Nineteen-year-old Miranda Schroeder, of Caledonia, Minn., represented Houston County in the 71st Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair. Left, Schroeder is posing alongside her butter sculpture. Her mom and dad, Daniel and Sheila Schroeder are also shown along with Miranda inside the cooler. Miranda is a student at Minnesota State College … [Read more...]
Gary and Sandy Klinski Named 2024 Outstanding Conservationists
By Jean Meiners The Root River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is proud to announce that Gary and Sandy Klinski have been awarded the 2024 Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts Outstanding Conservationist. The MASWCD recognizes individuals for outstanding accomplishments with implementing conservation practices and improving Minnesota’s … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Relay for Life Raises Over $67,000 Despite Challenges
The Fillmore County Relay for Life, held on July 12 in Spring Valley, Minn., was a resounding success, with 13 teams raising over $67,000 so far in 2024. Despite unforeseen challenges, including downtown flooding just days before the event, organizers Brenda Stier and Rita Bezdicek (above right) worked tirelessly to ensure the event went on as planned, salvaging essential … [Read more...]
Rushford’s New City Attorney
At their regular August 26 meeting, the Rushford City Council appointed Wieser Law Office, Al Wieser, III (Skip), as the city’s prosecutorial attorney. A new city attorney was needed to replace the former city attorney Dwight Luhmann who is now the Third Judicial District judge for Winona County’s District Court. The new contract stipulates the general prosecution fee of … [Read more...]
Fall Sports Underway at Fillmore Central
At the August 27 Fillmore Central school board meeting, Superintendent Heath Olstad reported that a good number of students are participating in the fall sports season which is already underway. Nineteen students are signed up for cross country, 11 for cheerleading, 61 for football, and 38 for volleyball. The football field has been freshly painted and is ready for the first … [Read more...]
Fillmore County 2023 Financial Audit Reviewed
At the August 27 meeting of the county board, Miranda Wendlandt, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, reviewed the audit process and financial results for 2023. The county was granted an unmodified, “clean” opinion, which is the highest level. Total federal awards were $5,093,555 (airport improvement program and COVID state and local fiscal recovery funds were tested). Wendlandt said the … [Read more...]
Houston County Completes Airport Project
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Houston County Commission was called to order at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27, in county board room 222 in the historic courthouse. Chairman Eric Johnson led his colleagues and the audience in the pledge of allegiance. All members were present – Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert (Bob) Burns, Bob Schuldt and Greg … [Read more...]
Caledonia Opens Pickleball Court, Discusses Rescue Truck Purchase
Mayor DeWayne (Tank) Schroeder called the regularly scheduled meeting of the Caledonia City Council to order at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 26. Council meetings are held in the city hall council chambers. Mayor Schroeder led his colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present included Bob Klug, Amanda Ninneman, Mayor Schroeder, David Fitzpatrick and … [Read more...]
Howards Host The Antique Stove Association 40th Anniversary Convention
Antique stove enthusiasts from across the United States and Canada gathered in rural Spring Valley, Minn., for their 40th annual convention. Hosting this event were Gwen and Dennis Howard who agreed, “It has been such fun!” Their first Howard stove was sited in November 2016 at Ghost Town Museum in Manitou Springs, Colo., they have been collecting Howard antique stoves … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Fair Open Class Results
Arts & Crafts Grand Champion Patty LeMay, Lanesboro; Reserve Champion Thomas Hogue, Preston Baking Grand Champion Susan Nash. Wykoff; Reserve Champion Ruth Eickhoff, Wykoff; Adult Champion Ann Sparks, Preston; Youth Grand Champion Blair Faulhaber, Lanesboro; Youth Reserve Champion Audra Otto, Harmony Canning Grand Champion Jen Dornink, Preston; Reserve … [Read more...]
Steam Ahead at the 72nd Annual Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Days
The Mabel Lions Club has been actively involved in the Hesper-Mabel Steam Days since the 1960s, when they served the best tasting chicken dinners in downtown Mabel during the town’s annual celebration. The 72nd annual celebration takes place from September 5-8 in Mabel, Minn. The ever-popular tractor parade kicks off the festivities on Thursday evening. Featuring Case … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Flashback Flood Vacation
By Cheryl Boyum Eaton Peterson Station Museum Growing up in Minnesota or surrounding states in the 1940s to 1960s, every school child remembers the thrill of hearing on the radio or television, “No school” due to heavy snows. This meant a day of sledding, making snowmen, throwing snowballs or simply sleeping in. But, children that lived in or went to school at a river … [Read more...]
CRV Considers Need for Liquor Licensing
At their August 20 council meeting, the city counselors of the City of Rushford Village were asked to give their consent to a one-day temporary liquor license to be issued to Two Fathoms Brewing of Winona for an event at Featherstone Farms that was issued by Fillmore County. The county has made it clear that it will not issue another such license. The city is responsible for … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson Fully Staffed
The Rushford-Peterson School Board heard at its August 19 meeting that the school was fully staffed with licensed teachers for the 2024-2025 school year. As part of the consent agenda, the following employees were hired as well: Nikki Bunke, cheerleading coach; Nathan Whitacre, assistant football coach; Lacey Drinkall, JH volleyball coach; Jacquelyn Guyette, head dance coach; … [Read more...]
Spring Grove School Board Approves Contracts for Executive Team
At the August 19 Spring Grove Public School Board meeting, the board unanimously approved a 3% annual increase for Principal Luke Kjelland’s salary over the next two years and reduced Assistant Superintendent Morken’s contract from 1.0 FTE to 0.4 FTE. Morken’s title in the spring will be Interim Superintendent. The board unanimously approved Udstuen’s contract with an increase … [Read more...]