WADENA — Astera Health and CentraCare hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new cancer center in Wadena on Tuesday, July 8.
The Coborn Cancer Center welcomed its first patient on Monday. Health care leaders say the goal of the center is to provide rural Minnesotans cancer treatment with a shorter drive.
Members of Astera Health and CentraCare leadership spoke at the ceremony, including Joel Beiswenger, president and CEO of Astera Health.
“This cancer center will have a massive impact on the quality of care available to the people in this region," Beiswenger said. "Traveling long distances during cancer treatment is difficult for patients and families. Their focus should be entirely on wellness and healing, and this cancer center accomplishes that."
Kenneth Holmen, president and CEO of CentraCare, and Paul Drange, chairman of Astera Health's board of directors, also spoke at the event, as well as Joanna Slominski, general manager at the construction and real estate company Mortenson.
Cancer deaths in the U.S. are on the decline, but rural areas are experiencing this trend at a slower rate than urban areas, according to the Rural Cancer Institute. A shortage and uneven distribution of cancer care in rural areas contributes to this gap of preventable deaths.
The cancer center includes eight private treatment rooms, six exam rooms, a PET/CT scanner and a linear accelerator, which is a machine that provides tattoo-free radiation treatment.
Planning for the cancer center began in 2021 with a focus on identifying opportunities to improve cancer care in the area, particularly improving access to radiation oncology.
The cancer center is attached to the west side of the Astera Health main campus. The building took two years to build and cost roughly $23.7 million paid through donations, grants and a tax-exempt loan.
The cancer center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 218-631-3510 or by scheduling online.
-
Contributed/Chad Davis via FlickrExperts emphasize that people should learn authentic ways to support school shooting survivors, even after the stories fade from headlines. -
Lorie ShaullThe free event focuses on practical ways to improve woodland habitat for wildlife, while keeping forests healthy and productive for future generations, the SWCD said. -
Contributed/MnDOTDrivers in Wadena can expect two-lane traffic on Highway 10 to begin late on August 29, 2025, with Highway 71 closing as construction continues. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXETwelve new automatic license plate readers went up in Bemidji and other MN cities in May 2025. But the Flock Safety cameras raise concerns with privacy advocates. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEIron Rangers are concerned about the future of the facility because U.S. Steel estimated an $814 million cost to comply with the state's wild rice sulfate standard. -
Recent findings showed those who carry out school shootings are often in a noticeable crisis, meaning students, staff and parents should be trained to recognize concerning behavior. -
Contributed/Tony Webster, FlickrOn Aug. 28, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a shooting incident in the Prescott Housing area in Wilkinson Township, south of Cass Lake. -
Contributed/Lorie Shaull via FlickrA recent statewide survey from the University of Minnesota asked residents about their concerns for lakes and rivers, views on conservation and support for science solutions. -
Six more horses were confirmed with the disease in short order in Fillmore, Lincoln, Wadena, Mille Lacs and Wabasha counties. Five of the seven have died. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEDanielle Miller failed to state the factual basis for her plea. A trial is set for October 2025, but the Itasca County attorney doesn't think it will make it that far.
