Wabasha County

Tributes, grief after boating accident claims three lives, including two Wabasha firefighters

Jul 15, 2026

Authorities have identified the three boaters killed when the pontoon they were on reportedly collided with a barge on Saturday, July 11. They are: Ashley Monson, 37, of Wabasha; Manuel De Angel-Sola, 52, of Wabasha; and Nicholas Loechler, 46 of Wabasha. De Angel-Sola and Loechler were members of...

Wabasha County Board appoints Jason Bade interim chief sheriff’s deputy

Jul 1, 2026

Wabasha County Commissioners on June 16 approved the appointment of Jason Bade as interim chief deputy sheriff. Bade succeeds Curt Struwe, who was appointed Sheriff after longtime Sheriff Rodney Bartsh retired on May 31 after 24 years on the job. Struwe will serve until a new sheriff is sworn in...

Wabasha County’s 2027 budget process begins

Jun 17, 2026

Wabasha County Finance Director Gwen Bruegger discussed the 2027 budget process and provided a budget “kick-off” and overview presentation during the County Board meeting on June 2. She said capital budget requests for 2027 highway projects began May 6 and ended May 26, but a few more requests are...

Project will remove 47,000 cubic yards of rock to improve visibility

Jun 17, 2026

Traffic along U.S. Hwy. 63 south of Lake City is in the midst of a monthlong detour as a portion of bluff is removed to improve safety at the intersection of Hwy. 63 and Wabasha County Hwy. 15. “The project purpose is to improve safety through lengthening sight distance at the intersection of...

Updated: Candidates file for city, county offices

Jun 3, 2026

With local elections fast approaching, eyes are on several open offices throughout Wabasha and Goodhue Counties, as well as Lake City’s City Council. This issue of the Graphic went to press Tuesday, June 2, before the filing deadline of June 2 at 5 p.m. Additional candidates will appear in the...

A new mental health resource for Wabasha County

May 6, 2026

Did you know that there is a new confidential, anonymous, available 24/7 mental health resource available to the Wabasha County community? Wabasha County has partnered with CredibleMind, a free digital platform available 24/7, to help answer questions related to mental health, substance use,...

Bridge repair in Hammond planned

May 6, 2026

Bridge repair work on Wabasha County Hwy. 11 bridge over the Zumbro River in Hammond was scheduled to begin approximately Wednesday, May 6, according the Wabasha County Highway Department. County Hwy. 11 will be reduced to one lane of traffic during the bridge work. Traffic delays should be...

Sheriff to retire effective May 31

Apr 22, 2026

Wabasha County Sheriff Rodney Bartsh, who had planned to retire in December after nearly 40 years in law enforcement, said he has chosen instead to retire on May 31. Bartsh announced on Feb. 26 that he would not seek a fifth term in November. He has served as sheriff since 2002. He will have...

Wabasha County Board hears spongy moth management presentation at March 3 meeting

Mar 18, 2026

Wabasha County Commissioners on March 3 heard a presentation regarding proposed 2026 management of Spongy Moth, an invasive insect which defoliates forests, feeding on more than 300 species of trees and shrubs. John Larsen, Spongy Moth Treatment Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of...

Wabasha County Sheriff: Bartsh announces retirement, Bade announces candidacy

Mar 4, 2026

The two leading candidates for Wabasha County Sheriff in 2022 both made announcements releated to the 2026 election, but a rematch appears unlikely. Sheriff Rodney Bartsh has announced that he won’t seek another term. Jason Bade announced Monday that he would again be running for sheriff. “Public...