Features - Hastings Journal

The new layout gives a total of eight courts that are divided by fences. The fences dramatically cut down on the need to chase errant shots and give players a more intimate ‘this is currently my court’ type feel without taking away the community feel of the sport.

New pickleball courts are a smashing success

Monday morning, I stopped down to check out the new pickleball courts and to chat with the players using them and one thing is very clear, the players absolutely love their new courts. At the time I … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/12/23

All of the students present for the walk gathered in front of the Rotary Pavilion for a group photo. This is the group that helped raise over $40,000 for their school.

SEAS Marathon fundraiser a huge success

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School (SEAS) held their yearly marathon fundraiser crushing their goal of $35,000 by raising $40,579.50. Part of the fundraiser is a walk from the school to the Rotary … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/12/23

Police Department selling Pink Patch items throughout October

The City of Hastings Police Department is getting ready for its 6th annual participation in the Pink Patch Project during the month of October. The goal of the Hastings Pink Patch Project is to raise … more

10/8/23

Hastings Homecoming

The 2023 Hastings High School Homecoming Court! Back row L to R: Blake Vandehoef, Kellen Nuytten, John Teigland, James Millhollin, Thomas McGinnis, Charlie Vier, Benjamin Thome and Caden Miller. … more

10/8/23

Bzoskie named Volunteer of the Year

Pastor Jim Bzoskie was honored as the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association Volunteer of the Year. He was presented a plaque by Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko at the association’s Jail … more

10/8/23

Miesville's Jack Ruhr Field was voted second best field in the state.

Local ballfields among the best

Amateur baseball is pretty unique to Minnesota and Wisconsin which, to some, is quite strange given the relatively short summer playing season. In Minnesota alone there are more than 300 townball … more

Staff Report | 9/24/23

Three of the smaller party rooms in the back hall can be combined into one larger room with close access to the FunZone and the buffet.

Pizza Ranch opens in Cottage Grove

Cottage Grove became home to the newest Pizza Ranch & FunZone Arcade on Monday, Sept. 18. The well-known Midwest restaurant chain provides a faith and family-focused restaurant with a full … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/21/23

We need your Veteran's Picture!

The Journal is publishing the community’s first-ever Salute to Service special publication. Salute to Service will be included with the Nov. 9 edition of the Journal, in honor of Veterans … more

9/21/23

Kayakers explore the Mississippi, guided by a park ranger.

A weekend of discovery on the Mississippi

Explore the Mississippi River with a weekend of outdoor enjoyment. Join a park ranger on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Levee Park in Hastings for Bike with a Ranger. Bike with a Ranger is … more

By Nerissa Solovitz | 9/14/23

The expanded history of every building is fascinating and full of great stories. Here, the example used was 118 Second Street East.

Pioneer Room at City Hall puts together the history of downtown

History is fascinating, especially when you have access to two rooms full of books, newspapers, documents, photos and more. That is exactly what the Pioneer Room at City Hall is. Well, technically, … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/14/23

The planned roundabout at the intersection of County Road 46 and Goodwin Avenue has a preliminary drawing completed. There was some great feedback at the Aug. 28 meeting around the plan and there could be some adjustments made to the plan before it is finalized.

Major remodel planned at Goodwin Ave. and County Road 46

Approximately three miles west of the intersection of County Road 46 (CR-46) and General Sieben Drive in Hastings is the intersection of Goodwin Avenue and CR-46. Goodwin Ave and CR-46 have been … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/8/23

Bridgette Norring held a measuring cup, displaying how little fentanyl it would take to wipe out the entire Hastings community at the International Overdose Awareness Day event at The Confluence.

Leaders, community vow to continue fight against fentanyl

It was the first-ever public event in the ballroom at the The Confluence, the new hotel, restaurant and event space on the banks of the Mississippi River. It will be hard for any future … more

By John McLoone | 9/8/23

The cook camp at a previous Civil War Weekend. The LeDuc Historic Estate will be alive with history and fun for the whole family at this weekend’s Civil War Weekend.

Civil War Weekend a testament to Hastings’ rich Civil War history

For about 20 years, a group of volunteers have worked to bring history alive at the Dakota County Historical Society’s Civil War Weekend at the LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings. … more

By John McLoone | 9/7/23

You're going to be blown away!

If you came here to look for the answer to the question “when?” you are not asking the right question for this particular article. During a tour of The Confluence, 200 2 nd St. W., it was … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/31/23

United Way of Hastings Annual Giving Campaign kickoff set for Sept. 8

The traditional United Way of Hastings (UWH) annual giving campaign kickoff will be held at Todd Field to coincide with the first home Hastings Raiders football game on Friday, September 8. … more

8/31/23

Sod House Theater comes to town Sept. 20

Those looking for a unique theater experience while dining on delicious, local food should mark Sept. 20 on their calendars when Sod House Theater presents “TABLE” at a local … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/31/23

Night of Jazz planned at Sibley Historic Site

The Dakota County Historical Society will host Fur Trade Weekend at the Sibley Historic Site in Mendota, Minn., on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. both days. The event will … more

8/31/23

Princess Kay for the Milky Way was a central part of the "State Fair" theme backyard party at Benedictine Senior Care Center's Backyard Party. The party was for memory care residents and their families.

Benedictine community hosts backyard party for memory care residents and their families

Memory care is very difficult to discuss let alone live through it, especially as a family member of someone who suffers with memory loss due to any kind of injury or illness. When a loved one enters … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/29/23

Local Civil War historian Spencer Johnson's kitchen at a previous Civil War Weekend.

Dakota County Historical Society to host Civil War Weekend

The Dakota County Historical Society will host “Civil War Weekend” at the LeDuc Historic Estate on Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10, 2021. The event will start at 10 a.m. and close … more

8/25/23

Volunteers from Hastings Environmental Protectors plant various plants in specially designed rubber floating islands that now call the pond in Cari Park home.

Floating Islands installed in Cari Park Pond

Wednesday morning, residents of Cari Park may have noticed a bit of commotion around their ponding basin. Hastings Environmental Protectors (HEP) installed two floating islands into the pond at Cari … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/25/23