Since worldwide tracking of COVID-19 began on January 23, 2020, there have been 36,265,982 total cases (up from 34,080,123 a week ago) with 1,057,505 fatalities (up from 1,015,815 a week ago) — 2.91% of total cases (down from 3.05% a week ago). In the United States, there have been 7,640,982 total cases (up from 7,335,558 a week ago) resulting in 214,947 deaths (up from … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Fire departments will need your help
This week is Fire Prevention Week, which also most likely means that fire departments throughout the region will be conducting their annual fall fundraiser. For many departments, this may be their only fundraiser for all of 2020. Many departments will coordinate a chicken dinner, a dance, or a gun raffle. But, with COVID-19 halting many activities involving large … [Read more...]
COVID-19 update as of October 1, 2020
Since worldwide tracking of COVID-19 began on January 23, 2020, there have been 34,080,123 total cases (up from 31,993,442 a week ago) with 1,015,815 fatalities (up from 978,369 a week ago) — 2.98% of total cases (down from 3.05% a week ago). In the United States, there have been 7,335,558 total cases (up from 7,044,888 a week ago) resulting in 210,357 deaths (up from 205,553 … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Meet the candidates
As of the date of this publication, we are 37 days away from Election Day. This is an important ingredient of our democracy. Over the course of the next few weeks, our staff at the Fillmore County Journal will be coordinating a feature titled “Meet the Candidates.” This is something we do every year in order to help our readers understand who they may be voting for in the … [Read more...]
Pages from the past
When David Phillips made plans for closing his six newspapers on Friday, March 27, 2020, including Bluff Country Reader, The Chatfield News, Fillmore County News Leader, Rushford Tri-County Record, Spring Grove Herald and Spring Valley Tribune, the Fillmore County Journal purchased the assets of his newspapers. Along with purchasing the trade names of each newspaper, we also … [Read more...]
Fourth winner of the summer
Nathan Every of Chatfield, Minn., won the brand new Grizzly Cooler 40 from a drawing held on August 31, 2020. On August 31, 2020, Visit Bluff Country Magazine conducted the fourth prize giveaway drawing of the summer, which was a brand new Grizzly Cooler 40. As the magazine celebrates 35 years as the premier tourism publication of Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless … [Read more...]
Area schools absorb MSHSL financial woes
The Minnesota State High School League is certainly not immune to the affects of the coronavirus. Not the disease, necessarily, but the financial impact of shutting down high school sports. On Friday, March 13, 2020, when the girls state basketball tournament came to a screeching halt, that was the beginning of a long downward spiral for the MSHSL — and everyone seated on … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Complacency is not an option
Over the past several months, as newspaper people we have done our best to cover what we were allowed to cover from a news perspective. Honestly, sometimes it felt like we couldn’t win either way. One day, we’d receive a phone call from a reader saying, “I only see obituaries, city council and school board meetings in your newspaper. There’s nothing else.” My response. … [Read more...]
Real Bites
Pedal Pushers Cafe Do you ever have one of those days when you get so busy that you forget to eat? And then long after lunch time, your stomach reminds you that you’re running on empty. This past week, I had one of those busy days. And, I had some traveling to do. So, I called Pedal Pushers Cafe for a carryout order. They’re one of our family’s favorite stops. There … [Read more...]
COVID-19 update as of September 17, 2020
Since worldwide tracking of COVID-19 began on January 23, 2020, there have been 29,960,718 total cases (up from 27,933,388 a week ago) with 942,631 fatalities (up from 905,181 a week ago) — 3.15% of total cases (down from 3.24% a week ago). In the United States, there have been 6,724,179 total cases (up from 6,471,218 a week ago) resulting in 199,746 deaths (up from 194,367 a … [Read more...]