Aging playground equipment, the Wykoff Commons meadow and a livestock variance request were among the topics discussed during the August 10 Wykoff City Council meeting. Mayor Ryan Breckenridge presided over the meeting with council members Jeffrey Hare, Jane Baker, Barbara Fate and Missy Musel present. City Administrator Becky Schmidt also attended. The council heard an … [Read more...]
Wallace’s Last Meeting as Houston Mayor
At their August 10 regular meeting, the Houston City Council decided on a plan for replacing resigning Mayor Scott Wallace. City Administrator Michelle Quinn reminded the council they had “wide latitude” in appointing a new mayor to serve the remainder of Wallace’s term. Wallace noted, “Being punctual is very important!” The council chuckled at that – Wallace was well known … [Read more...]
Root River State Trail Bank Stabilization Project Near Houston Nears Completion
A riverbank stabilization project designed to protect the Root River State Trail, approximately two to three miles west of Houston, is almost complete, with the final phase, repairing the asphalt trail, expected to be completed by the end of September. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Parks and Trails prioritized the project after sections of the … [Read more...]
Forest Field Day and Prairie Walk
For 15 years, the Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District has hosted its annual Forest Field Day and Prairie Walk. This year’s event was held on July 29, at Steve and Diane Snyder’s property, outside Lanesboro. The event displayed forest management techniques, including buckthorn removal, cedar hillside clearing, and native re-establishment efforts. This year’s … [Read more...]
History Written in Stone Preserved by Gary and Deb Anderson
When history is written in stone, preserving it takes a great deal of planning, an eye for detail, and hard physical labor. Gary and Deb (Olsen) Anderson of rural Chatfield indeed have a desire to maintain the history of a Fillmore County stone barn. This couple not only has studied the historic account of Thomas Ferguson, who along with his wife Jane and seven children … [Read more...]
McCabe Family Farms: Growing Food, Family and Building a Legacy
For Joe and Amanda McCabe, farming is more than a livelihood – it’s a lifestyle centered on family, stewardship, and sustainable raised products. At McCabe Family Farms near Pilot Mound, they are raising not only livestock but also the next generation of farmers. Today, the couple, along with their children – Trayton, Addison, Jaxon and Hazel – play active roles in the daily … [Read more...]
Sweet’s Hotel to be Featured on America’s Best Restaurants Roadshow
There was a sense of excitement on the streets of LeRoy, Minnesota, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, as the America’s Best Restaurants van pulled into town to begin filming at Sweet’s Hotel. When owners Lu Overocker and her daughter Sarah Srsen applied for Sweet’s Hotel to be featured on the show, they had high hopes but knew that thousands of other restaurants had also sent in … [Read more...]
Rose Weichert: A Teacher at Heart
For Rose Weichert, piano lessons have always been more than learning to play the piano. As she reflected on her 61-year teaching career, it became clear that every lesson has also been about developing confidence, discipline, responsibility and poise, life skills that extend far beyond the keyboard. At the end of the interview, Rose summed it up simply. “I’m not a performer,” … [Read more...]
Fountain’s Sugar Creek Vineyard and Meadery
Brothers Kevin and Bryan Logue first opened Sugar Creek Vineyard and Meadery to the public in 2021 in rural Fountain. With the COVID pandemic ongoing, they opened an outside area to accommodate visitors for the first few years. In 2023, in a perfectly timed move, they added an indoor tasting room. Providing an indoor spot proved to be great when smoke from wildfires moved into … [Read more...]
The Goal: Preston to Forestville Bike Trail
Efforts to build a bike trail from Preston to Forestville State Park failed to go forward over two decades ago due, in part, to an inability to acquire needed right-of-way across private property. Progress toward that goal is being made over the past couple of years by individuals that believe in and are dedicated to that goal. The Forestville Trail and River Committee last … [Read more...]