The Headlines of 2024 – Part 1: The Biggest Stories of 2024

By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net

Editors Note: As 2024 comes to an end, the news cycle begins to slow down. However, this is also a time to sit back on the news this year and the moments that defined Northfield. Instead of the regular newscasts for today, December 27th, 30th, and 31st, we will be taking a look back at the headlines from 2024; the moments, the people, and the events that defined Northfield this year.

I wish you all the best time this holiday season. 

See you in the new year,

– Logan 

Cannon River Flooding

The story that drew more interest than any other and attracted the most viewers to our website for a story this year was related to the Cannon River flooding in June.

The flood was the 3rd time in 15 years that Northfield has had a 100-year flood. After heavy storms for ten days (starting on June 12th), the Cannon River began rising to its highest ever recorded crest of 901.52 feet. That was just above the crest of the river during the 2010 floods. 

During the floods, the 4th Street Bridge off of Bridge Square was shut down. Employees of Carlson Capital Management used an army of sump pumps and extra hands as they worked to mitigate the flood damage to their office, located just below the 4th Street Bridge to the North of Bridge Square. Across the river, the new owners of Froggy Bottoms, who have been working very hard to get the popular bar & grill up and running again, were running sump pumps as well and relying on a flood wall installed after the 2010 flood devastated the restaurant and forced it to close for almost a year. The Carleton College Lighten Up garage Sale was forced to close on Friday and did not reopen on Saturday for the final day of the sale. 

The flooding brought attention from State and Federal leaders. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, along with 2nd District U.S. Congresswoman Angie Craig toured flooded areas in Carver and Rice Counties, making a stop in Northfield. The delegation was briefed by city officials on the situation at the Northfield Fire Department. On June 22nd Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency to assist with emergency flooding operations and on the evening of June 24th, Mayor Rhonda Pownell declared a local emergency. Here’s then Police Chief Mark Elliott at the time of the flood: 

“The forecast for the next three days is somewhere between 3 and 5 1/2 inches of rain, so we’re keeping a very close eye on that because depending on how that rain hits, how much hits us, but also how much hits the upper watershed. So the Cannon River over towards Faribault and the Straight river all the way down to Owatonna flows into the Canon and then comes through downtown Northfield. We have to keep an eye on that, and we will continue to do that.” – Fmr. Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott

Several government agencies, including FEMA, offered flood recovery and clean-up programs. In response to the flooding, the city is looking at ways to provide more support and mitigation to flooding emergencies in the future. 

Additional Reading:  

• Update: Cannon River now expected to crest at record level of 901.5 feet (June 21st, 2024)
• Cannon River expected to crest over 900 feet, Elliott advises caution (June 21st, 2024)
• Another flood warning issued for Cannon River area (June 18th, 2024)

Election 2024

While it was never one story, it indeed dominated everyone’s minds starting in May when seven candidates announced they were running for Northfield Mayor. For some Northfield voters, there were 17 candidates in local elections and four referendum questions. Combined with several large issues at the local level, it was certainly a complicated election. And the results of the election will change Northfield for the years to come: 

(left to right) The three members elected to the Northfield City Council, Councilor Brad Ness, Councilor-Elect Chad Beumer, and Councilor-Elect Peter Dahlen

The city will have a new Mayor, Erica Zwiefel and two new members of the council Chad Beuemer and Peter Dahlen, leading to a council that will look and sound different in the coming years. Here’s the Mayor-Elect: 

Northfield students will also have a reimaged high school. Voters voted in favor of all three questions, leading to renovations and expansions of the academic and athletic facilities and installing a geo-thermal system. The educational campaign started in the early spring and featured over 80 different information events. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann expressed his thanks to voter: 

“To all of our Northfield School District 170 Square Mile School District to all of our voters, the voters are always right. Thank you for showing your faith in our school district and really for committing to the future, of our students.” – Dr. Matt Hillmann on the KYMN Morning Show

One of the most noteworthy events of the campaign was when Carleton College announced its intentions to donate $2 million to the project if voters approved the project:

“So in thinking about the ways in which the educational mission of our institution, you know, is paralleled by the educational mission of which so many people in this room are apart. We feel very proud to be able to pledge $2,000,000 towards the academic building that’s outlined in the reimagined Northfield High School project.”  – Carleton College President Alison Byerly at the Announcement Event.

Carleton College President Alison Byerly with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann at the donation announcement.

(left) Northfield High School Student Council President Lenna Brown, speaking at the donation announcement (Right) Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Matt Hillmann, speaking at the announcement.

While there was little on the ballot for state elections, State Representative Kristi Pursell was reelected for her second. However, she became the last Democrat in the State House to represent a rural district at the State Capital.

While the election may be over, the politics is not, and now the candidates move to the governing phase.

Additional Reading:

• KYMN 2024 Election Guide
• 2024 Local Election Results
• Northfield Chamber of Commerce 2024 Candidate Forums
• KYMN State House 58A Forum
• The Schools Referendum In-Depth

Honorable Mention: Northfield Will Have A New Ice Arena

Concept designs of the new ice arena.

Trying to narrow down just a few stories as the most significant stories of 2024 is honestly a difficult task. However, for one last honorable mention, I think the ice arena finally has a path forward, which is worthy of it. For many years, the ice arena has been a topic of debate about its future. This past year, the City of Northfield, Dundas, and Northfield Public Schools reached a funding agreement that means there will be a new ice arena in Northfield in the summer of 2026.

Additional Reading:

• A First Look at the Design for the New Ice Arena (Sept. 24th, 2024)
• City of Northfield & Dundas Sign Funding Agreement For The New Ice Arena Project (Oct. 18th, 2024)
• Northfield Hockey Association Announces Fundraising Update (Nov. 21st, 2024)
• Northfield Hockey Association Announces Fundraising Update (Dec. 2nd, 2024)