Letter about domestic violence... To the Editor, I wore purple on October 19. This was requested in a recent article by Charlene Corson Selbee, “Won’t You Wear Purple on October 19?” In accord with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I wore purple on many other days in October, with the expectation that it would raise awareness, because, yes, it can happen here. Often rural … [Read more...]

Thanksgiving Day seems to arrive pretty fast, as these years keep flying by. We are quickly approaching another feast. And, on this day, our newspaper will be hosting the 15th annual Fillmore County Turkey Day Run. In today’s issue of the Fillmore County Journal, you’ll find information about the annual tradition. I’ve always considered this event a perfect way to start … [Read more...]

Letter about school lunches... To the Editor, When GOP Sen. Jeremy Miller and other Republicans got the opportunity to vote for a simple idea to save money for parents across the state, almost all of them, including Miller, voted against it. This year, students in public schools receive free meals, regardless of their household income. As parents will remember, meals were … [Read more...]

By Tim Penny President/CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Creating a sense of belonging in rural Minnesota can enhance the overall quality of life for everyone who lives there. By embracing different perspectives, cultures and ideas, rural Minnesota can build stronger, more thriving communities. At Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), we offer several … [Read more...]

By Ron Scheevel Vietnam Vet Preston, MN As Labor Day is behind us, the “Old Soldier” has a number of concerns relating to the problems facing our great nation. Most of my opinions are based on what I read and hear on the news channels. I’ve previously talked about the border, the Afghanistan disaster, and our dismal record on curbing crime in our major cities. What a … [Read more...]

What is your story of water and karst? As a person who has friends and family afflicted by cancer, I was captivated by the story of “Cancer Road” in the recent Sunday’s StarTribune. It makes me wonder if state and local elected officials will feel encouraged to delve into the growing bodies of research that highlight the cause-and-effect relationship of nitrate contaminated … [Read more...]

Opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Fillmore County Journal. Bonnie Haugen Canton, MN What do washing machines, climate change, and the dairy business have on common? A new washing machine was just delivered to my basement.  I am fortunate to have a tool to easily wash my clothes, with choices on how to wash them.  And assuming it lasts many … [Read more...]

Opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Fillmore County Journal. By Sen. Jeremy Miller District 26 On August 1, more than 300 nursing homes across the state received their first payment of emergency nursing home aid. The funding was the result of a bipartisan agreement brokered by Senate Republicans at the end of this year’s legislative session to … [Read more...]

By Tim Penny President/CEO Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation No matter what line of work you are in, chances are that when you look for professional development opportunities, you often have to travel to the Twin Cities area or even out of state to advance your education. It may also be the case that you end up paying quite a bit for these opportunities – especially … [Read more...]

This past week, there was a buzz in the newspaper industry about a faux pas for The Hutchinson News located in Hutchinson, Kan. They had a wonderfully designed front page showing a group of senior citizens kayaks on a lake in Hutchinson.  The headline of the story read, “Engaged, happy and active.” It was about all about how the Hutchinson Senior Center keeps seniors busy … [Read more...]

I’ve been working in the newspaper business, technically, since I was 10 years old.  That’s when I started delivering a shopper route in Northwest Rochester.  I had 200 shoppers to deliver, spanning 17 blocks in our neighborhood.  It became a family affair.  The shoppers would arrive and we would stuff them in long plastic bags to protect them from the elements on the doorstep … [Read more...]

Opinions expressed here are those of the author and not of the Fillmore County Journal. By Jeff Erding Wykoff, MN Integrity of our institutions is vital to the successful existence of a Democratic Republic. Citizens need to be well informed by truthful entities. America needs an airtight voting system so every legal vote is rapidly and fairly counted. We need … [Read more...]

Made famous by Dorothy and her ruby red slippers, that was the memorable moment when Judy Garland’s character realized she had suddenly arrived in the Land of Oz. Well, Marion County seemed to have a tornado of sorts rip through the little town of Marion (pop. 1,902). It was like the Land of Oz with a few agendas working behind the curtains of the law. On Friday, August … [Read more...]

A few weeks ago, a Rochester Post-Bulletin reporter contacted me regarding my thoughts on a report presented by the Minnesota Center for Rural Policy & Develop-ment (MCRPD) in April 2023. I told the reporter I was glad he contacted me, because I had actually sent an email to Julie Tesch, president & CEO of the MCRPD. I shared my email to Julie with the P-B reporter, … [Read more...]