As soon as Missi Koebke fills the cooler with pickle-flavored beef sticks, they are gone. Customers at Ody’s Country Meats can’t get enough of the new creation. But the popular flavor is only one reason behind the fantastic sales. The other is the new and easy access customers have to the tasty treat. In September, owner Cody Koebke and his wife opened a second retail … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Has a Latte to Be Excited About
With the opening of the new Paddle On Coffee Shop & Maker Emporium on main street in Lanesboro, Minn., area residents have some unique choices of not only several types of beverages, but so much more. Owners Ryan and Allie Palmer, who also own Root River Inn & Suites in Lanesboro, approached the former owners of the building on May 15, closed on the purchase of the … [Read more...]
Fire Destroys Miken Sports Production Building
Miken Sports, in Caledonia, Minn., a division of Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. experienced a fire in one of their older buildings on October 14. The company is assessing the damage in cooperation with the local fire department and the state fire marshal’s office. Miken will continue to operate the warehousing and distribution operation, as well as the MLB® helmet … [Read more...]
Why is There a Shortage of Law Enforcement Applicants?
Over the past few years, local law enforcement agencies have noticed a decline in applications for law enforcement positions. Where many organizations were accustomed to seeing hundreds of applicants, they are experiencing drought-like conditions. In August 2023, Goodhue Police Chief Josh Smith submitted his resignation at a city council meeting in Goodhue, Minn. Smith, … [Read more...]
It Pays to Belong to a Co-op
“There are currently 260 telecommunication co-ops in the U.S., serving 31 states and over one million people. Although this amounts to only 5% of telephone subscribers, the service area comprises over 40% of the country’s land with revenues totaling 3.9 billion dollars,” according to the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA). Utility cooperatives are formed to … [Read more...]
Career and Technical Education Exploration Day
September 21 was a sunny day with a slight breeze — the perfect day for the CTE (Career and Technical Education) Exploration Day held by Bluff Country Collaborative. For this, the third year of the CTE Exploration Day, displays from area companies were set up both inside and outside the Caledonia High School. Bluff Country Collaborative was formed in 2017 with partnerships … [Read more...]
Preston Welcomes New Chamber Director
Lindsey Reding loved the time she spent living and working in Thailand, but she knew it wasn’t going to be permanent. Her place, she felt, was in Southeast Minnesota. “I have always loved this area and knew I would eventually want to come back,” she explained. While living in Preston and working as an Interpretive Naturalist at Forestville State Park, she heard about the open … [Read more...]
Creamery Coffee Co. Arrives
On August 19, Creamery Coffee Co. opened quietly and joined the restaurants offering food and drink in Rushford, Minn. The new establishment offers quality coffees, teas, sandwiches, and muffins for now with more to come in the near future. Last November, Creamery/Nordic Lanes owners Dean and Kim Mireau and Tony and Jesica Heiden decided to increase their food offerings. They … [Read more...]
Stephanie Eggert Heads Rushford Peterson Valley Chamber of Commerce
Stephanie Eggert, the new executive director of Rushford Peterson Valley Chamber of Commerce, followed the chamber’s motto years ago by “taking root” in the Rushford-Peterson area. She and her husband live near Hart; their boys attended Rushford-Peterson School. Eggert has had 10 years of experience working for non-profit organizations. She worked at MNVA for three and a … [Read more...]
Journal Earns 8 More Awards at ACP Conference
In April 2023, the Association of Community Publishers held their annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the annual conference, ACP coordinated the annual “Best of the Best” contest for the publishing industry. There were more than 1,200 contest entries in over 100 categories. The Fillmore County Journal team earned a total of eight awards in the following … [Read more...]