Celebrate winter with that grumpy old man's pastime of ice fishing, in the town that inspired the popular movie of the same name. Other activities include an ice shack contest, frisbee games, birdwatching and a spaghetti dinner and dance. You may not run into Walter Matthau, or Ann Margaret, but you will see a few grumpy old men and lots of families enjoying themselves at the Grumpy Old Men Festival. Originally a lumber town, Wabasha is the setting of Grumpy Old Men and its sequel, Grumpier Old Men. Although they were not filmed here, the screenwriter of the films was from here and thus has turned this quaint town into... a quaint town with a Grumpy Old Men Festival.

Gabby Peterson and Stephanie Orr share information about Habitat for
Humanity's Women Build project with membesr of the Sequoia Society. 
Some of the members are pictured from the left:  Marlene Mulrooney, Marlene
Kohner, you, Stephanie, Karen Littlejohn, Carol Matejka, Deb Hiatt, Janis
Conway, and Juiieanne Schwemmer.  The Sequoia Society donated $100 to the
Women Build project. Construction on the home will begin in May. For more
information go to www.habitatwinona.org

The Cat's Pajamas are an explosive vocal band based out of Madison, WI. Singing everything from classic rock to doo wop, from barbershop to hits you hear on the radio today, The Cat's Pajamas repertoire transcends typical genre tastes. They are a group that truly anyone will enjoy!

Since their inception in 2005, The Cat's Pajamas have participated in the tv show The Next Great American Band, where they advanced to the top 30 bands out of a field of 14,000. They also finished in the top 10 for the national Oreo Cookie Jingle Competition hosted by Randy Jackson, have been seen on the Oprah Winfrey Show, have two full length albums, and have toured internationally as guest entertainers on multiple cruise lines.

The Twins Winter Caravan is one of the longest running and most extensive offseason team caravans in professional sports. The  Twins Winter Caravan features four teams of current and former players visiting schools, hospitals and Upper Midwest corporations and service clubs during the day with a traditional “hot stove” program each evening in association with a Treasure Island Baseball Network affiliate and Fox Sports North.

Current Twins scheduled to participate include pitchers Nick Blackburn, Matt Guerrier, Pat Neshek, Jesse Crain and Jeff Manship; infielder Matt Tolbert; outfielders Jason Kubel and Denard Span; shortstop J.J. Hardy and Manager Ron Gardenhire.

                  The Minnesota Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee recently announced a pre-session committee hearing for Thursday, January 21st.to follow up on a recent media investigative report on Minnesota nursing home falls. 
 

The Winona Area Public School District received good news  recently concerning debt reduction on Rollingstone Elementary.
           

The Winona Area Public School District made their final offer to its teachers union Friday during it's mediation session.
               

With the Winona Area Public School Board contemplating closing one or more of the district's aging elementary schools, a state expert is advising the district to conduct a reuse study before any final decisions are made.
              

Several local organizations have worked together to offer a free presentation on cyberbullying this month.
               

A winter storm warning is in effect today in west central and south central Minnesota because of snow and drifting. MnDOT says Interstate 90 between Worthington and Adrian in southwestern Minnesota is closed in both directions and also report they are closing westbound I-90 from Albert Lea to Fairmont as of late afternoon.

Minnesota's second-largest state employees union outlined ideas for the state's ailing budget today calling on the Pawlenty Administration to reduce outsourced contracts, cut managers, and ban all out-of-state travel.     
    

Alma residents will continue to use an independent business contractor to handle their trash recycling services.

After spirited debate Tuesday, the Wabasha City Council narrowly approved an agreement to allow the building of a 45-room hotel on city land along the Mississippi River. 
              

The two winners of 1- million dollars each in the Minnesota Lottery's Millionaire Raffle have come forward, lottery officials report.
                

Wisconsin First Lady Jessica Doyle will deliver a "Where in Wisconsin is Jessica Doyle?" weekly winner game prize to an elementary school student on Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. at Viking Elementary School in Holmen.

Some excellent news for Winona Area Public Schools as the New Year begins.

Winona County Commissioner Dwayne Voegli wants his fellow board members to begin discussions about how they should respond to the recent legal ruling that overturned a portion of Governor Tim Pawlenty's unalottments last summer.
                   

