City of Rushford staff recently discovered a neglected notation in the schedule for the 2016 Project that provides a surprising reduction in the city’s proposed levy for 2017. The new find will allow for a reduction in required debt service levy and will amend the levy increase needed from 8.19% to 5.3%. The total savings is $31,000. City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Zacher and City … [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 able to dissolve plan with Pollution Control
The City of Fountain received some welcome news at the Wednesday, October 4 council meeting. After achieving six consecutive months of compliance at the wastewater treatment plant, the city has the option to dissolve it’s corrective action plan with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). A meeting was recently held between representatives from the city and the state … [Read more...]
Rushford Village reaffirms decision
Rushford Village Council has made it clear: the Village Hall is not a commercial property for rent. Inquiries in 2016 and again this year led to several discussions about repeat rental of the community center space, specifically long-term rental. “We’re not set up for that, on a regular basis,” cautioned Councilor Dennis Overland. “There are other places for rent for those … [Read more...]
Area youth ready for premier 4-H stock show
For more than 100 years, the 4-H organization has consistently turned out youth excelling in leadership and agriculture. It’s estimated that there are more than six million youth members; roughly one in every three youth in the heartland states of Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Through the years, … [Read more...]
Rushford finds new partner in business push
The City of Rushford is already a full-service community with a thriving business atmosphere, but that hasn’t slowed the Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) push for expanding the potential for existing and new businesses. At the Monday, September 25 meeting, the council reviewed and approved a recommendation from the EDA to enter into an agreement with EsseX Capital, … [Read more...]
911 Emergency; Be aware and prepared
It’s common for us to assume that in the face of an emergency we’d know exactly what to do. Children are taught how to call 911 and give the dispatcher the pertinent information and we assume that calls will be handled like the dispatch scenes depicted on television and in movies. What happens is often not that simple and involves more than we may realize. In late December … [Read more...]
Linder Farm Network – “The voice of Minnesota agriculture”
After a brief time where it couldn’t be heard locally, Linder Farm Network is back on the air in the region and listeners couldn’t be more thrilled. The longtime radio staple is finding renewed interest broadcasting through Winona Radio. “We began just a couple of months ago and the response has been very good,” says broadcaster Lynn Ketelson. “We try to tell that story and … [Read more...]
New home with old world charm
For newlyweds Jason and Alyssa Aylsworth, of Fountain, their dream home is nearing a reality and despite its old-world background, it’s anything other than conventional. The couple is just weeks away from embarking on the raising of their timber frame home. “We enjoy being a bit different/unique so we knew we didn’t want just any old house that you see every day, says the … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson approves health assessment in lieu of school nurse
At the August R-P School Board meeting, it was brought forth by Superintendent Chuck Ehler the consideration of a school nurse for the new school facility. The district has never employed a nurse for this purpose and it was urged by resident Dana Thompson, a nurse and contracted instructor with the district, that stock of its needs, policies, and procedures be taken. At the … [Read more...]
Rushford Village mulls over equipment
The City of Rushford Village is getting closer to making a decision on the purchase of a road grader. The large ticket item has been the foremost item among a list put together by Councilors MikeEbner and Chad Rasmussen, along with Public Works Supervisor Travis Scheck, months ago. The aim of the list was to determine the most pressing equipment needs and plan for upgrades, … [Read more...]