The Hastings Star-Gazette : Hastings http://www.hastingsstargazette.com The Hastings Star Gazette serves Hastings. MN and surrounding communities with local news, sports, classifieds and community information. http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/gfx/masthead/masthead_logo.gif The Hastings Star-Gazette http://www.hastingsstargazette.com Scharfe says false tickets result of vision problems http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17318 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17318 Former Hastings Police Sergeant Valerie Scharfe is refuting charges that she intentionally filed false traffic warning tickets. Scharfe said the alleged discrepancies were the result of vision problems she was suffering from, which were side effects from medication she was taking to deal with what she called a hostile work environment at the department. Former HPD sergeant charged http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17276 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17276 Hastings Police Sgt. Valerie Scharfe, who resigned from the department in January, was charged Tuesday with misconduct of a public officer – making false documents – for allegedly filing fake traffic warning tickets. UPDATED: Motorcyclist injured in crash http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17289 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17289 Las Margaritas and Los Jimadores owner Hector Leo Castro, 34, Hastings, was injured last week in a motorcycle accident on Wyndam Hills Drive. City’s share for walls is $250,000 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17280 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17280 The city has taken some criticism over a plan to spend more than $250,000 to replace the crumbling historic walls along Vermillion Street between Sixth and Ninth streets. A closer look at the numbers reveals, however, that the city is spending about the same to fix the walls and keep their historic nature, as it would if it replaced them with a modern, standard retaining wall. Council takes step toward moratorium on adult uses http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17275 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17275 Much to the delight of the more than 40 businesses who opposed an ordinance change that would have allowed strip clubs and adult bookstores into the Hastings Business and Industrial Park, the Hastings City Council took the first step Monday night to placing another one year moratorium on adult use businesses in the city. Construction begins on 36-unit apartment building http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17278 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17278 Last summer, the Hastings City Council approved a site plan for a 36-unit apartment building on the corner of West 31st Street and County Road 46.Paul Siewert of Siewert Construction, the company who owns the property, said crews began work on the foundation about two weeks ago. Ravenna Township election decided by one vote; write-in candidate wins in Hampton http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17225 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17225 One vote can make a difference. It did Tuesday. In the annual township election in Ravenna Township, former clerk-treasurer Barb Kienberger won election over incumbent Peg Smith by a 53 to 52 vote total. The third candidate, Mindy Bond, had 42 votes. Bill aims to ID problem bridges http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17279 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17279 A bill has been introduced at the state capitol that would put color-coded signs on Minnesota’s worst bridges in an effort to educate Minnesota drivers about the condition of the bridges they use every day. ‘Tis the season http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17277 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17277 The Easter bunny (a close friend of Katie Zuzek) greets two new friends at the annual Rivertown Lions Club of Hastings Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School last Saturday. Eleanor Hunter http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=6954 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=6954 Eleanor M. Hunter of Hastings, a homemaker, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003. She was 82 years old. Editorial: Walls won’t cost city more, but residents will still pay http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17282 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17282 A few months ago, we wrote an editorial critical of the city’s desire to preserve the historic nature of several retaining walls near Vermillion Street. The walls are falling apart and will be repaired this summer. Zeien earns All-American honors http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17292 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17292 Hastings native Nick Zeien, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, earned NCAA Division III All-American honors while running for the men’s track and field team. Boys Basketball: Raiders season ends in sections at Mayo http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17293 http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=17293 The Hastings High School boys basketball team and Rochester Mayo senior Alex Benson had something in common last Wednesday night. Both reached double figures in the first half. But it was Benson who had the upper hand.