Welcome to our new and improved web site.
Please click on the logo of the newspaper you would like to read.

The Prairie Dunes neighborhood is located just east of the Grey Cloud Dunes SNA and south of NorthPoint in southwest Cottage Grove.

Cottage Grove City Council approve street assessments

The Cottage Grove City Council addressed a wide range of municipal business at its Wednesday, Oct. 7 meeting, with major items including special assessments for street improvements, the next phase of …

Park High School principal sees destination school future

For new Park High School Principal Brian Boothe, leading the Cottage Grove school represents more than a professional milestone. It is an opportunity to serve a community with deep family connections …

Hastings Journal 2026 Election Voter Guide part 1

Editor's note: The Hastings Journal invited all candidates in the races featured in this voter guide to answer questions about issues affecting Hastings and the surrounding communities. Candidates in …

Isabella Stagno earns Rotary Student of the Month honors for service and quiet leadership

For Hastings High School senior Isabella Stagno, making a difference does not always mean standing in front of a crowd or being the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it means decorating a …
Nov. 3 Mid-Term Election coverage

State ballot choices set for Nov. 3

The fall general election arrives in earnest Tuesday, Nov. 3. With early in person voting now in progress, these are the ballot candidates for state executive and legislative branch races. …

Community brings Halloween festival dream to life

ELLSWORTH – The Haunted Fairgrounds Festival scheduled for 2-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Pierce County Fairgrounds, hosted by The Witch on West Warner, has grown bigger than the organizers ever thought …
Reverend Amanda Sampey blessing Gracie.

Annual Blessing of the Pets held at St. Katherine’s

The 4th Annual Blessing of the Pets was held at St. Katherine’s Church on Sunday, October 11 after church services. Priest Amanda Sampey said we should give thanks for our pets; they are there for …

Ribbon Cutting held at Joyful Journeys

Joyful Journeys held an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 8. The facility is located at 104 N. Boardman Street in Thorp and plans to be a place where senior citizens can …
Bonus, web-only content

4 Tips for Efficient EV Charging at Home

(Feature Impact) Your car has one job - to take you where you need to go. For electric vehicle (EV) owners, that means keeping it charged so it's ready to hit the road when you are. Charging your car at home is convenient and cost-effective, especially if you have the right equipment and routines.

Reduce Home Fire Risks: 5 Items to Avoid Plugging into Power Strips

(Feature Impact) Power strips make it easy to add outlets where families need them, but they aren't designed to handle every appliance in the home. Plugging certain high-powered appliances into a power strip can overload it, potentially causing overheating and increasing the risk of an electrical fire.

How to Manage Symptoms of Heart Failure

(Feature Impact) Managing heart failure is a significant expense to the U.S. healthcare system, costing the nation approximately $40 billion in 2020 and expected to increase to approximately $142 billion a year by 2050. If you (or a loved one) are living with the condition, consider these tips to help manage it.

Self-Employed and Can’t Get a Mortgage? The Loan Type May Be the Problem

Many self-employed borrowers who are told they do not qualify for a mortgage are not actually unqualified. They are applying through a loan type that measures income in a way that works against them. …

Massachusetts Appraisal Rules Change in November. Buyers Who Wait to Prepare Will Lose Deals.

Most Massachusetts homebuyers will not think about new appraisal rules until those rules delay their closing. By then, according to Colleen Barry of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, the …

A Seller’s Strongest Negotiating Position in Fairfield County, CT Starts Before the First Showing

The Fairfield County, Connecticut housing market heading into fall 2026 doesn’t fit neatly into a single headline. Some homes are drawing multiple offers above asking. Others, in the same county …