By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com First, I want to say that my beef with the USPS has nothing to do with anyone at a local level. Our local USPS postmasters, clerks and route drivers are absolutely wonderful to work with.  They are dedicated, and they truly care about providing the best possible service. My issues are with … [Read more...]

Letter about abortion in Minnesota... To the Editor, What has happened in our state? Our House, Senate and governor have succeeded in their stated goal to promote abortion in Minnesota. Here is what they passed. Minnesota state law now has legal abortion through all nine  months of pregnancy for any reason. Babies who survive an abortion can now be left to die without … [Read more...]

By Daniel Wilson Rushford, MN The State of Minnesota recently passed a state budget that will include up to $215 million over the next several years to expand internet access. With an additional $650 million coming from the federal government, there will be a lot of resources dedicated to solving the problem of broadband access. To make sure that this money is spent on the … [Read more...]

By Tim Penny President/CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Imagine being a kid in a small town in Minnesota who, more than anything, wants to dive into the city pool with their friends to escape the summer heat – but their family cannot afford the pool pass. This very situation is what prompted the Wabasha Kellogg Area Community Foundation (WKACF) to start … [Read more...]

With our daughter graduating from high school this year, we’ve attended quite a few ceremonies and open houses. It’s been truly wonderful seeing these kids grow up together, from pre-school on up to commencement. I’ve heard it so many times from those older and wiser than me, “They grow up so fast.”  It’s true. And, it’s full of mixed emotions.  As parents, we have so … [Read more...]

Letter about Juneteenth, Minnesota’s newest holiday To the Editor, This year, Juneteenth became a Minnesota state holiday to be observed on June 19. It honors that date in 1865 when enslaved Americans in Galveston, Tex., were finally told that they were free — nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Also called Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and … [Read more...]

President/CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Summer is a wonderful time to take a drive through our state. In southern Minnesota you can enjoy beautiful lakes, bluffs and small towns. Chances are, you may already live in one of those small towns. Of the 173 communities in south central and southeastern Minnesota that comprise our region, only 13 have populations … [Read more...]

By Bonnie Haugen Canton, MN It takes a lot to get a farm girl off her farm, but a few weeks ago, I joined a fearless crew of farmers and advocates to make the journey to Washington, D.C. with other farmers from the Midwest. I made the trip to D.C. with the Land Stewardship Project and Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment as the current Farm Bill, which was … [Read more...]

Letter about code of ethics... To the Editor, The recent news about Clarence Thomas’s financial entanglements with GOP megadonor Harlan Crow should be alarming to every American. This is what happens when the highest court in the land is given free rein to police itself. Clarence Thomas isn’t the first justice to engage in unethical behavior. And if Congress continues to … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com This is the seventh consecutive year in which the Fillmore County Journal has recognized a Teacher of the Year from our coverage area, and I am so grateful to everyone involved in this recognition. When we initiated this idea, we wanted to show our appreciation for teachers during Teacher … [Read more...]

President/CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation As president of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) I travel across our region nearly every day visiting people and places in the 20 counties that we serve. Over the 16 years that I have worked at SMIF, I have watched farming practices change and adapt. As someone who comes from a farming family, I know … [Read more...]

By Daniel Wilson Rushford, MN On March 16 Senator Miller voted against a bonding bill that would have brought 4.86 million dollars to build the Center for Interdisciplinary Learning and Collaboration at Winona State University. This project would have brought jobs to the area and positioned WSU to attract more students while reducing overhead costs. He also voted against $2 … [Read more...]