The September 7 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with a public hearing on the proposed sidewalk assessments. As there were no questions or comments from the public, the hearing was closed and the regular meeting was opened. The consent agenda was approved and included accounts payable, early closings at noon on September 22 and October 8 for the city office, the MMUA … [Read more...]
Articles by Hannah Wingert
Reporter
hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Lanesboro school finalizes back to school plans
At the August 19 Lanesboro School Board meeting, Superintendent Matt Schultz updated the board on the district’s plans for the upcoming school year. School starts on September 7, but back-to-school conferences will be held on September 7 and 8 so the students’ first official day will be on September 9. Teachers who are in their first three years of teaching will start on August … [Read more...]
Yard signs promote Preston as Veteran Friendly Community
They’ve been popping up in yards and outside of local businesses around Preston. The white signs with blue and red lettering declaring “Proud to live in a veteran friendly community” are becoming more popular and they aren’t just for residents of Preston. Preston Area Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Director, and EDA Director Gabby Kinneberg noted that the signs were designed … [Read more...]
Lanesboro council considers tax abatement for proposed housing development
The August 2 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with a public hearing for a video franchise agreement ordinance. No one from the public was present with questions or comments and the hearing was closed. A second public hearing was then opened to discuss the tax abatement request for G-Cubed Development’s proposed housing project. There were no questions or comments from the … [Read more...]
Chatfield community theatre celebrates its 50th production, with Wits’ End’s The Addams Family
For 51 years, the Wits’ End Theatre, known as Western Days Musical Productions until 2004, has regaled spellbound audiences with its shows at the Chatfield Center for the Arts. This year marks their 50th production and, once again, it is going to be a good one. It’s a classic comedy, known for it’s “snappy” theme song, disembodied hand, and a dark sense of humor. The Addams … [Read more...]
F & M Community Bank celebrates 110 years in business
It’s been 110 years since F & M Community Bank first opened its doors in Preston, and its been serving and giving back to the community ever since. Originally named Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Preston, it first operated out of a building on Main Street which still bears its name carved in the stone above its columns. The bank was started by a group of 31 local … [Read more...]
Long-time business manager at Fillmore Central retires
At the July 27 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, the board accepted the resignation of business manager, Kathy Whalen, with thanks extended for her 30 years of service. “It’s been a rewarding career,” Whalen said. “It’s hard to say goodbye.” Special Education director Micki Breitsprecher thanked the board for renewing her contract for another two years. The Special … [Read more...]
Lots of summer activity at Lanesboro School
At the July 15 Lanesboro School Board meeting, Superintendent Matt Schultz updated the council on the facilities project. The flooring for the indoor playground has been installed and the garage doors separating the area from the new gym have been as well. The daycare playground equipment is in the process of being moved to its new location. The custodial crew has been staying … [Read more...]
Harmony citywide clean-up day well received by residents
Harmony resident Robert Tieffenbacher addressed the council during the public forum portion of the July 13 Harmony City Council meeting. He was pleased with how well the citywide clean-up day went and appreciated the opportunity to get rid of an appliance and some old furniture. He noted that it was the first clean-up day he’d experienced since moving to Harmony 25 years ago, … [Read more...]
Harmony Transit changes hands as Mark Scheevel retires
For over two decades, Mark Scheevel has driven Fillmore Central students to school, but now he’s hanging up his bus keys and moving on to retirement. “It’s been 25 years to the day,” he said, explaining that the day he started Harmony Transit and the day he sold it were exactly 25 years apart. Scheevel plans to stick around through the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year to … [Read more...]
Big changes for Old Barn Resort thanks to pandemic
It’s been an interesting and rough year for many businesses and that definitely rings true for the Old Barn Resort outside of Preston. Last summer, its opening was delayed by several months until June, and the day-to-day operations had to change and adapt to the pandemic. Overall though, owners and brothers-in-law Travis Dundore and Eric Brenna feel that most of the changes … [Read more...]
Lanesboro school unveils 2021-2022 return to school plan
Superintendent Matt Schultz reviewed the district’s plan for the upcoming school year with the Lanesboro School Board at their June 17 meeting. The school was able to adapt the standard business preparedness plan from the state of Minnesota and also used data from a survey that was sent to parents of Lanesboro students. Only one parent surveyed said that they did not want their … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central approves transportation contract as Harmony Transit changes hands
The Fillmore Central School Board reviewed the 2021-2023 transportation contract with Harmony Transit at their June 22 meeting. Harmony Transit Inc. has been sold to Faribault Transportation. The name will remain the same except that Inc. will change to LLC. Superintendent Heath Olstad, Principal Jim Peters, and school board member Jim Love met with representatives of Faribault … [Read more...]
Mural in Cherry Grove celebrates the plane heard round the world
“We just thought there had to be some way to keep this legend alive,” Bernis Finke said. “Between the two of us, we decided something needed to be done.” She and her husband John Finke grew up watching Pietenpol airplanes being built and flown in Cherry Grove and are concerned about that important part of Cherry Grove’s history being forgotten. While trying to come up with a … [Read more...]
Former Lanesboro Arts Center director says goodbye to Lanesboro
Former Executive Director of the Lanesboro Arts Center, John Davis, was present at the June 7 Lanesboro City Council meeting to formally say goodbye to the council and give an update on what he’s been doing for the last few years since retiring as the arts center director. Davis, who is moving away from Lanesboro after living there for the last 21 years, was awarded a … [Read more...]