Houston Public Schools hired a new superintendent, Angi McAndrews, this past summer. Her motto is “Open Door, Open Book.” She encourages members of the community to reach out to her with any concerns or celebrations. While McAndrews is new to being a superintendent, she has extensive experience in education. After she graduated from La Crescent High School, Angi pursued an … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson School Board Thanked
September is School Board Recognition Month in Minnesota, and Rushford-Peterson Schools’ staff and students made a point to recognize their board at the regular board meeting September 21. The theme this year was “Minnesota School Boards Help Minnesota Kids Rise.” Students created a poster thanking the board and a basket of sweet treats greeted the board as they entered the … [Read more...]
K&R Equipment’s Drones Reduce Chemical Exposure
K&R drones not only save farmers time but increase safety for local farmers. By using drones, the farmers are not exposed to chemicals as they would be spraying a field with a tractor and sprayer. K&R started spraying with drones in late 2022. K&R was originally begun in 1993 by Randy Ristau and Kenny Koch. The company sold farm service, manure and feeding … [Read more...]
Houston Schools Off to a Fresh Start
Arianna Weisbrod joined Claire Reay as a student representative to the Houston School Board at their regular meeting September 10. The duo gave details of the first day for seventh graders at the high school. After a morning filled with get-to-know-you activities, the mentors took over. The seventh graders came to the secondary school ready and happy to be there. The student … [Read more...]
Harmony Data Center Ordinance Sent to P&Z and Public Hearing
The combined Harmony City Council, EDA and Planning and Zoning once again reviewed a revised draft of their proposed data center ordinance September 16 The group met in the gymnasium of the Harmony Community Center to provide more room for the ever-increasing public audience. At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Steve Donney announced the three goals of the meeting: to … [Read more...]
Houston Adopts Bond Resolution
The Houston City Council adopted a bonding resolution and approved a loan agreement at their regular meeting September 14. This was the first order of business with newly sworn-in Mayor Krin Abraham. Mike Bubany, a finance advisor with David Drown Associates, recommended the city issuance of a general obligation improvement note to fund the non-utility costs of the Spruce … [Read more...]
Unit of Townships Banquet: Capt. Dornink Details Kingsbury Investigation
When the Fillmore County Unit of Townships Association held their 71st Annual Banquet, they shared a good meal, great conversation and door prizes before listening to the evening’s speaker. As Captain Dan Dornink of the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department began his presentation, the mood quickly turned more somber. Dornink had come to share his experiences during the … [Read more...]
A First Class Flip in Fountain
When Nancy Kantor first spotted the Fountain property at 530 1st Street listed as a foreclosure in the Fillmore County Journal, she found that the home spoke to her. Although it was in rough shape, the location was excellent, a corner lot at the gateway to Lanesboro. Nancy loved the apple tree and the pine trees as well as the extra space in the yard. Kantor and her partner of … [Read more...]
Truck Drivers Deliver the Goods
Truck driver Val Gudmundson delivered the goods across the U.S. and locally off and on for about 50 years. Val’s first experiences in trucking came when, as a boy, he joined his father in the cab as his dad hauled milk in Rushford. From then on, Val wanted to be a truck driver. Val mostly drove regionally in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, but he also did long haul stints … [Read more...]
109 Elmwood Street East Will Not Be Rezoned
The owners of a duplex at 109 Elmwood Street East addressed the council during the public comment period of the Lanesboro City Council regular meeting on September 8. They requested a zoning change so they could rent the whole duplex as a short-term air B&B rental. A request for a CUP (conditional use permit) had been previously denied, and a commercial zoning had been … [Read more...]