The Chatfield School Board met on October 22, 2018, in the high school forum room. All board members were present except Katie Priebe and Matt McMahon. Others attending were Superintendent Ed Harris, Karyl Lyons, business manager; Lorri Lowrey, administrative assistant; Kristi Cook, technology integration specialist and LuAnn Kleven, community education director. Student … [Read more...]
Trump rally attracts huge local supporter
Loretta Ladsten of Mabel may be one of the most enthusiastic Trump supporters in Fillmore County. So when she heard that the president was going to be at a rally in Rochester, she “rallied” her family to attend. “It’s not every day that you get to see the president of the United States,” Loretta exclaimed. “It was one of the best days ever.” On October 4, about 10,000 people … [Read more...]
Mammograms save lives — plain and simple
Aubrey Johnson of Harmony was reminded repeatedly to get a mammogram. She knew she should, but didn’t feel it was urgent since she didn’t have a family history of breast cancer. When she turned 40, the importance of having one kept getting repeated to her, again and again for almost another year. “I was at the Gundersen Clinic in Harmony when it was brought up again that I … [Read more...]
Broadband coming soon to rural Rushford
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...]