By Davian Koren The obesity epidemic is a significant public health concern that affects millions of people around the world. According to the CDC, 73.6% of Americans over the age of 20 are either overweight or obese.¹ Being overweight leads to serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and even stroke. It can even make you more at risk of developing certain … [Read more...]
Fillmore and Houston County Police Reports
Chatfield Police Department Anaira Natividad Rios-Flores, 30, Fountain, Minn., 9/8/2024, Speeding (38/30), Fine $40, Total Fees $125. Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office Khalid Omar Ali, 31, Minneapolis, Minn., 4/6/2024, Speeding - Exceed Posted Speed in Special Zone Set by Commissioner, Fine $40, Total $130 (amount due within 30 days of agreement). Cami Jo McIntyre, 31, … [Read more...]
2025 Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Applications
By Katie Drewitz The 2025 Minnesota Century Farm recognition program and 2025 Minnesota Sesquicentennial Farm recognition program applications are now open! The annual application deadline is the first Monday in March (March 3, 2025), and must be received by the sponsoring organization by that date (this is not a postmark deadline). Qualified applications received after … [Read more...]
Trail of Fraud and Fire: Mindy Jones Gets 25 Years for Arson
By Zech Sindt On February 3, 2025, the Iowa District Court for Allamakee County sentenced Mindy Jo Jones to a lengthy prison term following her conviction in November 2024 for first-degree arson and animal mistreatment. The case, which drew widespread attention, stemmed from a fire in Waukon, Iowa, on February 13, 2022. The blaze originated in Jones’ store, Tin, Rust & … [Read more...]
Gerald A. “Smokey” Hovland
Gerald A. "Smokey" Hovland of Rushford, Minn., passed away at Green Lea Manor the age of 86. Interment will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minn., at a later date. Jerry was born in Winona, Minn., in 1938, to George and Adelaide (Marker) Hovland. Jerry’s father died in WWII, and his mother remarried Arthur Halvorson. Jerry grew up in Rushford and … [Read more...]
Solveig Scroggins
Solveig Scroggins, 90, of Peterson, Minn., died Sunday, February 2, 2025, at Valley View Nursing Home in Houston, Minn. Solveig was born to Alfred and Clara (Ferden) Semmen, on January 31, 1935. She was later united in marriage to Robert Scroggins, to this union one son, Gerorg was born. Solveig worked as a nurse for the veteran’s Hospital for over 25 years. Solveig was … [Read more...]
Eleanor Luella Hegge
Eleanor Luella Hegge, age 83, passed away on January 30, 2025, at the Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove, Minn. She was born on November 27, 1941, in Spring Grove to Clarence and Gelina Moen. She married Arthur Hegge in 1958, and they were lifelong residents of Black Hammer and members of the Faith Lutheran Church of Black Hammer. Eleanor worked at Control Data … [Read more...]
Karroll “Sam” Benson
Karroll “Sam” Benson passed away peacefully with family by his side on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Good Shepherd Home in Rushford, Minn. Sam was born on February 4, 1938 to Ruth Benson (Knutson) in Peterson, Minn. Sam married Mary Anne Christiansen on March 6, 1955 at Grace Lutheran Church, Peterson and together they raised three children. In 1982, Sam married Mercedes … [Read more...]
Richard “Rick” Evan VonWald, III
Richard "Rick" Evan VonWald, III, age 66, of Chatfield, Minn., currently residing in Mesa, Ariz., died on February 2, 2025, at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He was born on January 19, 1959, in Chatfield, Minn., to Richard (Dick) VonWald, Jr. and Rosemary (Adams) VonWald. He grew up on the family farm near Chatfield, attended Chatfield Public Schools, and graduated from Chatfield … [Read more...]
Harlan A. Gjere
Harlan A. Gjere, Sr., 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, January 30, 2025, at Green Lea Manor in Mabel, Minn. Harlan was born July 14, 1935, in Spring Grove, Minn., to Alvin and Hattie (Mestad) Gjere. The youngest of three sons, he worked with his parents and uncles to build the house and barn on the family farm where he grew up, south of Highlandville and yet … [Read more...]