On Saturday, May 26, 2018, Lanesboro native Eric Holst made a mark for himself as he became the field-event national champion in the NCAA Championships in LaCrosse, Wis., with an incredible 211-4 hammer throw. “I started throwing in seventh grade, but I didn’t get to start throwing the hammer until my freshman year of college,” states Holst, which makes his accomplishment … [Read more...]
Odd name, great eggs
There’s a young entrepreneur near Cherry Grove who has really got things cracking. At just seven years of age, he’s certainly no hard-boiled businessman, but Carter Keim is the CEO (Chief Egg Officer) of the family’s new egg-venture, which he named “Chester’s Butt Nuggets.” For a seven-year-old, Carter knows a lot about chickens and their care. Recently, he explained the … [Read more...]
Big Girl Stickers moves into Chatfield storefront
“We ended up with something we never planned for, and it’s just blossomed,” Melissa Burnett said. “It started as just a side gig for some extra money.” Burnett and her husband, Rocky own and operate Big Girl Stickers, a vinyl lettering, screenprinting, and décor business. When they first started it together with another couple, they never imagined it would be so successful … [Read more...]
Navy Seaman First Class Joseph M. Johnson now rests in peace
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency “gives new meaning to no man left behind,” stated Patricia Farinacci, during a tribute to her uncle, Joseph M. Johnson, whose remains were escorted back home to Rushford, Minn., 76 years and 7 months after his death at Pearl Harbor. Joseph Morris Johnson (“Joe”) was born on February 4, 1919, to Helmer and Marie (Sande) Johnson in … [Read more...]
Hailee Warren is national essay winner
A student in the Kingsland School District, Hailee is the oldest child in the family of Rick and Julee Warren and has two brothers, Charlee and Rylee. Rick was raised in Fillmore County and his wife, Julee moved to the area from North Dakota when educational opportunities transplanted her to the Mayo Clinic. “The entire family is quite proud of and thrilled for her!” exclaims … [Read more...]
Five churches, two pastors
The Bible has many stories of people who were called to serve God in new and different ways. These believers were asked to take a “leap of faith” to answer the calling. This is also the case for two new pastors in the United Methodist Church, Pastor David Stoeger and Pastor Pam Seebach. They recently sat down to explain the calling they have answered to serve five Methodist … [Read more...]
Citizens advocate for EIS on proposed hog feedlot in Fillmore County
The informational meeting held by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regarding the proposed Catalpa LLC hog facility drew a large crowd to the Mabel Community Center Tuesday evening, June 19. More than an hour before the meeting was to begin, speakers demanding an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a substantially more in-depth review, spoke to the crowd in front … [Read more...]
Justin Ward: World-class bullfighter
Conventional wisdom says that anyone trying out a new sport will “take their lumps” for quite a while before they achieve any type of success. But Justin Ward is not an average athlete. And while he continues to take his lumps (literally), he’s also quickly found success charging at him like an angry bull. Justin graduated from Mabel-Canton High School in 2014, and then … [Read more...]
VFW benefit reaches goal
On April 21, the Spring Valley VFW held a “Rebuild the VFW Benefit Dinner and Auction” at the Spring Valley Community Center. This fundraiser was held to pay for needed re-building due to the fire that destroyed the Johnny Ringo’s bar in the fall of 2017. Thanks to the generosity of the community, and the great turnout at the event, the VFW has reached their fundraising goal … [Read more...]
A step closer to the dream
Veterans, local officials, and community members gathered at the entrance of a soybean field on a sunny May 31 morning to celebrate the inclusion of veterans home funding in the 2018 Minnesota bonding bill. Preston Mayor Kurt Reicks welcomed everyone to the future site of the veterans home, calling it a great day for veterans in southeast Minnesota. Since 2013 there has been … [Read more...]