The Ostrander City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Stephanie Start called the meeting to order with all council members present, including DJ Start, Dan Hellerud, Jimmie Dean and Lyn Massey-Mills. City Clerk Wendy Brincks was also in attendance. The first and most time-consuming item on the agenda was the condition of the … [Read more...]
Wykoff Council Approves Zoning Changes, Tree Removal, and Prepares for Fall Projects
The Wykoff City Council gathered for its regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 11, at 7 p.m. Mayor Ryan Breckenridge called the meeting to order, joined by council members Jeffrey Hare, Barbara Fate, Jane Baker, and Missy Musel. City Administrator Becky Schmidt and Administrative Assistant Luann Hare were also in attendance. The council quickly approved the agenda and … [Read more...]
Body of Missing La Crosse Woman Found Near Brownsville
The body of a missing La Crosse woman was located in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minn., on the morning of July 23, 2025. According to Houston County Sheriff Brian Swedberg, a fisherman spotted the body at approximately 10:28 a.m. and notified authorities. Houston County deputies responded to confirm the finding, but the recovery itself was handled by La Crosse … [Read more...]
Samantha Petersen Pleads Guilty in Buggy Crash That Killed Two Amish Children
Samantha Jo Petersen has pleaded guilty to two felony charges stemming from a September 2023 crash that killed two Amish children and seriously injured two others. The crash occurred north of Spring Valley on County Road 1 when Petersen drove her SUV into the back of a horse-drawn buggy. In a written petition filed June 11 in Fillmore County District Court, Petersen, 35, … [Read more...]
Wykoff Council Formalizes Street Work Payment, Tree Removal, and Backs Out of Library Grant
The Wykoff City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, July 14 at 7 p.m., with Mayor Ryan Breckenridge presiding. Council members Jeffrey Hare, Barbara Fate, Jane Baker, and Missy Musel were present, along with City Administrator Becky Schmidt and Administrative Assistant Luann Hare. The council heard from one visitor, who raised concerns about a neighbor’s property … [Read more...]
Wykoff Council Moves Forward with Street Project, Electrical Upgrades, and Library Grant Approval
The Wykoff City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, June 9 at 7 p.m., with Mayor Ryan Breckenridge presiding. Council members Jeffrey Hare, Barbara Fate, Jane Baker, and Missy Musel were present, along with City Administrator Becky Schmidt. Administrative Assistant Luann Hare was absent. A local resident addressed the council to express opposition to the city’s new … [Read more...]
Ostrander Council Divided on Ordinance, Moves Ahead on Dilapidated Property
The Ostrander City Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Stephanie Start called the meeting to order with all council members present, including DJ Start, Dan Hellerud, Jimmie Dean and Lyn Massey-Mills. City Clerk Wendy Brincks was also in attendance. This month’s meeting started a little differently, with a zoning meeting held ahead … [Read more...]
Harmony Woman Charged with 18 Felonies for Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult
A Harmony woman is facing 18 felony charges for allegedly misappropriating more than $100,000 from her elderly mother over a 16-month span, in what authorities are calling a significant case of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Kisa Lyn O’Connor, 45, of Harmony, has been charged in Fillmore County District Court with 18 counts of felony financial exploitation. The … [Read more...]
“I Was Almost Scammed Out of $10,000”: Fillmore County Sees Surge in Fraud Targeting Seniors
Jerome Grehl thought he was on Wells Fargo’s website when he tried to make a small online purchase for one of his grandchildren. What happened next nearly cost him $10,000. “I noticed there was an extra $10,000 in my account,” Grehl said. “It wasn’t mine. I figured it was a mistake, and there was a number on the site, so I called.” The man who answered had an accent Grehl … [Read more...]
Wykoff Council Appoints New Member, Addresses Infrastructure
The Wykoff City Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Mayor Ryan Breckenridge presided, with City Administrator Becky Schmidt, Administrative Assistant Luann Hare, and council members Barbara Fate and Jane Baker present. Council member Jeffrey Hare was absent due to vacation. The first order of business was filling the vacant council seat … [Read more...]