Charlene M. Grabau, age 55, of Preston, Minn., passed away Sunday, January 20, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Marys Campus. She was born December 5, 1963, in Fillmore County to Harold and Della (Frazer) VandeZande. She attended school in Lanesboro and Lewiston, Minn. Charlene helped her parents until her marriage to Lyle Grabau on December 12, 1983, in Preston, Minn. … [Read more...]
Agnes “Aggie” Mierau
Agnes “Aggie” O. Mierau, 97, of Rushford, Minn., died on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, in Rushford, Minn., at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home. She was born on October 31, 1921, in Yucatan Township of Houston County, Minn., to Oscar and Annie (Jordshaugen) Gaustad. She attended country school at Yucatan. On November 25, 1940, she was united in marriage with Arthur Mierau. Before … [Read more...]
Rev. Father Joseph A. LaPlante
Rev. Father Joseph A. LaPlante, 90, passed away Sunday, January 20, 2019, at St. Elizabeth’s Nursing Home in Wabasha, Minn. Joseph Allen LaPlante was born December 6, 1928, in Rochester, Minn., to Walter and Hazel (Allen) LaPlante. He grew up in rural Chatfield on the family farm and attended country schools. As a high school freshman in 1946, he entered high school at … [Read more...]
Marguerite Hoffland
Marguerite Waunita Hoffland was born June 19, 1927, in rural Clear Lake, Iowa, to Clarence and Violet (Raymond) Hill. She graduated from the Clear Lake High School in 1945. She was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church in Clear Lake. In 1947 she was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She worked in the telephone office in Mason City and later in the office of the Clear … [Read more...]
Janice A. Merkel
Janice A. Merkel, 68, of Spring Valley, Minn., died unexpectedly on Friday, January 18, 2019, at St. Marys hospital in Rochester, Minn. Janice Ann Merkel was born in Minneapolis, Minn., on October 20, 1950, to Claus and Della (Kaerls) Ubben of Blue Earth, Minn. On July 22, 1972, Janice was married to Leslie Harold Merkel. Together Janice and Leslie had three girls: Sara, … [Read more...]
LaVern Vickerman
LaVern Vickerman, 89, of Mabel, Minn., died Friday, January 18, 2019, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. LaVern was born November 12, 1929, in Preble Township, Fillmore County, Minn., to Lillian Vickerman. When he was 18 years old, he moved to California and while working at a candy factory, met his future wife, Elaine De La Piedra. They were married on October 30, … [Read more...]
Government this week
Tuesday, January 22 • Fillmore County Commissioners, Courthouse, 9 a.m. • Preston City Council, Council Chambers, 6 p.m. • Fillmore Central School Board, High School Media Center, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 23 • Kingsland School Board, Choir Room, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 24 • Fillmore County Planning & Zoning, Courthouse, 7 p.m. Monday, January 28 • … [Read more...]
Correction
In the article titled “Whalan council holds swearing-in ceremony” published in the January 14, 2019, edition of the Fillmore County Journal, it was stated the chain, auger and shaft need to be replaced on the city sander. The cost of replacement would have been $7,000-$10,000. The council elected to have the sander repaired, not replaced, which will cost much less than the … [Read more...]
Border security: Facts and solutions
Bush 41. Clinton 42. Bush 43. Obama 44. Trump 45. Hillary Clinton. Senator Charles Schumer. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Household names in American politics, and all with something in common. Every one of them has written and spoken publicly about securing our southern border to stem the flow of illegal drugs, terrorists, contraband, and foreign criminals. All have advocated … [Read more...]
Minnesota weekly fuel update and outlook
January 7 — Gasoline prices in Minnesota have fallen 2.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.05/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 2,856 stations in Minnesota. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.0 cents per gallon versus last week to $2.22/g, according to GasBuddy. Average gasoline prices on January 7 in Minnesota have … [Read more...]