By Chad Koenen Publisher Life in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference can be a bit of a challenge for any team in just about any sport. Add to the fact that the Frazee Hornets are among the smallest in the conference and the only school in Section 6A and the 2025 softball season is shaping up… Read More

Photos by Robert Williams

A story in the April 8 Forum, page 6, stated The Vergas Economic Development Authority (EDA) / Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) approved an improvement grant request of $5,000 from Jesus Little Lambs for parking lot asphalt work. The grant was not approved as the EDA/HRA is still determining whether or not the work qualifies for… Read More

Syrup processing brings friends together each spring By Robert Williams Editor Down a muddy four-wheel track off the beaten path hidden somewhere in the Vergas Trails sits a quarter-century old fire pit with a double-piped, stainless steel, evaporator closely guarded by two old saps, George Frankberg and Russell Sauer. The sugary spot in the woods was tapped… Read More

Plant expert sharing her love from planting to arranging By Robert Williams Editor Catlin Heinecke has been elbows deep in the dirt since childhood and part of that existence came with a dream. In the past six months, she has brought her ambition to life in the form of The Bloom Bar, which launched last November. “It… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor The 17th Annual Frazee Fire Department Relief Association Auction will be held on Saturday, April 12, from 5-9 p.m., at the Frazee Event Center. Money from the auction goes directly to a fire department fund. “It is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Fire Chief Adam Walker said. A small portion of the funds go… Read More

Quest for daycare solutions continues By Robert Williams Editor The Vergas Economic Development Authority (EDA)/Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) approved two grant requests from Vergas entities at the latest meeting on Wednesday, April 2. Crossroads Garden Center is planning to upgrade and renovate buildings and build a new greenhouse on site with an estimated cost of $19,000. Plans include… Read More

Dennis Drewes, Inc. awarded low bid for Shoulder Widening and Aggregate Shouldering in Becker County By Robert Williams Editor Improvements that were discussed in the fall of 2024 about improvements to Maple Avenue Apartments in Frazee were affirmed by a report from the latest Becker County Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting. Commissioner Richard Vareberg discussed the EDA-owned… Read More

Maplewood State Park to host maple syrup demonstration By Chad Koenen Publisher The sap will be running through downtown Vergas on Saturday for one of the tastiest celebrations of the year. The annual Maple Syrup Festival will feature a 5k run, horse drawn rides and enough maple syrup to create sticky fingers for just about everyone who… Read More

Samantha Siedow Report for Minnesota A pilot program that aims to address a shortage of cancer care in rural Minnesota would receive funding under legislation being considered at the State Capitol. The “rural cancer gap” describes a trend in preventable deaths from cancer being higher in rural areas than in urban communities. Though death rates for cancer… Read More