A public hearing was held at the beginning of the November 12 Harmony City Council meeting to discuss the 2024 street and utility project assessments. City Engineer Brett Grabau stated that three different areas of improvement were done during the project and each one had varying assessment unit prices. The total project costs were $1,796,359.70 with assessed costs coming to … [Read more...]
Articles by Hannah Wingert
Reporter
hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Fillmore Central Reviews Audit Report
The November 13 Fillmore Central School Board meeting opened with the 2023-2024 audit report from Jason Boynton of Smith Schafer. An unmodified clean opinion was issued for the report. Boynton noted that funding for the district is driven by the average daily membership, which has decreased by 50 students overall since 2017. The revenues for the general fund was higher than the … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Continues Partnership with SMIF
At the November 4 Lanesboro City Council meeting, Philanthropy Director of SMIF Aaron Johnson reviewed what SMIF does for Southern Minnesota with the council, noting that $14 million has been invested in Fillmore County so far. SMIF supports entrepreneurs, early childhood development, and community vitality. Johnson thanked the city of Lanesboro for its support over the years … [Read more...]
Meet the New Fillmore Central Teachers
Belle Berg, the new Third grade teacher at Fillmore Central, graduated from Chatfield High School and earned a degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement from Luther College. She was inspired to become a teacher by her late grandmother, Linda Schulz, who was Berg’s elementary school secretary. “She touched so many lives, and I can only hope to make a difference … [Read more...]
Dance Class Starts Up at Fillmore Central
At the October 22 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, it was noted that the winter sports season is starting up soon. Only four students have signed up for the dance class which requires a minimum of five participants to compete. The hope is that once it gets started, it may attract more interest. Fifty-four students have registered for boys basketball and 39 for girls … [Read more...]
Debate Continues Over Proposed Ordinances Regarding Lanesboro Library
The October 7 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with two public hearings. The first hearing was regarding the proposed city ordinances 31.80, 31.82, 31.82, and 31.83 about the library board. Multiple community members spoke out against the proposed ordinances. Anna Loney presented a petition with 178 names asking the council not to change the library board to advisory. She … [Read more...]
Harmony Council Approves Variance Request for Monster Bash
At the October 8 Harmony City Council meeting, the consent agenda was approved and included the minutes of the September 17, the claims and September checks, the cash in CD, the cash balances, and a thank you letter from SMIF for the city’s recent donation. The council reviewed and approved change order #1 for the street and utility project as recommended by city engineer … [Read more...]
Young Harmony Couple Fights ALS with Hope
When Beth Syverson first noticed some weakness in her leg and ankle in the summer of 2023, she assumed it would improve on its own. “I thought maybe I pulled something,” she explained. But then it started getting worse so she decided a trip to the doctor was in order. She left the clinic that day with a referral to neurology. In January 2024, Beth had an electromyography, or … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Tackle Cancer Fundraiser a Success
At the September 24 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Heath Olstad updated the board on the Tackle Cancer efforts by staff and families. The total raised was around $10,000. He thanked everyone who worked, provided, participated and donated to the event. This week is homecoming week, which Olstad noted always includes an extra level of energy from the students. The … [Read more...]
Homeschooling and Extracurriculars: What’s Legal?
In 1987, homeschooling officially became legal in Minnesota. At the beginning of 2020, the US Census showed that 4.6% of students in Minnesota were being homeschooled, but by October of that same year, that number had risen to 9.7% and continues to grow each year. Nationwide, 11.1% of students were being homeschooled at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. Those … [Read more...]