On the heels of a January meeting with the City of Rushford, the City of Peterson, Rushford Police Department, and the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department, the city has received a letter from Rushford indicating termination of the current policing arrangement and a desire to attempt to negotiate a new contemporary agreement. February 13, the City of Rushford approved ending … [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.
CWD meeting offers different management perspective
As Fillmore County comes to grips with the positive identification of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the wild whitetail population, state organizations, landowners, game farmers, and hunters are grappling for answers and a clear path forward. On the heels of the findings, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) developed a CWD response plan and a Deer Management Plan … [Read more...]
Rushford looks to law enforcement agreement with Peterson, Rushford Village
The City of Rushford is looking into options regarding law enforcement it provides to the cities of Peterson and Rushford Village. At the Monday, February 13 Rushford Council meeting, City Administrator Tony Chladek stated that the current state is more of an arrangement than contractual agreement and the city considering three options for how to proceed. The first was a … [Read more...]
Rushford Village looks to determine policing as City of Rushford ends mutual aid contract
“The meeting started with a kerplunk; well, abruptly. The City of Rushford will no longer provide police services to the City of Rushford Village or the City of Peterson,” said Rushford Village Mayor Gordon Johnson, at the Tuesday, February 7 council meeting. “I’m disappointed in the way it came about.” The City of Rushford requested a meeting last month, which was held … [Read more...]
Fountain waste plant sees some compliance
It appears the City of Fountain has some reason to celebrate. After several years’ worth of frustration, issues at the waste water treatment plant may be finding some remedy. Richard Parr, Senior Project Manager for WSB & Associates presented a monthly summary to the council at the Thursday, February 2 meeting. The city has been out of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency … [Read more...]
Blending Learning Days creating some ‘hiccups’ for R-P
The Rushford-Peterson School District is trying a new approach this winter to counter the unpredictability of weather. Rather than make up snow days later in the year, the district plan utilizes Blended Learning Days, attempting to continue students’ learning opportunities. Essentially, each cancelled day will include a combination of online, traditional paper/pencil … [Read more...]
Rushford hears annual reports from Fire and Ambulance
The swift Monday, January 23 Rushford Council meeting saw discussion of several items in the both the consent agenda and general business, but all was good for the city. First up for business were annual reports from Fire Department Chief Paul Corcoran. During the department’s annual meeting, two weeks prior, officers for 2017 were nominated for council approval. They were … [Read more...]
Rushford Village moves into new year with old issues
Having not held the first bi-monthly meeting the first Tuesday of the month, the Rushford Village Council had some catching up to do at the second meeting, Tuesday, January 17. The bulk of the agenda highlighted annual housekeeping issues, but along the way, several items of old business popped up. Kudos were given to Public Works Supervisor Travis Scheck and worker Hamilton … [Read more...]
Fountain gets plant update
The Fountain City Council started things in 2017 in similar discussion to those last year. The city is working cooperatively with WSB & Associates and Rick Whitney, of PeopleService, to determine a solution to waste water treatment plant issues and to assist the city in regaining compliance with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Things at the plant are progressing, … [Read more...]
R-P School Board holds annual meeting
The Monday, January 9 Rushford-Peterson School Board meeting saw a host of annual housekeeping issues, in addition to the welcoming of new Board Director Bonnie Prinsen. First up for the board, was election of officers. It was determined that John Linder remain board chairman, Joyce Iverson remain vice-chair, and Valerie Howe remain board treasurer. The board clerk for 2017 … [Read more...]