A Blooming Prairie man has been charged federally for sexually exploiting children outside of the United States. Announced by the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger, 61-year-old Steven John Sokel has been indicted with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. According to Luger’s office, Sokel appeared in U.S. District Court on April 19 and was ordered by Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing. According to court documents, Sokel aided and abetted other individuals in coercing three ..read more

The Austin boys golf team took second in the Rochester triangular Tuesday. Carter Hovelsrud led the Packers with an 82. Team standings: 1. Rochester Mayo 319; 2. Austin 336; 3. Rochester Century 340 Austin scoring: Carter Hovelsrud, 82; Cale Tupy, 84; Elijah Krueger, 85; Isaac Anderson, 85; Collin Berg, 94; Isaac Erickson, 95 The post Hovelsrud leads Packer golf team to second place finish appeared first on Austin Daily Herald ..read more

The Blooming Prairie baseball team beat New Richland-HEG 11-4 in New Richland Tuesday. Zack Hein struck out eight for BP (4-2 overall), while Alex Lea and Cael Braaten each drove in three runs. BP pitching: Zack Hein (W) 5 IP, 4 H, 5 BB, 2 ER, 8 K BP hitting: Carsten Ingvalson, 0-for-3, 2 BBs; Brady Kittelson, 3-for-4, 2 RBIs, 3 R, BB; Gabe Staloch, 1-for-3, R, 2 BBs; Alex Lea, 2-for-4, 3 RBIs, R; Cael Braaten, 1-for-3, 3 RBIs; Carter Bishop, 1-for-4, R; Dylan Anderson, 0-for-4, R; Zack Hein, 1-for-4, 2 R The post Blooming Prairie baseball team overpowers NRHEG appeared first on Austin Daily H ..read more

The Austin boys tennis team stepped up when it mattered to beat Fairmount 5-2 on the road Tuesday. The doubles teams of Samuel Mata and Gavin Matyas and Timothy Perez and Marcos Castro, and singles player Lucas Rust all won in three sets to give the Packers (2-5 overall) the win. “We were up early 3-1 but the three matches left on court all went three sets and it could have gone either way,” Austin head coach Jeff Anderson said. “I was proud of how Sam and Gavin came back after losing the first set and found a way to get the win.” Singles No. 1 Cole Hebrink (A) def. Dominic Lund-May (F) 6-1, 6 ..read more

The Austin boys and girls each took third place at triangular at Larry Gilbertson Track and Field Monday. Thomas Ausmus won the 1600-meter run for the Packer boys and Chok Bol took second in the 100-meter hurdles for the Packer girls. AUSTIN BOYS RESULTS Team standings: 1. Mankato West 106; 2. Northfield 61; 3. Austin 19 110-meter hurdles: Triumph Ogbeide (third, 17.45) 100-meter dash: Carter Holt (fourth, 11.80) 1600-meter run: Jude Hovland (eighth, 5:36.43) 300-meter hurdles: Isaiah Cabeen (fourth, 45.45) 800-meter run: Michael Dube (fifth, 2:40.97) 1600-meter run: Thomas Ausmus (first, 10 ..read more

The Austin baseball team found its swing a little too late as it lost to Kasson-Mantorville 7-3 in Seltz Field Monday. The Packers (2-5 overall) put together a late surge as Dakota Retterath hit a two-out, two-run single to left field to bring Austin within 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth. The KoMets (4-2 overall) added two runs in the top of the seventh before Gage Helgeson drove in a run for Austin in the final frame. Austin head coach Jacob Nelson said he’s hoping his team can get back to playing loose and free in the future. “The core of our team is seniors and they’ve been playing togethe ..read more

The Austin softball team beat Albert Lea (1-5 overall) 7-5 in AL Monday. Quinn Osgood pitched two and one-thirds innings to score the save for the Packers (4-5 overall) and she also knocked in two runs. Austin pitching: KJ Schaefer (W) 4 ⅔ IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 R, 5 K; Quinn Osgood (S) 2 ⅓ IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 K Austin hitting: Kathryn Crouch, 2-for-4, RBI, R, double; Peyton Squier, 2-for-4, RBI, R; Lexi Brede, 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, double; Osgood, 1-for-4, 2 RBIs; Addison Walsh, 2-for-2, double, R; Katelyn Klouse, 2 SB The post Osgood leads Packer softball team to a win in AL appeared first on Austin Dail ..read more

The Blooming Prairie softball team rallied past New Richland-HEG (2-6 overall) 6-5 in eight innings to stay unbeaten in BP Monday. Macy Lembke pitched eight strong innings, as she allowed just three earned runs in the circle for BP (7-0 overall). BP pitching: Macy Lembke (W) 8 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 K BP hitting: Macy Lembke, 2-for-4, RBI, R, BB, double; Rachel Winzenburg, 0-for-4, R; Shawntee Snyder, 3-for-3, double, 2 R, BB; Lily Schammel, 0-for-3, R; Layla Lembke, 1-for-3, RBI, BB, double; Anna Haberman, 1-for-4, RBI; Ella Smith, 1-for-4; Madelyn Harvey, 0-for-3, R The post Awesome Blo ..read more

Riverland Theatre will close out its 2023-2024 season with the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schultz.  With charm, wit, and heart, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends in the Peanuts gang as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes, and celebrate the joy of friendship.  Full of memorable songs and iconic moments from the classic Peanuts comic strip, this show is sure to delight audiences of all ages. The show features book ..read more

James Robert Mayzlik, 69 James Robert Mayzlik (69) of Molalla, OR passed away on Saturday April 13, 2024 at Sapphire at Cedars Crossing East Portland Or. James was born 05/08/1954 in Austin Mn to Donna Mae (Carlson) Mayzlik and Eldred Mayzlik. He worked various jobs throughout his lifetime, but his favorite job was being an Oil Rigger Chain Thrower, known to be the best at doing the Texas Loop. James married Aletea (Nettie) Parrish on July 5th 2002 in Las Vegas. James is survived by his step daughters Sherri and Betsy of Molalla, OR. Sisters Marilyn (Brian) Larson of Dover, De Janice (Stan ..read more