Inside a hangar at the Fillmore County airport sits the newest machine Kent Dornink has built. It is not a tractor, a planter or a combine. It is an airplane. Dornink spent about three years building the plane, a Van’s RV-14A. It came as a kit, in crates and pieces, with binders of plans and instructions, and he put in somewhere around 20,000 rivets holding … [Read more...]
Mabel-Canton Emergency Highlights Importance of CPR and AED Training
On July 31, school staff and individuals working on the construction project at the Mabel-Canton School put their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills into practice and used the school’s automated external defibrillator (AED) to help save the life of Chris Meier, a State of Minnesota Inspector. The Mabel Ambulance crew, which also played a critical role in saving … [Read more...]
Bringing Back the Ultimate American Cruiser
Growing up, Steve Snyder, of Lanesboro, never had a station wagon and rarely even rode in one. But he always thought they were cool — big, classic, and comfortable. Five years ago, when the opportunity finally arose, he decided to get one for himself. A friend mentioned a wagon for sale up in northern Minnesota: a 1988 Chevy Caprice Estate. He wanted a collector car to … [Read more...]
Local Experts in Body Work and Car Care
Owners Keith Bradt and Bill Burk have owned Chatfield Body Shop in Chatfield since 1995. Keith’s dad had bought the business in 1978; when he became ill in 1989, Keith joined him in the business. Keith ran the business from 1990 to 1995 when he and Bill Burk, who already did body work at the business, decided to form a partnership. About 15 years ago, the duo expanded into … [Read more...]
Cade Christensen’s ‘57 Chevy Road Trip to Bowling Green
Cade Christensen of rural Houston has been into cars since he was a 6-month-old baby, when the 1957 Chevy Bel Air station wagon joined the family. The car had been purchased in South Dakota by Cade’s uncle; when he chose to sell it, Cade’s dad Alan bought it. When Cade was 13, he started working on the ‘57 Chevy. The Christensens chose to do a “frame off” restoration in which … [Read more...]
MiEnergy – Celebrating 90 Years as a Cooperative
In 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt formed the Rural Electricification Administration (REA). A short year later both Hawkeye REC (Rural Electric Cooperative) and Tri-County Electric were formed in 1936. These two companies would later combine to form MiEnergy Cooperative in 2017. The merger of the two cooperatives was the natural next step for both. At that time, they had shared … [Read more...]
Team Pink: Stephanie Westby Shares Her Breast Cancer Journey
When Stephanie Westby and her husband Carl began making summer plans with their two children, Kaylin and James, they never imagined those plans would change so quickly. In late April, Stephanie received a breast cancer diagnosis that would bring unexpected challenges, along with an outpouring of love and support from family, friends, co-workers and the community. Stephanie’s … [Read more...]
Living Life Normally Through Breast Cancer Treatment
For Naaren Kingsley, life was following a familiar path. She and her husband Travis own Caledonia Veterinary Clinic and work together while raising their three children: Noah, 24; Priya, 21; and Avery, 18. When Naaren was diagnosed with breast cancer in April, her youngest child was a high school senior. The family was busy navigating basketball season and preparing for … [Read more...]
A Team of Their Own: Fillmore Fighters Take the Court
High school sports are a big part of life for those in Fillmore County and now, for the first time, the homeschool community has their own team competing. Per Minnesota Statute 123B.49, Subdivision 4(a) homeschool students are eligible to play on public school teams in the district in which they reside, but it’s not always the best option for them. When Amy and Ryan Grabau … [Read more...]
Balancing the Journal, Farm and Family
When Ellen Whalen took a workforce test about 25 years ago, her results showed a strong affinity for office work. “I thought it sounded kind of boring,” she commented. But for the past 12 years, she’s been doing just that at the Fillmore County Journal. “It’s been a great fit,” she said. “I’m very comfortable with it.” Ellen started out as a proofer and is now the assistant … [Read more...]