Every spring across southeast Minnesota, graduating seniors receive scholarship awards funded by local memorials, churches, businesses, civic groups, and community organizations. The Fillmore County Journal contacted school districts throughout the region requesting information about scholarship totals, major awards, and long-running local scholarship programs. Caledonia Area … [Read more...]
Pay It Forward Scholarship Awarded to Izzy Torgerson
As Izzy Torgerson listened to a description of the next awardee at the Mabel-Canton scholarship awards, she thought it might be one of her classmates or maybe even her. The person worked at the Gundersen Harmony Care Center and was described as a friendly person who truly cared about the residents. When her name was announced as the recipient of a Pay It Forward scholarship, it … [Read more...]
St. Johns Lutheran School History
By Kim McKeon Edited by Mickey Angerman The long history of St. Johns Lutheran School, the first parochial school in Fillmore County, had its beginnings in the very earliest days of our St. Johns Church. Just one year after the organization of the church in 1974, a seminary student was engaged to teach school here in 1875. Those first classes were conducted in one room of the … [Read more...]
Parents Concerned about Films Assigned at Houston High School
Several Houston parents addressed the Houston School Board during the public comment period of the regular board meeting on May 7. Parents were given two minutes each to address the board. Susan Rosendahl pointed out that parents were not notified before the film “The Ugly … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project Why Senior Year Goes By So Fast
By Savanah Huffman Senior year is arguably the most important year of high school. It’s the year when life starts to become truly serious. Senior year is the year for major decisions and forming paths to the future. It is supposed to be the longest, most exciting year of high school, but somehow it feels like it disappears in the blink of an eye. I used to think graduation … [Read more...]
Fruechte Recognized for Impact Beyond the Field
Caledonia’s head football coach, Carl Fruechte, received the 2026 John Gagliardi Legacy award on April 19 from the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. The ceremony was held at the Huntington Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota. “Carl Fruechte has so much respect and admiration across the entire Minnesota High School football community. He develops … [Read more...]
M-C School Board Names Mike Harvey as New Superintendent
The Mabel-Canton School Board approved hiring Mike Harvey as the school’s new superintendent at its April 21 school board meeting. According to his LinkedIn profile, Harvey is currently the CTE Construction teacher at Goodhue Public Schools in Goodhue, Minn. He has been employed in that capacity since August 2024. Before returning to teaching, he served as superintendent at … [Read more...]
Kingsland School Board Taking Applications To Fill Vacancy
On Monday, April 20, the Kingsland School Board received Board Chair Kyle Rader’s resignation as he will soon be moving out of the district. Rader will remain on the board until June of this year. Superintendent Scott Klavetter explained because there are more than 90 days left of Rader’s term, there will need to be someone appointed to his seat. “Basically there are two … [Read more...]
Spring Grove School Board Approves Revised Budget
The Spring Grove School Board unanimously approved the revised 2025–2026 revenue and expenditure budget at its April 20 meeting. District Accountant Tanya Elton presented the board with a new report formatted to make it easier for board members to see where the costs are coming from. Elton reminded the board that she is pretty conservative. She underestimates revenues and … [Read more...]
Caledonia Public Schools Welcomes Whitney Steele
Caledonia Area Public School board members met Monday, April 20 at Caledonia Elementary School in room 162. Board member Mike Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m., led with the Pledge of Allegiance, and conducted roll call. All board members were present except for Chad Harms. District employees present included Superintendent Craig Ihrke, principals Nathan Boler … [Read more...]