The yearly Christmas in Fillmore County sponsored by the Rural Concerns Task Force will indeed go on this year. While the pandemic has made it necessary to make some changes in the format, the generous people of Fillmore County will still be able to help their neighbors. The Rural Concerns Task Force was formed by Sheila Craig of Fillmore County Extension Services, Sharon … [Read more...]
First brewery in Lanesboro in 100 years now open
A new business venture means more opportunities for fun and relaxation in Lanesboro, Minn., as Sylvan Brewing has opened its doors. Opening the business not only fulfills a dream Andy and Karen Heimdahl have had, but also gives local residents and tourists an additional option for making memories with friends and family. “We were kind of looking for a lifestyle change where … [Read more...]
The Sweet Stop and Sandwich Shoppe reopens with improvements
Everyone knows that renovations of any kind can be stressful. So what better time to do them than during 2020, a year marked by intense stress for just about everyone? When Mike and Brenda Eickhoff temporarily closed the The Sweet Stop and Sandwich Shoppe in Preston on July 26, they saw an opportunity to finally get some renovations done that had been on their list for a while. … [Read more...]
MN Guardsman Brandi Mayer surprised by Fillmore Central students after returning home from deployment
Fillmore Central Public Schools middle and high school students, fellow teachers, and administration surprised Spanish teacher Brandi Mayer with a warm welcome on Friday, October 30, after a 12 ½ month deployment with the Minnesota Army National Guard. Mayer started teaching at Fillmore Central in June 2016 and will begin her fifth year as the school’s Spanish teacher on … [Read more...]
Chatfield Veteran humbled by quilt of valor presentation
On August 8, 2020, Donald J. Scott of Chatfield received a special gift in honor of his service to our country. Scott, a Vietnam War veteran, received a Quilt of Valor sewn by Chris Rand and Rita Radil of Rochester. His wife, Rosanne Licciardi, and his niece, Julie Soat of Galena, Ill., wrapped the quilt around him on the day of its presentation. As a Vietnam soldier, Scott … [Read more...]
Gone West
Fellow Fillmore County pilots honored their friend LaVern Knoepke’s memory, by flying the missing man formation at his funeral last July. Knoepke joined the Army on May 13, 1953, one week after marrying Betty Miller spending from 1953-1955 in Korea. After Korea, he returned home to Fillmore County. Knoepke was a lifelong member and a past commander of the Preston V.F.W. and … [Read more...]
Nathan Honsey, new GM at Preston Dairy and Farm
Nathan (Nate) Honsey took over the helm as the new general manager at the Preston Dairy and Farm Association on September 28, 2020. The Association has been in business since 1979 and currently has 16 employees and two locations – Preston and Canton. The independent farmer’s co-op governed by a board of directors is a full agronomy service providing farmers with seed for … [Read more...]
Black bear harvested near Lewiston
Living in the hills and valleys of Bluff Country, we sometimes hear stories of bear being sighted in the area. It most cases, it appears that the bear is just moving through the area while looking for a mate. Randy Hoekstra of rural Lewiston, Minn., in western Winona County, was wishing that was the case when he first start seeing pictures of a black bear from the trail … [Read more...]
After hours Paranormal Investigators discovers activity at Chatfield VFW
“I was able to see immediately somebody standing there and I could identify him by his name, his rank and his appearance - and we got very intelligent responses,” states Dr. Hawk Horvath of After Hours Paranormal Investigations, about the investigation her team did at the Chatfield VFW in Chatfield, Minn. the evening of Saturday, October 3, 2020. “They approached and asked … [Read more...]
R-P modifies learning model
By Wanda Hanson In Superintendent Jon Thompson’s report to the Rushford School Board at their meeting on October 19, 2020, he explained why the elementary had changed its learning model. The county COVID numbers have been increasing per 10,000. Classes for fourth graders are now being held in larger rooms including the forum room and the music room to allow for better social … [Read more...]