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Root River Current
@rootrivercurrent.bsky.social
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A nonprofit online magazine serving the Root River valley of southeast Minnesota through written, audio and visual media. We tell important, yet often overlooked, stories of the people, culture and history in the area. www.rootrivercurrent.org
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Root River Current @rootrivercurrent.bsky.social · Feb 10
Don't miss a story! We publish a newsletter every two weeks (or so). From feature articles on key issues to original poems, essays, and photography to unique video and audio storytelling to upcoming events, you'll love this bright spot in your day. Subscribe here: rootrivercurrent.org/subscribe/
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MnDOT installs flashing Amish buggy alert signs on Highway 44 in an effort to improve safety after two separate fatal vehicle-buggy crashes. Learn more: rootrivercurrent.org/first-ever-a...
Yellow Amish buggy warning sign with a flashing signal stands along a snowy rural highway in Fillmore County, alerting drivers to horse-drawn buggies on the road.
January 14, 2026 at 1:24 PM
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A nostalgic look at the State Theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota, tracing its journey from silent films to its rebirth as the St. Mane Theatre and a vibrant community arts space.

rootrivercurrent.org/essay-southe...
Historic interior of Lanesboro’s State Theatre, showing rows of empty seats facing a softly lit stage, viewed from the center aisle. The image has a vintage, slightly faded look. Overlaid text reads, “Essay | Lanesboro’s State Theatre, From Silent Films to Center Stage,” by Don Bell, with the Root River Current logo.
January 13, 2026 at 4:18 AM
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Winter is an ideal time to sharpen your outreach plan and find your people. Make Root River Current your 2026 events promotion partner! We reach readers who are active, curious and live throughout southeastern Minnesota and beyond.

Our events calendar is free! rootrivercurrent.org/submit-an-ev...
A group of community members bundled in winter coats, hats, and scarves pose and smile behind a green gate on a snowy woodland trail, with leafless trees in the background. Text below reads, “Build your community with our local events calendar!” alongside a calendar icon and the Root River Current logo.
January 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
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📸 During Southeast Minnesota’s darkest weeks, winter sunsets still glow. Explore Craig Johnson’s photo gallery of December skies and river scenes from Houston County’s Root River Valley. View photo gallery: rootrivercurrent.org/photo-galler...
A vivid winter sunset fills the sky with layered shades of pink, purple, and orange, silhouetting leafless trees and bare branches along the horizon in a quiet rural landscape.
January 9, 2026 at 1:05 PM
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An injured juvenile bald eagle rescued near Spring Valley during a snowstorm sheds light on the work of The Rescue Connection, a family-run wildlife rescue serving southern Minnesota.

👉 rootrivercurrent.org/when-wildlif...
A man wearing a jacket and cap holds a rescued bald eagle inside a workshop or garage filled with tools and supplies. The eagle, with a white head and dark brown feathers, perches calmly on his gloved arm while looking up toward him. Overlaid text reads “Area Family Rescues Animals Year-Round,” with a subtitle noting a recent bald eagle rescue in Spring Valley and highlighting the work of The Rescue Connection, a family-run wildlife rescue serving southern Minnesota.
January 7, 2026 at 1:16 PM
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ICYMI 👉 The True North News Alliance is hosting community listening sessions in Southeast Minnesota on Jan 7: 2-4pm in Winona and 6:30-8:30pm in Austin. Open to anyone who cares about trustworthy local news.

