To the Editor, Summertime is budgeting time for local governments.   With all of the requests, it can be tempting to cut library budgets in favor of budgets for emergency services like fire and ambulance. That’s a false choice. Yes, in case of the rare emergency, we need to have trained people show up with their equipment to help us.  We pay taxes to meet that community … [Read more...]

By Stan Gudmuncson Peterson, MN When the Air Force retired the SR-71s in late 1989, Congress required that there be a follow-on replacement.  Sure enough, the Air Force brass said and we’ve even identified the first Air Force pilot to fly that aircraft.  He was the pilot I was flying SR-71s with.  Because the follow-on wasn’t anything like the SR-71 and much more like the … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I read with interest Lee Epps; article “St. Paul Newspaper Features Brownsville “Coldness,” Twice.” I heard about this phenomenon years ago. The formation is called an algific tallus slope. It is very rare – found only in the Driftless Region of southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. Plus, they’ve found a … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Well, Saturday the 6th of July was a beautiful day, and having finished mowing the lawn, I came in to spend some quiet time with The Fillmore County Journal.  Nancy Earnhardt’s commentary piece caught my eye, and like Ms. Earnhardt, I felt obliged to respond. As a shepherd of some 40-plus years, I very much appreciated Ms. Earnhardt’s comments about the … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Thank you for running the Warner Bros. Studios photo and the 2014 caption in your “Pages from the Past“ section. Congratulations, as well, on the much-appreciated variety of articles enjoyed in your Fillmore County Journal. Seeing the photo again, I’m reminded that both celebrated actresses pictured were major players in the waning years of Hollywood’s … [Read more...]

To the Editor, I feel the need to share an awareness regarding the United States Postal Service. If we are depending on a postmark as proof of a mailing date, we need to realize that our local post offices are not postmarking our outgoing mail. They get postmarked at a distribution center in a bigger city. Ours probably get marked in Minneapolis or St. Paul. The problem is … [Read more...]

By Dan Wilson Rushford, MN I love the cultural and civic institutions that make our rural communities such a great place to live. From the post office, to restaurants, the county fair, local stores, to public schools, public libraries, and our newspaper. These institutions make our social lives richer. So, it was with great interest that I watched an editorial back-and-forth … [Read more...]

By Aaron Bishop Harmony, MN In the previous week’s commentary, many opinions and several falsehoods were expressed. Since I hold the view that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts, let’s delve into one particular falsehood that I’ll, perhaps naively, consider as the foundation for the overall sentiment: “Nature proves that sex was intended to … [Read more...]

By Nancy S. Earnhardt, Rushford MN June 10 was a lovely evening, and I would have loved to be anywhere else as well. I appreciate your well delivered letter and I agree wholeheartedly with you concerning censoring information. Trust me, I have experienced that firsthand, especially in the last four years. Heaven knows censoring is nothing new to this world. Even now, I … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre, Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com As we march towards Election Day, I want to make sure our readers are aware that, from July 1 to November 5, we will not publish Letters to the Editor or Guest Commentaries that are for or against any candidates running for office. We’ve always had this policy in place leading up to … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Do you know why jurors unanimously found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts? Jurors found Trump guilty because he falsified business records to cover up payments to Stormy Daniels in order to influence the outcome of the 20216 presidential election. Falsification of business records altered to defraud is a crime in New York and also when 2 or more … [Read more...]

To the Editor, Most of us growing up were taught to believe in the law and the constitution of the united States. We all have certain morals, with pride in truth and facts. We have respect for our elders and above all, women. With all these thoughts in mind, there is a man named Trump who is running for president in November 2024. He has none of the beliefs that we do. He … [Read more...]

By Ben Bisbach Monday, June 10 was a beautiful sunny day.  I was looking forward to working in the garden that evening after I got done with work.  However when I checked my email that morning, I realized I would need to spend my evening doing something else.  Apparently, a few residents over in Harmony have taken deep offense to the fact that there are books about gay … [Read more...]

By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com I’ve been in the newspaper business for well over 30 years, and our own Paul Trende is one of the most dedicated sports directors I’ve ever worked with. About a year ago, at a monthly staff meeting, Paul asked if it would be OK if he added photos to our social media from high school sporting … [Read more...]

By Stan Gudmundson Peterson, MN About deficit spending, an economics advisor to Richard Nixon once said that if something can’t go on forever, it won’t go on forever.  Ayn Rand said, ‘We can ignore reality, but cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.”’  Obviously.  Why then, do we put up with government’s deficit spending if it can’t go on forever?  Making … [Read more...]