News

Boone’s Market in Randall open and ready to welcome community

Monday, November 04, 2019

After being hungry for a grocery story for more than a year, Randall residents and those passing through, can have their fill. Adam Boone opened Boone’s Market in Randall, Friday, Oct. 25. In July, Boone purchased Gosch’s, the town’s grocery and meat market that had been a staple in town since 1902. It had been closed for more than a year. After a few months of challenges, Boone’s Market is finally open for business. The store has been cleaned from top to bottom and Boone has put his branding everywhere — on the walls, carts and aisle signs. His parents and siblings helpe...

Eastern Morrison County Sportsmen's Club rifle and trap range grows into favorite for sportsmen

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Eastern Morrison County Sportsmen's Club rifle and trap range is a hidden jewel on Highway 27 between Pierz and Little Falls. For 50-plus years, a little piece of land on Highway 27 has offered sportsmen a place to practice their shooting skills. In the 1960s, landowner Bumpy (Alcuin) Faust opened a 10-acre piece of his property to people who wanted to shoot trap on Sunday afternoons. Today, that piece of land, now expanded to 40 acres, is what members call a premier shooting range, due to all of the improvements made to the range over the years.

Starry Eyed Brewing Co. in Little Falls, MN

Monday, September 30, 2019

Tucked away in north Little Falls, just off the juncture of highways 371 and 10, exists a brewery that owes much of its existence to a woman named Dayna -- from its inception as a small birthday gift, to the name and logo emblazoned on its building today. It started as a home brewing kit for her husband Thomas Goebel, the current president, co-owner and head brewer at Starry Eyed. A lifelong beer lover, Goebel discovered he had quite the knack for brewing his own beer and it grew from there.

Sunflower field of dreams: Central MN business blooms

Thursday, September 05, 2019

From sunflower oil to microwave popcorn, Smude Enterprises LLC, a central Minnesota business in Pierz keeps growing. On a cloudy day, there's a bright spot in Pierz, Minn. 15 acres of sunflowers are in full bloom—one of the smaller fields connected to a central Minnesota business. "They've been blooming for about 10 days now so they're about halfway through now," said Tom Smude of Smude Enterprises. Tom and his wife, Jenni Smude, are the owners of Smude's Sunflower Oil and Smude's Natural Microwave Popcorn. Working with local growers, they have about 1,200 acres of sunflowers planted from Wadena to Wisconsin.

Barrett pet food company breaks ground for Little Falls facility

Thursday, August 15, 2019

The site of Brainerd area-based Barrett Petfood Innovations' expansion was bustling with activity and excitement when ground was broken Monday, Aug. 12, in Little Falls in Morrison County. “We’re expanding ... and the pet industry is -- as everyone knows -- that people love their pets,” Sarah Barrett said before the groundbreaking ceremony. “We’ve moved from pet owners to pet parents, and those are the people that we cater to.” Brother and sister Tom and Sarah Barrett are the managing directors of Barrett Petfood Innovations, which was founded by their father Mike. Barrett Petfood Innovations has been a global manufacturing partner sinc...

Pierz approves TIF District for RTO

Tuesday, June 04, 2019

The Pierz City Council approved a 26-year tax increment financing district (TIF) for RTO PA, a professional tax and accounting firm, Monday, after a public hearing was held RTO has purchased two lots with plans to build a new office. The two lots, located on 405 and 409 Main Street South (just a little north of Sue’s Drive In), require some demolition and clean-up, as an older home sits on one. Carol Anderson, executive director with Community Development of Morrison County, said with redevelopment of the two lots comes more costs. Demolition and possible cleanup is involved. She noted RTO would b...

A sunny future for Smude oil

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

The Smudes began their operation on their 160-acre farm, but outgrew the production space and moved it into Pierz. To meet the growing demand for their high oleic sunflower oil and popcorn, Smude Enterprises recently acquired a facility near their existing location. The new plant will help them expand from producing about 800,000 pounds of oil per year to 6 million pounds. The Smudes have 23 employees now and expect to add 10 more in the next year. The expansion provides an opportunity for other local farmers too.

The Gateway to the Northern Minnesota Vacationland

Morrison County, the gateway to the Northern Minnesota vacationland, is located 100 miles northwest of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Little more than a 90 minute drive via the four lane highway system. The area offers an abundance of wildlife, lakes, streams, snowmobiling and cross country ski trails. Beautiful parks and trails create endless opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation.