Last month, the R-P School Board briefly discussed the process and timeline for the hiring of a new superintendent. Chuck Ehler, who has served as superintendent since July 2007, will not seek a new contract to renew his contract for the 2019-2020 school year. At the Monday, October 15 meeting, Ehler brought forth consideration of added services from the Minnesota School Board … [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 discusses Featherstone watershed
A quick-paced Village meeting, Tuesday, October 16, saw the council touch briefly on eight public works-related items and only one other item. Councilor Dennis Overland was absent from the meeting. First up, Mayor Gordon Johnson detailed plans for protection of the Featherstone Farms watershed. According to Johnson, the organic vegetable and fruit farm has a large well and … [Read more...]
Peterson preps for action on non-compliant properties
Peterson City Attorney Greg Schieber, of Nethercut Schieber Attorneys, was present at the October 10 council meeting to discuss a draft ordinance for the regulation of public nuisances within the city. The goal of the ordinance has been to provide in-depth definition of city guidelines and to give the city a wider array of options for dealing with non-compliance. The city has … [Read more...]
Fountain adjusts past due utility guidelines
In a council meeting just topping 15 minutes, the Fountain Council briefly hit at a few items including the community center and past due utility issues, a contract, police department status, the final adoption a wastewater plan, and annual renewals. In new business, City Clerk Rhonda Flattum noted that a number of accounts are past due and Public Works had posted seven shut … [Read more...]
Rushford Village approves maintenance agreement
The Tuesday, October 2 Rushford Village Council meeting was business as usual with a short agenda and brisk meeting. Other than approvals for minutes and financials, the council reviewed just one agenda item. The council unanimously approved a maintenance agreement with Minnesota Pump Works, of Dundas, Minn., for annual maintenance of the lift station. The contract included a … [Read more...]
Rushford approves AcenTek agreement and fee
At the Monday, September 24 Rushford Council meeting, the council unanimously agreed upon a new franchise agreement with AcenTek, including the implementation of related fees. Doing so will require amendments to the city’s ordinance granting the franchise to Ace Telephone Association/AcenTek for the operation and maintenance of the cable televising system. A public hearing will … [Read more...]
Rushford farm upgrades to solar
With the costs related to farming on the rise, Rushford resident and farmer Jon Peterson is always on the lookout for ways to increase efficiencies and maintain sustainability efforts. This May, Peterson and his family installed a 37.5 kilowatt-generating solar array at Hill Vue Farm, their 800-acre organic farm. “This was really the only option we considered,” says Peterson. … [Read more...]
R-P receives bussing complaints; preps for new superintendent
The Monday, September 17 Rushford-Peterson School Board received several complaints from local childcare providers. During the time for public comment, Heidi Halvorson and Chellsey Olson brought forth a number of safety concerns for the children under their care utilizing the district’s bussing service. According to Halvorson, this year, Bernard Bus Service has begun to drop … [Read more...]
Reducing electrical hazards on the farm
With the onset of electrical service to farms throughout the mid-century, rural families and businesses were aided in efficiency, hygienic practices, food storage/handling, and some impressive mechanical equipment upgrades. However, a whole new series of potential hazards were added and even today, are worth noting as the harvest season looms. The obvious hazards, shock to … [Read more...]
Peterson Council meets prospective school buyer
Near the conclusion of the Wednesday, September 12 meeting, the Peterson Council had the opportunity to meet Roger Anderson, representing the Anderson Maplewood Group. The group is in the final stages of a sale with Rushford-Peterson School District to purchase the former R-P Middle School in Peterson. “The idea is to go ahead and reinvent the school; to make it a school for … [Read more...]