Find details on our Local Events Calendar:
👉 rootrivercurrent.org/calendar
Graphic promoting Local News Listening Sessions on January 7, with a teal background and the headline “Local News Listening Sessions.” Details list Winona from 2–4 p.m. and Austin from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Below are two photos showing small groups of adults seated at tables in community meeting spaces, engaged in discussion and listening to speakers. Logos at the bottom note the sessions are hosted by Momentum Advocacy in partnership with Press Forward Minnesota.
January 6, 2026 at 8:27 PM
rootrivercurrent.bsky.social
The True North News Alliance is hosting community listening sessions in Southeast Minnesota on Jan 7: 2-4pm in Winona and 6:30-8:30pm in Austin. Open to anyone who cares about trustworthy local news.
Find details on our Local Events Calendar:
👉 rootrivercurrent.org/calendar
Graphic promoting Local News Listening Sessions, showing two photos of community members gathered around tables in discussion. Text on the graphic lists January 7 sessions in Winona (2–4 pm) and Austin (6:30–8:30 pm), and notes the statewide news initiative is a partnership between Press Forward Minnesota and Momentum Advocacy.
January 2, 2026 at 12:12 PM
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An essay by Catherine Glynn recalling how the Covid lockdown changed lives, challenged thinking, and prompted creativity and connection. 👉 Read at rootrivercurrent.org/essay-the-ro...
December 30, 2025 at 2:14 PM
rootrivercurrent.bsky.social
Trusted local stories connect our communities. Reading Root River Current is free—but producing independent local journalism isn’t. Your support keeps fact-based, community-focused reporting available to everyone. Donate today:
rootrivercurrent.org/donate
Illustrated map of the Root River Trail and surrounding Southeast Minnesota communities above a dark green graphic with the text “Donations connect communities.” Below, smaller text reads: “There’s still time to give before December 31st! Trusted local journalism matters. Your support keeps it alive. Make your year-end gift today.” Root River Current logo appears in the lower right corner.
December 30, 2025 at 2:27 AM
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With January approaching, history recalls the deadly Blizzard of 1888 – it came quickly and caught many by surprise.

Laney Smith recounts the intense story : rootrivercurrent.org/the-children...
Historic black-and-white photo of a weathered wooden farmhouse in winter snow, overlaid with the headline “Southern Minnesota’s Near-Miss: The Children’s Blizzard Revisited” and the Root River Current logo.
December 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
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Our traditions, values & stories connect us as a community. Root River Current shares fact-based, community-building journalism that serves the public good across SE Minnesota.

Help keep local stories alive—make a tax-deductible gift today:
👉 rootrivercurrent.org/donate
Snow falls on a red barn behind a wooden fence and evergreen tree in a rural winter scene, with the words “Home for the holidays… you and Root River Current.”
December 26, 2025 at 11:36 AM
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From La Befana to panettone, an Italian exchange student shares observations of Christmas at home — and how it compares to the holidays in Minnesota. A warm look at traditions across cultures:
rootrivercurrent.org/foreign-exch...
A towering Christmas tree decorated with gingerbread ornaments stands inside an ornate glass-roofed Italian gallery, with crowds gathered below; overlaid text reads “Buon Natale! Christmas in Italy: Traditions, Food and Family” with the Root River Current logo.
December 24, 2025 at 11:47 AM
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The CPKC Holiday Train rolled into La Crescent and other Driftless communities with lights, music, and a mission to support local food shelves. Discover how this holiday tradition brings cheer and gives back:
rootrivercurrent.org/cpkc-holiday...
December 23, 2025 at 2:43 AM
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A quiet prairie church, founded by a Methodist circuit rider, still stands as a testament to faith and frontier life in SE Minnesota. Read the story of Historic Lenora Church:
rootrivercurrent.org/historic-len...
A small historic stone church sits on a grassy prairie with trees behind it, next to a wooden sign reading “Lenora United Methodist Church.” Overlaid text says, “Where Frontier Faith Took Root: Lenora Methodist Church and Its Circuit-Rider Origins,” with a subtitle noting it was founded by Methodist circuit rider John Lewis Dyer, along with the Root River Current logo.
December 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
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Despite the bitter cold, folks came out to celebrate Norwegian Christmas traditions and community spirit.

