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Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the”

Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.
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“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”

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In-Home Care Cannon Falls, MN

How does In-home Senior Care in Cannon Falls, MN work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Cannon Falls, MN

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Cannon Falls, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Cannon Falls, MN gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.

Respite Care Cannon Falls, MN

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Cannon Falls,MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Caregivers Cannon Falls, MN

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

01

An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

02

Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Latest News in Cannon Falls, MN

Franklin's amputation didn't stop her. It led the Cannon Falls native to USA Sitting Volleyball

ROCHESTER — Two and a half years ago, MaKenzie Franklin lay in a ditch, begging to stay alive.She and her boyfriend, Devon Wittman, were on an evening motorcycle ride near Hager City, Wis., on Sept. 13, 2020, when they crashed and slid off the road. Franklin and Wittman were taken to a Red Wing hospital, then airlifted to Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys for surgeries.Doctors attempted to save Franklin’s left leg during the initial eight-hour surgery. But, after more surgeries, it was clear amputation was the route ...

ROCHESTER — Two and a half years ago, MaKenzie Franklin lay in a ditch, begging to stay alive.

She and her boyfriend, Devon Wittman, were on an evening motorcycle ride near Hager City, Wis., on Sept. 13, 2020, when they crashed and slid off the road. Franklin and Wittman were taken to a Red Wing hospital, then airlifted to Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys for surgeries.

Doctors attempted to save Franklin’s left leg during the initial eight-hour surgery. But, after more surgeries, it was clear amputation was the route to take. Franklin lost her left leg above her knee.

What she didn’t lose, though, was her spirit.

Actually, the 28-year-old Franklin believes the accident made her more determined, which set her on a path to becoming a member of the USA Women's Sitting Volleyball team.

“Two years ago, I was laying in a hospital bed, unsure of how to even walk in a prosthetic, and now I’m on the USA Volleyball team,” the Cannon Falls native said. “I believed in myself, and I told myself I’d work really, really hard if God just let me live when I was laying in the ditch.”

‘This is what I was meant to do’

Six months after the amputation, Franklin was at the gym, working out on the ground because she didn’t have her prosthetic yet. She started setting an exercise ball. A thought crossed her mind: Is there such a thing as sitting volleyball?

Turns out there is, and the U.S. national team is one of the best in the world. Franklin Instagram-messaged members of the team, attempting to find a way to start training with them.

“I was in the national team development training program for a short amount of time before the head coach, Bill Hamiter, asked me to come train with the USA team,” Franklin said. “We went to Colorado Springs in January (2023) to the Paralympic Olympic Training Center, and that was when I officially was announced as a member of the national team.”

Franklin is rarely home now.

The USA team hosts a weekend training camp at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla., once a month and travels to play in tournaments across the world. If she’s not training in Oklahoma, Franklin is practicing with the racquetball net she bought on Amazon and adjusted to sitting volleyball height.

She never thought she’d play volleyball again after the accident. But, once she realized she could, "I’m like, 'Well, I have to do this,'" she said. "This is what I was meant to do."

Franklin’s first tournament with Team USA was the ParaVolley Pan American Zonal Championship in Edmonton in May — the tournament that ended with the top-ranked sitting volleyball team earning a spot in the 2024 Paris Paralympics after sweeping Canada 3-0 at the tournament.

The pressure of the tournament had her emotions high, and the idea of her family not being there was difficult for Franklin. But that changed before the first game.

"My mom and brother called me and they were like, 'Guess what? We’re coming to Canada,'" she said. "I just started bawling because I had so much anxiety."

Franklin didn’t start during the tournament, but Hamiter subbed her in during high-pressure moments. Experiencing the wins in Canada helped Franklin again during the team’s win at the Dutch Tournament in Assen, Netherlands, on July 2, where they beat Italy, Ukraine, Netherlands, Great Britain and Canada. Franklin posted four kills and a block in the sweep of Great Britain and added seven blocks in the win over Canada.

“I definitely try to show people that there are possibilities for disabled people to still be competitive,” Franklin said.

At this point, her amputation is a footnote in Franklin’s life; nothing is stopping her from achieving her goals. That includes hiking Mt. Cayambe in Ecuador in August to raise money for patients waiting for prosthetic care.

