By Teri Knight, News Director
Northfield Hospital + Clinics is ready if COVID-19 comes to our community, the name the coronavirus has been given. As the coronavirus spreads in regions around the world, Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization are helping organizations and individuals prepare for illness in the U.S. The risk of getting sick in Minnesota from COVID-19 is low. There are 59 confirmed cases and no fatalities in the U.S. as of Feb. 26, reports Johns Hopkins University, which tracks COVID-19 global data with frequent updates. There are no cases of COVID-19 in
Minnesota as of Feb. 26. NH+C works in coordination with the CDC, Minnesota Department of Health and the Metro Hospital Compact and Metro Health and Medical Preparedness Coalition, monitoring all developments daily and preparing proactively. There is more information regarding screening recommendations, what the test is for it and how you can protect yourself. 2020 – Coronavirus UPDATE – Planning is underway FINAL 02.26.20
Is it time for a Raider mascot make-over?
Could the Raiders mascot get a make-over? Northfield High School Student Council member, Nicky Osterman, told the School Board Monday that he had spoken with NHS Athletic Director Joel Olson about the current mascot and how it doesn’t represent the James-Younger Gang’s robbery of the First National Bank. He believes the mascot, introduced in 1956, needs to be about the community protecting itself against the 1876 raid if that was the original intent. The Northfield News reports that Osterman shared how other schools call the mascot “the racist Raider” due to its Asian-appearing facial features. The sword also calls to violence. To Osterman, changing the mascot would help fulfill the Student Council’s mission to build a better, safer community. The student council has yet to speak with Superintendent Hillmann but this will certainly be an on-going discussion. It’s not the first time the mascot has come under scrutiny, there was discussion in the early ‘90’s to change it but that went nowhere.
Heritage Bank holds Open House, celebrates a dream realized
Heritage Bank in Northfield is holding their Open House all day today inviting the community to check out the new facility on Hwy 3. Known as Farmers State Bank from 1930-2018, with offices in West Concord and Dennison, Heritage Bank, Vice President Ken Organ said they had been eyeing the Northfield community for about a decade and are thrilled to see the dream realized. Organ said, “we’re locally owned, we’re family owned, and small, providing that local customer service”. He commented on the new name, Heritage, saying it reflects who they are and how they move forward as their customer base had been family-owned farms, which have dwindled dramatically over the last couple of decades. For the new facility, they wanted something different. They partnered with a Metro architect, “and then had Northfield Construction Company in town here, who is an extremely valuable partner for us to help us build the facility in town. It’s a lot different, it’s a lot more modern. But we wanted something a little more casual, we wanted people to feel comfortable when they come in”. They liked the idea of a coffeeshop in the lobby and The Hideaway Vault became a reality. Organ said their goal was to create a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere while offering everything other banks offer. Their speciality, he added, is the mortgage area from long term fixed mortgages to short term such as a construction loan. They can handle in-house and Fannie Mae, he said, “that’s really our niche”. The open house goes on till five o’clock today with a ribbon cutting at 4pm. Stop by, grab a Hideaway Vault cookie and take a look around. The address is 1520 Clinton Ln, Northfield, MN 55057
