Chris Hahn

        The Spring Valley 100 Gravel Bike Race will be returning to Spring Valley on June 5th! The Spring Valley 100 Gravel Race is a free to the public, self-supported gravel race through southeastern Minnesota’s beautiful rolling hills. The event starts in downtown Spring Valley at 8:00 AM. This event will take place as part of the City’s Summer Music in the Park kickoff event. Food vendors (food for purchase) and live music will be available in Spring Creek Park as riders roll into town!

        All participants in the Spring Valley 100 must register for the event and submit an Event Release/Waiver of Liability. On-site registration will be available at City Hall , 201  S. Broadway in Spring Valley,  on Friday, June 4th from 4:00-7:00 PM and the morning of the race from 6:30-7:30 AM.   Participants are urged to register for the event online at the below link

        All participants must also agree to abide by the most up-to-date Center for Disease Control (CDC) ‘s recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing, and will need to attest to having read the CDC’s guidance provided on the registration page.

Rules:

• The Spring Valley 100 is a self-supported race. You are responsible for yourself.
• Be a good citizen. Share the road. Police your own debris.
• All riders must wear a helmet; gloves are highly encouraged.
• We strongly discourage any chase vehicles from driving on the course during the event.
• No support vehicles following riders; absolutely no hand-up support is allowed; this is for all riders’ safety and enjoyment.
• The race takes place on open roads; all Minnesota road laws apply to all cyclists on the course.

        For more information or questions about the Spring Valley 100 Gravel Race, the route, or equipment, please contact Paul Vogel at Pvogel3634@aol.com or call 440-829-2652.

        Participants are encouraged to REGISTER HERE

        We’ll provide the start and finish lines; the adventure in between is all you!

           No matter where you are from, walking into Southland Auto and Diesel in Spring Valley, MN, is like walking into any auto repair shop in your hometown. The new facility in the Spring Valley Industrial Park is the second home for the business in the last ten years, recently expanding from a smaller shop in town.   The building may be new, but the original small town, friendly atmosphere, complete with a canine greeter named “Jet”, makes you realize that this isn’t just a business; it’s an integral part of the community.

           For owner Isaac Hurst, that’s precisely the way it should be! Growing up in a small town in Tennessee, he will tell you that the “small-town community feel” is part of what makes Spring Valley the perfect place to live and work. “I can drive around town and wave to everyone I pass on the street because they are part of our community. I know most of my customers and their families because we build those relationships. The goal is to gain a customer for life,” he says, then adding with a smile, “or at least until they move too far away to come back.” 

           Founded in 2010, Hurst started out with one goal, to sell used cars. With a background in auto repair, Hurst explains that his plan was to buy vehicles, fix them and sell them; that was it. Luckily for Hurst, it didn’t stay that simple. “People started asking if I could work on their other vehicles,” says Hurst, “and 10 years later, here we are.”

          Southland Auto and Diesel continues to grow and expand its’ services. Asked if Southland Auto and Diesel has a specialty, Hurst admits that his team has a pretty broad skill set. The shop currently offers services on anything from electrical diagnostics and oil changes to advanced projects like aftermarket intakes, exhausts and, more recently, suspension systems as a Rough Country Suspension System authorized dealer. He adds that the shop has also started to take on more custom work, including older vehicles. A quick glance out the office window reveals a conspicuously bright yellow 1967 Pontiac Firebird sitting in a line of cars and trucks. When asked about it, Hurst grins, saying, “yeah, we’re gonna do some work on that. It hasn’t run in 20 years. I am sure it has some sort of built motor in it the way it looks.”

           Faced with the need to expand several years ago, Hurst admits that he never considered leaving Spring Valley. “The Spring Valley community has treated us well and taken care of us. Our kids are in school here. I volunteer on the Fire Department,” adding that, “We have always tried to give back to the community, and in turn, the community has helped us succeed.”   Talking about the business environment, he states that the Spring Valley City Council and Spring Valley EDA have always been welcoming, open to new ideas, and willing to work with the business as it grows.