Mayor Jerry Miller Monday announced the process of finding a new City Manager will begin this month. 
                                

Republican House Representative Marty Seifert is weighing on the decision of  Ramsey County District Court Judge who ruled Governor Tim Pawlenty had to reinstate funding for a food program for the poor.
       

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has a new archbishop.

While 2010 had a deadly start with four deaths in Minnesota this past weekend, the state's 2009 preliminary traffic death count of 403 marks another significant drop in annual road fatalities.

Experts from Merchants Bank will be on hand for a special seminar at Winona Volunteer Services coming up this month.
               

Hunters who want to get in the field early for the 2010 spring turkey hunt must apply by Friday, January 8th, wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. 
      

The Houston County Trails Committee, a subcommittee of the Houston County Economic Development Authority, is moving forward on a plan to fund area trail construction. 
         

A decision has been reached on a new location for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife La Crosse District facilities.
       

Police have identified the victims in a vehicle rollover that killed a passenger and seriously injured a driver Thursday morning on Hwy. 53.
       

Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty is preparing to appeal a ruling that he took executive authority too far.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is highlighting Winona's composites industry as a leader in the nation with more than 30 times the employment in the industry that would be expected in a city of Winona's size.
                 

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona will begin winter hours of operation on Saturday and they will be in effect through February.
                  

27-year old James Kummer of Mondovi was charged in Buffalo County Court for felony physical abuse of a child in connection with an alleged incident in rural Mondovi on December 12th.

If you ever had an interest in getting in to the field of Ham Radio operations here's your chance.

The Winona City Council last week unanimously approved a $145,000 loan through the Winona Port Authority to a Winona company to purchase the building which it currently leases.

The Rushford-Peterson School District has decided to apply for a state grant in the Obama administration's "Race to the Top" program.
                   

Winona Health locations will be open on New Year's Eve but will be closed on New Year's Day.

Open until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday will be Family Medicine, the Lewiston Clinic, Rushford Clinic, Parkview Pharmacy and the Winona Clinic.

They will all be closed on New Year's Day, Friday.

Winona Health's Urgent Care Clinic will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday and closed on Friday. The Urgent Care Clinic will also be open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Winona Health's Emegency Department is open 24 hours a day.....

A Wabasha County deputy suffered two

broken legs when a stolen vehicle collided head-on with his squad

car.

Christmas came early for Stephen Jerzak...the La Crosse Tribune reports thehe online music sensation signed Tuesday with Universal Republic, part of the Universal Music Group.
         

Several local organizations have worked together to offer a free presentation on cyberbullying next month.

Alma City Council election contests are shaping up in two wards with nearly two weeks to go before the deadline for filing candidacy papers.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is expected to release its statewide rail plan next week.

Gundersen Lutheran has formed a partnership with educators and other service groups to help improve health care in three poor communities around the world.
       

Mayo Clinic says it could lose 11-million dollars under a proposal by Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature to save a health care program for the poor.
          

St. Mary's University is reporting another successful Gifts for Winona program this holiday season.
                    

City Manager Eric Sorenson is stepping down after nearly a quarter century of service.
                
      

The Winona City Council passed a 5-percent increase in the city's 2010 property tax levy and approved the 2010 city budget Monday night.
         

Continued giving, including a $10,000 gift from Merchants Bank and a $20,000 gift from an anonymous donor, have pushed Merchants Bank's "10 Days of Giving" over a quarter of a million pounds.

The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, based in Owatonna, invested a record 5.6 million dollars into 138 workforce and business projects during 2009.

                      (Winona) --  Children age nine and younger should receive a booster vaccine approximately 28 days after their initial H1N1 vaccination. It's time for those children age nine and younger who received the H1N1 vaccination at the Winona Health vaccination clinic on November 16th or 19th to receive their booster vaccine. 
   

Citing turbulent economic times, Rochester's teachers union and the school district have negotiated a preliminary two-year pact that freezes teacher salaries.

A Winona high school student died Wednesday of meningitis, but state health officials stress the illness poses no risk to the public.

The Winona County Developmental Achievement Center's third annual silent auction and casino night will be held next March 6th at Signatures in Winona.
          

Four area legislators spoke to the Winona Area Public School Board Thursday and painted a bleak picture of the coming year's legislative session.
     

