To the Editor, Mr. Miller seems to have criticized my take on the insurrection. He stated “shame on you” for my thoughts of this dark day as well as the Fillmore County Journal for not checking the facts. Please remember these were my words, NOT the Fillmore County Journal’s. They only publish the words and thoughts of the subscriber. So, “shame” on you for “blaming” the … [Read more...]

To the Editor, It’s spring! Yay!  Hyacinths, croci, and tulips are popping up. The trees are budding. The migrating birds are back. Garden centers will open soon if they haven’t already. I know some of us are itching to start digging in the dirt! That got me thinking. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I don’t get it. Those are bad things now? Think of the fields. Think … [Read more...]

To the Editor, The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering House Resolution 70 that opposes the privatization of the postal service, keeping it an independent institution. The post office existed under Ben Franklin as a service and not a business before we became a nation. The concept was universal service that needs to be preserved with common rates and every … [Read more...]

By Ben Bisbach Mabel, MN I work for an agricultural services company that, among other things, contracts with the USDA to administer certain USDA programs for farmers.  When the Musk/Trump administration enacted their funding freeze, they blocked reimbursement to my company of about $70,000, for services we have already performed.  $70,000 might not sound like a lot to … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Mr. Davidson says remember Insurrection Day January 6, 2021; However, no one has been charged for insurrection. You blame Trump for pardoning protesters. However, four years has gone by, and many have been denied the right to a speedy trial.   You say that Trump watched for 187 minutes and did nothing, as reported by The Select Committee. A timeline of … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Because of the people who work for the National Weather Service, I can check the weather forecast ahead of a planned outing and make an informed decision if it is safe for me to travel to the outing or not. Because of the people who work for the USDA, I can feel confident that the meat I am buying at the grocery store has been inspected and is safe for me … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I would like to address the question posed in your newspaper recently. It was “what has Congressman Brad Finstad done for us in Southeast Minnesota?” My answer is Brad voted to keep men out of women’s sports and women’s bathrooms. That is good enough for me! Carole Yenter Preston, Minn. … [Read more...]

To the readers of Fillmore County Journal: These quotations from President Theodore Roosevelt are more than 100 years old but crucially important today: “To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” “To … [Read more...]

By Tim Penny President & CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation One of the things I have enjoyed most about my 18-year tenure as president and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is visiting with entrepreneurs when I travel across our region. At SMIF we support talented entrepreneurs with early-stage investments, loans, technical assistance, … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com I recently watched “American Murder: Gabby Petito”  on Net-flix. I’ve talked to quite a few people who have watched this documentary. The biggest takeaway from this film was that anyone trying to get away with something nowadays is literally under a watchful microscope of technology, and … [Read more...]

By Tim Penny President & CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Each February, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) opens the year with new possibilities for grant seekers. Since 1986, we have watched as $58,745,984 in grants turned into community vitality projects, accessible literature for young children, early care and education services, local … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com April is National Volunteer Month, and there’s so much that wouldn’t get done in our communities without the leadership and dedication of our selfless volunteers. There are parks, playgrounds, and public spaces dedicated to music, history, arts and entertainment -- all the work of … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal  jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com Throughout this school year, our newspaper team has had the opportunity to connect with students from schools in our coverage area. Each year, we have anywhere from 15 to 25 high school students sign up to be a part of the “Journal Student Writing Project,” now in its 26th … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Okay, I guess us peasants working for a living need to name the five things we did in the workplace last week, to justify our existence in the economy, and send them, not to a Big Brother billionaire savant who knows nothing about what we do or how we do it, but instead to Congressman Brad Finstad who seems to be ignoring his oath to defend the Constitution – … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Please remember Insurrection Day, January 6, 2021.  We now have someone who has pardoned those who attacked the Capitol with brutal force, causing harm to those who tried to save our democracy.  Trump watched the fiasco for 187 minutes and did nothing to stop it.  Five officers died, 140 were beat up.  They were the true patriots.  We now have the Oath Keepers … [Read more...]