--The city of St. Peter has a population of approximately 10,000 people.  The mayor is Tim Strand.

 

--The St. Peter Fire Department was one of twelve fire departments to receive grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  St. Peter received over $170,000 they will use the grant to purchase a new rescue vehicle.

 

--St. Peter High School student Emily Jansen took 1^st place in the story telling category at the Minnesota Class A State Speech tournament this past year.

 

--St. Peter resident Kelsey Anderson was named one of the 2008 Nicollet Dairy Princesses.

 

--The St. Peter High School All-school Reunion Committee recently announced the members of the first ever induction class for the St. Peter High School Hall of Fame.  The members include General William Nutter, William Wettergren, Lyle Pearson, Sam Gault, John Annexstad, James McPherson, Al Annexstad,  Mark Davis, Richard Steppel, Vikki Davis, William Brekke, and William Harvey. 

 

--This past April the Gustavus Forensics team earned a top 20 national ranking for the second consecutive year.  Gustavus senior Brittany Lovdahl was also named to the All-American team.

 

--Paul Stetler of St. Peter was appointed by Governor Pawlenty to the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board.  He is 1 of 6 new appointees to the board, his term will expire in January 2010

 

--Gustavus Adolphus College received a $1-million grant from the Howard Hughes Institute this past year.  Gustavus was 1 of 48 institutions to receive a grant.  The grant will go towards a variety of programs.

 

--The city of St. Peter hosted the “Polar Bear Plunge” this past February.  The event raises money for Minnesota Special Olympics.  This is the second year the plunge has taken place in St. Peter.  Sheriff Dave Lange helped organize the event, he says it’s a good time that’s for a good cause.

Last years event raised over $27,000 for the Special Olympics.

 

--The St. Peter Habitat for Humanity dedicated another house this past February.  The new homeowners were ST. Peter residents Josh Robb and Amy Hoffman.  The family and volunteers from Habitat for Humanity completed more than 500 hours of labor to complete the house.

 

--The 4^th annual St. Peter Winterfest took place this past February.  St. Peter Administrator Todd Praffke says that WinterFest is intended to help liven up the long winter. Winterfest had many different activities and events.

 

--St. Peter resident Ashley Loken was on the famous tv show Family Feud.  Loken and her family members won the show and advanced to the “Fast Money” round.  The episode aired this past January.

 

--This past year the St. Peter Community Hospital changed its name to the River’s Edge Hospital and Clinic.  The change is being made to enable the hospital and clinic to share the same name due to the Medicare reimbursement regulations.  The clinic will be a brand new 14,000 square foot facility that should be ready sometime in the year 2009.

 

--The ST. Peter School District was awarded the District Award of Distinction.  The award recognizes the outstanding achievement of the Superintendent and the School board.    

 

--Gretchen Taylor was hired this past fall as the new “Volunteer Coordinator” in St. Peter. Taylor has done a number of different jobs for the St. Peter Recreation Department in the past.

 

--Christine Olmanson and her horse Tag, competed in the 2008 National Reining horse Association North American Affiliate Championships in Oklahoma City this past December.  Olmanson competed in the Rookie division.

 

--A St. Peter candy store, Laura’s Candy was featured on the Food Networks show “Road Tasted with the Neely’s”.  The show aired on July 22^nd, this past year.

 

--Gustavus Adolphus College has once again been ranked as one of the top colleges by Princeton’s Review’s college ranking guidebook.  Gustavus’s cafeteria was also ranked as the 10^th best food out of any college or university in the Nation.

 

--This past year the Konsbuck building in ST. Peter became the new home of Richard’s Restaurant and Pub.  The upscale restaurant also has 5 luxury hotel suites upstairs. 

 

--Former St. Peter High School basketball standout Megan Vogel signed a contract to play professional basketball over in Germany.  Vogel was a for year starter at South Dakota State University where she then got drafted by the Washington Mystics of the WNBA. 

 

-- Mary Mogensen, a nurse for the St. Peter School District was awarded the Golden Apple Award from KEYC-TV this past fall.  Mogensen  has worked for the district for over 25 years, besides being a nurse she also teaches students about nutrition and healthy living.

--The St. Peter School District hired two new administrators for the school year.  Rachel Larson was named the Dean of Students at the high school, and Annette Engeldinger takes over as the Dean of Students at the middle school. 

 

--St. Peter high school crowned its 2008 homecoming king and queen this past fall.  Megan Wenner was named Queen and Trent Johnson was named the King. 

 

--Gustavus received a large endowment from Reverend Drell and Adeline Dekko Bernhardson towards the Nobel Conference that takes place every year at Gustavus.  The Conference is in its 44^th year of existence at Gustavus.

 

--This past fall, Jack Ohle became the 15^th president in Gustavus History.  Ohle was inaugurated at the college’s homecoming festivities this past October.

 

--Gustavus history and Scandinavian studies professor Byron Nordstrom was recently honored by the Swedish king Carl 16 Gustaf.  Nordstrom was awarded the insignia of Commander in the Royal Order of the Polar Star.  The award is given to a non-Swedish citizen who contributes to Sweden’s relationships between other countries.