There’s a new unique store gracing Main Street in Harmony. Seed & Stone opened for business in August 2025 in the history-filled limestone building located at Thirty9Main. While the store is new, the actual building was built in 1907. The building first was home to the First National Bank. At that time, Harmony had a total of three banks. The Great Depression hit the … [Read more...]
Rushford- Peterson Voters Will Decide Building Question
At the November 17 Rushford-Peterson School Board meeting, the board approved in a 5 to 1 vote to call for a vote on the proposed building referendum. The decision followed a lengthy discussion by the board with each member explaining their thinking before voting. Chris Grindland shared his research on future enrollment and population projections in Fillmore County. “Based … [Read more...]
Peterson to Apply for Rural Capacity Program
Mayor Chris Stenzel began the November 12 Peterson City Council meeting by commending the community for once again rising to the occasion when a fire recently took place at a city residence. He thanked the Rushford Fire Department for their quick response and actions to save the structure and nearby homes. Stenzel also thanked the public works team, Jeff Rein and Chris … [Read more...]
Life Saving Award for Houston Ambulance
There was a happy, full house for the November Houston City Council meeting on November 10 as the Houston Ambulance was recognized for their lifesaving efforts on September 29. Little Lilah Christiansen had suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at her home. According to Chad Kuhlman who works for the Southeast Minnesota EMS, such cardiac arrests are one of the leading … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Semester Tests Questioned
The Lanesboro School Board heard concerns about the current semester test policy from the public at their November 12 regular board meeting. Jeff Lepper, who has three children in Lanesboro Schools and is an educator himself, said he supports semester tests, but feels that they should not be used as a punishment for missing school. Lepper declared that nothing new was being … [Read more...]
Houston Considers Course Equivalency Offerings
Michael Mangan, director of Educational Success and Innovation, and Kelsey Harvey, Minnesota Virtual Academy (MNVA) teacher, addressed the Houston School Board at their regular meeting November 6 about the possibility of offering course equivalencies at both MNVA and onsite at Houston. Course equivalencies would offer alternative classes that would satisfy graduation … [Read more...]
Wanhi Yukan (There is Chert There) Preserve
The Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Yukan Preserve is a new place to explore near Grand Meadow, Minn. Wanhi Yukan literally means “There is chert there;” this chert quarry was created in prehistoric times to gather the highest quality chert in Minnesota. Many people are unfamiliar with the word “chert.” Chert is a dark flint that is composed of fine grain crystalline quartz; … [Read more...]
Semcac Food Shelves Ready to Help
As October drew to an end with no end in sight for the government shut down, people became more anxious about their food supply. SNAP benefits were set to end as of November 1; where would people receiving those benefits find food? Wendy Todd, director of the Food Shelf program at SEMCAC noted that both donations and visits to the Food Shelves began picking up. Todd … [Read more...]
New Rushford-Peterson Teachers
Rushford-Peterson Schools had five new teachers join the staff this year. Taylor Allen, kindergarten; Belle Berg, fourth grade; Jodi Monerson, K-4th grade music; Grace Dahl, grades 9-10 math; and Robbie Strand, MSHS business and head football coach. Taylor Allen, the new kindergarten teacher, used to always play school with her siblings growing up. During COVID, Taylor … [Read more...]
MN Fall Beef Classic Held in Preston
The Fillmore County Fairgrounds was a bustling place October 16-19 as the MN Fall Beef Classic was held in Preston. Usually, this show is held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds; this year, due to construction, a new site needed to be found. Enter a committee that decided to take on the event and hold it at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds. Amanda Bedtke, Autumn Feine, … [Read more...]