Entertainment - Hastings Journal

The food truck area located in the Levee Park parking lot is always hopping during Rivertown Days. It is close to the carnival and the street stages making it accessible for everyone.

Ready for Rivertown Days 2023!

The Medallion clues are out, food trucks are being prepped, the carnival is being setup and stages will be put in place on Friday, that must mean it is Rivertown Days (RTD) 2023! Rivertown Days … more

By Bruce Karnik | 7/21/23

Even the new Ford Bronco made its way to the Hastings Car Show. One of the sales guys was on hand to talk to folks about the vehicle which was quite roomy inside.

Hastings Car Show going strong

Here’s some shots photographer Bruce Karnick got on Sunday. A special show is also planned as part of Rivertown Days this coming Sunday. more

Photos by Bruce Karnick | 7/21/23

Second Hastings Hawk joins the Northwood League

Former Hastings Raider and current Hastings Hawks pitcher, Will Lavin, joined the ranks of the Northwoods League at the start of the summer. His work on the mound as a Raider and a Hawk led him to … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/21/23

Hastings national trap team competitors left to right: Reed Anderson, spectator and competitors Brody Anderson, Issac Nauer, Tristan Asher, Tanner Lamb, Blaise Lamb and Collin Meyers with head coach Earl Robinson.

Six members of Raiders Trap Team shoot at National Championship

More than 1,718 of the highest qualified student athletes throughout all affiliated state high school clay target leagues competed for the right to be called a National Champion at the US High School … more

7/21/23

Hawks go 2-2, prepare for final week before regional playoffs start

The Hastings Hawks are back to .500 on the season at 12-12 after a busy week of baseball at Veterans Park. Hastings has played all of their July games so far at home and currently has one game on the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/21/23

Both the upstream side of the Mississippi River boat launch (left) and the entire Lake Isabel boat launch (right) are closed due to damaged driving surfaces in need of repair. The city is working with the MN DNR to establish a plan to get them reopened.

Parks and Rec update

Hastings Parks & Recreation Director Chris Jenkins gave the Journal a quick update for the happenings around Hastings related to projects in the parks around town. The update started with the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/13/23

Journal photographer Bruce Karnick was out taking pictures of both the Fourth of July Parade organized by the Hastings Golf Club and Events and the fireworks presented by Vermillion State Bank.

Hastings Celebrates the Fourth of July!

Hastings was out for the Fourth of July, and they were ready to enjoy the day. Thousands of residents lined 15th Street West and Westview Drive for the 7 p.m. parade hosted by the Hastings Golf Club … more

7/13/23

Visitors can view full-sized canoes and interact with Irish Wolfhounds, Henry Sibley's favorite dog breed.

Dakota County Historical Society to host Fur Trade Weekend at Sibley Historic Site

The Dakota County Historical Society will host Fur Trade Weekend at the Sibley Historic Site in Mendota, Minn., on Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days. The … more

Staff Report | 7/13/23

In 2022, the Hawks worked with the City of Hastings and HYAA to purchase batting cages for the entire community to use. Unfortunately, manufacturing and shipping delays have pushed back the timeline for completion, which hinges on a lot of hope for “soon.”

Hastings Hawks board: for all of Hastings baseball

The Hastings Hawks amateur baseball team is part of the Classic Cannon Valley League (CCVL) which includes smaller towns to the south. They play around 30-40 games per season with roughly half of … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/7/23

The Confluence features 77 hotel rooms, indoor and outdoor event space, a restaurant that will serve three meals a day and Missi’s Sip and Savor, its bar.

The Confluence is taking reservations

Hastings residents and officials have long-awaited what is considered to be the new cornerstone of the downtown area. The Confluence Hotel is now accepting reservations for visitors booking … more

By John McLoone | 7/7/23

Hawks earn two season sweeps with two wins last week

The Rochester Royals and Lake City Serpents fell victim to the Hawks offense last week with Hastings putting up double digit runs in both games. Rochester was last year’s Class B state champion … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/7/23

Former Raider Kyle Bauer had a successful year in the NAHL with nine goals and 17 assists with the Anchorage Wolverines. Bauer will be moving to the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire for the 23-24 season to continue his education and playing career.

Former Raider Kyle Bauer moves from NAHL to Eau Claire

20-year-old Kyle Bauer, a 2021 graduate from Hastings High School and former Raider Hockey player joined the National American Hockey League (NAHL) after graduation. The NAHL is the only USA … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/7/23

Winners of the Party Cart Raffle at the St. Croix Valley Golf Scramble.

CNC St. Croix Valley Scramble Fundraiser

Time to set the tee, strike the ball and watch it soar, all for a good cause at the 15 th Annual St. Croix Valley Scramble, Monday, July 17 at the Hastings Golf Club. Check-in and lunch begins at … more

By Nerissa Solovitz | 7/6/23

Tori Jurgens Huebsch published her first book, 'The Silly Goose', a short children's book about a silly goose that loses his way and the adventures he has on his way to find his way back."

Local author urges children to stay true to themselves, even if they're a little 'silly'

“I have a niece and nephew who are twins, they are about 2 years old. I've always been a writer, I've always wanted to write a book and after they were born, I just kind of thought, you know, … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/6/23

Residents line 15th Street for the first Hastings Fourth of July Parade last year. This year, the route was extended to include a turn onto Westview Drive from 15th Street to Hastings Golf Club.

Upcoming Fourth of July events

It is hard to believe that the Fourth of July is already upon us, but here we are just a few short days away from some great local events celebrating this great nation’s freedom. Locally there … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/29/23

Ryan and Laura Fritz are surrounded by their kids, city officials and members of the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the ribbon cutting of their new space, The Little Village.

Little Village Coffee Shoppe and Play Space opens in Cottage Grove

Cottage Grove is home to a new business called The Little Village. Located in the old Las Margaritas space at 7750 Harkness Avenue South, Suite 101 behind the Kohl’s Shopping Center, The Little … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/29/23

Nathan Griner, a local acoustic folk/rock performer was a hit at the Oliver’s Grove portion of Make Music Day 2023. Griner has shared his passion for music in Hastings for years and is a long-term performer for Make Music Day.

Make Music Day 2023 another success

Make Music Day is an annual worldwide celebration of music on June 21. The event started in 1982 in France and made its way across the pond to New York City in 2018. Now, cities in over 120 countries … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/29/23

Infielder Jackson Tessman consistently makes difficult plays like this backhand grab at short stop. His quickness often helps send the batters back to the bench and at a minimum robs batters of extra bases.

Hawks win crucial Class C game, move into second place in CCVL

The Hastings Hawks play around 30 games each year, but none are more crucial than the six they play against their three Classic Cannon Valley League (CCVL) Class C opponents, the Red Wing Aces, … more

By Johnny Stocker and Bruce Karnick | 6/29/23

Drive Out Hunger is meant to be a fun way to help others as demonstrated by this foursome. From left, Katy Lindberg, Pam Offler, Debbie Grim and Amy Sutton.

Community rallies to Drive Out Hunger

The third annual Drive Out Hunger golf tournament was held at the Hastings Golf Course on Tuesday, June 13, raising $16,713 for Hastings Family Service. Event organizer Kelly Carter, HFS … more

6/22/23

Hastings Veteran earns Chaplain of the Year

Former VFW Post 1210 Commander and current Post Chaplain Kevin Kuehn was awarded the Minnesota State VFW Chaplain of the Year award at a recent VFW convention in Plymouth, MN. Kuehn served in Vietnam … more

6/22/23