News - Hastings Journal

It is clear that Shannon Tarr has a personal connection with each and every rescue on her property.

Many people have goals or visions of what their future may look like. And many people do reach their goals. But Shannon Tarr talks about reaching dreams. Hastings native Shannon Tarr had a dream … more

By Nicole DePalma | 7/16/24

Crowds from the 2023 Rivertown Days gather downtown.

Spin Doctors headline Rivertown Days 2024

Rivertown Days has long been the biggest event on the Hastings calendar. Live music, a craft fair, carnival rides, and events from the medallion hunt to the car show draw residents from across the … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 7/16/24

City Hall renovation includes work on the masonry as well as the dome roof and HFAC systems.

City Hall renovation: Helping history stand the test of time

Hastings City Hall began renovation in 2023 for the dome roof, masonry repair, replacing the annex roof and updating the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). The $5 … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 7/16/24

Both Brittany Road and 17th Street are planned to have full reconstruction including curb and gutter replacements. Other streets in the area are going to be resurfaced with reclaimed materials from the existing road surfaces.

Local road reconstruction continues

We all know that Minnesota has three seasons. Fall, Winter and Road Construction and the City of Hastings needed to join the last of those three to keep streets safe and viable. 2024’s version … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/10/24

Families of those lost to overdoses attended the presentation given by Senator Amy Klobuchar, Representative Angie Craig and Bridgette Norring about the Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act.

Lawmakers speak at HHS about bill to force social media platforms to report the sale of drugs

On Tuesday, July 2 Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig visited Hastings High School to speak about the Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act, a bill that would require social media platforms to … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 7/10/24

The Hastings area Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts led the parade with their color guard.

Despite the threats of rain, Hastings shows up big for Fourth of July celebration

Mother Nature has been messing with the region a lot recently. Just as the flood waters were beginning to recede, more rain entered the forecast and threatened to put a damper on the Fourth of July … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/10/24

Heritage Ridge homes seen just beyond the quarry.

The quarry next door

Since 1960 what is now Solberg Aggregate, a gravel quarry just outside of the City of Hastings’ border, has been providing gravel to a diverse client base, from the Minnesota Department of … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 7/10/24

The Mississippi River flood of 2024 reached the base of the Rotary Pavilion on the Hastings River Front at Levee Park. The fenced in overlook of the river almost disappeared from sight for a little while with debris gathering along the fence. First St. East had to be closed under the railroad bridge and the walking path with Dale Lewis’ sculptures below the American Legion was flooded, too.

Mississippi River crests at 19.35 feet

It took some time to get there and there were some inconveniences along the way, but the mighty Mississippi River is headed back to normal after cresting at 19.35 feet on June 29 and 30 this last … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/3/24

Once the intersection of County Road 46 and Goodwin Avenue closes for reconstruction, there will be a significant increase in traffic on Highway 55 due to the posted detours.

Intersection at County Road 46 and Goodwin closing soon

It is construction season in Minnesota and Hastings is not going to escape unscathed from the larger projects. The big one affecting area drivers this summer is going to be the intersection of County … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/3/24

Hastings Senior Center Director to retire after 40 years of service

After making a career of working with Hastings’ retirees, on June 28, 2024 Hastings Senior Center Director Laurie Thrush will join their ranks. Thrush has been with the Hastings Senior Center … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 6/26/24

Vermillion State Bank, the longtime fireworks show sponsor, is proud to bring the Fourth of July celebration to Hastings each and every year. The show typically lasts 20-25 minutes and is held at Hastings Public House on the Hastings Golf Club course, which is the best spot to view the show.

Fourth of July fun includes parade, fireworks

What is happening on the Fourth of July in Hastings and the surrounding area? It is a good bet that there will be a lot of celebrating this great country’s independence with friends and family! … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/26/24

Cars throughout the ages could be found along Second Street at the annual car show.

Hastings Drives into the Spotlight with its 2024 Annual Car Show

Hastings held its first car show of the 2024 season on Sunday, June 16. The event is the first of five car shows that run the third Sunday of the month until October with the next show to be held … more

By Graham Johnson | 6/18/24

Local Artist featured for Minnesota Twins and Nike’s City Connect

The Minnesota Twins City Connect uniforms have certainly invoked a lot of different emotions since their recent reveal. Regardless of how you feel about the uniforms, one thing you can feel good … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/18/24

Hastings Family Service Driver Out Hunger golf tournament was held at Hastings Golf Club on Monday, June 10. Congratulations to tournament winners (from left) Bob Wise, Kerry Wise, Mike Quam and Lucas Bunting.

HFS tees up to drive out hunger

The 4th annual Drive Out Hunger golf tournament was held at Hastings Golf Club on Monday, June 10, raising $18,500 for Hastings Family Service. According to Kelly Carter, HFS Development and … more

6/18/24

A retirement 41 years in the making: Kathy Gleich retires from St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton school

If you ask anyone if they think they will stay in the same job for 41 years, most people will likely say no. If you ask those same people if their job as a teenager had a huge impact on their work … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/12/24

Congratulations again to the graduating class of 2024. You did it, you made Hastings proud, now, go make something happen and be the change this world deserves.

Congratulations HHS Class of 2024

Graduation is a time that kids can’t wait for, a time where they have proven they are becoming adults, they have done it, made it through high school. This is also a time the community gathers … more

A Photo story by Bruce Karnick | 6/11/24

Graduation is here!

Congratulations to the Hastings High School Class of 2024! You did it! HHS has a tradition called the Raider Walk where faculty, underclassmen and parents all form a path from the fieldhouse through … more

6/9/24

Presenters (from top to bottom) designer Steven Boyd-Smith, Dakota County Historical Society Executive Director Matt Carter and Building Remembrance for Reconciliation Chair James Curry talked about two important projects underway in Hastings in a virtual meeting recently.

Projects will highlight history, heritage of early Black settlers in Hastings

The Dakota County Historical Society is working on two big projects to honor the history of Hastings’ early Black families. Last month, the DCHS hosted a gathering of descendants of those … more

By John McLoone | 6/6/24

At right, Hastings City Administrator Dan Wietecha speaks at a neighborhood meeting to residents concerned with proposed plans to build one of three water treatment facilities to filter out PFAS contamination in Wallin Park.

City pledges to study PFAS treatment plant location

City of Hastings leaders stressed that changes could be made to plans for placement of water treatment plants and they have preliminarily been located on city-owned sites to make the PFAS remediation … more

6/5/24

Hastings track & field claims MEC titles!

We are proud to introduce to you the Metro East Conference Champions, the Hastings Raiders! The boys won with a score of 186 and the girls won with a score of 179. more

Submitted Photo | 5/30/24