Articles

Ending on a high note: Park High School music teacher retiring

High points in Peter Bergman’s 22-year career teaching band at Oltman Junior High and three years at Park High School came every day.

• Peter Bergman and students

Cottage Grove man and his friends canoeing the Mississippi

If all goes as planned, in 75 days Kyle Thompson and three friends will canoe from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico.

• Canoe group

Old school gets new life with Denmark Township Historical Society

Richard Hollander’s first real job was to bank the fire at Valley School each night and stoke it up again in the morning so students and the teacher would be warm.

District 833 board picks Osseo school official Jacobus as next superintendent

Keith Jacobus is expected to be the next South Washington County Schools superintendent.

• Keith Jacobus

First District 833 superintendent finalist makes the rounds

If he were picked as superintendent, Keith Jacobus said he has a 100-day plan during which residents, district leadership and staff members would get to know him “with as many personal interactions as possible."

• Keith Jacobus

South Washington County superintendent finalists interview in district

Two District 833 superintendent candidates from an initial pool of 28 rose to the top and were to be interviewed as finalists beginning Tuesday.

• Keith Jacobus
• Lolli Haws

Two superintendent finalists to visit South Washington County Schools

After six hours of interviews, the District 833 School Board narrowed the field of superintendent candidates to two late Saturday afternoon.

• District 833 School Board
• Keith Jacobus
• Lolli Haws

District 833 School Board picks slate of 8 superintendent semifinalists

The candidates come from as close as Inver Grove Heights and as far as Washington state, suburban Texas and Washington, D.C. None of the semifinalists are from the South Washington County School District, but one is a former Oltman Middle School assistant principal.

• Superintendent search consultants

Judy Spooner Viewpoint: Cottage Grove art teacher offers important lesson

Yileng Vang doesn’t want his students to think they can’t be artists. He stresses that it’s OK to make mistakes. Sometimes, mistakes lead to something else that might be better or different from what was planned, but still worthwhile.

South Washington County parents bristle at proposed school start, end time changes

If the plan to approve new school start and end times is approved by the District 833 School Board Thursday night, some parents are not going to be happy. Board members say they understand, but must cut district costs.

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.