“We have pretty good access to medical care and prosthetic care. I can’t imagine not having that access,” she said. “That (hike is) something I’m super duper excited about.”

Cannon Falls comes up short in Class AA semifinals, third-place game

ST. CLOUD — In time the Cannon Falls baseball team may appreciate what it was able to accomplish during the 2023 season. But right now the pain of falling short of a championship appearance stings.Mistakes proved to be very costly for the Bombers in the Class AA state semifinals on Wednesday.The No. 5 seed Bombers played No. 1 Esko tough with a berth in the state title game on the line. But walks and a couple of costly errors were Cannon Falls' downfall as Esko rallied to post a 7-2 victory. Find more news impo...

ST. CLOUD — In time the Cannon Falls baseball team may appreciate what it was able to accomplish during the 2023 season. But right now the pain of falling short of a championship appearance stings.

Mistakes proved to be very costly for the Bombers in the Class AA state semifinals on Wednesday.

The No. 5 seed Bombers played No. 1 Esko tough with a berth in the state title game on the line. But walks and a couple of costly errors were Cannon Falls' downfall as Esko rallied to post a 7-2 victory.

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After losing the emotional contest to Esko, the Bombers had to play right away in the third-place game and they suffered an 8-6 loss to No. 2 seed Fairmont. The two losses close Cannon Falls' season at 22-7 and it places fourth in Class AA.

“It’s frustrating, but that’s just how it goes,” Cannon Falls senior Ari Wells said. “You just have to play the next pitch, one pitch at a time.”

Cannon Falls coach Bucky Lindow guided the 1997 Cannon Falls team to third place at the Class AA state tournament. This year’s Bombers squad featured three players who had fathers on that 1997 team.

“It would have been cool to have these guys do what their dads did,” Lindow said. “And they were close.”

The Bombers may have been playing for a state title if they could have made a few more plays on defense and had a couple of breaks go their way against Esko.

All seven runs scored by the Eskimos were unearned. Cannon Falls held a 2-0 lead after half an inning as Jack Meyers hit a two-run double.

Esko got a run in the third on a throwing error and wild pitch by left-hander Gavin Gray.

Cannon Falls then couldn't survive a fateful fourth inning. Esko had the bases loaded with two outs on two walks an a hit. The Bombers nearly got out of the inning, but an infield error scored two runs for a 3-2 Esko lead.

Gray raced over and almost caught a foul ball to end the inning, which just eluded him. He then walked that hitter and Isaak Sertich followed with a grand slam to break the game open at 7-2.

“It's tough but life has to move on,” Lindow said. “Did anything happen in that game we'd like to have back? Of course. There's a couple things I'd like to have back, but you can't press rewind."

The Bombers have been strong defensive all season, which made the semifinal loss even more frustrating to the team. They had just two errors, but both were costly.

“That's tournament baseball, you better go out and make a couple of defensive plays,” Lindow said.

The Eskimos won the game and scored seven runs despite getting just three hits.

Esko pitcher Finn Furcht held the Bombers to just two hits and he struck out 12 in 6 1/3 innings. Meyers had both hits for the Bombers.

"He pitched really well," Lindow said. "There was a chance earlier where if I had done something differently we maybe could have gotten some pressure on him."

Esko moves to the Class AA state championship game on Friday at CHS Field in St. Paul.

After falling to Esko, Cannon Falls was back playing Fairmont in the third-place game less than an hour later.

"It's one of the most difficult things, and something I would love to learn," Lindow said. "How to come back after a loss and play immediately."

It took the Bombers a while to get in a groove as Fairmont jumped out to an 8-1 lead after four innings. Cannon Falls scored the game's final five runs, but it wasn't enough.

“They didn’t quite get it going emotionally for a few innings, but we swung the bats well,” Lindow said. “A couple of defensive mistakes right away.”

Wells had three of the Bombers' 10 hits while seniors Elliott Nelson and Jadan Winchell added two each.

“It means a lot, just hanging out with my friends and playing ball,” Wells said of the season. “It was a great experience, glad to come here.”

The Cannon Falls team featured seven seniors, six of whom where starters.

