After several years, the Rushford Village Comprehensive Plan update is nearing completion. At the June 17 meeting, Community Economic Development Associates’ Community and Business Development Specialist Rebecca Charles presented the first draft of the plan. Comprehensive plans are meant to guide the city in long-term decision making. Charles completed the plan for the city as … [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 Accepts Resignation of Public Works Supervisor
At a special meeting, held June 11, the Rushford Village Council formally accepted the resignation of Public Works Supervisor Trenten Chiglo, who’s served the village since January 2021. Chiglo presented the letter of resignation May 28 to City Clerk Mary Miner, with his resignation effective June 13. The council received a second letter, with requests by Chiglo, ahead of the … [Read more...]
Peterson May See Added Parking
The Peterson Council gave a verbal blessing to Councilor Gail Boyum to seek cost estimates for a proposed project. At the June 11 meeting, Boyum indicated she is entertaining the idea of putting in diagonal parking on the north end of Centennial Street. Boyum owns two lots west of the intersection of Centennial Street and Mill Street as of January this year. Behind them lies … [Read more...]
Pickleball May Come to Fountain
At the June 4 meeting, Mayor Ron Reisner brought up a suggestion from resident Jason Sethre to convert the old volleyball courts to a pickleball court. The game is quickly increasing in popularity with courts and teams springing up in nearly every small town, many of them being funded according to Reisner. “It’s gotten to be a big thing,” said Councilor Jordan Kearns to the … [Read more...]
Village Public Works Supervisor Resigns
At the June 3 meeting, the Rushford Council briefly discussed the resignation of Public Works Supervisor Trenten Chiglo, effective June 13. Chiglo presented the letter of resignation May 28 to City Clerk Mary Miner. The council received a second letter, with requests by Chiglo, ahead of the council meeting on June 3. “I would like to see if we could table this resignation for … [Read more...]
Rushford Clarifies CEDA Program
The May 26 Rushford council meeting lacked a lot of regular agenda business, but what was discussed heavily during reports was the Business Growth Support Plan. The program is offered through the Rushford Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Community Economic Development Associates. The city has changed how it worked with CEDA in the past and is instead now utilizing them … [Read more...]
Village to Set Hearing on Ordinances
The quick May 20 Rushford Village Council meeting saw no official council action, beyond approval of minutes and financials. What was discussed again was the proposed alcohol and gambling ordinances. There are currently no ordinances for either in the Village. While this hasn’t caused significant problems in the past, with no bars or restaurants within village limits, Clerk … [Read more...]
Highland Cattle Flourish at Flatland Farm
According to 2023 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service data, the Minnesota beef cattle inventory was 360,000 head, including 15,800 head in Fillmore County and just 2,900 across the ‘border’ in Mower County. Just how many of these cattle are the more popular breeds - Black or Red Angus, Hereford, Simmental, or Charolais - doesn’t appear to be published widely, but … [Read more...]
Peterson Ponders Poultry
The issue of whether or not to amend a city ordinance to allow an expansion of allowable poultry was discussed once again at the May 14 Peterson City Council meeting. A resident request for the city to consider modifying the existing ordinance was first discussed at the April council meeting. At the time, the council wasn’t aware how broad the definition could expand and … [Read more...]
Rushford Reving up Awareness on Motorized Bikes
At the May 12 meeting, the Rushford Council reviewed a memo from the Wieser Law Office to the Rushford Police Chief regarding motorbikes on streets or highways. The question posed was whether electric motorbikes are street-legal. After researching a 60-volt motorcycle and Minnesota statutes, the conclusion is that they are not street legal. “A motorcycle is defined as ‘every … [Read more...]