Blue Earth County buys, demolishes Rapidan Dam Store as a safety response to area flooding

The Rapidan Dam Store, a popular local café southwest of Mankato that sat next to the Rapidan Dam for decades, was removed Friday by Blue Earth County officials as a safety measure following flooding on the Blue Earth River. The store is yet another casualty of the flooding outside Mankato, which had already swept away the home of the Hruska family that owned the store, along with a playground, numerous trees and other debris. "The Dam Store was an integral part of the community and remains embedded in the memories...