After several years of trying to buckle down on properties within the city that are not compliant with city ordinances, the Peterson council voted Wednesday, May 9, to approve taking legal action on the properties. Mayor Tim Hallum noted that some of the non-compliance issues stem back to 2014. Last year, after physical review of seven properties by council and city staff, … [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.
Fountain considers chicken request, approves utility increase
The Wednesday, May 2 Fountain Council meeting was largely an agenda of old business. However, one item of new business, a resident request, brought forth a good deal of discussion. Fountain resident Emily Root brought forth a request to keep chickens on her property. Currently, city ordinances prohibit farm-type animals within city limits. Root is proposing keeping 10 hens, … [Read more...]
Local shop preserving time through collection and restoration
A surprising little shop, tucked in amid the businesses on Lanesboro’s Coffee Street, is Lanesboro Clockworks. The shop is bringing visitors a bit of history, a whole lot of appreciation, and the ability to bring new life to those family heirloom clocks and watches. Collector Richard Goodin will be the first to tell you he likes to chat. The Anoka native has a 40-year … [Read more...]
Drury’s Furniture outfitting outdoor spaces
The push for livable outdoor spaces might be a product of an HGTV-enlighted audience, but the concept isn’t new, particularly in this region. Drury’s Furniture, a Fountain-based store now in it’s 93rd year of business, is capturing the momentum, offering an array of options for those wanting to enhance all of their living spaces. “I think people in our area have been waiting … [Read more...]
Custom-built home best fit for Rushford family
If you’ve seen any home-centered television or magazines in the last decade or so, the mass marketing of Do It Yourself home remodeling is ever present. In some instances, the costs of remodeling, depending on scale and ability, can be on par with the cost to build new. It also takes experience with a variety of aspects of home building. Some homeowners want to forego the … [Read more...]
Brown’s Tire & Battery remains strong after more than 30 years in business
For Gary Brown, the secret of a good business comes down to the essentials. “We work hard and we’re honest. We try to treat people in the way they would want to be treated. We don’t play games.” Brown is the second generation owner of the business, which was started in 1986. Brown’s father, Art, had been the owner and operator of the Arendahl Store, but when the economic farm … [Read more...]
Rushford approves housing area platting
The Rushford City Council has formally approved the final platting for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) on the east end of the Himlie Business Park. Developer Bluff Country LLC (Mike Sexhauer) brought forward final plats for Himlie Manor to the Planning Commission April 19 and they were approved. The area was previously rezoned and a Tax Increment Financing District established … [Read more...]
R-P takes action on Peterson land parcels
Monday, April 16, the Rushford-Peterson School Board followed through with steps to return two of the three parcels of the former Rushford-Peterson Middle School to the City of Peterson. Outlined in the consolidation agreement drafted by the Rushford School Board and the Peterson School Board in 1991, should the R-P School District vacate the premises in Peterson, Parcel One … [Read more...]
Rushford Village closing in on Benson Lane Project
The Tuesday, April 17 meeting of the Rushford Village council was focused almost exclusively on public works issues. The most prominent issue was continuing discussion on the Benson Lane Project. Engineer Derek Olinger, of Bolton & Menk, was on hand at the meeting to review recent survey results and to detail the next steps in the project. It was noted at the March meeting … [Read more...]
Rushford Council eyes League of Minnesota Cities support
The Monday, April 9 Rushford Council meeting was relatively short, wrapping up just two resolutions in general business and one ordinance amendment. First up was a public hearing to consider an amendment to the ordinance establishing salaries for elected officials. The council reviewed several municipalities at the March 25 meeting, before proceeding with adding the hearing to … [Read more...]