On October 25, 2017, at approximately 10:52 a.m., the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office along with the SE MN Violent Crime Enforcement Team, the Mower County Sheriff’s Office, the Austin Police Department with their K-9 and the Austin-Mower County SIRT (Special Incident Response Team) executed a search warrant on a residence in the 18000 block of 160th Street in rural Spring … [Read more...]
Spring Valley 2018 street project OK’d
The Spring Valley City Council met in regular session October 23. Members present included Tony Archer, Todd Jones, Mayor Jim Struzyk, Mike Hadland and City Administrator Deb Zimmer. Jessy Betts was absent. The council held a public hearing on the 2018 Street Improvement project. Bryan Holtz (representing the firm of Bolton & Menk) stated, “We held our informational … [Read more...]
County pleased with EQB decision
At the county board’s October 24 meeting, County Attorney Brett Corson reviewed the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) decision to table a request by Minnesota Sands to terminate the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The EQB ruled in 2013 that MN Sands must complete an EIS before working multiple sand mine sites in Fillmore, Houston, and Winona Counties. Due to the … [Read more...]
Harmony’s Give to the Max Day to benefit local projects and organizations
This year’s Give to the Max Day event will benefit Harmony area senior activity programming, library patio, Monster Bash and Historical Society; each organization will receive 25% of the proceeds ($2,000 max) with the remainder available for other grant opportunities. 100% of your donations benefits our Harmony area community. Previous donations have enabled the Harmony … [Read more...]
Chatfield adopts Fillmore County mitigation plan
At an unusually brief meeting of the Chatfield City Council on October 23, the council adopted Fillmore County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. Counselors Mike Urban and Paul Novotny were absent. Brian Burkholder explained that for about a year and a half a new revised mitigation plan has been in the development process. The hazard mitigation planning process was established under … [Read more...]
State adds 6,400 jobs in September Unemployment rate drops to 3.7%
ST. PAUL, MN — Employers added 6,400 jobs in September, according to seasonally adjusted figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The state has gained 41,259 jobs over the past year, an increase of 1.4%. U.S. job growth in the past 12 months was 1.2%. Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.1% in … [Read more...]
Houston City Council: annexation, Dollar General and a new hire
The Houston City Council met for its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, at Houston City Hall. In attendance were City Administrator Peterson, Deputy Clerk Hegland, Mayor Olson and council members Krage, Sanden, Schutte and Knutson. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the council opened a public hearing regarding an annexation by ordinance. Administrator … [Read more...]
Chatfield schools reduce achievement gap
The Chatfield School Board met on October 16, 2017 at 7 p.m. in the high school media center. Board members Jerry Chase, Lanny Isensee, Scott Backer, Katie Priebe, Matt McMahon and Amy Jeffers were present along with Superintendent Harris, Community Education Director Luann Kleven and administrative assistant, Lorri Lowrey. There were no board committee reports. Community … [Read more...]
Red Ribbon Week
The Preston City Council at their October 16 meeting approved a request to hang red ribbons on light poles around the courthouse square in recognition of Red Ribbon Week, October 23-27. The request was made by Amanda Thomas and Melissa Herron from the Fillmore Central Schools. This is a drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention campaign. The campaign includes activities to help … [Read more...]
Peterson frustration grows with unpaid utilities; considers disconnects
The Wednesday, October 11 Peterson Council meeting was a rapid fire 17-minute review of a bulk of old business. Included was brief discussion of the reclamation and repair of Park Street and River Street, purchase of a city truck, and the 2018 budget. Mayor Tim Hallum suggested the council wait until the first of the year to discuss the truck and it was determined that budget … [Read more...]