It's a new record....more than 179,000 pounds of food has been added to Winona County's Food Shelves during this year's "10 Days of Giving" Food Drive, according to officials from Merchants Bank and Winona Volunteer Services. 
       

Winona County Community Health Services is now offering H1N1 flu vaccinations to the general public after the state health department lifted all of the previous restrictions.
                   

An election contest for Buffalo County Board has developed in District 3 in rural Mondovi.

The Winona County Board, on a 4-to-1 vote, has decided to convert to a centralized purchasing system for a number of departments in the county.
                  

 Buffalo City Mayor William "Bill" Bruegger is leaving office in April after 20 years service.
 Bruegger announced Monday night he will not be seeking re-election.

Winona County Board members made it official, unanimously approving a zero-percent property tax levy increase in the county's 2010 budget.
                     

Winona County Health officials are recommending everyone over the age of 6 months get an H1N1 flu vaccinaton.

The Winona City Council Monday held a budget consideration meeting to get city staff and council input on the proposed 5-percent increase in the city's 2010 property tax levy. 
     

Some farmers in the Winona area are concerned about the large property tax increases they are seeing on land in the state's Green Acres program.
                   

 The City of Winona has issued a third tag and towing advisory for early Saturday morning.

Several downtown bars in Winona have stopped offering all-you-can-drink specials in an effort to help curb binge drinking and reducing noise complaints.
                     

Sentencing has been scheduled for February 17th, in Winona District Court for a former Winona man who admitted his part yesterday in the 1985 murder of Ada Sennenfelder.

The Winona Area Public School Board received good news Thursday during their annual Truth in Taxation meeting and will be asked to approve a proposed reduction in the tax levy for the 2010 school year at their next meeting.

Legislative Democrats unveiled a plan to provide health care for more than 30,000 low-income adaults when their state coverage ends next year.

A Buffalo County man was sentenced to seven years probation and up to one year in county jail for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl at a public swimming pool in Cochrane.

The 2010 Complete Count Committee has officially gotten the go ahead from the Winona City Council to brainstorm ideas how to better make sure students and minorities are counted in Winona.
    

The Winona City Council Monday held a public hearing to get input on the city's proposed 5-percent increase in its 2010 property tax levy. 
          

Through the first eight plus days of the 21st Annual "10 Days of Giving" Food Drive, the amount of food donated to support Food Shelf programs in Winona County is closing in on last year's record pace, according to Merchants Bank officials.  
         

The Winona City Council Monday voted against requiring residents to have a parking permit within 2 blocks of Winona State University's main campus.
       

Hunters shot fewer deer during the regular nine-day hunting season in Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties. The deer kill statewide also was down. 

Good news for the City of Winona, Winona County. and other communities in the Winona area...Governor Tim Pawlenty says he does not intend to take executive action to reduce local aid payments to cities and counties later this month.
              

The Winona Hims will present their annual Christmas concert this coming Sunday, December 13th, at Central United Methodist Church.
                        

The Machine Tool & Die program at Minnesota State--Southeast Technical has received a new piece of equipment that will become an invaluable tool for student learning. and instruction.

Initial collections through the weekend for 21st annual "10 Days of Giving" Food Drive are behind last year's record pace.
          

The Winona County Developmental Achievement Center's third annual silent auction and casino night will be held next March 6th at Signatures in Winona.
       

As the Merchants Bank Ten Days of Giving Food Drive enters its final week, the local Winona County food shelves continue to get heavy use and non-perishable food continues to be needed.
                    

The Winona City Council meets Monday evening and will hold a pair of public hearings.
        

The Winona County Board of Commissioners last week heard from a representative of the Mississippi Valley Archeology Center on the option of commissioning a county wide Phase One Survey.

Winona Health Auxiliary will be hosting a new book fair through Books Are Fun, Wednesday, December 9th and Thursday, December 10th.
             

91- year old William Hendrickson, a 1939 Saint Mary's University alumnus and founder of the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership, died Friday in Naples, Florida.

Still reeling from the grim state budget forecast, labor leaders are calling on lawmakers to put differences aside and focus on building jobs.
              

The Winona Health Urgent Care Clinic has welcomed a new team member,Winona native, Danielle Rollman.

