With new R-P Superintendent Jon Thompson at the helm, the school board appears to be making steady progress on getting any needed modifications and updates in place prior to the start of the 2019-2020 school year. At the Monday, August 19 meeting, Thompson asked the board to consider open enrollment policy revision. “I’m asking the board to do this a little differently,” … [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.
Rushford Village moves forward with mutual aid agreements
With the onslaught of heavy rains this spring and summer, the City of Rushford Village found a need for outside help. Emergency situations, such as pumping stormwater, cleanup efforts, and road washouts, while managed well by public works, suggested a need for mutual aid between the city and willing townships and municipalities. At the August 6 meeting, Mayor Gordon Johnson … [Read more...]
Rushford leads the pack with the state’s first parklet
Rushford is in a unique position when it comes to downtown beautification and must abide by often binding restrictions on a tree-lined downtown, added plantscapes, and business signage. “Rushford is different than other towns. Their main street isn’t a state highway and their second main street isn’t a state highway…” said Mayor Chris Hallum at the August 12 council … [Read more...]
Peterson puts hold on street considerations
The Peterson City Council met Wednesday, August 14 and the biggest topic of discussion continues to be what to do with city streets. Several areas are badly in need of repair and the city is still getting a handle on what condition underground utilities are in. In trying to make a determination of the financial impact a street project would have on the city, proposals were … [Read more...]
Fountain under new wastewater contract
At the Wednesday, August 7 meeting, the Fountain City Council approved rescinding a decision made at the July meeting to utilize a PointWatch system as of August 1. The system, a remote monitoring system, is provided by MMS Environmental isn’t yet installed and running at the wastewater treatment plant. Instead, the council made a new motion to move forward with … [Read more...]
Rushford Village talks water woes and road repairs
By now, it’s no secret that Rushford Village is looking at making some serious changes to South Rushford to mitigate water problems that have plagued the area this year. The council has been discussing the issues and possible solutions since 2016. The area is considered rural street type, without gutters and storm drains, and has a system of culverts and ditches in place to … [Read more...]
Driftless Goat Company; setting the stage for restoration
Living in arguably one of the most breathtaking natural areas, we often see the lush rolling hills, dense forests, and golden prairies at face value. We forget that they have been roamed, managed by farm and land owners, and altered by years of interaction by humans. A shift in balance between soil, land, plant, and animal has resulted in reduction of quality and sustainability … [Read more...]
Rushford sets hearing for ordinance; looks to future
While the Monday, July 22 Rushford Council meeting had a smaller agenda than normal, discussion of topics was robust and included plenty of items to take notice of. Garnering the largest conversation during the meeting was the setting of a public hearing for the purpose of approving an update to an ordinance granting a franchise to Ave Telephone Association DBA/Acentek. This … [Read more...]
Rushford Village gets word on drainage issues
At the Tuesday, July 16 Rushford Village Council meeting, the city received word from Bolton & Menk Engineer Derek Olinger regarding a drainage analysis of south Rushford. The area has been inundated with water several times this year including one event that led to scrambling of services to pump water. Olinger noted that the analysis is not a final report and additional … [Read more...]
R-P finds new buyer for Peterson building
Having vacated the site in August 2017, the Rushford-Peterson School Board has sought a buyer for the former Rushford-Peterson Middle School building since last year. Two bids were previously approved, then fell short, but it appears the district now has a solid buyer for the site. He even came with check in tow to the Monday, July 15 board meeting. The R-P Facilities … [Read more...]