News - Hastings Journal

Hastings’ Reese Keller focuses on a return during her No. 2 singles match against Hill-Murray. She earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory for the Raiders.

Regular season comes to a close for Girls Tennis

The Hastings Raiders girls tennis team packed several matches into their last week of regular season play, showing determination and flashes of strong play despite coming up short in the win column. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/30/25

The Raiders’ defense swarms a Two Rivers ball carrier, showing the relentless tackling that helped preserve the homecoming win.

Raiders roll past Two Rivers 29-19

The Hastings Raiders football team gave their homecoming crowd plenty to cheer about Friday night at McNamara Stadium, knocking off conference rival Two Rivers 29-19 in a game filled with big plays, … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/30/25

One of the biggest events of the week is Monday night when the girls storm Todd Field for Powder Puff Football. This is a flag football tournament with the ladies playing for their respective grades and bragging rights. The teams are coached by Raider football players, and it is a night full of fun and shenanigans with the football coaches as the referees.

IT’S HOMECOMING WEEK!

Homecoming week is one of the school district’s most energetic weeks of the school year with multiple sports hosting games, a multitude of events for students across the district and of course, … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/24/25

A blue heron flies near the new island which is expected to provide habitat to local flora and fauna as well as habitat for fish to overwinter.

Protective island takes shape in Pool 2

A new island has emerged from the backwaters of the Mississippi just north of Hastings. No, this is not a geological miracle, but the beginning of a years-long effort from the Army Corps of Engineers … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 9/24/25

Hastings Police Chief Dave Wilske announced his retirement for March 2026 last week.

Hastings Police Chief Dave Wilske announces retirement for March 2026

Hastings Police Chief Dave Wilske announced his retirement for March 2026. Wilske took over the role in May 2022 from former chief Bryan Schafer, becoming the 56th Hastings Police Chief since the … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 9/24/25

Cottage Grove woman killed in motorcycle crash

A Cottage Grove woman was killed after the motorcycle she was driving crashed into an oncoming car in Ravenna Township Thursday. The accident occurred at Hwy. 316 and Red Wing Boulevard at 4:23 p.m. … more

Staff Report | 9/24/25

Hastings Chamber of Commerce celebrated the ribbon cutting for Hastings new Chuck and Don’s last Wednesday. The store opened its doors in late August.

Hastings Chuck and Don’s officially opens

If residents are surprised to hear that Chuck and Don’s held a ribbon cutting last week, that might be because they have seen them in and around the community for months. Booths for the … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 9/24/25

Park Your Art Event to showcase local talent across the city

One thing was made clear to local artist Marin Peterson from her time in craft fairs: “A lot of people couldn’t contribute for a lot of reasons.” Many artists and artisans who … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 9/24/25

Pictured left to right: Dakota County SWCD Board of Supervisors Vice Chair, Laura Zanmiller, Jeannine Hayes, Jim Nayes, and Dakota County SWCD Board of Supervisors Chair, Kevin Chamberlain.

Jeannine and James Nayes receive Outstanding Conservationist Award

The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is proud to announce Jeannine and James “Jim” Nayes as their 2025 Outstanding Conservationist. The Dakota SWCD Board selected … more

9/24/25

State health officials endorse COVID-19 vaccine recommendations from national medical associations

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today announced it is endorsing existing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations from professional medical associations for the 2025-26 vaccine. MDH is encouraging … more

9/24/25

Work has begun on the Highway 55 project which is expected to last roughly two weeks with partial closures of the highway during construction. Pictured is the current situation at Highway 55 and Westview Drive near Taco Bell and Spiral Co-op.

Construction begins on Highway 55 in Hastings

Motorists should be aware that road construction on Highway 55 between Pleasant Drive and Westview Drive in Hastings began Monday, September 22, 2025, according to the Minnesota Department of … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/24/25

First-of-its-kind wellness destination opening in an Olde Armory Building!

The Integrated Body Center (IBC), an 8,000+ square foot integrative health and wellness clinic, will celebrate its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 2 p.m.– 7 … more

9/24/25

The bridge at Lake Rebecca Park in Hastings, shown here, offers a peaceful example of the design planned for the new Rainbow Bridge memorial coming to the Hastings Dog Park. The structure will serve as a space for reflection and remembrance of beloved pets.

Pet of the Week: Taking time to grieve, before you adopt again

This past Sunday, several adoptable dogs and their human, Shannon Tarr, were on hand to help celebrate the grand opening of Chuck & Don’s newest location in Hastings. Tarr, founder of … more

9/24/25

Lake Byllesby water level to change

The annual drawdown of the Lake Byllesby reservoir to its winter elevation will begin Oct. 1. The reservoir is gradually lowered 3 feet from the summer elevation to 853.7 feet above sea level. The … more

9/24/25

Of all the Raiders, Evy Hogan has the appearance of the quiet, sweet kid, but that appearance is very deceiving, she is becoming an animal on the court, and her confidence grows each week. Against Farmington she had a dramatic 15-13 win to help secure the Raiders sweep of the Tigers.

Raiders Tennis rolls through busy week, eyes postseason

The Hastings Raiders girls tennis team packed plenty of action into the past week, rattling off match after match with confidence, energy, and no shortage of highlight moments. From quick sweeps … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/24/25

Hastings setter Reagan Esboldt sends a serve across the net in a recent match. Esboldt and the Raiders leaned on strong serving throughout a busy week that included back-to-back wins over Bloomington Kennedy and a hard-fought battle with top-ranked Chanhassen.

Thome, Gruden shine as Raiders Volleyball push state’s best, beat Kennedy twice

The Hastings Raiders girls volleyball team wrapped up a demanding stretch of matches this past week, one filled with long rallies, tough opponents, and lessons learned along the way. The Raiders … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/24/25

Raiders Cross Country brings fire and focus to massive meet

The Hastings Raiders boys and girls cross country teams faced off against some of the Midwest’s top-tier competition at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational, held Friday and Saturday, … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/24/25

Black Dirt Theater will present “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” Sept. 25-28 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. in the Hastings Middle School Auditorium.

Black Dirt Theater to perform ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’

From stacks of boxes, actors query each other on the purpose of death within plays, how to build the audience’s suspension of disbelief and how actors act. They bicker about how the plot of a … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 9/17/25

HEDRA approves 2026 levy, appraisal for Block 16 parking lot

The Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority (HEDRA) approved its 2026 levy at 0.0185%, the maximum amount allowed for the body which is expected to raise $550,000 for HEDRA at their … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 9/17/25

Man charged for deaths in wrong-way crash

A 28-year-old Kenyon man was formally charged Sept. 9 and ordered detained in the Dakota County Jail after an accident Sept. 6 in Randolph that claimed the lives of two people from Apple Valley. Seth … more

Staff report | 9/17/25