Outdoors - Hastings Journal

A missing summertime guest: Where are the mayflies?

In the midst of high waters over the 4th of July along with near record-breaking amounts of rain, one might be forgiven for not missing a usual summertime visitor. Normally early in July the city of … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 7/25/24

My go-to for taking scales off of panfish.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Replenishing the fish supply

My game plan during a recent fishing outing was pretty simple: replenish my fish supply. I realized that I had made a slight miscalculation regarding my fish inventory because my freezer was … more

By Dave Beck | 7/17/24

Shore Lunch Beer Batter and Mies All Purpose Fish Batter are the two top brands, in my book.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The 411 on fish batter

Two weeks ago I was watching a midday Twin Cities news/variety show. Now that’s not something usually on my plate but a promo teaser caught my eye. They were going to cook a Midwestern … more

By Dave Beck | 7/11/24

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 | 7/4/24

My confidence grew slightly about my fly fishing abilities after hooking this brown trout in the Rush River

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Fly fishing the Rush is not easy

Last week I told you all about my spinning rod trout fishing victory on the Rush River. It was a great night and I caught a bunch of trout (by my standards). I left brimming with … more

By Dave Beck | 7/3/24

Severe flooding along the Mississippi River has prompted City of Cottage Grove officials to close the bridge and causeway leading to Lower Grey Cloud Island.

Severe river flooding leads to bridge and causeway closure in Cottage Grove

Due to recent heavy rainfall and rising river levels, the City of Cottage Grove has announced the closure of the bridge and causeway to Lower Grey Cloud Island to ensure public safety. This closure … more

6/28/24

River rises near flood stage

With all the rain across the state in the last week, the Mississippi River reached the top of the steps in Levee Park behind the Rotary Pavilion. The river was expected to crest on Tuesday around … more

Photo courtesy of Brian Slattum. | 6/13/24

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Reverse Father’s Day

My daughter Mattie and I have had many outdoor adventures, from fishing to hunting to ‘shrooming to shed hunting. They are memories I will never forget. Happy Father’s Day! I … more

By Dave Beck | 6/12/24

DNR encourages a safety mindset as recreational boating season kicks off

Minnesota’s lakes and rivers are about to be abuzz with activity. Memorial Day weekend represents the traditional start of the recreational boating season, when water recreation enthusiasts of … more

5/30/24

Outdoor Tales & Trails: A musky fisherman at heart

It’s supposed to be the last week of Forage Month but it is going to be pre-empted by the musky fishing season opener which started on Saturday. If I had to limit myself to one outdoor … more

By Dave Beck | 5/29/24

Hastings Family Service Director Amy Sutton and event coordinator Cheryl Fitzgerald-McNelis posed for a post celebration picture with a check for $5,097 raised for HFS through this event.

Hastings Middle School Tug of War

The Hastings Middle School has an extremely fun tradition as the school year comes to a close, a tug of war. The school does an annual fundraiser for Hastings Family Service and the two classes from … more

By Bruce Karnick | 5/22/24

MPCA meteorologists forecast another summer of increased air quality alerts for Minnesota

Minnesotans should expect more air quality alerts than normal again during the summer of 2024, driven by anticipated high temperatures and more-than-average number of wildfires, Minnesota Pollution … more

5/16/24

MPCA launches robust program to sample entire Mississippi River within Minnesota

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) today announced a new initiative to monitor water quality throughout the entire Mississippi River within Minnesota’s borders for the first time in … more

4/25/24

A Dump truck disposes of industrial waste at SKB Environment in Rosemount, Minn., on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. SKB Environmental is testing technologies at their landfill in Rosemount -- ractionation system (this filters PFAS out of leachate by foaming it up) and a more experimental technology that could chemically bond/lock up the PFAS into material that wouldn't allow it to keep floating through the environment.] RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII • richard.tsong-taatarii @startribune.com

PFAS is piling up in our trash. Can we keep it contained?

ROSEMOUNT, MINN – The white trailer blends into the winter landscape at SKB Environmental’s landfill, but inside, machinery is working to capture one of the most pervasive environmental … more

By Chloe Johnson | 3/7/24

Commercial fishers, Minnesota DNR capture invasive carp 

In the latest in a series of tag, track and capture operations, commercial fishers working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources captured 82 silver carp and one bighead carp Feb. 13-14 … more

2/28/24

A barge at the bottom of the chamber and Lock and Dam No. 2 in Hastings Jan. 30. It was used to float equipment to make repairs to the chamber.

A close-up look at the Hastings Lock and Dam project

The locks and dams on the Mississippi River are massive feats of engineering, nearing 100 years old. They shepherd millions of tons of goods each year, acting as water-based elevators to lift boats … more

By Madeline Heim | 2/21/24

Trap and Skeet Registration Open

The Hastings Raiders High School Trap and Skeet Team Registration is open and will close Friday March 15th or until team is full, no exceptions. Please be patient if you run into issues registering. … more

2/7/24

Free class on nitrogen use open to Dakota County farmers

An upcoming class will provide nitrogen information to farmers ahead of the 2024 growing season. Dakota County is partnering with University of Minnesota Extension to offer a free, one-day class … more

2/7/24

An attendant holds a red-and-green macaw.

Masters of the Sky 2024 weekend celebrates birds

Be captivated by all things winged from educators at St. Louis’s World Bird Sanctuary during the “Masters of the Sky” weekend. Hosted by Carpenter Nature Center’s (CNC) … more

By Nerissa Solovitz | 1/31/24

This graphic posted to the City of Hastings Facebook page announcing closing of skating rinks for the season says it all about winter so far.

Winter? Maybe not this year

If you haven’t noticed, with the exception of a frigid week in January, it’s been an exceptionally mild winter. Hastings Public Works Superintendent Joe Spagnoletti is fine with that. … more

By John McLoone | 1/31/24