To the Editor, There is a group of people (the Kurds) who have been fighting mightily for years as our allies against ISIS, a barbaric religiously extreme group of people in Syria and Iraq. The ISIS group cuts off American heads and is our terrorist enemy, remember? On October 6, President Erdogan of Turkey asked President Trump to withdraw several dozen of our soldiers … [Read more...]
October 14 headlines
To the Editor, This morning’s headlines in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “U.S. pulls out of Syria, ISIS prisoners go free!” “Mayhem in Syria after American withdrawal,” “Feeling abandoned by the U.S., Kurds join Syrian forces,” “Trust broken, green berets feel ‘ashamed’ for leaving the Kurds.” I wonder how the right wing-nut contributors to the Fillmore County Journal … [Read more...]
Who judges Heaven or Hell?
To the Editor, I attended a Representative Hagedorn Town Hall meeting in Winona in early September. I’ve been haunted ever since by his response to a citizen who was asking if he was aware of the relationship between gun ownership and suicide. Mr. Hagedorn’s response was that he believed that “people who commit suicide go to hell.” Why I’m haunted by that response is that as … [Read more...]
Meet the Candidates: Daniel Hellerud Ostrander City Council
1. Tell us about yourself My name is Daniel Hellerud and I have lived in Ostrander for the past 25 years. I am married to my wife Stephanie and we have a daughter, Savannah. I grew up in the Spring Valley-Wykoff area and graduated from Wykoff Public School. I own a painting company in Rochester. 2. Why are you running for Ostrander City Council? I am running for the … [Read more...]
Meet the Candidates: Dorothy Billmeier Chatfield School Board
1. Tell us about yourself. I have been a Fillmore County licensed daycare provider since 2008. I have a three-star Parent Aware rating. My husband Tony and I have two sons. Dominic as well as myself are Chatfield Alumni and Dylan is a sophomore. My husband and I have lived in the same house here in Chatfield for over 20 years and I’m proud that my family has been in … [Read more...]
Meet the Candidates: Dustin Tollefsrud Mabel-Canton School Board
1. Tell us about yourself. I am a Mabel-Canton graduate of 2003. I have attended Western Technical College and Winona State. I live in Mabel with wife Kayla and my three kids: Rachelle, Raelynn, and Landen. 2. Why are you running for Mabel-Canton School Board? To help grow and develop the school district, that would allow the kids be successful after graduation. 3. … [Read more...]
Meet the Candidates: Jim O’Donnell Rushford City Council
1. Tell us about yourself. I am a 63-year-old lifelong resident of the City of Rushford. I an finishing up my first four-year term on the Rushford City Council. I am a member of the Rushford Lions Club and serve on the board with that organization. I also serve on the Rushford Community Foundation board and the Rushford Library Board. I have previously served for 12 years on … [Read more...]
Meet the Candidates: Rick Lowrey Chatfield School Board
1. Tell us about yourself. I’ve been married to my wife Lorri for nearly 22 years. We moved to Chatfield 15 years ago from Colorado in search of a small-town environment and a better education system to raise our children in. I am a father of three children: Jason (20), Maggie (19), and Aaron (17). I am a heavy-equipment operator by trade of the Local 49. 2. Why are you … [Read more...]
Meet the Candidates: Terri Benson Mayor, City of Rushford
1. Tell us about yourself. Being raised on a SE MN farm taught me to be kind, caring, responsible and giving. I carry those attributes by participating in communities I’ve lived in – the farm, college, metro cities and now, Rushford. My bachelor of science degree provided a doorway to my business career, which exposed me to a variety of communities and businesses which … [Read more...]
DEED awards $3.6 million from Job Creation Fund Funding will assist five Minnesota communities create more than 400 new jobs
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced $3.6 million in awards from the Job Creation Fund for business expansions in five Minnesota communities. The awards are expected to generate more than 400 jobs over the next three years. Awards were made to Blattner Energy in Avon, Fox Valley Metrology in Stacy, Puris Proteins in Lac … [Read more...]