A Golden Shovel groundbreaking event was held on October 3 in Rushford Village/rural Rushford to celebrate a new expansion of fiber Internet in Fillmore County. The last mile project will serve 246 unserved households and businesses, and 311 underserved households, businesses, and community anchor institutions within the rural expansion area. The broadband expansion project is … [Read more...]
Olstad shares experience with young Falcons
It’s a rarity to have an athlete from any rural community rise to stardom at a professional level. So, when it does happen, people take notice. There hasn’t been a professional football player with Fillmore County, Minn., roots since a Rushford-Peterson High School prodigy named Steve Heiden was drafted as a tight end to play in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers (1999-2001) … [Read more...]
County supports “Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act”
At their October 9 meeting, the county board passed a resolution in support of the Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act of 2018. Support for this act will be left on the desk for Minnesota’s next First District Congressman. EDA director Marty Walsh explained this bill (H.R. 6383) is intended to redirect block grant money. Federal block grant money would go … [Read more...]
Spring Valley Council declines housing grant
At the regular meeting of the Spring Valley City Council on October 8, the council chose not to support a grant submission for a Workforce Housing Development Program, as previously outlined by developer Jeff Allman. All council members were present (Tony Archer, Todd Jones, Mayor Jim Struzyk, Jessy Betts, Mike Hadland and City Administrator Deb Zimmer). Resolution 2018-29 … [Read more...]
Beaver Bottoms Saloon has much to offer
A new business has also brought new life to the main street in Fountain, Minn. Beaver Bottoms Saloon is a bar, restaurant, liquor store, and hair salon all wrapped up in one. Owners Jody Wiza and Laura Schroeder have created a fun and welcoming atmosphere in the former Bent Wrench building located at 98 Main Street. Wiza, who owns The Hair Shack and The Shack Bar in … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Veterans Home, now more than a dream
The dream is not yet a reality, but it is well on its way and much farther along than anyone expected it to be just a year ago. Legislators including Rep. Greg Davids, Senator Jeremy Miller, Minnesota House Veterans Affairs Division Chairman Bob Dettmer, and Senate Veterans Committee Chairman Bruce Anderson were in attendance at the celebratory event held on September 27 at the … [Read more...]
Twenty-two contested races
We only have 29 days until Election Day — November 6, 2018. With 22 contested races in Fillmore County and Houston County, voters will have their hands full with making some pretty important decisions. For this issue of the Fillmore County Journal, our staff worked diligently to present candidate profiles for those who chose to participate. We mailed letters with questions … [Read more...]
Courthouse security screening up and running
Beginning on September 4 the public has only been able to enter the Fillmore County Courthouse through the east lobby/main entry. A security officer/deputy will instruct you to put items that may be in your pockets including cell phones, keys, and change into a container to go through a scanner or x-ray machine. Purses and other carry in bags will also be put through the … [Read more...]
Fountain adjusts past due utility guidelines
In a council meeting just topping 15 minutes, the Fountain Council briefly hit at a few items including the community center and past due utility issues, a contract, police department status, the final adoption a wastewater plan, and annual renewals. In new business, City Clerk Rhonda Flattum noted that a number of accounts are past due and Public Works had posted seven shut … [Read more...]
Candidates talk about what’s important
Over the next several weeks leading up to Election Day on November 6, 2018, the Fillmore County Journal will provide candidates in contested races in our coverage area an opportunity to answer questions that we hope will be of value to voters. On today’s front page, we are presenting two candidates battling for State Representative of District 28B. Both Greg Davids and Thomas … [Read more...]