Pheasant numbers in the 2025 Minnesota August Roadside Survey were up nearly 50% from 2024 and 21% above the 10-year average, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “The increase in pheasant numbers across the state and all regions is great news,” said Steven Woodley, acting upland game research scientist.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony August 28, Bee Chomprasob of Southwest Health and Human Services officially launched a fleet of four e-bikes at End-O-Line Park in Currie, touting the partnerships that made the project possible.

Murray County Sheriff’s Office, Ambulance, and Emergency Management are proud to announce they have been selected to receive a LUCAS automated CPR device, thanks to a generous donation from the Center for Resuscitation Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School, as part of a new pilot project funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

“I get to see each and every personality from these kids and it has brought me so much joy.” said Johnson. “Watching them growis the biggest joy of my life.” Gail Johnson has always loved working with kids so when the opportunity to open a home-based day care presented itself, it only made sense, and she has loved every second of it.

The Murray County Central Rebels opened the 2025 High School Football season on Friday night in Dawson. For the first time since 2018 the Rebels and the Dawson Boyd Blackjacks would face off on a football field and the two teams would play a hard fought defensive battle with lots of hard hits and not much offense. The first game of the 2025 season would be played much like the first game might have been played in 1975 with defense being the key.

The cross country season got underway with two solid outings for local runners at the Marshall Invitational on August 25 and the Paul Metcalf Invitational at the Mountain Lake Golf Course. Both meets were held under good weather conditions, with sunny skies and comfortable running temperatures.

The Murray County Central Football Program has received a boost in player safety thanks to the Murray County Medical Center (MCMC) Foundation, which recently donated 75 Guardian Caps to the Rebels. The donation includes 50 caps for high school players in grades 9–12 and 25 caps for junior high players in grades 7–8.

The MCC Volleyball team was home on Tuesday night playing their second game of the season. The Rebels had a week between their first game and their second which allowed them time to work on what troubled them against the Canby Lancers. The Rebels played host to the Lakeview Lakers who were also looking for their first win of the season. In what was a hard fought game from beginning to end that didn’t see either team have large leads the Rebels would get the win.

SCHOOL MENU Monday, September 8: Breakfast: Banana Bread, Yogurt, Fruit, Juice, Milk. Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, Seasoned Rice, Buttered Bread, Steamed Corn, Chilled Tropical Fruit, Milk.

Upside Down Downy Jug It’s been almost two years now since we made the big retirement move from the farm to the quiet on the hill. If you’ve already read a column or two about this, and think you’ve already heard it all—trust me, you haven’t.