By Kathie Haynes Canton, MN Retired Pastor Norm Omodt explained why he became a Democrat. He asks hard line Republicans and strict followers of Trump, “Why would you be against wind power, solar power and ocean current energy?” And, “Why do you accept mass shootings with the AR-15 military rifle intended for killing people in war?” Bonnie Haugen says Vote With Your … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… A Groovy Turkey Day Run
By Jason Sethre Publisher Fillmore County Journal jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com I remember back in about 9th grade, when I started running long distance with the endurance runners on our track team. Somehow, maybe by process of elimination, I was selected to run the mile (1600 meters) event instead of being a sprinter. I had to run with the guys who ran a minimum … [Read more...]
Waiting into a river of proliferating procrastinators
And we’ll charge by the leaf. That was our plan to become rich beyond belief in the leaf-raking business. “The Foolish Almanak For Anuthur Year” by Theodor Rosyfelt published in 1906, said, “It is said that nothing is impossible; but there are lots of people doing nothing every day.” We were kids from the sticks who had proven capable of doing nothing and doing chores, … [Read more...]
What if we don’t FEEL thankful?
“Five weeks ago,” my husband perfectly stated, “I didn’t know or care that the human brain has a drain.” How often do we take for granted things in ignorance? Personally, I wasn’t thankful for mine - because I didn’t even realize I had one. Fast forward a few weeks, as I sat in the pediatric neurosurgery department holding my tiny baby as the specialists tried to explain … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Honoring our Veterans
Thank you again to all of our veterans for their service to our country. Veterans Day has come and gone, but we can never forget their sacrifices of so many men and women from our region. Back in 2014, with the help of some amazing people on our team at the Fillmore County Journal, we started a project in which we had hopes of publishing our first-ever book dedicated to the … [Read more...]
Developing a plan for growth
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...]