Artspace visits Hastings, conducts feasibility study

The door has been opened for a new art-centered development in Hastings. Last week, representatives from Artspace, a non-profit arts development organization, came to Hastings to look at several properties that could potentially be renovated into usable art and artists’ space.

For 44 years, brothers have hit the water

When the youngest of Frank and Grace Carlson’s 11 children was just six months old, tragedy struck. Frank died, leaving his wife behind to care for their children on their farm five miles south of Hastings.

• Brothers
• Poker

Three school board members’ terms are up this year

There are no city or county elections impacting Hastings residents this year, but there will be a school election this November.

United Way changes leadership

For the past 11 years, Tara Donohue Weiss has led the United Way of Hastings as its executive director, guiding it through years of changes and helping it become an organization that’s truly focused on the community.

• Tara Donohue Weiss

Two structure fires reported over the weekend

Hastings firefighters kept busy over the weekend, responding to numerous medical situations and two structure fires within 24 hours.

Afton man killed in boat crash on St. Croix River

An Afton man was killed Wednesday in a boat crash on the St. Croix River. According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, David Joseph Riley, 40, was killed and two others were injured in the crash.

Schnell in the running to be Maplewood chief

Hastings Chief of Police Paul Schnell is one of three finalists to be the new police chief at the Maplewood Police Department.

Hastings boys golf team qualifies for state meet

The Hastings boys golf team qualified for the state tournament by winning the section meet on Friday at Bunker Hills. Hastings beat East Ridge by two shots.

Work begins on Las Margaritas expansion

Work is officially under way for the new addition to Las Margaritas. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday morning to commemorate the event. The addition will more than double the restaurant’s existing space, bringing its total capacity to 186.

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History repeating itself for Butch Kane: Hastings man stood in front row for ribbon-cutting to open bridge in 1951

Next week, when one lane in each direction is routed onto the new Highway 61 bridge in Hastings, you’d better believe you’ll find Butch Kane standing by. History will repeat itself.

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Dick Darsow, prominent volunteer and historian in Hastings, passes away

Well known city of Hastings historian and volunteer Dick Darsow died May 30. He was 86 years old.

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Editorial: Picnic thrown by Haley, Duffs, was a kind gesture

This week we applaud Haley Comfort Systems and Duff’s Meats 2 for going out of their way to thank the hard working construction crews by throwing a picnic for them on Tuesday.

Letter: The path our state is on is destructive

The voters of Minnesota should be very concerned. Our legislature recently passed one of the largest tax increases in Minnesota history.

Letter: HPAAC keeps working hard to foster the arts

Last week, the Hastings Prescott Area Arts Council (HPAAC) hosted a two-day conversation addressing the role of the arts in a community’s civic life and economic development.

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If you have a story idea for the Hastings Star Gazette, or know of something that happened here that should be covered, please send us a note by clicking the contact form link below.

• Contact form

Two school records fall at state track meet

The Hastings boys track and field team made up for lost time at this weekend’s state meet at Hamline University. The past two seasons, Hastings didn’t qualify an athlete for the big meet. This year, seven athletes competed in four events, and two school records fell along the way.

• Zack Benning
• Mark Vaith
• Jesse Green
• Joe Rabaey

Hawks go 1-3 over four games

The Hastings Hawks had a difficult schedule of games this past week as the team went 1-3 in their past four games. On Wednesday the River Falls Fighting Fish hit the road for the border battle.