The 2016 audit, by Smith Schafer & Associates, is completed and Rushford has received good news regarding several efforts. General fund reserves, as a percentage of general fund expenditures are now sitting at 67%, a marked improvement since 2011 when the figure had dropped to just 11%. The city had been cautioned previously that reserves had dropped too low and in the five … [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.
Rushford-Peterson in the home stretch on new school
“They are tracking a little ahead of schedule.” Those were the words of Tim Robertson of ICS Consulting at the Monday, May 22 school board meeting. “Thing are clipping along nice.” The project is now estimated at 75-78 days until completion and it’s slated to be move-in ready after the 4th of July and by contract is turnkey by August 15. Superintendent Ehler asked Roberston … [Read more...]
Rushford Village looking to wrap up project
The May 16 Rushford Village meeting was brisk; just 14 minutes. In that time though, the Village made it known that they want to wrap up their 2016 utility and road improvement project, with or without the contractor. The frustrations felt by the Village have been stated on numerous occasions by Mayor Gordon Johnson, members of the council, and Public Works Supervisor Travis … [Read more...]
Rushford plans for upcoming projects
Preliminary cost estimates for capital improvement projects are in and the city of Rushford is in the early steps of planning for them. A cost summary was provided to the council at the brisk, Monday, May 8 meeting. The summary was drafted last September and contains more than 40 recommended improvement projects. While the listing may look daunting, the recommendations are a … [Read more...]
Peterson approves zoning code; moves to draft legal papers
The city of Peterson’s Planning and Zoning Board has spent the last several years reviewing the zoning code and ordinances. At the Wednesday, May 10 council meeting, Zoning Board member Karlin Symons presented some changes to the council. In regards to conditional use permits, Symons indicated that the permits are issued based on the request so long as it meets code and that … [Read more...]
Rushford Village will support trail system
The Tuesday, May 2, Rushford Village Council included an update from representatives of the Bluff Country ATV Club. The club has talked about the development of a Bluff Trax trail system for several years and an in-depth concept was developed in the last five. Now, the club is getting closer to making a scenic, family-friendly trail a reality. “There are about seven steps we … [Read more...]
Good news for Fountain’s Waste Plant woes
“Are we in compliance? We’re knocking it out of the park right now,” said Rick Whitney. Whitney serves as the front man for the Wastewater Treatment Plant through PeopleService, whom the city contracted with in September 2012 in effort to help mitigate problems with its aging plant. The city has been out of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) compliance since October … [Read more...]
Rushford EDA zeroing in on goals
At the Monday, April 24 city council meeting, more than six items of recommendation were presented to the council by the Economic Development Authority (EDA). Among them a Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development report and details of Micro Grant Funds and Revolving Loan Fund activity. Most notable in the recommendation was a four-page document detailing the … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson looks for answers to baseball concerns
At the Monday, April 24 R-P School Board meeting, concerned parent Steve Highum brought concerns from the parents of baseball team members to light. The concern stems from heavily reduced game opportunity for the junior varsity squad. The number of games for the 2017 season had been drastically reduced. “This is a big blow to our kids,” said Highum. “How are they supposed to … [Read more...]
Area youth take on state weightlifting championship
When you think of weightlifting, historical notions may lead you to think of a particular image of a burly, mustached strongman in singlet and sweat. This image has been changing for many years, riding the wave of increased personal health and fitness. Now, it’s putting new, fresh faces in the sport, many of them female, challenging the idea of strength. “Olympic weightlifting … [Read more...]