What Hastings Is Talking About Today (COMMUNITY ▲ July 19, 2025)
Cheers from your friendly Hastings neighbor! The river town is humming with summer buzz: heartfelt pet alerts, calls for neighbors’ help, bargain‑laden yard sales, and the first notes of Rivertown Days drifting across the Mississippi. Let’s dive into what everyone’s chatting about today!
Civic Alerts & Heartstrings
Cat tragedies along Highway 46 & 47
A heartbreaking post reminds us to stay alert on our roads. One neighbour reported seeing a long‑haired white cat lying in the middle of Highway 46 just west of General Sieben Drive. Another early‑morning commuter later spotted a white and peach kitty on the river side of Highway 47 between Spring and Ashland streets; sadly the animal hadn’t moved as the driver passed, leading them to fear the worst. These sobering sightings echo what many pet owners fear most. If you’ve misplaced your feline friend, check in with local vets and the Hastings Humane Society, and consider reducing your speed when you see animals near the road. Our community’s Facebook page often helps reunite pets with families — it’s worth scrolling through the latest posts. Drive safe out there!
Lost dog rescued on Highway 55
Hastings’ pet network redeemed itself later in the day. Someone reported finding a friendly dog wandering up Highway 55 with no collar. They immediately contacted Hastings Police, and the pup was taken into safe custody. If your pooch slipped a leash near 55, contact HPD to see if this wagging wanderer might be yours. Kudos to the good neighbour who stopped to help — you’ve set the bar for community care.
Community Connections & Requests
Searching for party pals
Parents know the scramble of planning a summer party. One mom is hoping to reach the parents of four kids — Nash, Quinn, Riley and Layton from Mrs. Matzek’s class at Pinecrest — so her son’s friends can come to their family bash. If you recognise those names or know the families, send them her way. Social media may feel impersonal sometimes, but posts like this remind us that it’s a great tool for building real‑world connections.
Weekend Walking Warriors assemble!
Looking for fitness motivation and friendly faces? Tanner Sundt invited neighbours to join the “Weekend Walking Warriors” — a casual walking group open to anyone. Comment “me” on his post and he’ll send a link to join. With gorgeous summer mornings ahead, there’s no better time to hit the trails. Grab a water bottle and meet some new walking buddies.
Helping a young driver buy her first car
Patricia Ayala seeks advice for her daughter, who’s buying her first car on her own and worries about being taken advantage of by pushy dealers. She’s asking for trustworthy dealership recommendations that won’t gouge her because she’s a young woman with a 620 credit score. If you’ve had a good experience with a local dealer — maybe one that offers first‑time‑buyer programs or patient sales staff — drop a comment on her post. It’s heartening to see parents leaning on the community for guidance.
Sales & Event Highlights
Multi‑family moving sale in Cottage Grove
Yard‑sale season is in full swing. Jesse Quintanilla is hosting a massive moving sale at 8316 66th St S, Cottage Grove (MN 55016). Their multi‑family sale boasts tools, clothes, shoes, household goods, kids’ items, strollers and even tires. They’re open until around 6 p.m. today and plan to continue tomorrow. If you love a bargain, grab your reusable bags and head over — there’s a little bit of everything.
Downsizing sale southeast of Prescott
Melanie Baker posted about a down‑sizing sale on W12536 WIS‑35, two miles southeast of Prescott. Running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the sale features a woodworker’s shop and pole barn packed with tools, along with nice leather couches, an Acorn stairlift and household goods. They’ll accept cash, credit or electronic payments — just no checks. Estate‑sale lovers, don’t miss this one!
Business & Consumer Buzz
Crème de la Crème ice‑cream shop coming soon
Ice‑cream fans rejoice! According to Katie Baringer, her sister and brother‑in‑law are opening Crème de la Crème, a homemade ice‑cream shop, right here in Hastings. The family has been working around the clock and hopes to open next month. The shop promises to use the “finest and freshest ingredients” to make old‑fashioned ice cream. Their official site hints at a grand opening on July 1, 2025 and describes their handcrafted flavors as a celebration of local dairy and seasonal produce cremedelacremescoops.com. Keep your spoons ready — soon you’ll be able to sample pistachio, black raspberry and other rotating flavors made right here.
Rivertown Days buzz
The big summer festival is practically here, and our feeds are full of Rivertown Days chatter. To keep things organised, one helpful neighbour pinned a post inviting everyone to share their Rivertown Days feedback, photos and events in a single thread. The official schedule gives us plenty to look forward to: a July 17 kickoff picnic at the LeDuc Historic Estate featuring burgers from Culver’s, cookies from Subway, Spiral Brewery beer and Alexis Bailly wine — plus trolley rides between the Hastings Golf Club and the LeDuc rivertowndaysmn.com. There’s also an Antique Fire Engine Light Show at the golf club that evening rivertowndaysmn.com. Music lovers can head downtown on Friday, July 18, where gates open at 4 p.m. for live music on three stages alongside food trucks, beer tents and carnival rides rivertowndaysmn.com. Saturday brings a free arts & crafts fair at Jaycee Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with more than 80 vendors and expanded food options rivertowndaysmn.com. Expect wiffle ball, disc golf, pickleball, petting zoos, bubble parties and lock‑and‑dam tours throughout the weekend rivertowndaysmn.com. Make sure to buy your festival button and enjoy the celebration.
Consumer warning: Upside app & Speedway
One anonymous member cautioned residents about using the Upside app at the Speedway on 33rd Street, saying the station advertises participation in the cashback program but doesn’t pay out. Another commenter shared a similar concern about a different Speedway, describing a pre‑pay transaction that was cancelled and not refunded. If you’re chasing gas discounts, double‑check which stations honour these programs before filling up.
Civic Support & Remembrance
Helping a family after a tragic loss
Andrea Beal wrote a heartfelt plea after our community lost a wonderful woman this week. She urges anyone who can to donate toward funeral costs and other expenses for the bereaved family. In a town like Hastings, neighbours rally together in tough times; if you’re able to contribute, check her post for donation details. Even small gestures can ease the burden when tragedy strikes.
Closing & Call to Action
That’s the news from our riverside community today — a mix of joy, concern and good old‑fashioned neighbourly chatter. Want more? These LOCAL 10 stories are just a taste of the conversations happening every day. Head over to HastingsNow.com to see the full rundown and join the discussion.
If you spot a misstatement or have a hot tip, drop us a line at HastingsNow.com/contact—our newsroom loves neighbourly notes!
