The Monday, December 19 Rushford-Peterson School Board meeting was bumped a half hour earlier than the normally scheduled 5:30 p.m. to accommodate the annual Truth in Taxation hearing. The meeting agenda encompassed eight regular business items, as well as the monthly consent agenda and administrative reports. There was no change order for the month in relation to … [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 Village continues to dig into road projects
It’s been a long few years for Rushford Village when it comes to road maintenance and needs. The city has begun to wrap up work on an $878,000 bid street improvement project, centered largely on needs in the South Rushford area. The project has been something of a frustration for the city, with communication and timeline issues with the contractor, McHugh Excavating of … [Read more...]
Rushford reviews work; looks to future
The Monday, December 12 Rushford council meeting focused heavily on a recap of 2016 city projects as the city preps for setting the property tax levy for 2017. Nearly a full hour of the relatively short agenda hit at the projects, as well as proposed projects for the next year. Public Works Director Roger Knutson presented the information and noted that improvements, … [Read more...]
Rushford Village looks to wrap up road project
Rushford Village is nearing the end of its 2016 road improvement project and there is hope it could end with cooperation from contractor McHugh Excavating. At the council’s December 6 meeting, discussion centered largely on wrapping up the $878,000 plus project and the best path to doing so. The council has been forthcoming with frustrations, but is looking to offer a … [Read more...]
Chronic Wasting Disease identified in Fillmore County
Sixteen years after being first identified in captive Minnesota elk herds and five years after the state’s only case involving a wild herd, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been identified in Fillmore County. Two bucks were harvested approximately four miles west of Lanesboro in permit area 348. While not a complete surprise, the result is certainly devastating to the ongoing … [Read more...]
Rushford attempts to gain Safe Routes to School grant
The Monday, November 28 Rushford Council meeting was quick, but the council made headway of several standing items. These include a revised plan for a Safe Routes to School grant application. The city submitted an application in December of 2015, but was unsuccessful in securing funding. With construction of a new pre-K to grade 12 facility underway within the city, the … [Read more...]
Rushford sells city lot; hopes more sales to come
A swift, 30 minute Rushford Council meeting November 14 hit at just five agenda items ranging from standard fare to contracts and a land sale. A notification from the Minnesota Department of Health also garnered a significant portion of the meeting. The city has received notification from the Department of Health “approving the delineation of the wellhead protection areas, … [Read more...]
Peterson clerk submits resignation
The city of Peterson will see a change in January with election results placing resident Christopher Grindland in one of two council seats up for grabs. Grindland will replace current Councilor Dave Colbenson who opted to vie for the mayoral seat, but lost to incumbent Mayor Tim Hallum in an 85 to 38 vote. Only 123 votes were cast for the mayoral race. The second council … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson sends naming rights policy back to foundation
The votes are in the for the Rushford-Peterson School Board election. Incumbents Valerie Howe, Julie Koop, and John Linder earned 1323, 1343 and 1401 votes respectively and will retain their seats. Newcomer Bonnie Prinsen won 1475 votes, the largest portion by any one candidate, and will replace Board Director Taylor Peterson. There were a significant number of write-in … [Read more...]
Fountain revisits plant issues; plans for 150 year celebration
The Fountain City Council has been plagued with lingering issues at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for several years. The plant is not in compliance and according to WSB & Associates Project Manager Richard Parr, “The clock is ticking.” At the Thursday, November 3 council meeting, Parr outlined the timeline for figuring out a solution. The plant has been out of Minnesota … [Read more...]