In January 2025, the Fillmore County Journal published a story in the annual Progress Edition titled “Root River Hardwoods’ 46-year Journey,” celebrating the growth of the company from humble beginnings. Right after the story appeared in the newspaper, it was announced that Root River Hardwoods, with locations in Preston, Minn., and Albert Lea, Minn., was sold to a company … [Read more...]
2025 Business Person of the Year – Mike Steien Receives 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...]
Liz Collin Keynote Speaker at GOP Event in Mabel
Roughly 300 people filled the Mabel Community Center on the evening of January 13 for an event organized by the Fillmore and Houston County GOP groups, coming from communities in Fillmore and Houston Counties along with Decorah, Rochester, Winona and communities in the Twin Cities area. After attendees participated in the Pledge of Allegiance and prayed during an invocation, … [Read more...]
DFL-Led Protesters Voice Their Concerns in Chatfield
On a typical blustery Minnesota winter January day with windchill bringing the temperature down to the normal zero degrees for this time of the year, a group of nearly 25 protestors gathered at the only stoplight in Fillmore County, Minn. Chatfield, Minn., known as the gateway to Bluff Country, presents a golden opportunity for protestors to take a stance from the park every … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… USPS Needs to Stand Up to Amazon
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com The United States Postal Service ended the 2025 fiscal year with approximately $80.5 billion in revenue, a 1.2% increase over 2024. In 2025, Amazon represented $6 billion of the USPS total revenue -- less than 7.5% of the operating income pie chart. I was actually surprised to … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… No More Penny For Your Thoughts?
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com Today’s editorial cartoon from Joe Heller references the loss of the penny, which almost seems unreal to me. But, there are reasons. Back in February 2025, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government would no longer produce the penny, citing the cost of production … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Thanks and Giving
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com It seems like the month of November moves along pretty fast. Thanksgiving Day arrives and before we know it we are gearing up for Christmas. This is a special time of year. Small Business Saturday This week’s newspaper includes a section promoting our local small businesses … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Ads You Can Trust
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com This past week, I heard the news that Mark Zuckerberg dropped from the third richest person in the world to sixth, watching his net worth decline by $29.2 billion. As his company Meta (Facebook) pivots resources to artificial intelligence, investors were left unsettled as the stock … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Passes Referendum, Rushford Council Changes
More than 60% of the Fillmore Central School District voters from Fountain, Harmony and Preston approved a proposed new referendum for general education revenue by $876 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. The referendum will be first levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026 and applicable for 10 years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as … [Read more...]
Real Bites: Burgers, Fish Frys and Community
Over the years, Rack’s Bar & Grill in Spring Valley, Minn., has become more than an award-winning restaurant. It’s become a place where the community gathers before and after the big game. It’s become a place where people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and delicious food. It’s a place where tourists see a parking lot full of vehicles, and they say, “This place must … [Read more...]