In 2007, prior to the collapse of the economy during the financial crisis that led to a worldwide recession, there was a spike in births. The following year, births fell back to what was considered a normal trend. This became a historical point of reference because exactly 50 years prior, in 1957, America recognized the peak of the Baby Boom. There were 4,316,233 births … [Read more...]
Gateway Cafe Fire in Wykoff
At approximately 11 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, the Wykoff Fire Department was alerted to a structure fire at the Gateway Cafe in downtown Wykoff, Minn. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the restaurant will be closed for the foreseeable future. Spring Valley Fire Department provided mutual aid with Spring Valley EMR and the Fillmore County Sheriff’s … [Read more...]
2025 Volunteer of the Year Lisa Skifton
In 2024, Rushford’s long-time emergency responder Paul Corcoran was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year. This year, residing in the city of Houston, we have another worthy recipient. Lisa Skifton. Selfless, generous and kind. That’s how her nominator described her in just a few words. Previously, Lisa was a school psychologist in Winona for 21 years. In … [Read more...]
Drury’s 100 Years
Every building and every business has a history – a story to tell. And, this story started more than 100 years ago when founder, Reuben C. Drury, championed this venture in 1925. Reuben and his generations of successors have always known that it is about the people. It’s about the amazing and dedicated employees. It’s about exceeding customers’ expectations so they are … [Read more...]
Journal Receives 8 Awards at MNA Convention
In late January 2025, the Minnesota Newspaper Association released the results of the annual Better Newspaper Contest. There are 227 daily and weekly newspapers spanning the 87 counties that make up the State of Minnesota. Out of the 912 entries from all newspapers in the state, the Fillmore County Journal earned eight awards in the categories of advertising, editorial, and … [Read more...]
2024 Business Persons of the Year Ninnemans Receive Award of Excellence From Journal Readers
As a newspaper, we have an opportunity to bring people together for a common good. To inspire and foster positive news presented by our readers that lifts people up in the communities we serve. Starting in 2020, the staff at the Fillmore County Journal coordinated the first-ever recognition for the Business Person of the Year. The newspaper publishes a form to fill out … [Read more...]
Getting a Jump on College with PSEO
As students enter their final years of high school, they make plans for the future. For those wishing to attend college, they may be looking at an average cost of between $50,000 and $150,000 to complete a four-year program. But, what if they can cut that cost in half? More and more students are taking advantage of the opportunity to earn college credits with the Post … [Read more...]
Trump Wins Again – What About the Local Races?
The Presidential race was another one for the history books. In 2016, when Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, Trump prevailed with 304 electoral college votes compared to Clinton’s 227. In that race, Trump won the electoral college but had fewer popular votes than Clinton – a point of contention among some voters. Trump had 62,984,828 compared to Clinton’s 65,853,514 … [Read more...]
Absentee, Mail-in Ballots; Anticipating Voter Turnout
Are people voting earlier with the option of mail-in and absentee balloting? Houston County Auditor/Treasurer Polly Heberlein shared, “At this point, I can tell you that absentee voting is becoming more popular. I do not have any definite numbers relating to vote-in-advance versus Election Day. When trying to compare, scenarios are so different now than there were in … [Read more...]
Tasty Temptations Cookbook Deadline is October 25
It’s that time of year again. It’s time to start pulling out your favorite holiday family recipes for gatherings. In 2010, the Fillmore County Journal started publishing the first-ever “Tasty Temptations Cookbook,” full of recipes from the best cooks of Bluff Country throughout our coverage area. This year, 2024, marks our 15th annual cookbook, and we’re excited to share … [Read more...]
Stolen Political Signs, Homecoming Prank
On the morning of Friday, September 27, a few residents of Preston, Minn., awoke to find their political signs had been removed from their property. Initially, concerned individuals shared on social media that this was a politically targeted action carried out by those with opposing political views. According to Christine DeVries, co-chairing the Fillmore County DFL along … [Read more...]
Contested Races and Candidate Shortage
In the contested races, it’s always like a game of musical chairs. When the election is over, the results are tallied, the music stops, and only a select few will have a seat at the table. On the other side of the coin, when the community is short candidates, it’s a question of who wants the job. But what happens if nobody wants the job? According to the Fillmore County … [Read more...]
Fravel trial set to begin October 7
The trial charging Adam Fravel with murder is set to begin October 7, marking 16 months since Madeline Kingsbury’s body was discovered along Highway 43 between Mabel and Rushford, Minn. In June 2024, Zachary Bauer, the attorney representing Adam Fravel, sought a change of venue, citing the pre-trial publicity and community involvement as reasons for moving the trial out of … [Read more...]
Won’t You Take Me To Tiny Town
I recently had the pleasure of spending some time with the Huntingtons, and talking about a little town with a big draw that rests upon a hilltop on the backside of their farm. When Bob and Carol Huntington purchased their 168 acre farm back in December 1979, they probably didn’t envision how this property would some day become the center of attention for their … [Read more...]
Davids Will Face Wolf in November
The primary election, held on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, presented another opportunity for voters to make decisions about who they want to represent them during the next election cycle. Here’s how the numbers stacked up. Congressional District 1 Incumbent Brad Finstad reeled in 30,058 votes, locking in 90.90% of the Republican votes necessary to retain his spot on the … [Read more...]