Winona Chronicle

Your Window to the Bluffs Since 2026

Winona, Minnesota

Author: info_a410wqzr

  • Saint Mary’s University Launches New Environmental Science Center

    Saint Mary’s University has officially opened its new $22 million Environmental Science and Sustainability Center, a state-of-the-art research and teaching facility perched on the bluffs overlooking the Winona campus.

    The 35,000-square-foot building features water quality testing laboratories, a GIS mapping center, greenhouse research space, and a living green roof that serves as both an insulation system and an outdoor classroom. Large windows throughout the building frame views of the Mississippi River valley below.

    “Our location in the Driftless Region gives students access to one of the most biodiverse landscapes in the Upper Midwest,” said center director Dr. Maria Santos. “This building allows us to study it at a level that wasn’t possible before.”

    The center will partner with local organizations on community science projects, including water quality monitoring on the Mississippi and bluff prairie restoration research. Public lecture series begin in September.

  • Steamboat Days Festival Announces 2026 Headliner and River Events

    Winona Steamboat Days has announced its 2026 lineup, with country star Luke Combs headlining Saturday night and a new Mississippi River dragon boat race adding to the festival’s growing list of waterfront attractions.

    The five-day festival, running June 17-21 along Levee Park and the downtown riverfront, will also feature the beloved Grande Parade, the Captain’s Ball, carnival rides, a craft beer garden with 20 regional breweries, and expanded food vendor options including a dedicated Polish food village.

    The dragon boat race — a first for Steamboat Days — will feature 20-person teams paddling decorated longboats on a 250-meter course on the Mississippi. Early team registration has already filled to capacity.

    “Steamboat Days connects Winona to its river heritage,” said festival chair Mike Pronschinske. “Every year we look for new ways to celebrate that connection.” Full schedule and tickets at winonasteamboatdays.com.

  • Letter to the Editor: In Praise of Winona’s Library System

    Dear Editor,

    In an age when public institutions face constant budget pressure, I want to celebrate one that consistently exceeds expectations: the Winona Public Library.

    Last month alone, the library hosted a coding workshop for teens, a Medicare information session for seniors, an ESL conversation group, and a Saturday morning story hour that my granddaughter looks forward to all week. The staff know their patrons by name and go out of their way to help, whether it’s tracking down an obscure interlibrary loan or helping someone navigate an online job application.

    In a community our size, the library is more than a building full of books — it’s the great equalizer, offering every resident free access to knowledge, technology, and community. We should be proud of what we have, and we should fund it accordingly.

    Dorothy Kazmierczak, East Burns Valley

  • Editorial: Winona Must Protect Its Bluffs From Unchecked Development

    The bluffs that frame Winona are more than scenic backdrop. They are the defining feature of our community — the reason visitors come, the reason residents stay, and the ecological foundation of the Mississippi River valley ecosystem we all depend upon.

    Yet as development pressure increases along the bluff ridgelines in Winona County, our current zoning protections are proving inadequate. The recent proposal to build a 40-unit housing development on a blufftop overlooking Garvin Heights should alarm every resident who values what makes this place special.

    We are not opposed to growth. Winona needs housing, and we welcome thoughtful development. But blufftop construction carries irreversible consequences: disrupted water drainage patterns, habitat fragmentation, and the permanent alteration of viewsheds that belong to the entire community.

    We urge the County Board to adopt a comprehensive bluff overlay district that sets clear building setbacks, height limits, and impervious surface standards for ridgeline parcels. The bluffs are not renewable. Once they are developed, they are gone.

  • Winona Farmers Market Opens Season with Record Vendor Count

    The Winona Farmers Market opens its 2026 season this Saturday on the Levee Park grounds with a record 62 vendors — the largest lineup in the market’s 35-year history.

    New vendors this year include a Hmong flower farm from the Stockton Valley, an artisan cheese maker from Whitewater Township, and a wood-fired pizza operation using locally milled flour. Returning favorites include Keenan Family Farm’s heritage tomatoes and Bluff Ridge Apiary’s wildflower honey.

    “The demand for local food in the river valley keeps growing,” said market manager Jean Schultz. “We had a waiting list of vendors this year for the first time ever.”

