other new faces in the area

When Kathryn Karjala announced in April her resignation as county attorney, effective July 2, the County Board began the hunt for her replacement. By May 24, they had found that person and announced it was Cameron Davis, from Austin.

He was introduced to the board in June, and was hard at work at his new job by July.

There were other new faces in various positions around Faribault County. For instance, BEA announced 15 new teachers as school started in the fall, and USC had 10 new teachers, some of the largest numbers of new teachers ever.

The Winnebago EDA introduced Angie Stier as their new EDA specialist, hired through CEDA, back in January.

And, Ann Hanna was selected in September to serve on the Blue Earth City Council to fill out the term of Dan Warner.

No. 5 – The Project 3 Sisters saga continues in Blue Earth

Last year our Top 10 list for 2020 did not include the Three Sisters buildings in Blue Earth for the first time in several years. However, this year they are back on the list.

In May, the owner of the building, Project 3 Sisters, was given an extension of their development agreement with the city to Sept. 30. The city had wanted some progress on the buildings’ reconstruction.

The Sept. 13 issue of the Register reported the city’s EDA board heard an update on the progress from Project 3 Sisters.

However, the Oct. 11 issue had a story about the City Council being unsure about the Project 3 Sisters progress. The next week’s story was about the EDA wanting an all-new contract with Project 3 Sisters.

The very next week’s Register of Oct. 18 reported the council had voted to give full ownership to Project 3 Sisters without any stipulations.

In November, the EDA responded to this decision by the council, and at the EDA’s Dec. 13 meeting, they decided to send a letter to the council clarifying the decision, as well as future ones.

So, the Sisters Saga continues.

No. 6 – A letter to KBEW radio station causes an uproar at Blue Earth City Council & Blue Earth EDA meetings

A letter sent to Blue Earth radio station KBEW by a group of citizens was the subject of an hour-long discussion at the Blue Earth City Council meeting, a story in the Feb. 8 edition of the Register reported.

The letter had expressed the group’s displeasure over a program on the station, and stated if the program was not pulled, the local DFL party would pull its advertising and suggest others boycott advertising on, and listening to, the station as well.

One of the people who signed the letter was City Council member John Huisman, who apologized for being part of the letter.

Huisman was also a member of the EDA board, and the other EDA members voted at their February meeting to replace Huisman on the board, with someone appointed by the mayor.

In March, a group of citizens presented a petition to the council to have a recall election of councilman Huisman.

However, at their April meeting, the council voted 6-1 to not accept the recall petition, after hearing from an outside attorney they had hired for an opinion on the matter.

No. 7 – Big money projects by cities and by Faribault county

Every month in 2021 in the Faribault County Register there were several stories about some big money projects in the works all around the county.

In February the County Board voted 4-1 to proceed with a $4 million bond to make necessary repairs to the county courthouse.

Next they discussed another $4 million bond sale to finance road and bridge projects. Later in the year they discussed increasing to a $12 million bond for highway work.

They settled on a $6 million bond for highways this year, and another, up to $6 million bond sale, next year.

The city of Blue Earth had two big street/utility projects planned for the summer of 2021, but then added a sewer and street project for Bartel Drive.

Even though the bid for all the work came in at nearly $1 million higher than expected, at $5 million, the council voted to move forward with the work.

In addition, Easton had a big street/utility project all summer, which affected most of the town. Wells approved a two-year Northwest Street/Utility Project at $2.5 million. The county approved spending $219,939 for railroad crossing arms near Frost. And, both the Blue Earth and Wells EDA’s were busy building new twin home residences last summer.

No. 8 – County events return

After basically taking all of 2020 off due to the coronavirus pandemic regulations, most of the fun events which happen every year in Faribault County were back in 2021.

And, many were bigger and better than ever.

It was in March that the County Fair Board announced the fair was a go for 2021, after not happening in 2020. It was very well attended and was a big success.

But, that is not all.

In April, proms were back at BEA and USC. Giant Days in July was the biggest and best in recent memory. Relay for Life was held but was still a drive-through as well as a walk-through event. Elmore Horse and Buggy Day, Wells Kernel Days, Farming of Yesteryear, Bricelyn Fourth, Kiester Fun, Easton St. Pat’s and so much more.

BEAM had their Tour of Tables, Women of Worth had their EXPO. Blue Earth had their Holiday Sampler, Winnebago had Frosty Fest, Wells Did It Bright, the Giant was scarfed, Veterans Day events were held and much, much more.

Blue Earth even had three new events just to have more things to go to. There was a 9-1-1 Remembrance Event, a Fall Harvest Festival, and a new Maroon and Gold Gala.

Whew! The fun was back in 2021.

No. 9 – Big business news

Our No. 4 story last year was about a Canadian company, Greenfield Global, purchasing the former Corn Plus Ethanol plant in Winnebago.

This year we reported how it opened in August, and in this issue of the Faribault County Register, you can read all about it.

But, that was not the only big business news in 2021, and not all of it was good.

In January we reported the Wells Fargo Bank was closing in Blue Earth in March. In May we had a story about Don’s Fleet closing after 65 years in business. Johnny M’s closing in Delavan and being in a lawsuit was a story. The Minnesota Lake Tribune ceased publication of its weekly newspaper in February.

And, just last week, we had a story about the Ankeny building being sold and remembering all the businesses it has been home to over the last 75 years,

But, there was good news, too. There were new owners at Gartzke’s Floral and Gifts, Kevin and Sarah Zabel. The Blue House on Main opened under ownership of Noel and Renee Johnson. Cabin Coffee officially opened in April and is owned by John Huisman. Average Jo’s opened with owners Jonah Pirsig and Joe and Cassie Franta. Welcome Stitchery was opened by owner Justine Hougen. JW Accounting opened its doors with owner Jessica Warehime. The Farmer’s Daughters Kitchen opened with owners Kelli and Becki Steier. And, Electric Service Company (ESCO) moved to a brand new location.

This just names a few of the business happenings in the county.

No. 10 – We lost some Giant men

There were several contenders for our No. 10 spot, but in the end we decided to choose the fact there were some giant, well-known men, who had connections to Faribault County, and who passed away last year.

In fact, one was the so-called “Father of the Green Giant,” Paul Hedberg.

It was former KBEW owner Hedberg’s idea to get the Green Giant statue built and installed in Blue Earth.

Hedberg also recently donated the funds to purchase and install the giant musical instruments in Giant Park. He passed away in June just before he was going to be here for the dedication of the instruments during Giant Days.

Also leaving us in April was former Vice President Walter “Fritz” Mondale. Mondale grew up in Elmore and always remembered his days in the small Faribault County town with fondness.

Al Eisele is another person with local connections who died this past year. Eisele was a well-known Washington editor, columnist and writer.

He also never forgot his days growing up in Blue Earth. He is the person who is responsible for getting the Donald Deskey street light from New York City installed in Gazebo Park.