“Shock” and “devastation” are the words that Kindra Soltau uses to describe the feeling she got after her 17-year-old son Wesley’s recent diagnosis with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system. LeRoy-Ostrander High School junior Wesley Soltau’s cancer journey started back in December of 2020 when his girlfriend Ashley noticed a lump on his neck. “She … [Read more...]
Virtual Reality (VR) programming taking root in Minnesota’s Bluff Country
Preston resident Vaughan Schmidt put Fillmore County on the worldwide map with his Virtual Reality (VR) work. Schmidt served as the lead programmer/consultant on the “live interactive virtual reality (VR) theater performance” of Finding Pandora X. “With the passing of ages, the Gods of Mount Olympus have faded away until only two remain: Zeus and Hera. Now they are in … [Read more...]
Rushford VFW Diamond Jubliee
The Rushford VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) organization is celebrating its diamond jubilee this year — organized in 1946, shortly after the end of WWII, the VFW has been around for 75 years. On Saturday, February 13, the members of the VFW celebrated the 75 years at their meeting held at Stumpy’s Restaurant. VFW District I Commander Dave Thul from Owatonna joined the meeting … [Read more...]
Forty years of quality hardwoods
Root River Hardwoods came from humble beginnings in 1980 when Andy Bahl’s dad Richard Bahl and his partners, Mike Merritt and Jeff Wand, purchased a sawmill in Preston, Minn. In 1988, Andy started working with millwork, supplying kiln-dried lumber to furniture and cabinet makers. His next step included purchasing a Weinig molder, the Cadillac of molders; he hired additional … [Read more...]
Lieb is booking it to Eagle Scout status
Determination, ambition and love of learning are three of the many characteristics of anyone who has worked their way up from entering Cub Scouts, moved their way on to Boy Scouts and then continues on even further to work toward becoming an Eagle Scout. Robert Lieb, 18, of Lanesboro, Minn., not only maintains these characteristics, but they are combined with numerous other … [Read more...]
Award winning tree farmer is focused on woodland management
When the staff of the Fillmore County Journal was informed that Minnesota’s 2020 Regional and State Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year was an area resident, Janet Erdman of rural Preston, we made contact with her. Although she was reluctant to offer information regarding herself, Janet wholeheartedly agreed to the need for an article on the benefits of woodland management, … [Read more...]
Had COVID? Donate plasma!
Did you know that if you have had COVID and have been symptom free for at least fourteen days, you can donate plasma to help others with COVID? Rushford native Larry Bartelson shared his personal experience with COVID and convalescent plasma donation. Larry first felt the symptoms of COVID-19 October 30, 2020, and went to be tested for it. After isolating for several days, … [Read more...]
2020 Business Person of the Year Jones receives award of excellence from Journal readers
The year 2020 became one that tested everyone in ways never imagined. For business leaders, they contended with circumstances they had never encountered before. There were issues with supply chain, facility capacity limitations, shutdowns, social distancing, mask mandates, COVID exposure protocol, staffing, sanitization, health, and safety – to name a few. Over the past few … [Read more...]
96-year-old Grandma Bea retires
As she is lovingly known in Spring Grove, Grandma Bea is 96-year-old Beatrice (Hatling) Doely. Doely, a spry lady with a genuine personality and smart appearance, retired at the end of December after 23 years with the Spring Grove Public library. “Bea Doely is an inspiration to everyone she meets. She works hard and never complains. In fact, she is always optimistic and … [Read more...]
Dealing with trespassers
Rushford landowner Richard Anderson is frustrated with consistent, repetitive, chronic, and increasingly more flagrant trespassing by hunters on his private property and is working to make a change in trespassing laws. After conversations with his neighbor Bob Wick who has similar concerns, and reading a letter to the editor and interview in the Outdoor News with Mark Strehlow … [Read more...]