Fillmore County Journal

"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"

Pastor Devotions – Surprise!!!

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By Pastor Mark Geselle Valley Christian Center, Spring Valley Life is full of surprises.  An old friend calls you out of the blue.  The weather forecast calls for a nice sunny day and it storms.  The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the NBA Playoffs after 20 years!  My brother-in-law died last week... We really never know what will happen in life.  We’re often surprised and … [Read more...]

Peering at the Past – What a Letdown Feeling When It Was All Over

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The girl would sing all the songs she knew, as loud as she could, hoping to frighten away “whatever evil might be lurking in the thick bushes and trees” as she walked through the “back 40” to bring home the cattle when they had wandered to the far reaches of the family farm. Although the youngster loved that family farm, she dreaded that particular cattle-fetching chore because … [Read more...]

Here Be Dragons, Midges, Chipped Windshields and Shitepokes

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Someone should write a song about it. Spring is filled with hints and hopes. I recall walking face-first into a fly ribbon meant to catch flies. It had caught flies, and the side of my face joined them in a sticky predicament. For a moment, I felt unequal to the new challenge. Fly ribbon (tape, strip, paper) comes in a small tube from which the twisted ribbon emerges. That … [Read more...]

Pastor Devotions – Be Salty!

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By Pastor Kris Hertsgaard Kincaid Christ Lutheran Church, Preston “You are the salt of the earth!” This familiar phrase is from a sermon Jesus gives in Matthew. He tells the crowd – you are the salt of the earth.  Put simply, when your life is the right amount of salty, your actions enrich and benefit other people. When Jesus was giving this sermon, a crowd was gathered. … [Read more...]

Your Flying Farmer – Making Magic

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Feelings of excitement flash around me as I prepare to breach the laws of the physical world and make my neon green scarf vanish into thin air! From my 11-year-old vantage point, I see my audience is enthralled with my latest magic show given by me and my string puppet sidekick named Louie. Who doesn’t love a good physics-bending show and a two legged blue creature who sniffs … [Read more...]

Ask a Trooper

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Question: We have a new driver in the house. I was trying to explain to my child what to do if you have a tire blowout or experience steering failure. It might mean a bit more coming from a State Trooper. Could you please explain? Thank you for all you do. Answer: A “blowout” is a burst tire that can throw your vehicle out of control. Before a blowout occurs, you may hear a … [Read more...]

A Summa Cum Laude Grad Would Have Worn a Baseball Glove

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It was an endurance test for bladders. Muhammad Ali said, “If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.” A graduation on a lovely May day was a highlight reel of shining moments. The ceremony included a plethora of robed students with more degrees than The Weather Channel. It seemed longer than it was because that’s what those … [Read more...]

Peering at the Past – Booze, Billiards, Peddlers and Poll Taxes; It Was the Law

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Part two of a two-part series Were there too many circuses passing through town? There were likely quite a few peddlers. Were there problems to be solved or was there revenue to be raised – maybe both? But someone could not just show up and conduct business in Houston, Minnesota. In 1889, it became unlawful for any owner, manager or agent “of any circus, menagerie, concert, … [Read more...]

Johnny Cash Sang It, So It Must Be True

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I knew the day would be special. What I wanted for lunch was breakfast, but the server asked if I’d like to hear today’s special. Why not? She said, “Today is special.” I appreciated that. Cheerfulness is a flower that doesn’t grow in everyone’s garden. The cafe’s radio played softly in the background, occasionally rising above the talk and the clatter of tableware. … [Read more...]