May 19, 2024 | South Central News & Media
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Saint Peter Front Street Residents Approach Council for Third Time on Traffic Reform in Neighborhood
Celeste Nelson wanted to know what the city is doing about heavy semi truck traffic and speeding taking place in her neighborhood at the Monday night city council meeting. The city has been facing mounting pressure from local residents in the past month-and-a-half as residents continue to bring the issue up at city council meetings for the last three sessions in Saint Peter. By Robert Lawson Publisher info@nicolletcountyledger.com
Once again, residents from Front Street in Saint Peter came to urge the city to do something about increased traffic, including heavy semi truck traffic in their neighborhood, which is parallel to the busy business dis-
trict of Highway 169, which is also Minnesota Avenue. The Saint Pete City Council meeting held on Monday, May 13 and included discussion on the Parks Master Plan acceptance; closeout of 361st Ave (Magner Parkway) improvements; Klein Street preliminary and final design; new licenses; an assistance request from American
Legion Post #37 for the Walk of Honor and council reports. There was a closed session for a real estate discussion. A woman who lives on Front Street approached the council on Monday. At two previous council meetings, two different men have spoken on behalf of the neighborhood regarding the traffic and
speeding along the roadway there. The woman, Celeste Nelson, lives on the 900 block of South Front Street. “My concerns are the obvious traffic situation on Front Street, the speeding, semi truck traffic particularly,” Nelson said. “This is our third summer here and I’d say it’s increased exponentially in the last
year. My neighbors and I have had discussions about it.” This is the first time Nelson has appeared in front of the council, so she asked the council directly: “Are we moving forward? Are our concerns being heard?” Mayor Shanon Nowell replied the council doesn’t provide answers to questions specifically, but referred
the matter to City Administrator Todd Prafke, who said the council has previously discussed the issue. However, it has only been brought to the public meeting in the last monthand-a-half, in the last two meetings in April and May. At the last meeting, Prafke suggested the city had already taken action by placing a
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Local Korea Vet Finally Receives His Purple Heart Medal After 73 Years Klobuchar and Other Officials Gathered at Gustavus to Honor Meyer
By Robert Lawson Publisher info@nicolletcountyledger.com On Friday afternoon, May 17 at Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Earl Meyer received a Purple Heart medal 73 years after serving and being injured in the Korean Conflict. Due to administrative issues, he wasn’t able to receive the medal until now.
Senator Amy Klobuchar recently announced that she fought to help Meyer get the recognition she said he deserved after being denied the honor. One of Meyer’s children works at Gustavus, but the college had no formal role in the proceedings other than host of the event. There were remarks from military/ROTC officials and area politicians, including Klobuchar. The ceremony took about an hour.
Meyer had shrapnel embedded in his leg during his stint in Korea. He was a U.S. Marine. The medic that helped him in the hospital with the embedded shrapnel in his leg said he’d help him get the Purple Heart. The medic is suspected to have died during the war. Klobuchar, drawing a personal comparison, said her own father went to Europe as an anticommunism propagandist during the Korean Conflict.
Conflicting Claims Made After Courtland Car Dealer Closes its Doors Olson Auto in Courtland has closed its business. The business is owned by Justin Olson. He did not provide a reason for the closure of the business, but said all the employees have been offered
other employment. He said some live too far for it to work but they are to keep about half the staff. It’s unclear how many employees are affected. However, according to reports, a previous employee
said all employees were terminated without notice, severance or further offers of employment. The Ledger has not yet confirmed either of these claims independently. Vehicles from the
car lot were received and loaded onto semi trailers hauled away by their respective tractor-trucks Wednesday morning, reportedly. Olson was leasing the dealership lot space and building.
Saint Peter School Board Adjusts to New Economic Reality Hard Decisions on ‘24-25 Budget, Future Uncertain After That The Saint Peter School Board held by the district for the 2024-2025 a special meeting April 29, where school year. they approved a plan to address a Teachers and staff cuts were $2.2 million budget deficit predicted among the difficult choices made by
the board for the district. That includ- principal roles at South Elementary ed the reduction of one full-time and and Oshawa Learning Academy. part-time position. Two staff posiThis plan only adjusts the budget tions were also axed and so were the for the 2024-2025 school year. That
means the district will still need to prepare for further down the road as more uncertainty plagues the economy in just about every sector.
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