           When asked what makes Spring Valley special, Hurst says, “Spring Valley is a place where people are willing to invest their time and energy on community activities and events that a lot of other towns don’t have,” giving examples like the annual Fins and Films, festival and Spring Valley’s Ag Days, the annual week-long celebration each July. As a business owner, he understands that having a successful business is important and acknowledges that money isn’t everything.   “Being able to contribute to the lives of my employees and help them grow and succeed has been rewarding.”

           As for the future of Southland Auto & Diesel, it looks bright. “We just keep growing every year,” says Hurst. Southland Auto and Diesel currently employs 4 full-time mechanics (and one canine greeter) and admits that he will need to hire an additional mechanic sooner than later.

           Asked what he would tell businesses looking to move or expand to Spring Valley, he offers his success along with other local businesses as proof that the Spring Valley community is inviting to new businesses and ideas. “You don’t need to leave Spring Valley for things like groceries, auto repair, hardware, and other services,” he says.  “We have a lot of good job opportunities for all skill sets, from retail to manufacturing and others.”

           For Isaac Hurst and Southland Auto and Diesel, it really is all about Community!

Minnesota Launches Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector:

• This new tool helps Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
• The tool connects Minnesotans to a vaccine opportunity near them — no matter where they live or personal circumstances.
• Signing up for the Vaccine Connector is easy, safe, and secure
• All Minnesotans should sign up, no matter their current eligibility status
• When Minnesotans become eligible, the Vaccine Connector will:
• -Alert them of their eligibility
• -Connect them to resources to schedule an appointment
• -Notifies them if there are vaccination opportunities in their area.
• Learn more and register here: https://mn.gov/vaccineconnector
• Spring Valley residents may also contact Hy-Vee Pharmacy for information and availability at (507) 346-7273 or visit: Get Your COVID Vaccine at Select Hy-Vee Pharmacy Locations (hy-vee.com)

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Update: 

• Beginning Wednesday, February 24th, 2021, PPP loans will be restricted to small businesses with fewer than 20 employees and sole proprietorships.
• This restriction will last for 14 days, through March 10, 2021
• This change comes from the Biden Administration (announced February 22nd)
•  According to the release, the change “will give lenders and community partners more time to work with the smallest businesses to submit their applications, while also ensuring that larger PPP-eligible businesses will still have plenty of time to apply for and receive support before the program expires on March 31, 2021.”
• Learn more here: Paycheck Protection Program (sba.gov)

 

Parents: Rick and Jodi Buchholtz

School Activities: In school, I participate in many activities including volleyball, basketball, track and field, Student Council and National Honor Society.

Activitie​s/W​ork Outside of School: Outside of school, I am involved in various activities within my church such as helping with church dinners. I also help coach park and rec basketball and volleyball. I also work at Ace Hardware in Spring Valley on the weekends.

Favorite Class, and why? My favorite class in school is anatomy and physiology because I love learning about the human body and its functions.

Why is a Solid Education Important? A solid education is important for many reasons. One reason being is it opens up a variety of jobs and opportunities after school. A solid education also teaches one important life skills such as time management, responsibility and dedication.

 Immediate Plans After High School Graduation: After high school, I plan on attending Winona State University and majoring in nursing. As of now, my plan is to attend Winona for the prerequisites needed for the program then transfer to the program through Rochester.

Long-term Plans​/G​oals: My long term plan is to attend Winona State for nursing and hopefully end up working at Mayo Clinic once I am graduated. My dream job would be to work on a cardiovascular ICU or work on a labor and delivery unit.

Note: The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club annually recognizes the top academic performers at Kingsland High School. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the plans to honor the students in person are still unknown. Typically, they attend a meeting of Kiwanis with their parents for recognition.

The following announcement is reprinted from the LeRoy City Lines Official Website, February 15, 2021   

        After nearly a yearlong suspension of our commuter service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our buses will roll again beginning March 1. In a world in which people are increasingly working from home, commuter habits are changing, and so is our commuter transportation model.

        Join us, as we continue to serve the communities of Le Roy and Chester, IA and are now also welcoming passengers aboard in Spring Valley. We are excited to stop at Sunshine Foods each weekday morning and evening.

        Currently, we are offering one morning and afternoon stop in these communities. We hope to expand this service, as we grow our driver team. If you know of anyone interested in becoming a driver, please refer them to us. We would love to expand our team!

