Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com The battle to keep jobs in America has been ongoing for decades. This past week, we learned that Caledonia is contending with the loss of more than 80 jobs as a result of Rawlings Sporting Goods closing the local Miken Sports facility, a manufacturer of Major League Baseball helmets and bats for … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Declining population?
You may have read in the news that the world population is on the decline. According to a July 15, 2020, article on BBC News, “Falling fertility rates mean nearly every country could have shrinking populations by the end of the century. And 23 nations – including Spain and Japan – are expected to see their populations halve by 2100. Countries will also age dramatically, … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… USPS postage increase
Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com Building materials, vehicles, real estate, and gas prices have been on the rise. Inflation, some might say. Add postage to that list. Effective January 24, 2021, the United States Postal Service implemented their regularly scheduled rate increase. That January rate increase happens every year … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Honoring essential workers beyond the pandemic
Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com On August 15, 2020, Bill Funk (owner of Bill Funk Trucking in Chatfield, Minn.) led a convoy of truck from town to town: Canton, Harmony, Preston, Ostrander, Grand Meadow, Spring Valley, Wykoff, Fountain, Chatfield, Eyota, and ended at St. Charles. It was a great success, and even raised over $3,000 … [Read more...]
Spring Valley graduates keep the wheels turning from afar
“A century bike race has originated from Spring Valley for 12 consecutive years,” shared Paul Vogel, one of the current event organizers. For nine of those years, it was known as The Almanzo 100. When the primary event organizer transferred the event to Northfield, Minn., the Spring Valley 100 was born. One year later, The Almanzo bike race name was retired. The SV 100 event … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… The word that best describes the Class of 2021
Adaptable. The Class of 2020 unexpectedly ended their school year apart, with the pandemic crashing the party like a giant wrecking ball in motion. For the Class of 2021, it wasn’t going to get any easier. But, for this group of seniors, it was all about adaptability. They had to learn from home, interacting with their classmates and teachers online. Then there … [Read more...]
Walz, vaccines and COVID-19
On May 6, 2021, Minnesota Governor Walz announced his plans to phase out of all restrictions by May 28. And, this included the elimination of the mask mandate by July 1 as soon as 70% of all Minnesotans 16 and older are vaccinated. Effective May 28, capacity restrictions on indoor events will be lifted for bars and restaurants. Gyms, pools and fitness centers will be … [Read more...]
Theft of catalytic converters
Over the past several months, catalytic converters have been a hot ticket item for thieves. According to Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge, they have recorded 14 thefts and attempted thefts in the past two months. “We currently have open and active investigations involving specific suspects. Those cases will be reviewed for charges.” In Mower County, Sheriff Steve … [Read more...]
Real Bites
Branding Iron It was a Tuesday night, which is taco night at the Branding Iron. Dale and Becky Koch, owners of the restaurant, have done an outstanding job. They have been a part of this iconic establishment for many years, cooking, serving, and doing any other job that needed to be done. When they purchased the Branding Iron a few years ago from the Bahl family, it was … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Excessive unemployment compensation stifles job growth
On May 7, 2021, the New York Times published an article titled, “Job Growth Slowed in April, Muddling Expectations.” NT Times Reporter Patricia Cohen introduced the piece with, “The American jobs machine tottered last month, confounding optimistic forecasts of the labor market’s recovery and sharpening debates over the impact of federal pandemic-related jobless benefits on … [Read more...]