Today is Primary Election Day, and for many in Rice County it is also a Special Election Day. 
The special election is to fill Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District seat in the US House of Representatives that was made vacant when Congressman Jim Hagedorn passed away on February 17. About two-thirds of Rice County currently sits in the 1st District, including Faribault and Lonsdale, but not Northfield or Dundas. Candidates on the special election ballot are Republican endorsed Brad Finstad, DFL endorsed Jeff Ettinger, Legal Marijuana Now candidate Richard B. Reisdorf, and Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party candidate Haroun McLellan. The person who wins the election will fill out the remainder of the term, which will expire on December 31st.
Meanwhile, there is a three-way race for the City Council At-Large seat being vacated by Clarice Grabau. Former City Councilor David DeLong, Davin Sokup, a legislative assistant in the Minnesota Senate, and Thelma A. Estrada are vying for the seat. As the city allows room for only two names on the ballot in November, the three must meet in today’s primary to eliminate one of the candidates.
The County Sheriff position is on the primary ballot pitting incumbent Sheriff Jesse Thomas against challengers Richard Bailey and Ross Spicer. Another race of interest that will not engage Northfielders directly is the Third District for the Rice County Board of Commissioners. Incumbent David Miller is facing three challengers, Steven J. Hauer, Gerald G. Hoisington, and a name familiar to many Northfielders as the Station Director of Northfield Public Broadcasting, Sam Temple.
Minnesota allows for same-day voter registration, which can be done at the voting precinct. Two forms of identification are required to register or one form of identification, and a utility bill, residential lease or rent agreement, or student fee statement will also be accepted. All statements or agreements provided must be current.
For more information on registration or to find your polling place, visit the Elections & Voting page on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
NH+C Offers Guidance, information on monkeypox
As of 11:00 Monday morning, there are 52 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the State of Minnesota, that according to the
Minnesota Department of Health. With growing concern about the virus, Northfield Hospital and Clinics has published some information to help the community better understand the situation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the monkeypox virus spreads through skin-to-skin or close contact, which can include intimate contact such as kissing, hugging, or sex. It can also be transmitted through respiratory droplets or fluids, direct contact with the rash, or contact with clothing, bedding, and objects used by an infected person.
The symptoms of monkeypox include a rash that looks like pimples or blisters, a fever or chills, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fatigue and body aches.
Symptoms develop about 12 days after a person has been exposed. The illness can last as long as 3-4 weeks. Most people do not have serious complications.
Those with a new rash or other symptoms, should avoid close contact until they have been examined by a healthcare provider.
In order to prevent contracting the virus, the CDC is recommending that people should limit their number of sex partners. avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox, as well as touching the bedding, towels or clothing of an infected person.
Monkeypox vaccine is limited in Minnesota. MDH is prioritizing people at highest risk for severe disease and those most likely to have been exposed. Th vaccine is for people 18 and older with specific risk factors, including exposure in the past 14 days, more than one sex partner in the past 14 days, men who have sex with men and have HIV or other immune-compromising condition.
NH+C does not have monkeypox vaccine. Those who think they qualify, should watch for information from the Minnesota Department of Health here.
To learn more about monkeypox from the CDC click here.
Pederson calls her time at FiftyNorth a ‘delight’
The Executive Director of FiftyNorth, Lynne Pederson, is retiring at the beginning of September.
Pederson has served as the Executive Director for 15 years, since 2008 and has overseen expansions in membership, staff, facilities, programming, and food services.
Pederson was hired at a time when FiftyNorth, at the time called the Northfield Senior Center, was looking to expand its popular fitness class offerings. One of the early projects Pederson led involved negotiating a rental agreement to use additional classrooms in the center building, which is owned by the City Of Northfield.
Under Pederson’s leadership, membership has expanded from roughly 500 members in 2008, to 2,000 members before Covid 19. Membership took a hit during the pandemic, but those numbers are slowly bouncing back and Pederson estimates FiftyNorth has 1,500 members today.
While reflecting on her time at FiftyNorth, Pederson emphasized how unique and comprehensive the center’s offerings are. FiftyNorth attracts members from outside Northfield, including residents of Faribault, Farmington, and Cannon Falls. Pederson also emphasized that those who are under 50 years old who are too young to be members can still access much of the center’s programming and people can get medical referrals to get access to resources and classes.
Pederson said of her experience as Executive Director, “It has been the best last job I could ever have had.
“I just want to say thank you. Thank you to all those members. Thank you to all the people that I have had the pleasure of working with and partnering with and being able to see everyday, being able to sit down and talk with and say “what do you think?” It’s been a delight it really has.”
Kerry Hjelmgren, a veteran non-profit executive was announced yesterday as Pederson’s successor.
Community members are invited to attend a retirement party for Lynne Pederson at FiftyNorth on Wednesday, August 24th at 4:00pm.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with outgoing Executive Director Lynn Pederson can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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