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"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
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Sunday, May 26th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
Kingsland School Board recognizes retirees
 
Climate change?
 
Preston reviews city projects
 
Softball Supremacy
 
Chatfield School Board discusses technology integration
 
 
 
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Bondhus: “DNR has a strong bias toward closing fish farm”

By News Team

Fri, Apr 28th, 2006
Posted in Commentary

(The following letter was sent to the Fillmore County Board for their April 25, 2006 meeting).

I understand the Fillmore County Commissioners will be deciding whether or not to be the RGU (regulating governmental unit) on the EAW (environmental assessment worksheet) for Spring Valley Ponds. I would like to attend this meeting but it is not possible due to earlier commitments. I would like to strongly encourage you to be the RGU. In making your decision, please consider the following facts:1.The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) has requested to be the RGU. This will undoubtedly make the project more difficult, and I can assure you the DNR has a strong bias toward closing the farm. They have already revoked my hatchery permit pending appeal, and it now appears that they are intent on setting operating conditions that I cannot possibly meet and still stay in business.2.The DNR’s opposition results from my failure to get the necessary permits at the onset. My opponents claim that I have intentionally avoided applying for the permits and have convinced the DNR that this is the case. I have repeatedly explained that this was not intentional - I simply did not know the permits were needed. The DNR will not excuse this mistake even though I have paid after-the-fact fines and done everything in my power to meet their ever-increasing demands. In addition to the $1,000,000+ invested in this project before I learned that any permits were needed, I have spent an additional $500,000 gathering information, filing permits, and responding to the endless information requests from the DNR and the PCA (Pollution Control Agency) since this nightmare started. The entire project is now at risk because of this continuing harassment. In fact, I am not sure anymore if I am any closer to a solution with them today than at the start. 3.The Minnesota Trout Association, Trout Unlimited, and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy have retained an attorney and are trying to intimidate the DNR into supporting their position and opposing my project using the threat of a lawsuit against the state. It is very likely that you will also hear from them if you have not already.4.The vast majority of the people I have talked to from Spring Valley, the County, and the Minnesota Trout Association members themselves are clearly in favor of this project.5.If this project is allowed to contin .....
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JEM Movie Theatre

Broberg: “Trout farm didn’t follow the rules and now wants legislative remedy”

By News Team

Fri, Apr 28th, 2006
Posted in Commentary
Comments

Apparently, the owner and local supporters of Spring Valley Ponds think legislative action is necessary to finally get the permits for the fish hatchery and park. After so much time and money has been spent operating without the required permits, the ..... 
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We need a couple of dozen Carl Sagans

By News Team

Fri, Apr 28th, 2006
Posted in Commentary
Comments

The Thursday before Earth Day, the 20th, PBS had a National Geographic special featuring Dr. Tyrone Hayes. Hayes, a Harvard trained PhD researcher at the University of California, held an audience at Eagle Bluff Learning Center spellbound for over an ..... 
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Victim: Put your bad experience to good use by speaking out

By News Team

Fri, Apr 21st, 2006
Posted in Commentary
Comments

On September 17, 2005, at the age of fifteen, I became a victim. I was approached by a complete stranger, a 26 year old married man and father. I was all alone and had nowhere to go when this man took away my trust and safety. I was a victim of an at ..... 
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Ethanol may be the answer

By News Team

Fri, Mar 31st, 2006
Posted in Commentary
Comments

The answer to America’s dependence on gasoline could come from the Midwest, not the Middle East.  Using ethanol as a transportation fuel can be traced back to Henry Ford and other transportation pioneers. Ford’s Model T, prod ..... 
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Shock and shame

By News Team

Fri, Mar 24th, 2006
Posted in Commentary
Comments

The 1970’s Academy Award winning documentary Hearts and Minds, which detailed the course of the Vietnam War, from our initial contacts with the Ho Chi Minh resistance during World War II to our ultimate draw down of troops in 1973, documents how succ ..... 
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DOMA: The marriage of discrimination and religion

By News Team

Fri, Mar 10th, 2006
Posted in Commentary
Comments

With the start of the 2006 Minnesota Legislative Session on March 1st, Republicans were aggressively pushing their tool to prevent gay marriage, the so called Defense of Marriage Amendment. Hundreds of thousands of DVDs distributed around the State f ..... 
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So long to number 34

By News Team

Fri, Mar 10th, 2006
Posted in Commentary
Comments

I think it was May, 1992, but don’t quote me. We were visiting Minnesota from our home in Michigan, and my sister had given us Twins’ tickets. What I remember about the game was that Kirby Puckett hit a grand slam, and the announcer said it was Pucke ..... 
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A budget is a statement of ethics

By News Team

Fri, Mar 3rd, 2006
Posted in Commentary
Comments

The Union of Concerned Scientists asked its’ members to write to the local papers concerning the Bush administrations perverse use of scientific research, the muzzling of scientists, and use of political litmus tests for hiring and appointment to rev ..... 
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