At the February 26 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Harmony resident Aaron Bishop asked if the board had any thoughts or plans in case the Department of Education is limited, altered, or discontinued. Superintendent Heath Olstad responded that there are many unknowns and no details to share currently. “I am confident at this time that the State of Minnesota has always … [Read more...]
Bond Referendum Meetings Announced, Donations Acknowledged by M-C Board
The dates for two bond referendum informational meetings were announced at the February 18 Mabel-Canton School Board meeting. The first will be held on February 19 at the Canton Town Hall; the second will be held March 11 in Mabel. Both meetings will start at 6 p.m. The board graciously thanked Joanne Hosting for a $5,000 donation in memory of Mike Hosting. The donation will … [Read more...]
College News
Graduates List Fall 2024 Iowa State University: Konnor Kivimagi, Chatfield, BS, Electrical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude Minnesota State University, Mankato: Mick Bullerman, Caledonia, BS, Aviation, Magna Cum Laude; Rebecca Fox, Chatfield, BS, Corrections; Alexandra Hanson, Chatfield, BS, Dental Hygiene, Summa Cum Laude; Zachery Haugerud, Harmony, BS, Management, and … [Read more...]
Emma Illg and Malia Tessum Travel to India
Two Fillmore County women got to experience the business world in India first hand last month. Emma Illg of Harmony and Malia Michelfelder Tessum of Lanesboro were chosen to be part of a group of six students from the College of Saint Benedict and St. John’s University’s global business program to study abroad in India. Professor Kingshuk Mukherjee had presented the study … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Flashback – Native American Mounds
By Sally Ryman Rushford Historical Society Native American mounds in the Driftless region are generally massive earthen effigy mounds that are concentrated on high bluffs and ridge crests overlooking rivers. If you’ve been lucky enough to watch “Decoding the Driftless,” you’ve seen them photographed from the air. Created by various Native Americans hundreds to … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Schools Hires Own Business Manager
At their regular meeting February 12, the Lanesboro School Board approved the hiring of Garrett Stadsvold as its full-time business manager beginning February 16. Stadsvold will work four days a week on site and remotely the remaining day. This approval came immediately after the board cancelled a contract for such services with School Management Services (SMS) which originally … [Read more...]
Chatfield School Board Approved Revised FY 2025 Budget
At the February 12, 2025, meeting school board meeting, board members David Sovinski, Josh Thompson, Tom Keefe, Jill Harstad and Mark Johnsrud were present. Katie Priebe was not present. Also present were Superintendent Ed Harris, high school principal, Eric Nelson, elementary principal, Shane McBroom and student senate representatives Ella Lane and Kyla … [Read more...]
Houston School Board Considers Changes
As the Houston School Board considered the proposed calendar for next school year at their regular meeting February 6, the often mundane item led to good discussion. Superintendent Mary Morem suggested moving advisory to the end of the school day and altering the beginning of the day to 8:15 a.m. and the end to 3 p.m.. Students often need to leave early at the end of the day … [Read more...]
Bus Drivers Who Care
After Phil Burkholder retired from working for Fillmore County for 28 years, he ran into Mark Scheevel at the post office one day. At that time, Scheevel was the owner of Harmony Transit; he approached Burkholder and suggested that he come and drive bus for him. Phil figured he already knew where people lived and it would get him out of the house. Burkholder started driving … [Read more...]
Kingsland School Board Hears SMEC Audit Report
On January 22, Dan Armagost and John Mark Dundas, of the Southern Minnesota Education Consortium (SMEC), presented the Kingsland School Board with the fiscal year 2024 audit. SMEC is a multi-purpose cooperative of school districts that work together to provide support for special education students. Currently, there are seven member districts within SMEC including … [Read more...]