The Whalan City Council welcomed Teresa Grossell as the new Whalan city clerk/treasurer at the September 11 city council meeting. After the council interviewed four people for the position, Grossell was hired. Present at the regularly scheduled meeting were Mayor David Hallum and council members Kim Berekvam, Sheila Higbe, Owen Lewis and Thore E. Johnson, along with … [Read more...]
Harmony Approves Feasibility Report for 2024 Street Improvements
At the September 12 Harmony, Minn., City Council meeting, City Engineer Brett Grabau, from Stantec, reviewed the feasibility report for the proposed 2024 street and utility project. Three areas had been previously identified, using the 2012 Pavement Management Plan. The areas were Fourth Street North, Snake Alley, and Main Street alleyway. The total estimated project costs were … [Read more...]
A Successful Steam Engine Days
Mabel Mayor Adam Wilder announced at the September 13 Mabel, Minn., City Council meeting that all 5,000 buttons were sold at Steam Engine Days, “Not sure when the last time they did that.” Wilder expressed his thanks to all the groups, Toot & Whistle, Historical Society, Business Association, Mabel Lions, all the volunteers, the Queens, noting, “Everything went great.” He … [Read more...]
Chatfield School Board Looks at MCA Results and Enrollment Decline
At the September 13 school board meeting, board members, Jill Harstad, David Sovinski, Mark Johnsrud, Katie Priebe and Tom Keefe were present as well as Superintendent Ed Harris, principals Shane McBroom and Eric Nelson, Rinnea Kreter, administrative assistant and Trista O’Connor, business manager. Also present were Student Senate members Kiera Kobs and Mary Halvorson. Board … [Read more...]
Teens and Depression — a Back-to-School Concern
ALBERT LEA, Minn. – With many teens heading back to school, peer pressure and academic expectations are once again a reality. These added pressures can cause ups and downs during what can be an already tumultuous time of life. For some teens, though, the lows could be more than just temporary feelings. They could be symptoms of depression. Depression is one of the most … [Read more...]
Houston County Begins 2024 Budget Process
Chairperson Dewey Severson called the Houston County Commission’s regularly scheduled September 5 meeting to order at 9 a.m. Severson led his colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The board unani-mously approved the meeting agenda noting one change to the consent agenda, and the minutes from the August 22 commission meeting. Commissioner Robert (Bob) Burns … [Read more...]
Houston High School Class of 1968
The Houston High School Class of 1968 celebrated 55 years with a reunion at the Houston Legion on Friday, August 4, 2023. After a delicious lunch, they toured the newly established Houston Museum with Shelley Jerviss. Pictured left to right: Steve Skree, Jude Sather Ledebuhr, Karen Sherry Nelson, Patsy Skadsen Wiste, Peggy Corey, Kathy Runningen, Susie Strong Carpenter, … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Council Approves “Filthy Fifty” Street Closure
Lanesboro, Minn., resident Tom Pursell addressed the city council about the issue of flavored tobacco at their September 5 meeting. Pursell asked them to consider the results of a survey taken of Fillmore County teenagers by the health department along with other studies and statistics before the council makes any decisions about an ordinance regarding flavored tobacco. … [Read more...]
College News
Spring Honors List Luther College: Isabelle Berg, Chatfield; Nicole Schultz, Fountain; Sarina Stortz, Mabel; Jasmine Schueler, Rushford; Noah Woxland, Rushford; Kelsey Bratland, Spring Grove; Wyatt Murphy, Spring Grove; Amelia Solum, Spring Grove South Central College: Payton Benson, Lanesboro Winona State University: Emily Barth, Chatfield; Sabina Boettcher, Chatfield; … [Read more...]
Sheriff DeGeorge Returns to Discuss Ostrander Contract
By Patrick Andrews Sheriff John DeGeorge spoke before the Ostrander, Minn., City Council the evening of September 5 after concerns were raised over the steep price hike the city faces to continue its police contract services. Ostrander, which lacks a police department of its own, contracts with Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office for two hours of daily police service. Going … [Read more...]