While there have been many local family-owned newspapers that have either been sold to a corporation or simply closed, the Fillmore County Journal has been fortunate to remain healthy and sustainable. But, this is only possible because we have an amazing team working at the newspaper and a tremendously supportive community. We have readers who help guide the ship for what … [Read more...]
Expansion and New Ventures Based on Talent
After Amanda and I purchased the Fillmore County Journal in 2009, I started to recognize underserved opportunities in the market. Based on the talent we’ve attracted, I have always considered our company to be media, marketing and technology focused. SMG Web Design Many businesses were seeking web design services outside of the area, so we launched SMG Web Design in … [Read more...]
One Employee Spanning 35 Years
The history of the Fillmore County Journal would not be complete without mentioning the impact of one key employee that worked for all three newspaper owners. Sherry Hines, who resides in Harmony, Minn., started working for the Journal in 1986, just one year after its inception. She worked in advertising sales for the Fillmore County Journal and Visit Bluff Country Magazine … [Read more...]
Making the News for Over 40 Years
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! This is a special edition of the Fillmore County Journal as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of publishing this community newspaper. What makes this so special is that we have an opportunity to celebrate something that rarely happens with community newspapers – especially these days. While corporations have gobbled up community … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Movies Theaters and Social Engagement
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com As of July 27, 2025, the city of Rochester only has one movie theater. CMX Chateau, one of the biggest movie theaters in Rochester, closed, leaving only Marcus Rochester Cinema left to serve a booming population currently approaching 124,000. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Leaving Hawaii for Bluff Country?
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com I wear a number of hats, besides working at the newspaper. One of my jobs, which I thoroughly enjoy, is delivering copies of the Visit Bluff Country Magazine to locations all throughout Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. While recently making my rounds in Rochester, Minn., I stopped … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Another New Feature: Arts & Entertainment
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com Each year, our team at the newspaper discusses ways in which we can create more story sharing opportunities for the sake of our readers and advertisers. We discuss the presentation of the content, story selection ideas, and how we can involve the supportive and connected business … [Read more...]
The Baby Boomlet Graduates – How the Class of 2025 Made History
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...]