        Last fall, Mayo Clinic announced the discontinuation of its commuter bus subsidy. That means our fare structure will be the same for all riders. We know this means a fare increase for most of you. Please know, we did not add any additional increases, because we know this is a major adjustment for you.

       Lastly, a quick word about keeping you and our drivers safe during the pandemic. We require masking on the bus at all times with no exceptions. We also very strongly recommend social distancing on the bus, and certain seats will be blocked off. Our drivers will closely monitor capacity to help keep you safe. Our buses are cleaned daily with a special sanitizing fogger, in addition to other cleaning routines. We do not require a COVID-19 vaccination for you to be able to ride with us. However, if you feel ill in any way, we ask that you take a break from riding until you are healthy again.

        We have done a lot of research and homework to provide you with a safe and comfortable ride and are ready to serve you again. But you still may have questions. Please feel free to reach out to us at info@leroycitylines.com, or visit our LeRoy City Lines website for route schedules and additional information.  We are happy to connect with you to ease any concerns and provide you with the information you need.

        Welcome aboard!

-Le Roy Economic Development Authority

        Cold, snowy Minnesota winters may not be for everyone, but it doesn’t get much better for Snowmobilers! The Tri-County Trailblazers Snowmobile Club of Spring Valley, MN, will be hosting its 3rd Annual Snowmobile Fun Day on February 20th. The event is free to the public, and all ages are welcome. “We really want to show people what the sport is all about, how much fun it is, and showcase the great community of people that snowmobiling brings together,” says Tyler Himle, Tri-County Trailblazer Club member.

         Snowmobile Fun Day usually occurs on the third Saturday each February and starts at 11:00 AM in the east parking lot of Five Wynds Event Center on Highway 63 in northeast Spring Valley, just off the snowmobile trail. Five Wynds Event Center supports the event each year by donating their parking lot for the event. Racks Bar and Grill, another club supporter, is located right next door, and with miles of snow-covered trails, the location provides the perfect base of operations for the club’s event.

        The Tri-County Trailblazers annual event includes activities for riders and non-riders of all ages. The morning features an antique snowmobile show that attracts some very unique snowmobiles from all over southeast Minnesota. The exhibition provides an excellent way for attendees to explore snowmobiling history in person and learn more about how the modern snowmobiles have evolved from Joseph-Armand Bombardier’s “over-snow vehicle” in 1922 into the state of art “sleds” we have today.

        The afternoon is all about actively enjoying the sport of snowmobiling. There are various competitions, including a snow-cross course, where riders can show off their skills and earn bragging rights. A group ride to the neighboring community of Ostrander, just seven miles away, takes riders over the field and through the woods to The Wolf’s Den and Susie’s Roadhouse, two local establishments who also support the Tri-County Trailblazer’s Club. Here the riders can warm-up, grab a bite and swap stories. The event concludes with the presentation of awards and drawings for door prizes donated by local businesses.

        The event continues to draw more attendees each year, from veteran snowmobilers who have been riding their whole lives to beginners who may only be in their first year of riding. Even people who do not snowmobile make their way to the event to see the wide variety of snowmobiles, watch the competitions, and participate in this fun winter community activity.

        Founded in 1993, the Tri-County Trailblazers currently maintain over 90 miles of snowmobile trail near Spring Valley and in the surrounding area. Event attendees are encouraged to attend a Tri-County Trailblazer club meeting, learn more about what the club is all about, and consider joining. “One thing we always say is, snowmobile trails don’t just happen.” Says Troy Lange, Tri-County Trailblazer Club President, “Many people probably don’t understand all the work that goes into the snowmobile trails around us. There is a lot of time spent putting in trails sign, taking them out after the season, clearing trails or creating new routes, grooming the trails, and much more.”

        To learn more about the Tri-County Trailblazer’s Snowmobile Club and this year’s event, visit the Tri-County Trailblazers Facebook page, or check the events calendar on the Spring Valley EDA website. People interested in attending this year’s event may also contact the club via email at tri-countytrailblazers@hotmail.com or by phone at 507-696-0199 for more details.