Our network

Parents & kids

Girl Scout Candybars

Girl Scout Candybars

     Three of the girls scouts most popular cookie flavors will soon be in candy bar form.

     Nestle announced the plans to make the limited edition crunch candy bars.

     They’ll be sold in stores, not door-to-door by scouts.

     The flavors include thin mints, caramel coconut and peanut butter crème.

     They’ll be sold June through September at retailers nationally.

     Girl scouts sold 760-million dollars in cookies last year.

The Proper Way to Sip Tea

The Proper Way to Sip Tea

Did you know there is a proper way to sip tea?

It seems like an odd question, but that is just one of the many things an etiquette class at the Hormel Historic Home is aiming to teach students.

The classes are aimed at young ladies ages 9-14, but adults are welcome.

Among the other lessons is learning the best way to introduce yourself.

The classes will prepare you to attend the finest dinner parties.

Cost is $5.00 per person. Register at the Hormel Historic Home. The class is presented by the library and the Hormel Historic Home.

National Screen Free Week

Children these days are spending more time with "screens" than in any activity other than sleep, this might be the week to change that.

This week is national "Screen Free Week".

The idea is to reduce the amount of time your kids are spending with screens computers, tv and video games.

Studies show that pre-schoolers are now spending an average of 32 hours each week, staring into some kind of screen.

Excessive screen time has been linked to a number of problems for children, including obesity and poor school performance.

Families are encouraged to reduce "screen time" and spent more time on activities like reading and outside time.

Police Warn Of Scam Pretending To Help MN National Guard

Police Warn Of Scam Pretending To Help MN National Guard

 

The Albert Lea Police Department responded to the local Minnesota National Guard Armory in response to a peddler scam concern. 

It was reported that someone was going through several neighborhoods, soliciting financial donations in support of Blue Star Moms. It was reported that the money obtained was to go towards the purchase of backpacks for troops overseas.

A person matching the description given was located near 506 Ulstad Avenue – the 20 year old, white male, 601”, 180 lbs, short Sandy Blonde Hair, provided Arkansas identification. 

The Reporting Person’s check was recovered and returned. 

The City of Albert Lea does not currently have a Peddler’s License requirement. If citizen’s have concerns regarding peddlers soliciting, it is recommended they do their research before donating &/or purchasing items. 

It's Time to Get Grumpy

It'll be OK to get grumpy in Wabasha this weekend. Well... not really, but the city will be hosting its annual Grumpy Men Festival.

The event is based on the movie "Grumpy Old Men" which is based on life in Wabahsa. We're told the screen writer based the movie on his grandfather who was born and bred in Wabasha.

When the festival started 19 years ago, it had lots to do with the movie, but officials from the Wabasha-Kellogg Area Chamber of Commerce say these days it's more about celebrating winter.

     "Ya know, (it) gets to be a little long. it gets to be drawn out and everything and so having people come here in the winter and hey... we do have a ski hill, we can ice fish, we can do this.

Once Upon a Playhouse

Once Upon a Playhouse

If you're heading to the Rochester Area Builders Home Show this year, make sure you stop by "Once Upon a Playhouse."

Family Service Rochester is once again raffling off four custom built playhouses. They all have two stories and are finished both inside and out. But each one has its own theme.

     "People who have young kids know they want to get down here. They know they want to see them. They know their kids want to see them. But I would tell other people, if you didn't have kids, you still want to check this out because I guarantee you were a kid once and it brings you back to this happy place in childhood where you just think about, oh that would be so much fun!" says Brenda Walker.

Last year the event raised $40,000, all of which went to Family Service Rochester's domestic violence programs.

Riverland Community College Recieves Grants to Assist Pregnant or Parenting Students

Riverland Community College Recieves Grants to Assist Pregnant or Parenting Students

Information from the Minnesota Department of Health:

Through August 2013, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will distribute approximately $2.7 million in federal grant awards to 11 institutions of higher education to start new or support existing student-parent help centers. These centers address the health and education needs of college-age pregnant and parenting young people. "Having a college education is important to the health and economic well-being of the citizens of Minnesota. Pregnancy and parenting are major reasons why college women drop out of school," said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota Commissioner of Health. "Student-parent help centers provide the support that pregnant or parenting students need at a crucial time in their lives as they are building their future through post-secondary education."