Lee Epps

The Spring Grove clay target contingent at the 2026 MSHSL State Trap Championships were, above in back from left, Roland Bjerke, Izaak Morken, Logan Hammel, Tyler Turner and Karson Betcher. Below in front are head coach Christopher Bjerke, Christian Bjerke, Carter Van Minsel and Coach Nathan Morken. Photo submitted

He is arguably the most celebrated college athlete from Houston County, an All-American who helped lay the groundwork for what became the most successful Division I college basketball program in the nation. John Green began his basketball career at Houston, Minnesota, long before being pictured on the cover of Sports illustrated on the way to

The Mabel-Canton trap team finished among the top third of the field at the 2026 USA Clay Target League National Championship on July 8-12 at Mason, Michigan. Christian Bjerke of Spring Grove was highest-finishing individual among Journal-area shooters and one of only 23 senior marksmen nationwide to qualify for the national tournament for six consecutive

Part two of a two-part series They wanted to relocate their family in the United States, but maybe only the three children of Stephen and Katherine Masenko might be able to make it. Fearing Stephen might not pass the necessary physical examination, they intended to send their children to America alone if that was the

Part two of a two-part series Eugene Marshall, an early surveyor in what became Houston County, was elected the first county surveyor in 1854. Massachusetts-born Marshall, at age 21, arrived in Minnesota Territory from Wisconsin as a farmer in 1853 before his surveying experience provided his main source of income. Letters to his sister provide

Eugene Marshall, an early surveyor in what became Houston County, was elected the first county surveyor in 1854. Massachusetts-born Marshall, at age 21, ar

The southern border of Houston County and Fillmore County is the Iowa state line. When settlers arrived in southeast Minnesota Territory in 1852, Iowa had been a state for six years. But the border was only a line on a map. On the ground, nobody knew where the Iowa border was. When the territories of

Imagine traveling alone on a lonely, shadow-darkened, uphill road and suddenly coming toward you - is an elephant in a hurry. It was no rogue elephant intentionally terrorizing rural residents. To the contrary, it was a perfectly respectable, performing pachyderm, which often pushed wagons in between performing sites. That day in 1907, it was surely

Spring Grove football teammates were seated together just before the program began. It was officially termed, Community Gathering for Grief and Support, In Memory of Isaac Vick. A large assemblage of family, friends, community members and high school teammates and students gathered at the Fest Building in Spring Grove on August 19, 2026, to share their grief and memories after the shocking loss of Isaac Vick, beloved son of Tim and DeeDee Vick. His obituary stated, “Isaac T. Vick, 19, of Spring Grove/Dorchester died unexpectedly Saturday, August 15.”

From Lanesboro to Europe? Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show was the largest and most attended live, traveling outdoor performance that reenacted scenes of the American west along with exhibitions of sharpshooting and daring horsemanship in both the United States and Europe for three decades, beginning in 1883. Lanesboro historian Cecil Ward claimed the inspiration and