News - Hastings Journal

Luke Keene is surrounded by family, friends, local chamber ambassadors and City of Hastings staff to celebrate the grand opening of Keene Wealth Management in Hastings.

Keene Wealth Management comes to Hastings

Keene Wealth Management opened its doors July 1 of this year. On October 30, they celebrated their official ribbon cutting and grand opening of their office located at 909 Vermillion Street, Suite … more

By Bruce Karnick | 11/5/24

Election Judges Spencer Johnson, (left) Mike Stepka, and Terry Flower at the Hastings City Hall polling place before the polls opened.

Hastings voters head to the polls

Long before the sun rose on November 5, poll workers, election judges, and the many, many hands that work to hold elections were at work. Voting machines were brough to polling places around 5:30 … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/5/24

Dakota County is once again recognizing Operation Green Light for Veterans this week. The initiative is designed to shine a light on the service of veterans and their families. Dakota County is illuminating its buildings green this week and encourage the community to join by changing one light bulb in the entryway of homes or businesses to a green bulb. The bulbs are free as supplies list at Dakota County Libraries, including Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings.

Veterans Day celebrations this week

Saturday, Nov. 9, United Heroes League is hosting its annual Veterans Day Jamboree with hockey games all day starting at 9 a.m. and running into the evening featuring both veteran games as well as … more

11/5/24

Several student-athletes along with Head Wrestling Coach Tim Haneberg stopped into Jackie Kranz’s office to wish her a happy retirement before she left for her last time. Kranz has been a vital part of the athletics department’s success for 28 of her 30 years at Hastings High School.

Jackie Kranz retires after 30 years

Jackie Kranz LOVES high school sports, more specifically, she loves her Raiders, and that is where this story takes a quick turn before it even starts. Her retirement is more of a ‘kind … more

11/5/24

Staff Spotlight: Sam Perreault

Tilden Community Preschool is designed to provide a variety of age-appropriate experiences that contribute to the growth and development of children ages 3 to 5. These experiences serve as a … more

11/5/24

Doctors Joe (L) and Eric (R) Slapnicher of Rivertown Eye Care, a father and son duo that have been working together since 2002, are celebrating the retirement of Dr. Joe after 50 plus years in the eye care business in Hastings. Dr. Eric took ownership of the family business several years prior to his father’s retirement and looks to carry his legacy forward for as long as he can.

Dr. Slapnicher thanks Hastings

To have a small-town business for fifty years is quite the achievement and Rivertown Eye Care checked that box last week during the celebration of Dr. Joe Slapnicher’s retirement. In honor of … more

By Bruce Karnick | 11/5/24

Hastings Arts Center opens new exhibition

The Hastings Arts Center opened a new showing in its gallery featuring the works of artists Mandy Madsen and Susan Solomon on Nov. 1. The showing will host a reception on Nov. 13 at the gallery and … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 11/5/24

Letter to the Editor-Thank you to the community

To the editor: On behalf of the Hastings Area Rotary Club, I would like to extend a huge thank you to all who helped make Rivertown Live a great community event. Thank you to all the volunteers, … more

10/29/24

Minnesota job growth streak continues

Minnesota employers added 6,300 jobs in September according to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The state's unemployment rate increased slightly to … more

10/29/24

ISD #200 Staff Spotlight Bree Paananen

Every student in our district deserves the best opportunities to thrive and grow! Many children have these opportunities come to life through our incredible Special Education program in ISD 200. … more

10/29/24

The Randolph FFA livestock judging team: Wyatt Herman, Colton Herman, Maria Hegland and Logan Tate. The Hermans are from the Hastings area.

Hastings students in Randolph FFA excel

The Randolph FFA livestock judging team got last Monday from a fun and successful trip to Kansas City for the American Royal where the team placed 3rd overall. The team left the Thursday prior, and … more

10/29/24

Afton State Park to close during special hunts Nov. 9-10 and Dec. 10-12

Afton State Park will be closed to all visitors for two special hunts in November and December: • Nov. 9-10: Youth firearms hunt • Dec. 10-12: Muzzleloader hunt The purpose for the hunt is … more

10/29/24

Hastings junior Norah Thome (15) tries to get one over a pair of Park defenders.

Volleyball season ends at Park of Cottage Grove

The Hastings Raiders made the trip up Highway 61 to take on the Park Wolfpack in Cottage Grove for the first round of the MSHSL Section 3AAAA tournament. Hastings entered the contest ranked 47th in … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/29/24

Zach Shatek gave the Raiders the 14-0 lead in the first quarter when he broke free for this 87-yard touchdown run in front of stunned Bloomington Jefferson Fans. Shatek finished with 239 yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns.

Raider Football stomps Bloomington Jefferson before season ends at St. Thomas

The Hastings Raiders football team had a rollercoaster of eight days. They had a close loss to Robbinsdale Cooper on Friday, a huge, dominating win to start the section tournament on Tuesday and a … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/29/24

Brooklyn (L) and Reese (R) Keller won their first match at the MSHSL State Tennis Tournament for the Class AA Doubles bracket. They won round one 6-3, 6-3.

Keller Sisters place fourth at State Doubles Tennis Tournament

Making the Minnesota State High School League state tournament in any sport is tough, being a returning participant like Brooklyn and Reese Keller have done in tennis is even more so. The Kellers … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/29/24

The Metro East Conference second place girls: (L to R) Lucy Burmeister, Olivia Schuster, Clara Hochmuth, Mattea Quigley, Linnea Ronning, Dakota Bauer, Sienna McCoy and Zoe Augesen.

Cross Country Conference meet delivers success and a conference champion

The Raiders Cross Country teams took to the course they are very familiar with on Oct. 15 at the St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. The boys and girls placed second as a team with both teams falling to … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/29/24

School Board discusses vision card, immunization requirements

The Oct. 23 District 200 School Board meeting discussed the 2024 district vision cards, immunization requirements and set the date for the next Community Collaboration Committee, as well as received … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 10/29/24

The Hastings Area Rotary Club (HARC) presented a check to the Hastings High School to be used for the athletic department as a thank you for the student-athletes volunteering during the Rivertown Live Concert. Left to Right: ISD 200 Superintendent Dr. Tammy Champa, HARC President Craig Beissel, HMS Athletic Director Pete McGinnis, Teacher and Coach Josh Colvin, Student-Athlete Charlie Colvin.

Rotary donates back to Hastings Athletics

The Hastings Area Rotary Club (HARC) holds their annual fundraising concert, Rivertown Live!, each September. The concert raises funds to support Rotary’s efforts and programs around Hastings. … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/29/24

Mayor Mary Fasbender (left) and Jay Kochendorfer (middle) led a Gobble Gait kickoff party with Hastings Family Service’s Amy Sutton (R) at the Confluence. The celebration was around the new shirt design and hitting the two-million-dollar mark in support of Hastings Family Service.

Gobble Gait celebrates $2 million milestone

Mayor Mary Fasbender and Jay Kochendorfer announced a Gobble Gait milestone last week surrounded by sponsors, volunteers, participants and community members at a celebration event at The Confluence … more

10/29/24

The Hastings Lyle Russel VFW Post 1210 has moved to the former Extreme Sandbox building that is now part of the United Heroes League campus at 1901 Glendale Road. To get an inside tour of the location, stop down for their open house on Nov. 10 from 2-6 p.m. Photo

VFW Post 1210 settling in nicely at new location

The Lyle Russel VFW Post 1210 has had a busy 2024 that includes merging with another post and moving again, this time to the old Extreme Sandbox building that is now part of the United Heroes League … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/29/24