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Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) -  Rochester’s newest middle school now has a name.

The Rochester School Board approved the name Dakota for the new school.  The name was the overall favorite of those who voted on five choices that had been submitted by the public.

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The new middle school is located at 5501 65th St NW and is scheduled to open next year.

site for new Rochester middle school /Google
site for new Rochester middle school /Google
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The board received hundreds of suggestions after starting the naming process. A board subcommittee was tasked with coming up with 5 finalists. They were then voted on by the public.

The finalists were:

  • Susan B. Anthony: A social rights activist of the 20th century, known especially for her leadership as an abolitionist and women’s suffrage champion. A student nominator said, "I see a lot of schools named after men in our area, so I think a woman's name would be good."
  • Dakota: A word meaning “friend or ally” that comes from the native people who lived in this area since at least the 1600s. A student nominator said, "I believe our new middle school should be named this to represent the first settlers of our area."
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Nobel Peace Prize winner who was a tireless leader in the Civil Rights Movement. A student nominator said, "Martin Luther King was a strong advocate for equality with nonviolence."
  • Unity: A term used to describe coming together in harmony to form a complete whole. A student nominator said, "It inspires those attending the school as well as members of the community to create and maintain unity."
  • Wóksape: A word from our indigenous peoples meaning “wisdom”. A student nominator said, "It is a tribute to an amazing people that make Minnesota great."

News update:  Rural area in Mower County evacuated Tuesday.

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This 861 square-foot home comes with a one-car garage on an 8,886 square-foot lot. It was built back in 1920 and has an unusual room that is filled with mystery trash bags.

See it for youself!

 

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