President/CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Over the years of serving as president of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), I have noticed that foundations, of which there are many in our state, are often touted as organizations that do grantmaking. However, I know that grantmaking is often just the tip of the iceberg of what foundations can offer the … [Read more...]
Red Ribbon Week vs. Reality
By Kristen Asleson Lanesboro, MN Yesterday when I woke kids up in the morning, I groaned as I recalled it was Red Ribbon Week, and the boys needed a red outfit to the kick the week off. A sarcastic laugh followed as I looked through the rest of the week’s outfits: Tuesday – camo day – really? Does that make a kid invisible to drugs? Wednesday – Team up – there isn’t a … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Our next generation of thought provokers
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com There’s something pretty amazing about getting your written work published in a newspaper or magazine. Back in the late 1970s, following the flood that devastated our family and many others in Rochester, Minn., on July 6, 1978, my mother wrote a piece about that experience that was … [Read more...]
Why I became a Democrat
Opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Fillmore County Journal. By Pastor Norm Omodt, Ret. Chatfield, MN Most people remain in the political party they’ve always been a part of. I’d like to challenge the RADICAL REPUB-LICANS to give serious thought to a change, at least in the way they vote these days, to be more compatible with surely … [Read more...]
Vote with your stomach
All people eat, but not all people grow their own food. This simple truth means it’s critical that we support and work for the farmers who feed us. Being a farmer is rewarding, frustrating, and important, but not always lucrative. We can support those who grow our food by voting people into office who understand our rural issues and will complete legislation meant to bring … [Read more...]
A biological reality
By Christopher Conlon Chatfield, MN I had a friendly argument about abortion recently with a candidate who stopped by my home while campaigning. We agreed that it’s wrong to directly kill an innocent human being, but they argued that abortion can be an individual’s right because it’s not a human being that’s being killed. We came to an impasse when we disagreed about the … [Read more...]
Which tractor runs best; red or green?
By George Spangler Chatfield, MN With mid-term elections looming before us, media experts are speculating about how residents of “fly-over country” will vote. Is America’s heartland peopled with folks who have nothing better to do than argue about farm equipment? Are we gullible or skeptical? Do we value truth over fiction? The answer lies within you. We all have our … [Read more...]
Letter to the editor – being thankful for the
Letter about being thankful for the Inflation Reduction Act... To the Editor, I am so thankful both our U.S. Senators who represent us here in the great state of Minnesota voted for the Inflation Reduction Act and that the act passed and was signed into law by President Biden. Because that has passed, if any of my grandma’s prescription drugs are on the list of drugs that … [Read more...]
Letter to the editor – should you vote 3rd party?…
Letter about should you vote 3rd party?... To the Editor, Not this year if you want to protect our democracy. This election, the danger is too real to “symbolically” vote for someone to show your dislike of the two-party system. We have actual election deniers on our ballot; we have one party whose platform says they will eliminate Social Security and remove our freedom to … [Read more...]
Who do you vote for and why?
By Stan Gudmundson Peterson, MN Who do you vote for and why? Are there any principles you firmly believe in that determine which candidate to vote for? Are they key or does your loyalty to a particular party take precedence? Or is it merely family tradition? Are you a single issue only voter? What are the consequences of a political party’s policies? These are some … [Read more...]