“In a few days we’ll probably think it was really cool, it was really good,” Lindow said. “But it will take a while to get that recovery going.”

STATE SEMIFINALSEsko 7, Cannon Falls 2Cannon Falls#200#000#0#—#2#2#2Esko#001#600#x#—#7#3#1No. 5 Cannon Falls: Jack Meyers 2-for-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI; Ari Wells 1 R; Elliott Nelson 1 R. Pitchers: Gavin Gray (LP) 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 7 R, 0 ER, 7 BB, 7 K; Ari Wells 2 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.No. 4 Holy Family: Sam Haugen 1-for-3, 2 R; Isaak Sertich 1-for-3, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 R; Bobb Thornton 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 R. Pitcher: Finn Furcht (WP) 6 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 12 K; Dylan Marciulionis 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.

THIRD-PLACE GAMEFairmont 8, Cannon Falls 6Cannon Falls#001#023#0#—#6#10#1Fairmont#103#400#x#—#8#9#1No. 5 Cannon Falls: Jack Meyers 1 RBI; Jadan Winchell 2-for-4; Ari Wells 3-for-4, 1 RBI; Jon Banks 1-for-3, 1 R; Elliott Nelson 2-for-2, 1 2B, 1 RBI; Jackson Ekstrom 1-for-3, 1 R; Nick Barrett 1-for-2, 1 3B, 2 R. Pitchers: Ari Wells (LP) 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K; Taylor Johnston 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K; Jadan Winchell 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.No. 2 Fairmont: Landen Meyerdirk 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R; Lincoln Becker 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R; Nate Soelter 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 R; Cooper Steuber 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R. Pitcher: Sam Haugen (WP) 5 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.

State football polls: Caledonia, Chatfield, Cannon Falls all in the top five in Class 2A

Here are the Minnesota High School football rankings for the Week of Sept. 18, 2023. The rankings were determined by a complete group of 12 voters representing media across the state.Rankings include team, first-place votes (in parentheses), overall record and total voting points. Voting points are awarded with each No. 1 vote receiving 10 points, No. 2 gets 9 points, No. 3 gets 8 points, and so forth down to the No. 10 team in each voters’ ranking gets 1 point.CLASS 6A1. Eden Prairie (12) 3-0 1202. Lakevi...

Here are the Minnesota High School football rankings for the Week of Sept. 18, 2023. The rankings were determined by a complete group of 12 voters representing media across the state.

Rankings include team, first-place votes (in parentheses), overall record and total voting points. Voting points are awarded with each No. 1 vote receiving 10 points, No. 2 gets 9 points, No. 3 gets 8 points, and so forth down to the No. 10 team in each voters’ ranking gets 1 point.

CLASS 6A

1. Eden Prairie (12) 3-0 120

2. Lakeville South 3-0 106

3. Shakopee 3-0 92

4. Minnetonka 3-0 84

5. Anoka 3-0 68

6. Lakeville North 2-1 61

7. Forest Lake 2-1 42

8. Maple Grove 2-1 33

9. Stillwater 2-1 14

10. Champlin Park 2-1 11

Others receiving votes: Centennial 9, Eagan 9, Mounds View 6, Rosemount 2, Woodbury 2, Buffalo 1, Edina 1

CLASS 5A

1. Mankato West (10) 3-0 116

2. Chanhassen (1) 3-0 107

3. Rogers 3-0 96

4. Brainerd (1) 3-0 89

5. Robbinsdale Armstrong 3-0 65

6. Alexandria 3-0 60

7. Sauk Rapids-Rice 3-0 42

8. Andover 2-1 21

9. St. Thomas Academy 2-1 16

10. Robbinsdale Cooper 2-1 13

Others receiving votes: Elk River 12, Owatonna 7, Mahtomedi 5, Moorhead 4, New Prague 3, Spring Lake Park 2, Bloomington Jefferson 1, Cambridge-Isanti 1, Northfield 1

CLASS 4A

1. Hutchinson (10) 3-0 120

2. Becker 3-0 104

3. Orono 3-0 88

4. Byron 3-0 80

5. Detroit Lakes 3-0 68

6. Mound-Westonka 3-0 56

7. Totino-Grace 2-1 51

8. Chisago Lakes 3-0 33

9. Princeton 3-0 26

10. Duluth Denfeld 3-0 11

Others receiving votes: Rocori 6, Simley 5, Kasson-Mantorville 4, Hermantown 3, North Branch 3, Little Falls 1, Rocori 1

CLASS 3A

1. Dassel-Cokato (6) 3-0 109

2. Stewartville (3) 3-0 106

3. Esko (3) 3-0 101

4. Fairmont 3-0 85

5. Pequot Lakes 3-0 57

6. Annandale 3-0 55

7. New London-Spicer 2-1 45

8. Morris Area/C-A 3-0 26

9. Minneapolis North 2-1 14

10. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 2-1 9

Others receiving votes: Waseca 8, Pierz 6, Watertown-Mayer 5, Glencoe-Silver Lake 3, Albany 1, Rochester Lourdes 1, Rockford 1, St. Croix Lutheran 1

CLASS 2A

1. Barnesville (5) 3-0 108

2. Caledonia (5) 3-0 106

3. Chatfield (1) 3-0 98

4. Eden Valley-Watkins 3-0 79

5. Cannon Falls 3-0 72

6. Jackson County Central 3-0 66

7. St. Agnes (1) 3-0 51

8. Holdingford 3-0 28

9. Barnum 3-0 27

10. Norwood Young America 3-0 12

Others receiving votes: Osakis 7, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 6, Dover-Eyota 4, Minnesota Valley Lutheran 3, Pelican Rapids 3

CLASS 1A

1. Minneota (9) 3-0 112

2. Springfield (2) 3-0 102

3. Fillmore Central (1) 3-0 85

4. Mayer Lutheran 3-0 68

5. (tie) Lester Prairie 3-0 64

5. (tie) Mahnomen/Waubun 3-0 64

7. Goodhue 3-0 51

8. BOLD 2-1 49

9. Upsala/Swanville 3-0 24

10. Braham 3-0 14

Others receiving votes: Ada-Borup-West 8, Sleepy Eye United 6, Parkers Prairie 4, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 4, Canby 2, Holdingford 2, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 1

NINE-PERSON

1. Mountain Iron-Buhl (9) 3-0 117

2. Spring Grove (2) 4-0 105

3. Fertile-Beltrami (1) 3-0 97

4. Cherry 3-0 80

5. Kittson Co. Central 3-0 68

6. (tie) Nevis 3-0 44

6 (tie) Ogilvie 4-0 44

8. Edgerton 3-0 34

9. Ottertail Central 3-0 24

10. LeRoy-Ostrander 3-0 16

Others receiving votes: Fosston 7, Hills-Beaver Creek 7, Kingsland 6, Southland 4, Border West 2, Clearbrook-Gonvick 2, Blackduck 1, Hancock 1, Little Fork-Big Falls 1

News reporting

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "staff." Often, the "staff" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

Cannon Falls pulls off upset, will meet Caledonia for section volleyball title

ROCHESTER — Tough to knock out a champion.That proved true once more on Thursday night at Mayo Civic Arena as defending state volleyball champion Cannon Falls asserted itself late and beat the No. 1 seed in the Section 1-2A semifinals, Chatfield.The fourth-seeded Bombers prevailed in a marathon, winning 25-21, 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12.“I think we just told ourselves we've done this before, we can do it,” said Cannon Falls outside hitter Karsyn Winchell, also a key piece to last year’s state titl...

ROCHESTER — Tough to knock out a champion.

That proved true once more on Thursday night at Mayo Civic Arena as defending state volleyball champion Cannon Falls asserted itself late and beat the No. 1 seed in the Section 1-2A semifinals, Chatfield.

The fourth-seeded Bombers prevailed in a marathon, winning 25-21, 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12.

“I think we just told ourselves we've done this before, we can do it,” said Cannon Falls outside hitter Karsyn Winchell, also a key piece to last year’s state title team. “We had that attitude that we’d been in tough matches before.”

Cannon Falls coach Melissa Huseth was preaching that same mindset as she sought any edge possible against a team as good as Chatfield.

The reminder of their championship experience worked well.

“We have girls who know how to win,” Huseth said. “So I think having had that success helped them to believe that they can finish in tight situations.”

Chatfield, ranked second in the state, looked ready to polish things off in the fourth set. After an ace serve by Hannah Tweten, the Gophers led 22-20. But they couldn’t hold it.

Cannon Falls showed up as a deceiving No. 4 seed. The Bombers played almost the entire season without two-time All-State outside hitter Madison Burr. But the 6-foot-1 senior has returned for the playoffs and it’s made all the difference.

She is getting all kinds of support, too. While Burr had 19 kills and 21 digs, Kallie Johnson, Winchell and Falon Hepola were right there with her. Johnson had 18 kills and 14 digs, Winchell 12 kills and 23 digs, and Hepola 46 set assists and 18 digs.

It was Winchell who ended the match, blasting a kill down the line.

From there, it was a massive celebration from the state’s defending champion. The elation was in good part because they know just how good Chatfield is. The Gophers entered with just two losses all season and a pack of excellent players led by star junior outside hitter Jaelyn LaPlante.

Winchell admitted that all of that gave her team plenty of worry going into the match.

“(Chatfield) is very good, so we were very nervous,” Winchell said. “I think it was our defense that really stepped up and led to us winning.”

Chatfield first-year coach Kristi Rindels tried to remind her team just how good it is as it prepared for Cannon Falls, which has a superstar in Burr and plenty more talent around her.

Turns out her confidence-prodding effort likely only had partial success. Chatfield got off to a tough start, got things together, but then couldn’t finish the deal.

“I think playing Cannon Falls had a bit of a mental effect on us because of what they did last year,” Rindels said. “But I tried to tell our girls that we have just as many stars as they do.. In the end, we just didn’t capitalize on all of the opportunities that we had.”

Cannon Falls takes a 15-16 record into Saturday’s noon final with No. 2 seed Caledonia

Chatfield’s spectacular season ends at 26-3.

Chatfield and Cannon Falls faced off in a Section 1, Class 2A semifinals volleyball game on Nov. 2, 2023, at the Mayo Civic Center. Cannon Falls won 3-2.

Cannon Falls 3, Chatfield 2Cannon Falls#25#22#21#25#15Chatfield#21#25#25#23#12No. 4 Cannon Falls: Falon Hepola 4 kills, 46 assists, 18 digs; Karsyn Winchell 12 kills, 23 digs; Kallie Johnson 18 kills, 14 digs, 2 blocks, 1 ace; Madison Burr 19 kills, 21 digs, 5 blocks; Katie Tipton 3 assists, 28 digs, 3 aces; Claire Meyers 1 assists, 6 digs, 1 ace.No. 1 Chatfield: Trindy Barkeim 18 kills, 5 digs; Cora Bicknese 4 assists, 39 digs; Jaelyn LaPlante 17 kills, 3 assists, 15 digs, 1 ace; Hannah Tweten 1 kill, 13 assists, 13 digs, 5 aces; Harper Goldsmith 8 kills, 34 assists, 17 digs, 1 block, 1 ace; Evy Goldsmith 14 kills, 1 block; Alexis Hinckley 6 digs; Kylin Schroeder 2 digs, 1 block; Charleigh Larson 1 kill, 4 digs, 6 blocks.

RROCHESTER — Caledonia wasn’t ready to be done.

Showing all kinds of resolve in the final two sets, the Warriors rallied for a five-set win Thursday night in the Section 1, Class 2A volleyball semifinals, beating Zumbrota-Mazeppa 21-25, 25-16, 20-25, 27-25, 15-6 at Mayo Civic Arena.

The match figured to be an epic one. No. 2 seed Caledonia entered ranked fifth in the state, while No. 3 seed Z-M was eighth.

Not only that, but they had a history. Earlier this season it was the same kind of grueling battle between the two. That one was also won by Caledonia, 3-2.

“We knew it would be a match like this, one that would likely end (in five sets),” said Caledonia coach Scott Koepke, whose team moved to 26-5. “Zumbrota-Mazeppa has a fabulous team. They are a tough team to play against because they flat-out blast the ball. And they just don’t ever stop coming.”

What Koepke fought to get across to his team was that it also needed to get moving. After looking messy in a first-set loss, then also dropping the third one, the Warriors were one set away from having their season end.

So Koepke looked his players in the eyes and told them to start battling like Z-M was.

They complied and none did it any better than Koepke’s daughter, senior Logan Koepke.

Providing one timely winning hit after another, she went a long way toward turning a 22-all tie in the fourth set to a 27-25 Caledonia win.

From there, it was all Warriors. They dominated the final set, earning a spot in Saturday’s championship match with No. 4 seed and defending state champion Cannon Falls.

A senior outside hitter, Koepke finished with 23 kills, 22 digs and 2 service aces. Emma Rommes also had a big night with 22 digs, 47 assists, 5 kills and 3 aces.

“I was just trying to keep my team together and not think about the outcome,” Koepke said. “Just think about what was in the present, like the next ball, the next play.”

That worked. Caledonia leaped out to an 8-2 lead in the deciding set and never lost its momentum.

Z-M, which finished its season 20-10 and had come into the night on a seven-match win streak, got 19 kills and 23 digs from Lilly Mehrkens. Ella Chandler added 18 kills and 14 digs and Megan Jasperson 13 kills and 28 digs.

Z-M coach Lisa Nelson appreciated how her team battled.

“We do have some gamers,” Nelson said.

Caledonia 3, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 2Zumbrota-Mazeppa #25#16#25#25#6Caledonia #21#25#20#27#15Zumbrota-Mazeppa: Lilly Mehrkens 19 kills, 3 assists, 23 digs; Cora Ohm 5 kills, 2 assists, 4 digs; Ella Chandler 18 kills, 14 digs, 1 ace; Megan Jasperson 13 kills, 4 assists, 28 digs, 1 ace; Paislee Peterson 32 assists, 18 digs; Anna Cylkowski 22 assists, 10 digs; Melanie Raasch 8 kills, 28 digs, 2 blocks.Caledonia: Emma Rommes 22 digs, 47 assists, 5 kills, 3 aces; Logan Koepke 23 kills, 22 digs, 2 aces; Braelyn Lange 6 kills, 1 block, 9 digs; Emme Kittelson 38 digs; Aubrie Klug 4 kills, 25 digs, 1 ace; Sienna Augedahl 4 kills, 5 digs; Kennedy Hansen 4 digs, 1 ace.

NWS issues flood warning for Cannon River

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — Editor's note: The vide above first aired on KARE 11 on March 27, 2023.The National Weather Service Twin Cities has issued a Flood Warning for the Cannon River at Northfield, as melting snow and early spring precipitation continue to play a role in rising river levels.The flood warning, which went into effect Tuesday morning, remains until Friday afternoon.As of 10...

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — Editor's note: The vide above first aired on KARE 11 on March 27, 2023.

The National Weather Service Twin Cities has issued a Flood Warning for the Cannon River at Northfield, as melting snow and early spring precipitation continue to play a role in rising river levels.

The flood warning, which went into effect Tuesday morning, remains until Friday afternoon.

As of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4, the latest observed level on the Cannon River at Northfield was 896.6 feet. Minor flood stage is 897 feet.

The NWS forecasts the river will reach 898 feet on Thursday, April 6 and expects levels to slowly drop to below minor flood stage by April 11.

When river levels reach 897.5 feet, soccer fields at nearby Carleton College will begin to flood, along with Babcock Park, the NWS said in its warning.

About three miles south of Northfield in Dundas, Rory Rice shared a photo of the Cannon River flooding his backyard. Water levels reached the bottom of a tire swing hanging from a nearby tree.

But the Cannon River isn't the only one at risk for flooding this spring.

The latest long-range outlook from the National Weather Service said the threat of major flooding remains high along portions of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers in the Twin Cities metro.

"Most locations on the Mississippi from St. Cloud downstream are likely to reach moderate flood stage, with sites from St. Paul to Red Wing more likely to reach Major Flood Stage," NWS forecasters said.

In Stillwater, where experts say there's an 80% chance the St. Croix will reach major flood stage, volunteers started sandbagging last week.

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