Read the article at rootrivercurrent.org/christmas-no....
Three smiling older women wearing festive Christmas hats and red-and-green holiday outfits pose indoors, with vintage decor behind them. An orange overlay reads “Cold Weather Can’t Stop Christmas Cheer at Peterson’s Beloved Holiday Festival,” with a byline and the Root River Current logo.
December 19, 2025 at 12:02 PM
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In an era of information overload, Root River Current cuts through the noise—sharing local stories and elevating community voices across Southeast Minnesota. Local news is a public good, and informed communities benefit everyone. Support nonprofit journalism:
rootrivercurrent.org/donate
A group of middle school–aged students sit smiling on a school bus, facing the camera. Below the photo, a green graphic reads “Donations elevate voices” alongside the Root River Current logo, emphasizing support for youth and community storytelling.
December 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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From summer-arts camps to student photographers and chamber-music performances — we explore how local kids are embracing creativity.

Dive into stories of youth and art in our region at rootrivercurrent.org/youth-and-cr....

📸 by Jace Pinson
Youth and Creativity: Watching Talent Grow - Root River Current
Root River Current's 2025 review of youth arts stories.
rootrivercurrent.org
December 15, 2025 at 12:50 PM
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News isn’t just about headlines.
Root River Current goes deeper—sharing the stories of the people, places, and businesses that hold Southeast Minnesota together. As we Press Forward, your support keeps independent, community-driven journalism flowing.
rootrivercurrent.org/donate
A panel discussion takes place in a brick-walled room, with several people seated and one man speaking into a microphone. A large blue “Press Forward Minnesota” sign is displayed behind the panel, while audience members sit at tables listening in the foreground.
December 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM
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An in-depth look at how halted Chinese soybean purchases, falling prices and a $12B relief fund are reshaping farming across the Midwest.

Read the full story here: rootrivercurrent.org/soybean-mark...
December 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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From Austin to the national stage: John Torgrimson explores the nearly forgotten story and literary legacy of U.S. Poet Laureate Richard Eberhart, whose roots at the Burr Oaks estate helped shape his remarkable career.
rootrivercurrent.org/richard-eberhart-burr-oaks-austin-minnesota-poet-laureate/
Black-and-white historical group photograph of young men in suits seated and standing around a table, suggesting a school or literary group. Overlaid text reads “Poet Richard Eberhart Remembered,” with a subtitle noting his legacy as an Austin, Minnesota native and U.S. Poet Laureate, alongside the Root River Current logo.
December 12, 2025 at 12:08 PM
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Looking for a December outing? Our Local Events Calendar has holiday singalongs, the “Driftless” art exhibition, John B. Nicol’s photo reception, theatre, indoor climbing, and more. Something for everyone: rootrivercurrent.org/calendar

📸 by Lanesboro Arts
A full audience sits inside a theater watching a holiday performance. Onstage, a pianist and singer perform beside a decorated Christmas tree with lights, while several musicians with guitars sit nearby. Warm red and green stage lighting creates a festive atmosphere.
December 11, 2025 at 12:06 PM
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News isn’t just about headlines. Root River Current shares the stories that shape SE Minnesota — Hokah Hardware, Wiebke Fur & Trading Co., Carlin Sugar Shack, and more. Support independent journalism and make your tax-deductible donation today at rootrivercurrent.org/donate.
A group of people sit in a meeting room listening to a speaker holding a microphone at a Press Forward Minnesota event. The speaker sits on a stage in front of a large blue backdrop with the Press Forward Minnesota logo. Text below the image reads, “Donations power citizen journalism,” alongside the Root River Current logo.
December 10, 2025 at 12:44 PM
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Take a look back at our stories covering the region's land and water. From citizen projects to farmer-led action to students' hands-on learning, our contributors have definitely gotten their feet wet!

Find the stories at the "Land & Water" tab on our website: rootrivercurrent.org/category/lan...
December 9, 2025 at 12:32 AM
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Local stories are a public good. They ground us in the past as we take aim on the future. Over the past year, we have explored area history from Woolly Mammoths to Indigenous peoples' chert quarry from ski jumping to the Underground Railroad.
With your help, we can continue this work. Donate today!
December 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
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John Weiss shares a reflective essay exploring our deep connection to water in all its beauty, its warnings and the vital role it plays in our landscape and lives.

Read more here: rootrivercurrent.org/essay-reflec...
December 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM