The Spring Valley A&W has been a staple of the community since it opened in 1956, then owned by Roger and Marge Simpson. Their son and his wife, Mark and Kathy Simpson, purchased the business in 1987 and ran it until they retired in 2017 when Tom Evanoff purchased it. For the past five years, Evanoff has enjoyed sharing the nostalgia of the drive-in, which first drew him … [Read more...]
Cold treats in cold weather now possible in Chatfield
When driving through Chatfield this winter, you may see an unusual sight — a plowed parking lot and cars in the drive through of Dairy Queen. That’s because, for the first time in years, the Chatfield Dairy Queen is now open year round. When Yoel and Michelle Topel took ownership of the franchise located just off of Highway 52 on March 15 last year, they knew they wanted to … [Read more...]
Harmony Telephone Company Receives $1.1 Million Minnesota Border to Border Broadband Grant
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced Harmony Telephone Company as a recipient of a Border-to-Border Grant totaling $1.1 million. The grant program is a partnership between the State of Minnesota and Fillmore County. Harmony Telephone Company will use the $1.1 million grant and $1.69 million local match to service 34 unserved households, … [Read more...]
Good Samaritan Society celebrates 100 years of care
One hundred years ago, the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society was started by Reverend August Hoeger in North Dakota. Another minister had been raising funds for a boy with polio and, when the fundraiser exceeded its goal by $2,000, Reverend Hoeger suggested using the money to help people with disabilities. The next year, he opened a home for people with mental and … [Read more...]
Call for visual artists for Emerging Artist Exhibition at Lanesboro Arts Gallery
Lanesboro Arts is pleased to announce an opportunity for emerging visual artists from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa to display their work in a professional gallery setting at Lanesboro Arts. The show will run from February 11 through April 9, 2023. Applications are due December 9, 2022, at noon. Accepted artists will be contacted by December 21. The show will feature three or … [Read more...]
Administrator selected for future Preston Veterans Home
ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) announces that David Dunn has been selected to serve as the administrator of the future Preston Veterans Home, scheduled to open in mid-2023. Dunn joins MDVA with more than 18 years of experience as an administrator for nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. He holds a Master of Science in Health Care … [Read more...]
Groundbreaking for new Penz Automotive Building
Saturday, November 5, was indeed a groundbreaking day in Spring Valley for Penz Automotive Group. Penz has owned the Spring Valley Chevrolet Buick in Spring Valley for about a year and is currently leasing the building they are using. Groundbreaking was held at a new location at 1100 N. Broadway Street on the northside of Spring Valley just off of Highway 63, for the brand new … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Arts announces 2023 Artists-in-Residence
Lanesboro Arts Lanesboro Arts is delighted to announce its 2023 Artists in Residence: Su Hwang, Sophia Munic, and Sequoia Hauck. The Lanesboro Artist Residency Program offers two- or four-week residencies to emerging artists driven to explore ways in which their work can be applied to the community and how Lanesboro’s rural community can inform their work. April 7–May 5, 2023: … [Read more...]
Real Bites: Saxon Hall along The Great River Road
As travelers gaze at the beauty and wonder of Historic Bluff Country – chiseled bluffs, winding roads, deer crossing roads in angst, the peacefulness of farmscapes, and waterways pushing toward the storied Mississippi River – they may find themselves in a traffic jam in a town of less than 700 people. A Saturday night in the little town of Brownsville, Minn., attracts a crowd … [Read more...]
Preston welcomes new coffee shop
There’s more than just groceries at Preston Foods these days. Now, while you’re picking up pantry staples or ingredients for a quick supper, you can also stop by the new coffee shop, Rod N’ Reel Coffee Co., next to the deli counter and treat yourself to something from its menu. “We were looking for an opportunity for something our community doesn’t have,” said Brad Hoiness, … [Read more...]
Residents expected to be admitted to the veterans home in June 2023
Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke led a virtual meeting on September 21 to provide a quarterly update on the veterans home in Preston. The tentative date for ribbon cutting is after Memorial Day, about June 1, 2023. The Preston facility is about 56% complete. It is the furthest along of the three new veterans homes under construction. The other … [Read more...]
Localdoorstep.com DELIVERS!
Local entrepreneurs Jenna and Lucas Kappers of rural Chatfield are ready to take your local food orders and deliver them to your doorstep. You can order a wide selection of dairy, produce, meats, beverages, bakery, pantry, and household items to be delivered to your location in the Twin Cities and throughout southeastern Minnesota. Lucas and Jenna launched their business as … [Read more...]
State veterans home scheduled to open next summer
Local and county officials, veterans home committee members, and interested citizens met for an in-person meeting at the Preston Servicemen’s Club on June 21. Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke opened the meeting. The focus of this meeting was the need to find and contract with community suppliers for services. Herke introduced a number of MDVA … [Read more...]
Journal earns 10 more awards at ACP conference
In the early days of April 2022, the Association of Community Publishers held their annual conference in Nashville, Tenn. During the annual conference, ACP coordinated a “Best of the Best” contest in the publishing industry. There were more than 1,000 contest entries in over 100 categories. The Fillmore County Journal team earned a total of 10 of awards in the following … [Read more...]
Dairyland Power, City of Harmony celebrate opening of service center
It took several years, overcoming a few unexpected challenges and a change in location, but last Thursday, dignitaries from Dairyland Power, the City of Harmony and building contractors celebrated the opening of the Dairyland Service Center in Harmony. The 23,000-square-foot facility is located on 10 acres of land in the northwest edge of Harmony. The majority of the building … [Read more...]