The first fall festival of the year has arrived. Head over to Cresco, Iowa, to immerse yourself in the Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest Friday, August 25 through Sunday, August 27. Borlaug is only one of seven people in the world to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal. “An unforgettable celebration paying homage to … [Read more...]
Police Stage ‘Chilling’ Raid on Marion County Newspaper, Seizing Computers, Records and Cellphones
By Sherman Smith, Sam Bailey, Rachel Mipro and Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector MARION, KANSAS, August 11, 2023 – In an unprecedented raid Friday, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office, the newspaper’s reporters, and the publisher’s home. Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the newspaper, said … [Read more...]
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Tours Spring Grove
Spring Grove, Minn. gave United States Senator Tina Smith a warm welcome Thursday, August 10. Senator Smith toured rural Spring Grove to highlight the town’s economic development. Smith’s tour began 9:15 a.m. at Red’s IGA, 500 E. Main Street. Mayor Saundra Solum, City Clerk/Administrator Jana Elton, and a few others accompanied Senator Smith at this first stop. The next stop … [Read more...]
OHV Update
Karla Bloem, of the OHV trail exit committee, reported to the Houston, Minn., City Council at their meeting on August 14 about a meeting held earlier in the day with Minnesota DNR legal counsel. The meeting included Senator Jeremy Miller, Rob Cary, DNR legal counsel, and Wendall Meyer of the Federal Highway Administration. Cary informed the committee that the deed … [Read more...]
Journal Earns 8 More Awards at ACP Conference
In April 2023, the Association of Community Publishers held their annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the annual conference, ACP coordinated the annual “Best of the Best” contest for the publishing industry. There were more than 1,200 contest entries in over 100 categories. The Fillmore County Journal team earned a total of eight awards in the following … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Flashback Forging Ahead: 165 Years of Preston’s Ironworking Heritage
By Joanne Hall Member of the Preston Historical Society In 1853 John Vail from Pennsylvania was the first man to locate a claim in what became the village of Preston. That same year William Douglass started the first blacksmith shop in Preston. In July of 1855, a blacksmith shop was operated by Charles Rappe, who bought out the forge and business of William Douglas. … [Read more...]
Harmony Reduces Splash Pad Hours in Response to Drought Warning
The August 8 Harmony City Council meeting opened with a public forum at which resident Sharon Kiehne spoke. She asked if there was money set aside in the budget for routine road maintenance, such as filling potholes. Upon being assured that there was, she asked why the city isn’t fixing all of them. She stated that there were so many potholes on her street that it was … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Looks for New City Administrator
The August 7 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with a public hearing for the Code of Ordinance update. Lanesboro resident Phil Dybing asked that the information that is shared with the public be made a little more clear. The hearing was closed and a second hearing was opened to discuss a tax abatement request. Public Finance Advisor Mike Bubany of David Drown Associates … [Read more...]
HVED Decision Delayed
The Lanesboro School Board saw a change to the agenda at their meeting August 9 in the forum of the Lanesboro, Minn., school. HVED Director Deb Marcotte was slated to give a presentation about the HVED (Hiawatha Valley Education District) joint powers agreement before the board voted on the agreement. Recent developments in price negotiations led to a need to revamp the … [Read more...]
College News
Honors List Spring 2023 • Alexandria Technical & Community College: Tanner Kasel, LeRoy • Bemidji State University: Jennifer Knutson, Spring Valley • College of St. Scholastica: Brittainy Johnson, Lanesboro; Aubrey Norby, Mabel • Hamline University: Elizabeth Liew, Harmony • Iowa State University: Abby Ashbacher, Caledonia; Brynn Howerton, Lanesboro; Carson Ruen, … [Read more...]