    The market operates every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon, May through October. Live music begins at 9 a.m., and a new kids’ garden activity area will offer planting workshops throughout the season.

  • Historic Watkins Building Redevelopment Plan Unveiled

    A Minneapolis-based development group has unveiled plans to transform the historic J.R. Watkins Administration Building into a mixed-use complex featuring boutique hotel rooms, co-working space, a restaurant, and artisan retail — breathing new life into one of Winona’s most architecturally significant structures.

    The 1911 building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and known for its ornate terra cotta facade, has sat largely vacant for over a decade. The $18 million renovation would preserve the exterior while completely modernizing the interior.

    “Buildings like this don’t exist anywhere else,” said lead developer James Park. “The craftsmanship in this structure is extraordinary, and Winona deserves to see it brought back to its full glory.”

    The project requires approval from the Winona Heritage Preservation Commission and a zoning variance from the city. A public hearing is scheduled for April 15 at City Hall.

  • Sugar Loaf Bluff Trail Restoration Completed After Two-Year Effort

    The iconic Sugar Loaf Bluff trail system has officially reopened following a two-year, $1.8 million restoration effort that repaired erosion damage, improved safety features, and added new interpretive signage throughout the landmark’s network of hiking paths.

    The project, funded through a partnership between the City of Winona, the Minnesota DNR, and the Winona County Historical Society, addressed severe erosion on the north face trail and stabilized several sections with engineered stone steps and water management features.

    New additions include a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform at the 500-foot summit offering panoramic views of the Mississippi River valley, Latsch Island, and the Wisconsin bluffs beyond.

    “Sugar Loaf is Winona’s most recognizable landmark,” said Parks Director Tom Brogan. “This restoration ensures it will be here for future generations to enjoy.” The trails are open dawn to dusk year-round.

  • Bluff Country Co-op Breaks Ground on Expanded Community Market

    Bluff Country Co-op celebrated its long-awaited expansion Saturday with a groundbreaking ceremony on Second Street, where the beloved community-owned grocery will nearly double its retail space over the next 14 months.

    The $4.2 million project will add 6,000 square feet to the existing store, including an expanded produce section featuring more locally grown fruits and vegetables, a full-service deli with indoor seating, and a dedicated bulk foods aisle. A rooftop solar array will provide 40% of the building’s electricity.

    “This expansion belongs to our 3,800 member-owners,” said general manager Ruth Halverson. “They invested in this vision, and now it’s becoming real.”

    The co-op will remain open during construction, with temporary adjustments to the store layout. The expanded market is expected to open in summer 2027 and will create 15 new full-time positions.

  • Great River Shakespeare Festival Announces Landmark 20th Season

    The Great River Shakespeare Festival has unveiled its 20th anniversary season lineup, featuring three productions running in repertory from June through August at Winona State University’s Performing Arts Center.

    This summer’s slate includes “The Tempest,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” and a world premiere adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” set along the Mississippi River bluffs. The anniversary season will also feature special events including a gala celebration, talkback sessions with actors, and a free outdoor performance in Levee Park.

    Artistic director Claire Weissmann called the milestone season a testament to Winona’s cultural ambition. “Twenty years ago, a professional Shakespeare festival in a small Minnesota river town seemed like a dream. Today we’re one of the most respected regional Shakespeare companies in the country.”

    Season subscriptions are on sale now at grsf.org, with single tickets available starting May 1. Student rush tickets will be offered at every performance.

  • Winhawks Track and Field Dominates Big Nine Conference Meet

    Winona Senior High School’s track and field teams swept the Big Nine Conference championships Saturday at Winona’s Sieracki Field, with both the boys’ and girls’ squads claiming team titles in convincing fashion.

    The boys’ team was led by senior sprinter DeAndre Jackson, who won the 100-meter dash in 10.78 seconds and anchored the winning 4×100 relay. Junior distance runner Ella Bergmann took the girls’ 1600 and 3200 meter events in times that rank among the state’s best this season.

    “Winning conference on our home track is special,” said girls’ head coach Kim Wachholz. “These kids train on this track every day, and they showed the whole conference what Winona is about.”

    Both teams now turn their attention to the Section 1AA meet in two weeks, where top finishers will advance to the Minnesota State Championships in St. Paul.