On March 10, 2026, the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) Board of Directors awarded 12 Project Support for Individual Artists & Culture Bearers grants, eight to emerging artists and four to advancing artists, for a total of $53,955 in funding to individuals throughout southeastern Minnesota. Grants were awarded to the following individuals, listed by … [Read more...]
40 Years of Building Community Through Economic Development
By Mary Athey Vice President of Entrepreneurship, SMIF In small towns, people are always showing up to fill gaps – the chef makes extra meals at the church; the mechanic fixes cars out of neighbors’ garages. One person with a skill can make a big difference in a small town. But how does a neighbor helping out become a lasting part of the community? With the right … [Read more...]
Second Suspect Charged in Winneshiek County Case Involving Drug-Laced Meal
A second arrest has now been made in a Winneshiek County case in which authorities allege a home-cooked meal was laced with oxycodone in an attempt to cause a miscarriage. Matthew Louis Uthoff, 35, of Decorah, was arrested March 26, 2026, and charged in connection with the December 28, 2025, incident previously reported by the Fillmore County Journal. Uthoff is accused of … [Read more...]
Fountain Cleans Up Issues
At the April 1 meeting, the Fountain City Council received an update from wastewater/water consultant Rick Whitney that the well house has been cleaned up. A fire was reported and extinguished at the well house behind city hall on March 26. Estimates to replace two heaters and lights are being sought. For now, temporary heating and lights are in the well house. During daily … [Read more...]
Fire at Well Pump House
The Fountain Fire Department was dispatched at 6:55 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, to extinguish a fire at the city well pump house behind city hall/fire station and Drury’s Furniture. The fire was out within 30 minutes. The roof to the well pump house was damaged by the fire and the ventilation process involved in suppressing the flames. As of press time, the source of … [Read more...]
Pam’s Corner Convenience/R-P Booster Club Collaboration
One of the gas pumps at Pam’s Corner has a new look; the familiar R-P Trojan green and gold now covers the pump. A sign at the top of the pump explains a new promotion. Five cents for each gallon of gas sold at that pump will be given to the R-P Booster Club. On Trojan Tuesdays, the donation increases to ten cents for each gallon. When the R-P Booster Club was … [Read more...]
Rushford Ambulance On-Call Pay
At the March 23 Rushford City Council meeting, the council heard from Ambulance Director Joey Busse and EMTs Shannon and Evan Meier as they returned to the council to discuss ambulance on-call pay. They looked at the data from last year and the previous years before returning to make a suggestion. In 2025, $62,500 was paid out for on-call pay. If the on-call pay had run on … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Begins Process for Expansion of Resource Recovery Center
A Solid Waste Engineering Study was approved at the county board’s March 24 meeting. The first step to expand the solid waste transfer station includes an evaluation of the existing facility’s condition and the exploration of options for expansion. It will consider the future needs for the facility. The study will be conducted by Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH, Inc.) at a … [Read more...]
Flex Craft Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation
Flex Craft is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The manufacturing company has been in business since 2006, starting in Wabasha, Minn., before relocating to Houston, Minn., in 2008. The company was started by the husband-and-wife team of Doug and Terri Sparks, originally from Beloit, Wis. Flex Craft began in humble surroundings, operating out of a high school … [Read more...]
Jury Resolves Years-Long Dispute Over Control of Bluff Country ATV Club
A dispute that began inside a small local ATV club and lingered for years has come to an end after working its way through the court system and ultimately being decided by a jury. At the center of the case was the Bluff Country ATV Club and a question that proved far more complicated than it first appeared: who was actually in charge. The conflict traced back to an April 21, … [Read more...]