Articles

Randy's Ramblings: Grifter takes advantage of people’s generosity

Opinion
I’d rather report the news than be a part of it. Nevertheless, the line got blurred for me on Wednesday of last week.

City will explore extending utilities to UU school property

The Hudson City Council is open to the possibility of extending water and sewer service to a potential school site on County UU east of the city, the members said Monday night. But a variety of things could stand in the way of it, they also agreed.

• Board president

Heavy, wet snow breaks tree limbs, knocks out power

The heavy, wet snow that fell Monday night and into Tuesday morning is being blamed for a power outage that affected a large area north of Hudson during the night.

Departing library board member calls for municipal referendums

Roy Sjoberg presented a draft resolution calling for the governing bodies of the three municipalities that partner with the city of Hudson in operating the library to pass levy increase referendums in the fall of 2013 or disband the joint library.

School and city officials discuss County UU property

School district and city officials met last Friday afternoon, April 12, to discuss the feasibility of extending city water and sewer service to about 80 acres of property in the town of Hudson. Community Development Director Dennis Darnold outlined a number of obstacles to doing so.

• School/city meeting

The end of an era: Dibbo’s is sold

The message splashed slantwise across the Dibbo's website reads: “Gone To Rock n’ Roll Heaven. Please see Dibbo’s Facebook page.” With little public notice, the last show at the classic rock and roll venue took place Saturday night, March 23.

• Dibbo's Hotel
• Anthony Dabruzzi

Council OKs spending $730,000 on capital projects and equipment

The spending includes $200,000 for engineering street mill and overlay projects, $230,000 for street crack-filling and seal-coating, $100,000 to replace the roof on the library and police building, and $200,000 to purchase a front-end loader.

A new Hudson church geared to busy families is forming

Hillcity Church, led by Pastor Aaron Steffen, will meet Sunday evenings in the Teens for Christ building.

• Hillcity Church pastor

Swedish immigrant was determined to serve his new country in WWI

Eric G. Nelson is remembered as a true patriot by his son, George “Gus” Nelson of Hudson. Initially prevented from enlisting in the Army because he wasn't born in the U.S., Eric Nelson received a Silver Star for valor and was badly wounded fighting on the Western Front.

• Military honors
• Cpl. Eric George Nelson

Fire department offers healthy breakfast, bicycle prize

The Hudson Department's 12th annual pancake breakfast is 7:30 to noon on Sunday at the station, located in the Public Safety Building on Walnut Street across of City Hall. The price for guests is a free-will donation.

• Raffle prize

Columns

Randy's Ramblings: Hudson’s green shoots of economic revival

Some of the “green shoots” of economic revival that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke talked about last March on the CBS news program “60 Minutes” are sprouting in Hudson.

Randy's Ramblings: Willis H. Miller’s bequest was so like him

I was a little surprised to learn that Willis H. Miller had a nest egg of $1 million-plus dollars. What he did with it didn’t surprise me at all.

Randy's Ramblings: The St. Croix deserved the governors’ attention

The attention that Governors Jim Doyle and Tim Pawlenty focused on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway during their visit to Hudson a couple of weeks ago was encouraging.

Randy's Ramblings: We need a surge against leafy spurge

I didn’t know what leafy spurge was until Dolly Qualls told me about it two summers ago. Now I see the lime invader everywhere. It blankets a slope on the north side of I-94, east of the 11th Street bridge. It’s sprinkled in the ditches along Krattley Lane, where I go walking.

• Leafy spurge

Randy's Ramblings: The mayor is showing green tendencies

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Mayor Dean Knudson’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The mayor is an avowed conservative, and the most vocal conservatives, paradoxically, haven’t shown much interest in conserving nature.

Randy's Ramblings: City plan - Speak now or forever hold your peace

Citizens of Hudson, if you care about the future of your city, you’ll want to pay attention to what the Plan Commission is up to. For the past few months, the commission has been working on an update to the city’s comprehensive plan.