Students from the Saint Mary's University entrepreneurship class sold specially designed T-shirts this fall to raise money for the Winona Area Humane Society. 
               

Winona State University's fall 2009 Commencement takes place 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 11th, in McCown Gymnasium on the Winona campus with doors opening one hour prior.

To combat the serious threat of impaired driving on Winona County roads, Winona County law enforcement agencies will conduct extra DWI patrols as part of a Minnesota-wide crackdown throughout December.

Representatives of a Twin Cities nonprofit think tank were at a Winona winery today  encouraging residents to buy local and help stimulate the economy.

The Winona County Board of Commissioners Tuesday agreed on a zero-percent increase in levy taxes for 2010 after taking public input on the proposed 2010 budget.
            

Drop barrels have been placed throughout the Winona Community for the Merchants Bank's 21st Annual Ten Days of Giving Food Drive that kicked off this week.
               

The Winona County Board of Commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved spending just over $11,000 for 46 new portable radios for the Sheriff's Department.
             

Winona County has scheduled another H1N1 vaccination clinic for Wednesday.

 Buffalo County has approved some $54,000 in aid for town bridge and culvert projects.

Tickets are on sale for the Winona County Red Cross Chapter's spaghetti dinner and silent auction that will be held on Saturday, December 12th.
                   

The Winona City Council Monday held a special meeting to officially adopt an extension to the moratorium on bluff land development.

First District Congressman Walz toured two Waseca projects todayincluding a project to install new sewer pipelines and a new wastewater sewer treatment plant.

A two-year, 97- million dollar expansion of Olmsted County's Waste-to-Energy plant is about to enter a final phase of equipment tests and other preparations
            

Taxes being paid on farmland in Winona County are picking up the slack an otherwise stagnant year for property valuations.

Two Rochester residents have been killed and four others injured in a two-vehicle crash in southern Wisconsin late Tuesday evening. 
     

Winona county residents are being advised to get their flu shots in the coming weeks.
        

Winona County Road 3, from the junction with US Highway 61 to approximately 1 mile southwest, will be reopened to traffic beginning Wednesday, November 25th, following the completion of a mile of roadway reconstruction.

Following their regular Tuesday evening meeting, the Winona County Board of Commissioners held a work session and discussed various aspects of the revised County Zoning Ordinance.
               

The Winona County Board of Commissioners Tuesday discussed a request by the Sheriff's Department for new portable radios at a cost of about $54,000.
                  

Dense fog Saturday morning hampered deer hunters in their quest to spot a quality buck in the hills and valleys of Buffalo County where weekend registrations dropped 26 percent.

International students attending the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2008-09 contributed just over 7.7- million dollars to the local economy.

The Winona Health Urgent Care Clinic at 420 East Sarnia will re-open to care for all urgent-care needs, including those who have flu-type symptoms, on Friday, November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving.
      

Two people were injured Sunday morning after a vehicle went airborne twice and struck a tree in the town of Sparta.
      

Winona county is getting closer to being able to administer H1N1  flu vaccinations to the general public.
          

The Winona County Board of Commissioners will meet at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday in a split meeting at the County Government Center.
               

A 49-year-old man was pronounced dead Friday after authorities found him stuck on a silo ladder at the Drysdale farm just outside Wabasha. 
    

The Winona Area Public School Board received good news Thursday concerning the independent audit of the district's financial statements.
                      

The Winona Area Public School Board Thursday once again discussed the possible closing of Central Elementary School but made no decisions one way or the other.

The U.S. Census Bureau will be mailing out questionnaires in mid-March next year prior to Census Day on April 1st, 2010, in an effort to make filling out the census easier.
         

Both Winona State University and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical showed  increased enrollments this fall of students from groups traditionally under-represented in higher education.

Minnesota State health officials announced today five more deaths have been reported due to the H1N1 flu virus.
                

The Buffalo County Board has passed a 2010 budget without raising property taxes.

Buffalo County law enforcement officers are continuing their search for clues that might lead them to suspects involved in an organized pot growing operation discovered in the Nelson Bottoms in late October. 
       

Winona State University's National Child Protection Training Center will host Dr. Michael Durfee as part of the model medical school curriculum conference Monday, November 30th, at Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

The Winona City Council Monday approved individual sections of a modified version of the Bluff Land Protection Ordinance, with more  public opinion expected to be collected next month before any final vote is made.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says Great River Bluffs State Park near Dakota will be closed this coming weekend, November 21st and 22nd for a special resource management deer hunt.
                  

