The brief Monday, June 11 Rushford Council meeting focused on just three agenda items. One notable update to the council was details of an upcoming ceremony honoring fallen soldier and Rushford native Joseph Morris Johnson. The navy seaman served on the USS Oklahoma and was killed in action at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Johnson was just 22 when he was killed. He was … [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.
Peterson hears citizen comments on bandstand, athletic fields
The Wednesday, June 13 Peterson Council meeting saw several city residents present with comments regarding recent council discussion, including future plans for the former Rushford-Peterson Middle School football field. Now city property, the council considered options including leaving it as a park, including the moving of the city bandstand to the property, and possible … [Read more...]
Rushford Village reviews financial options; project scope
At the Tuesday, June 5 meeting, the Rushford Village Council discussed several funding options for several city costs in 2018. The council and city staff considered options including usage of a Certificate of Deposit (CD) accounts, financing programs, and an option for Minnesota Investment Fund dollars provided through the Department of Employment and Economic Development. … [Read more...]
Fountain retains ordinance prohibiting chickens
The City of Fountain has opted to make no changes to its current ordinances to allow for the keeping of chickens within city limits. The matter was brought to the council’s attention months ago by 526 First Street resident Emily Root and her family. Root spoke before the council at the May meeting, bringing forth her request to construct a greenhouse with an attached coop for … [Read more...]
Formed in the Driftless: Flowstone Fishing catches momentum
While underway for more than a year, Flowstone Fishing in Chatfield officially opened its online business this past April. Named for the area’s flowing, cool waters, which create subterranean mineral sheets, or flowstones, owner Bret Klaehn is hoping to combine his enthusiasm for fishing with a niche for quality, handmade lures and personalized, local service. “I have been … [Read more...]
Rushford considers last minute limited option usage of revolving loan fund
The City of Rushford has been eyeing potential changes to its Revolving Loan Fund policy, looking to amend it to allow the city to use the funds. If used, the funds would be designated for a singular project related to economic development, namely an estimated 100-acre property on the west side of Rushford, along Highway 30. City Administrator Tony Chladek noted the policy … [Read more...]
Interpretation of ordinance creates snag over precedence
When looking at zoning, ordinances and policy-making can be a bit of a beast. Townships, cities, and counties have ordinances in place for the benefit of property owners and to keep things decidedly black and white. But, what happens when interpretation creates a fuzzy, gray zone and the idea of entity precedence and property owner rights clash? Five of the 23 townships within … [Read more...]
Rushford Village reviews project plans
At the Tuesday, May 15 Rushford Village Council meeting, a recently completed preliminary grading plan for the Benson Lane project was discussed. Acting Mayor Dennis Overland led the meeting and City Engineer Derek Olinger, of Bolton & Menk, led the discussion regarding the project. The city is looking at two options to address water flow event issues at the dead end … [Read more...]
Rushford looks at electric charges; requirements for launch project
The Monday, May 14 Rushford Council meeting may have had just three regular business agenda items, but there was plenty of discussion, some of which was regarding public notices and consent agenda issues. An annual wholesale power rate schedule was detailed in a letter and documentation from MiEnergy. In comes at the same time as a recent discussion by the Rushford Electrical … [Read more...]
Seed First, LLC to bring ag business back to downtown Fountain
Come late summer, downtown Fountain will have a new store adorning it’s Main Street. Father and son, Paul and Corey Hamann have plans for a new home for their agricultural business, formerly Hamann Seed, and the two are thinking outside the box on how it’s going to happen. After looking at a number of available locations, the two purchased the site January 15. It was … [Read more...]