Rod Darr, representing Darr Realty, was present at the Monday, September 10 Rushford Council meeting to seek a one-year renewal on the city’s contract, aimed at selling of city-owned lots, specifically in Himlie Park. The current contract expires October 15. The partnership has been successful in securing two closings and one pending sale on three of the nine lots. Created in … [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.
Preston native earns prestigious award
Ryan Quanrud recalls always wanting to serve in law enforcement. “It was always something I wanted to do; since I was a little kid. I just knew I was going to be a police officer,” he says. Growing up, Quanrud saw the life of emergency services first hand. Both his father and grandfather served with the Preston Fire Department. His grandfather also worked as a probation … [Read more...]
Preston’s JailHouse Inn – A Bed & Breakfast worth going to jail for
Preston’s only and longtime bed & breakfast, the JailHouse Inn, has new owners and they’re a perfect match for each other. Dorle Kaase, along with husband, Tom, who is the Fillmore County Sheriff, purchased the historic 1869 gem July 31. “Running a Bed & Breakfast has been a dream of mine off and on for many years,” says Dorle Kaase. “ I never thought it would become a … [Read more...]
Rushford Village looking ahead to system data collection
The Rushford Village Council met Tuesday, September 4. Of the few agenda items, the one that garnered the most conversation was with guest Tom Kopperud, of NES (Norman’s Electric Service). The topic was the possible installation of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for the city well and lift station. Kopperud discussed options related to a 2012 quote … [Read more...]
Future of Fountain’s chicken ordinance heads back to zoning board
In August, the Fountain Council voted to place the hotly debated issue over the keeping of chickens within city limits on the November ballot. At the time, City Attorney Dwight Luhmann recommended against the decision, instead recommending the issue go back to Planning and Zoning for review. He suggested the board put together a potential Chicken Ordinance and bring a … [Read more...]
Rushford Council approves lot sale
The last remaining lot in Rush Creek Business Park, 900 Enterprise Drive, will be the future home of Volkman Auto Body. The City of Rushford received an offer, through Darr Realty, from Leigh and Kayla Volkman, and the council approved it unanimously at the August 27 meeting. The amount is comparable to other per acre values in the industrial area, due to a number of easements … [Read more...]
Rushford Village discusses land sales; road work
At the Tuesday, August 21 meeting, the Rushford Village Council was joined by a number of individuals including Bryce Lange, of Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA). On hand to discuss the recent Southeast Minnesota Regional Economic Study, Lange noted the goal is to locate trends and narrow the scope of some 600 variables, as they relate to tourism, … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson approves sale of Peterson site
It’s been a year since the R-P School District vacated its former facilities to take up residence in the new, single school facility in Rushford. In doing so, the future of the former elementary and high school facilities, in Rushford, and the former middle school, in Peterson, became looming unknowns, despite both the district and communities having their share of potential … [Read more...]
Rushford hits at Economic Development items
Rushford’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) had some new recommendations for the city council at the Monday, August 13 meeting. Both involve area businesses which have received EDA funding and both solutions were noted as a winning situation for both the city and the businesses. For some time, the city has been working with Loken’s Rushford Inn owners Mike and Eileen Loken … [Read more...]
Rushford Village moves forward with road project
After months of discussion on how to address issues on Benson Lane, the Rushford Village Council took formal action on it at the Tuesday, August 8 meeting. Mayor Gordon Johnson and Public Works Supervisor Travis Scheck took opportunity to meet with Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) recently. The purpose was to discuss options for water retention or slowing prior to … [Read more...]