On the first day of 2018, at approximately 9 a.m., I traveled from our home in Fountain to the Fillmore County Journal office in Preston. It was a frigid morning with the combination of wind chill and temperature dipping down around negative 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Just after passing over Watson Creek, on the right (west) side of Highway 52, I saw a large dead bird resting on … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Teamwork and sportsmanship
What are we teaching our kids? I recently attended both seventh and eighth grade girls basketball games in a school district in a land not-so-far away. At this event, I witnessed something quite disappointing. Much to my dismay, the referees didn’t appear to care about the safety of the players. They rarely called fouls, charging, traveling, or double-dribble. As I said … [Read more...]
A cold fire in the valley
It was a cold, long night in the Village of Fillmore, on the outskirts of Wykoff. Down in the valley, ash and snow fell in tandem as firefighters battled a house fire at Virginia Winslow’s property while enduring subzero temperatures. The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a 911 call at 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, from the resident at … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Who is responsible for making our downtown communities thrive?
That has become the age old question. As a board member of the Preston Area Chamber of Commerce, I recently had someone ask me what the Chamber was doing about stimulating the downtown business community. Before I tell you how I responded, I’ll give you a little background. Over the past 40 years, many downtown communities have lost something they will never regain. … [Read more...]
Gophers will be floating in a new pool
In the November 7, 2017 ,election, the City of Chatfield answered the following question: Shall the City of Chatfield, Minnesota, be authorized to issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $4,402,000 to finance the acquisition and betterment of a new swimming pool? Out of 433 voters, 237 voted yes while 196 said nay. The referendum passed with nearly 55% … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Turkey Day Run registration deadline is November 10
On Thursday, November 23, 2017, the Fillmore County Turkey Day Run will celebrate nine years of gobblin’ on the gravy train. The 10.3-mile event takes runners, bikers, walkers, and dog-walkers along the scenic stretch of the Root River State Bike Trail from the starting point of Riverside on the Root in Lanesboro, Minn., all the way to Trailhead Inn & Suites in Preston, … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Recognizing the importance of volunteerism
On Wednesday, September 6, I had the opportunity to be a part of something pretty special. Tonya Keim was going to be recognized as the KTTC AmaZing Woman, and I was asked to come and say a few words about Tonya’s contributions to our community and how she has impacted the lives of others. The KTTC TV crew was slated to arrive at Harmony Kids Learning Center, where Tonya … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Our blank front page?
I know what you’re thinking. We screwed up the front page this week! No, trust me, we didn’t. We intentionally published nothing on the front page to make a statement. This statement was originally fostered by a committee at the Minnesota Newspaper Association. To be quite frank, at first I wasn’t keen on this idea. All newspapers in 87 counties in the State of … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… A child’s knife at the Fillmore County Fair
My how times have changed. As often happens between parents and their children, remnants of their past are passed along from one generation to the next. When I was in my early teen years, my father gave me a number of items he accumulated in his younger years. Among the items was a leather handkerchief box. I’m sure you’d be hard pressed to find one of these in any store … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Adopt-a-Sidewalk?
A couple of weeks ago, I was standing in Root River State Bank in Chatfield, preparing for a meeting with soon-to-be-retired Diane Meeker and recently hired Teresa Narveson. President and CEO Chuck Johnson, Jr., had requested my help with recognizing both of these individuals in upcoming issues of the Fillmore County Journal. As with most community banks, while you stand … [Read more...]