By Daniel Leisen  Rushford, MN For background, I’m a disabled veteran diagnosed with service-related tinnitus, PTSD, and two years ago with an ongoing battle with service-connected terminal cancer.  I cannot release myself from the shame I feel from hearing that 65% of veterans voting in the last election voted for Trump.  All recruits entering the service swore an … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal  jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com On the front page of this week’s newspaper is a story about high school students taking advantage of the Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) that’s been around for decades.  Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, with more students and schools adapting to the online learning … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I have never had children but I have always been interested in education.  I see the latest bond issue for  Fillmore Central failed, and it made me wonder why. I don’t think it would have been put on the ballot if it had not been deemed necessary.  Most businesses, when something is needed, they procure it. But when schools need something, it is up to the … [Read more...]

To the Editor, If you are of a certain age, you may remember the astronomer Carl Sagan with his catchphrase “Billions upon billions” when he was a frequest guest on the Johnny Carson Show. In his book he wrote: “One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer intereted in … [Read more...]

The lonely flag pole in the middle of the greens Stands tall watching over the land without even a slight lean The red and white stripes  remember those tears Of wars that brought this  country many fears Stars of white on a background  of blue Flies high for those states from old to new Some call her Old Glory as she shows her … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal  jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com The Fillmore County Journal is a member of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors, which includes newspaper industry professionals from all over the world.  This often includes university professors of journalism, as well.  So, quite a cross section of thoughts. As a … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal  jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com It’s been 50 years since the oil embargo of 1973, that carried on into 1974. “During the Arab-Israeli War, Arab members of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) imposed an embargo against the United States in retaliation of the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli … [Read more...]

To the Editor, It’s that time of year again. Put up political signs. Political signs get stolen. That’s not the way democracy works. People spend a lot of time, effort and money on these signs. Taking them is breaking the law. It is stealing. Are you proud when you steal a sign?  Are you happy to work against democracy in a democratic nation? It’s time … [Read more...]

Each day competing messages demand our attention. Our response often depends upon our relationship with the source. Believing everything from some sources and rejecting everything from other sources can weaken our sense of community. It becomes easy to wonder who to trust. To encourage healthier relationships and healthier communities, we invite our neighbors to join us in … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com There was a subtle change on today’s front page. In the dateline, we turned the dial up to Volume 40, Issue 1. Every year, in the month of September, this newspaper becomes one year older. This is a big deal for many reasons. Back in 1985, when Larry Salge along with Richard and … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com Like many families in this area, our ancestors settled in this region in the early 1850s.  Our ancestors migrated from Eidsvoll, Norway, to make a home for themselves in Amherst Township in 1854. Today, David and Lori Bakke live on the family farm that was the Sethre family farm from 1854 … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Summertime is budgeting time for local governments.   With all of the requests, it can be tempting to cut library budgets in favor of budgets for emergency services like fire and ambulance. That’s a false choice. Yes, in case of the rare emergency, we need to have trained people show up with their equipment to help us.  We pay taxes to meet that community … [Read more...]

By Stan Gudmuncson Peterson, MN When the Air Force retired the SR-71s in late 1989, Congress required that there be a follow-on replacement.  Sure enough, the Air Force brass said and we’ve even identified the first Air Force pilot to fly that aircraft.  He was the pilot I was flying SR-71s with.  Because the follow-on wasn’t anything like the SR-71 and much more like the … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I read with interest Lee Epps; article “St. Paul Newspaper Features Brownsville “Coldness,” Twice.” I heard about this phenomenon years ago. The formation is called an algific tallus slope. It is very rare – found only in the Driftless Region of southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. Plus, they’ve found a … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Thank you for running the Warner Bros. Studios photo and the 2014 caption in your “Pages from the Past“ section. Congratulations, as well, on the much-appreciated variety of articles enjoyed in your Fillmore County Journal. Seeing the photo again, I’m reminded that both celebrated actresses pictured were major players in the waning years of Hollywood’s … [Read more...]