Nicollet Bike Shop offers advice amid pedaling season
Nicollet Bike Shop offers advice amid pedaling season By Bernadette Heier | April 1, 2021 at 7:32 PM CDT - Updated April 1 at 7:32 PM
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - For those looking for a new bike this year, the time to buy is now.
“There’s a little bit shortage of bikes right now than normal so getting out and looking ASAP is a good plan,” said Nicollet Bike Shop Co Owner Justin Rinehart.
That’s thanks to the large nationwide demand for bikes last year amid the pandemic.
“With all the closures of everything last year, many people who normally work out in the gym or something indoors turned to outdoor recreation. So bikes, canoes, camping equipment all experienced the same surge of demand. Which wiped out inventory for anyone that makes anything and sells in this industry. As a result they are still trying to play catch up,” said Rineheart.
Middle school students use baking skills to raise money for childrenâs hospital
Middle school studentsâ baking skills raise money for childrenâs hospital By Bernadette Heier | March 11, 2021 at 8:03 PM CST - Updated March 11 at 8:07 PM
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) â Local middle school students Payton Bruns and Jaelyn Doss wanted to do something to give back to others.
âWe wanted to do a good deed and make peopleâs day,â said Bruns.
Over the past months, the two friends have made homemade hot cocoa bombs, sweet treats that explode in hot milk, all to raise funds for St. Jude Childrenâs Hospital.
DEED: Jobs down 7 % locally in January
DEED: Jobs down 7 % locally in January By Bernadette Heier | March 11, 2021 at 7:22 PM CST - Updated March 11 at 7:51 PM
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) Job numbers were down 7% locally in January, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
The Mankato-North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area lost 4,074 jobs year-over-year, however, the local area gained 343 jobs in January compared to December.
Manufacturing saw the greatest annual decline at 10.5%, the service sector was down 6.2% and government jobs were down 3.95%.
Minnesotans can connect with DEED at www.CareerForceMN.com/GoodJobsNow for help in finding career opportunities and training.
Copyright 2021 KEYC. All rights reserved.
Aluma Trailer business booming amid pandemic
Aluma Trailer business booming amid pandemic By Bernadette Heier | March 10, 2021 at 7:28 PM CST - Updated March 10 at 7:28 PM
NORTH MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) A sharp spike in ATV, snowmobile, golf cart and other vehicle purchases since the COVID-19 pandemic began has caused business to boom at Aluma Trailer.
“We are booked until next year. It’s been crazy busy,” said Mike Lloyd, president and co-owner at Aluma Trailer.
The company first started building trailers in 1992, and now produces about 300 trailers per week in its factory locations in Iowa, shipping across the U.S. and Canada.
90 cards for 90th birthday: Local woman gets creative for motherâs birthday
90 cards for 90th birthday: Local woman gets creative for motherâs birthday By Bernadette Heier | March 4, 2021 at 7:30 PM CST - Updated March 4 at 7:31 PM
NORTH MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - Not being able to see family and loved ones has been hard on many during the pandemic.
Thatâs why a North Mankato woman is getting creative to send extra joy to her mother for her birthday this year.
Aside from phone calls, Zoom conferences and window visits, June is the last time Marsha Murphy has been with her mother, Lois.