The Fountain City Council held a special meeting on March 12 to discuss the unpaid suspension of Public Works Director John Hanson. In attendance at the meeting was the full council, City Attorney Frederick Suhler, and Preston Police Chief Blaise Sass. Also in attendance at the meeting was Rick Whitney, Laurie Ann Bellinger, and Jason Sethre, Fillmore County Journal. Absent … [Read more...]
Kirsten Zoellner
Reporter
kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Kirsten has been a reporter for Fillmore County Journal since 2008. No awards to date, but her mother finds her articles riveting. She enjoys shining a light on the great people and events in the county and has aspirations to someday write a novel about them. A native of Rushford, she is a member of Root River Community Church, co-founder of Odyssey Homeschool Association, and was the founder for the Rushford-Peterson Valley Farmers' Market.
When not writing, Kirsten happily spends her time raising a family alongside Joel, her husband of 18 years. She homeschools their six children (Evin, Lauren, Logan, Ada, Kathleen, and Emelia) and does her best to ensure domestic bliss. Kirsten is an advocate for conservation and homesteading and operates Liten Dal Farm, where the family raises dairy goats, pastured poultry and hogs, alpacas, a few steers, and horses. Hobbies other than juggling include the outdoors, reading, vegetable gardening, cheesemaking, fermenting various things in Ball jars, and making everything from scratch despite the fact that it probably costs more.
Kirsten and her family proudly reside in rural Fountain on her great-great-grandfather's farm.
You can follow more about Kirsten on the family's Facebook page, Liten Dal Farm, or their blog: ourprairienest.wordpress.com.
Village Battles Through Blizzard
Truck issues continue to frustrate the Rushford Village Council and the situation is frustrating residents as well. At the March 17 council meeting, Councilor Mike Ebner provided an update on the status of the Freightliner truck. A truck that the village has had since just May 2022, but that has seen two front-end failures and one rear differential failure and cost the village … [Read more...]
Rushford Approves HazMat Survey
At the March 9 meeting, the Rushford Council zipped through the agenda, which included upcoming asbestos testing, the attempted sale of the former ambulance rig, and a permit for The Mill on Rush Creek (the former Hoiland Mill). Added to the agenda was approval of a lease agreement for the historic depot building. First up, the council unanimously approved a proposal for the … [Read more...]
Peterson Authorizes Application or Funding
The March 11 Peterson meeting, the city council was noticeably smaller than normal, just meeting quorum. Councilors Gail Boyum and Tracy Seelbinder, in a planned absence, were representing the city at the state capitol. The council unanimously authorized application or Lead Replacement Funding. This follows as part of the federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. Peterson … [Read more...]
Fountain Public Works Director Placed on Leave
At the March 4 meeting, it was made known that the city of Fountain placed Public Works Director John Hanson on unpaid suspension February 20. In attendance at the meeting, in addition to the full council, were Hanson, City Attorney Frederick Suhler and Preston Police Chief Blaise Sass, at the request of the city, and Public Works employee Jordan Amunrud joining via telephone. … [Read more...]
Village Hits Another Truck Roadblock
At the March 3 meeting, the Rushford Village Council Public Works Supervisor Darrin Dessner and Councilor Mike Enber informed the council of yet more continued problems with its Freightliner truck. The village experienced front-end issues with its previous truck and ordered a new truck in 2021. The build was completed in May 2022. It was sent to Syverson Truck Center to … [Read more...]
Village Nears Program Revamping
After months of discussion, the Rushford Village Council is nearing the end of plans to update its longtime revolving loan program. Initially developed in 2012 after substantial flooding damage in the valley, the program sat stagnant for years. Admittedly different from other cities, with no downtown business district, the demand for the business loans has been slow to … [Read more...]
Peterson Discusses Resort Development; Revival
At the February 11 meeting, the Peterson Council heard from the developers of the proposed River Valley Resort. Area residents Matt and Jenny Helgemoe, who own a piece of agricultural land adjacent to the city, are in the process of developing a phased campground resort. According to City Clerk Chris Grindland, the plans currently include 25-50 campsites with the potential for … [Read more...]
Rushford Offers Administrator Position to Candidate
The Rushford City Council opted to interview its city administrator candidate in an open setting at the February 9 meeting. Rushford native Hayden Stensgard sat in the hot seat while Mayor Leigh Volkman asked a series of questions submitted by the council and reviewed for legality by the city attorney. Having grown up in the community, graduating from Rushford-Peterson … [Read more...]
Immediate Needs for Fountain Plant and Well House
At the February 4 meeting, the Fountain council received an update from contracted water treatment plant consultant Rick Whitney. Whitney and City Public Works Director John Hanson are methodically going through the plant to make sure it’s fully functional, maintained, and that it continues compliance. In January, there were additional items discovered needing immediate … [Read more...]