By Jason Sethre As we approach the 25 year anniversary of September 11, 2001 (9/11), it’s still fresh in my memory. And, I’m sure I’m not alone. On that Tuesday morning, while working for The Daily Journal newspaper south of Chicago, I was traveling from our office in Bourbonnais to the main newspaper headquarters in Kankakee. I was listening to the radio when I heard an … [Read more...]
Letter about Harmony data center…
To the Editor, A 55-megawatt data center in Harmony would represent an enormous new electrical load. By rough annual consumption, it would use about 54 times as much electricity as Harmony’s municipal system and roughly twice the electricity currently used across all of Fillmore County according to available data. That scale deserves careful scrutiny before any commitments … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Conditions of the Root River State Bike Trail
On Thursday, August 6, I published a video on the Fillmore County Journal Facebook page addressing the conditions of trail maintenance for the Root River State Bike Trail. I presented this as a public service announcement relating to the overgrown noxious weeds, specifically wild parsnip that can be dangerous to those who may not realize they should avoid making contact. … [Read more...]
Letter about standing with the Jewish community…
To the Editor, I am a life-long progressive democrat. I believe in things like health care for all, taxing the rich, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, environmental protections, etc. I have voted in every election since 1968 but I don’t know if I will vote this November. Why? I am angry about the rise of antisemitism in this country and the world. Though the democratic and … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… National Night Out Successes
On Tuesday, August 4, I had the pleasure of working alongside my fellow Fountain Fire Department firefighters serving burgers, hot dogs, chips, brownies and water to anyone who showed up to chat. This being the first time we had coordinated an event like this, we didn’t know what to expect for participants. We were fortunate to have an officer from Preston Police and two … [Read more...]
Bike Trail Invasive Species
By Gary Wilson Houston, MN An article in the July 27 edition of the Fillmore County Journal described efforts to build a bike trail from Preston to Forestville State Park. As a long time user of the Houston extension to the Root River State Trail, I support efforts to create new trails. As a landowner adjacent to the RRST, I offer the following suggestions to landowners … [Read more...]
Belonging and Ownership
By Benya Kraus President and CEO, SMIF July 23, 2026 - Who gets to own a piece of the future? Ownership – of land, of livelihood, of voice – was central to the American experiment. In southern Minnesota, it remains central to the work of building vibrant, resilient communities. And for many people, belonging begins with having the opportunity to shape what comes … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Did the World Cup Bring Us Together?
While the bracket of World Cup games were underway, a good friend of mine said, “I think the World Cup brings people together more than any politician ever could.” This is so true, and I appreciated hearing this from him. My friend, who grew up in Rushford and now lives in Fountain, didn’t grow up playing soccer, but he enjoys any sporting events or competition. I know there … [Read more...]
Letter about preparing for the next bad air alert …
To the Editor, A scratchy throat and itchy eyes aren’t the only results of wildfire smoke. Invisible 2.5 micron particles are so tiny they penetrate lungs and enter the bloodstream to organs, including the brain. Effects include inflammation, heart disease, lung cancer, COPD, and respiratory infections. Even on clear days, 2.5 PM levels can be dangerous (airnow.gov). Little … [Read more...]
Letter about Applaud Aspirations, Admit Shortcomings…
To the Editor, In Fillmore County, we reside on the ancestral lands of the Dakota Nation. On July 4th, we celebrated the extraordinary accomplishments of the brilliant persons behind the country’s founding to forge a new kind of social contract on the premise that “all men are created equal” and that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” … [Read more...]