A 39-year-old Buffalo County man responsible for repeated acts of violence against his ex-girlfriend was sentenced to three years in prison after entering a plea agreement in circuit court in Alma.

The Friends of the Upper Mississippi River Refuges has announced the winners of the 2009 Best of Show photo contest.

The Winona City Council will resume a public hearing on the proposed Bluffland Protection Ordinance when the council meets Monday night at City Hall.
             

Some new equipment at the Winona wastewater treatment plant should be ready to go in about two weeks.
            

Winona Health and Winona County Community Health Services will hold an H1N1 Vaccination Clinic on the first floor of Winona Clinic two days next week.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy's request today to expand its operation and storage of nuclear waste at the plant at Red Wing.

The good news is that Minnesota State health officials say,for the second week in a row,they are seeing promising indicators of a downward trend in  H1N1 flu cases...the bad news is that they also announced seven more influenza -related deaths that have occurred recently.

Winona County residents who would like a free radon testing kit are not too late.

 More veterans in Buffalo County are signing up for health care benefits through the Department of Veteran Affairs, according to Jim Goss of the vet services office in Alma.

Winona county still does not expect to be able to administer H1N1  flu vaccinations to the general public for some time.

Fountain City property owners won't see an increase on their tax bills for 2010 municipal government services.

Now that the last-standing utility company threw in the towel on the proposed and controversial Big Stone Two coal-fired power plant near the Minnesota-South Dakota border, environmentalists say there's still the problem of what to do about existing coal power plants, 
                  

 The United Way of the Greater Winona Area is sponsoring a grantwriting workshop to provide information to non-profit organizations about funding resources.

The Winona National Bank Lion's Pride program will sponsor a Social Security Taxation educational seminar on Wednesday at the Riverport Inn in Winona.

Winona Senior High School will present Willy Wonka on Friday, November 13th and Saturday, the 14th.

People needing help getting their yard in order before winter really sets in can make the request to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Screaming Eagles Marching Band members.
              

The 2009 Minnesota firearms deer hunting season is underway as of  Saturday morning.

Winona Health's Psychiatric and Counseling Services is currently accepting referrals for "Moving Forward," a 12-week group program to help people who are struggling with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues.

The Red Wing school system had planned to have school-based H1N1 vaccination clinics on November 16th and 17th but have learned that they will be getting a much smaller supply of the vaccine than expected.

Hannah Heck of Lucky16 4-H Club has been named the 2009 Buffalo County 4-H Crowley Leadership Award winner.
                    

Minnesota health officials are reporting three more deaths from H1N1 fluMinnesota health officials are reporting three more deaths from swine flu, including one in Winona County.
 

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says education and enforcement of the new seat belt law has helped push the state's belt use rate to a record 90 percent and fewer unbelted deaths compared to 2008.

 Monday night the Winona City Council received a request to annex 210 acres of land in Wilson Township.
                

 The Winona Area Public School Board made some slight changes to an earlier contract offer to its teachers during the second mediation session last Friday at City Hall, but the major offer remained the same as no settlement was reached.
                   

Winona County Board members say they will not make a final decision next Tuesday night, November 10th, when they hold a public hearing on the revised county zoning ordinance.
                       

 If you would like to learn more about your investments or financial status there is a free event coming up this coming weekend you may be interested in attending.
                  

Authorities are investigating whether the death of a 7-year-old La Crosse boy Wednesday might be flu related.
        

A St. Charles couple believes three of their horses may have been attacked by a cougar on their family farm west of Forestville State Park earlier this month.

 The Winona County Board of Commissioners Tuesday voted to move forward with the proposed 6.3 million dollar new addition to the Winona County Annex building.
                  

In order to help limit the spread of flu, beginning Friday (today), and until further notice, Winona Health is directing patients of all ages experiencing flu-like symptoms to the Winona Health Urgent Care Clinic,  at 420 East Sarnia as the central location for evaluation and treatment of the flu. 

Last week, the Rochester School Board -- at the request of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Area Foundation --agreed to enter a partnership with the Bush Foundation.