President/CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation July marks one of my favorite months at Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). It is the time of year when we get to distribute more than 20,000 books to organizations that work with young children in our 20-county region. The importance of early literacy cannot be overstated. Not only does it build a strong … [Read more...]

Opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Fillmore County Journal. Letter about Houston School District 294 Referendum... To the Editor, I live in Winona County but my property lies within District 294 for taxation.  The district is holding an election on a referendum totaling over $30 million on August 8, 2023.  I consider this referendum to be … [Read more...]

Opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Fillmore County Journal. Letter about 92 with gratitude... To the Editor, Most of the elderly that I know seem to be grateful. Maybe they also have more time to express it. As I got older, I became more and more angry at all the things I could not do. Then I wised up and thought of all the things I COULD do. … [Read more...]

Opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Fillmore County Journal. By Sen. Steve Drazkowski Judging by the feedback I have been getting, many of you are aware of the proposal to create a new national park in southern Minnesota. The park would have been called Driftless National Park, and it was the brainchild of a man named Sean Macaday, a meteorologist … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com First, I want to say that my beef with the USPS has nothing to do with anyone at a local level. Our local USPS postmasters, clerks and route drivers are absolutely wonderful to work with.  They are dedicated, and they truly care about providing the best possible service. My issues are with … [Read more...]

Letter about abortion in Minnesota... To the Editor, What has happened in our state? Our House, Senate and governor have succeeded in their stated goal to promote abortion in Minnesota. Here is what they passed. Minnesota state law now has legal abortion through all nine  months of pregnancy for any reason. Babies who survive an abortion can now be left to die without … [Read more...]

By Daniel Wilson Rushford, MN The State of Minnesota recently passed a state budget that will include up to $215 million over the next several years to expand internet access. With an additional $650 million coming from the federal government, there will be a lot of resources dedicated to solving the problem of broadband access. To make sure that this money is spent on the … [Read more...]

By Tim Penny President/CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Imagine being a kid in a small town in Minnesota who, more than anything, wants to dive into the city pool with their friends to escape the summer heat – but their family cannot afford the pool pass. This very situation is what prompted the Wabasha Kellogg Area Community Foundation (WKACF) to start … [Read more...]

With our daughter graduating from high school this year, we’ve attended quite a few ceremonies and open houses. It’s been truly wonderful seeing these kids grow up together, from pre-school on up to commencement. I’ve heard it so many times from those older and wiser than me, “They grow up so fast.”  It’s true. And, it’s full of mixed emotions.  As parents, we have so … [Read more...]