5 stories you might have missed from the weekend

Andrew Link, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·3 min read

Apr. 12—Winona County dairy farmer packs up and leaves with 245 cows: 'We're not able to grow anymore'

With a big portion of his herd packed into livestock trailers, Parker Byington said goodbye to Winona County Thursday, looking forward to what he hopes are more welcoming pastures in Colorado.

Byington, who until recently milked 660 head of cattle at his farm south of Lewiston on Interstate 90 and Wabasha County Road 14, loaded 245 cows onto eight trailers and hauled the animals to their new home out west.

"We are moving west to further our career in dairy there," Byington said. "With the current regulations (in Winona County), we're not able to grow anymore."

Read the full story by Brian Todd here.

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Ring season: Hayfield makes history with first Class A state title

Chris Pack threw his hands up in the air and let out his first big smile of the game.

Ethan Slaathaug jumped into his head coach's arms for a huge bearhug.

Hayfield has done it.

The Vikings are the Class A boys basketball state champions.

Read the full story by Isaac Trotter here.

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Community and coffee: Popular Fiddlehead owner sees hope amid health battle

Like many business owners, Patrick Phelan and his sister-in-law Sarah Phelan struggled to keep their two Fiddlehead Coffee Co. shops afloat during the pandemic. But they did it.

The co-owners and a core staff worked hundreds of hours and added coffee bean delivery to keep their Kutzky Park cafe open while temporarily shutting the doors of their main location at 412 Third Ave. SE.

By November, Patrick Phelan was tired, though he felt relieved to make it through 2020 relatively unscathed and with his dream business still in business.

Read the full story by Jeff Kiger here.

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FBI arrests Rochester woman for Capitol riot involvement

A 39-year-old Rochester woman was arrested Thursday morning for her alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 chaos at the U.S. Capitol.

Victoria C. White was arrested by FBI Minneapolis special agents on "charges relating to criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021," the FBI announced.

The charges include violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, impeding or attempting to impede law enforcement officers, and obstruction of justice/Congress.

Read the full story by Emily Cutts here.

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What happens when everyone who wants a vaccine has it?

With all employees of Mayo Clinic having been offered vaccination for COVID-19, over 40,000 or 75% of the system's Midwest employees have received the shots, but that acceptance rate differs by position.

Over 80% of staff on site in Rochester have been vaccinated, Mayo Clinic Covid-19 vaccination program co-director Dr. Melanie Swift said during a news conference on Thursday, April 8. Swift added that at this time, just 65% of those who work remotely have said they plan to become vaccinated, however.

Half of that remote staff have now received the first of their shots, Mayo has vaccinated over 93,000 patients, and remote staff were only recently made eligible. Also, the clinic "continues to prioritize vaccination for high-risk patients," Swift said.

Read the full story by Paul John Scott here.

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