At the July 28 city council meeting, Councilor Sally Ryman provided an update regarding the 11th annual Bluff Land Triathlon on August 18. The event is a fundraising event for the Foundation for R-P Schools and takes advantage of the natural beauty of the valley and bluffs. The triathlon includes a 15.5 mile bike, 3.1 mile run, and a 2.1 mile hike. Participants can enter … [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 Approves Final Plan
The Rushford Village approved its final Community Economic Development Associates’ comprehensive plan at the July 15 meeting. New CEDA consultant for the village, Jayme Longmire, also outlined options for the future of contracted work with the organization. She identified options at this time. First, the contract can be stopped at any time with 30 days’ notice. Secondly, the … [Read more...]
Rushford Weighing Coop Scenarios
The city of Rushford is exploring potential redevelopment options for the former Farmers Coop site. While not formal proposals, the four scenarios provide working models to estimate costs and test possible site uses. These concepts are intended to spark conversation - not to represent final plans or decisions,” said City Administrator Tony Chladek in a report to the city … [Read more...]
Village Audited; Wades Through Public Works Items
At the July 1 meeting, the Rushford Village Council welcomed Bill Sherry from Engleson & Associates. Sherry presented the summary findings of the 2024 audit. The village was issued a clean audit. Limited segregation of duties was noted as a risk, as is noted annually. “There’s not a whole lot going on,” said Sherry. Total cash and investments increased $100,000 last … [Read more...]
Village Comp Plan Nears Completion
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...]
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...]