At the June 6 meeting of the county board, directors of three ambulance services, including Sue Puffer of Spring Valley, Deb Ristau of Preston/Lanesboro, and Rocky Burnett of Chatfield, asked the board to consider an increase in the 2024 area ambulance appropriations. The county has provided an appropriation of $4,500 to each area service since 2003. Puffer explained that both … [Read more...]
Village guide in the last steps
The City of Rushford Village has worked to hammer out a functional and comparable-benefit employee guide for the last year. After multiple discussions and revisions, the update is nearly complete. The final review by Public Sector Human Resources Consultant Paul Ness, with whom the city contracted, was done last month. Now, City Attorney Joe O’Koren is reviewing the draft … [Read more...]
Spring Grove City Council holds special meeting
Spring Grove’s City Council met for a special meeting on Tuesday, May 30, at 168 West Main Street in Room 100 from 7-8:12 p.m. Council members present included Mayor Saundra Solum, Karen Folstad, Chad Rohland, Trent Turner, and Heather Edgington. Also in attendance was clerk/administrator Jana Elton. The council adopted the agenda, approved the consent agenda, and approved … [Read more...]
Minnwest Bank deepens roots in Spring Valley, opens combined facility
It was a bit like musical chairs among business properties in Spring Valley. When damage from an ice dam prompted Minnwest Bank officials to explore combining their separate drive-up and walk-in facilities last fall, Kwik Trip had already re-located to the former BP site on North Section Avenue. That made the old Kwik Trip building on Broadway available, and it was the perfect … [Read more...]
Chatfield starts bonding process for 2023 Street Project
By Karen Reisner Mike Bubany, David Drown Associates, Inc., addressed the city council at their May 22 meeting concerning a competitive sale of bonds to finance the 2023 Street Improvement Project. City Engineer Craig Britton explained four bids had been submitted for the reconstruction of portions of Grand St. SE, Hawley St. SE, and Prospect St. SE, plus the … [Read more...]
Houston County commissioners apply for MnDOT Aeronautics grant
In the single action item on the agenda for their May 23 meeting, the Houston County Commissioners approved reapplying for a MnDOT Aeronautics grant for maintenance and operations of the airport. The grant, which must be applied for every other year, can be used for snow plowing, cleaning, and other upkeep. the maximum amount per year is $24,552; usually the eligible expenses … [Read more...]
Caledonia High School wrestling team addresses school board about coop agreement
Concerned parent, Joe Allen addressed the school board with concerns over the current cooperative agreement with Houston High School. Allen proposed to dissolve the cooperative agreement with Houston High School due to the slight increase in enrollment pushing the Caledonia/Houston wrestling team from class A into class AA. Allen wants the wrestling team to remain in class … [Read more...]
Fravel seeks custody of children, Maddi Kingsbury still missing
Madeline Kingsbury, 26, disappeared on the morning of Friday, March 31, 2023. She didn’t show up for work, and she didn’t pick up her children at daycare at the end of the day. She just vanished. While Maddi lived in Winona County, law enforcement has been seeking answers relating to her disappearance in Fillmore and Houston Counties. In April, for several weeks in a … [Read more...]
Ambulance Service needs shift for Rushford
At the May 8 meeting, the Rushford Council learned that longtime Ambulance Director Lynn Humble is retiring effective mid-June. Humble has worked for the service as a director for the last 10 years and as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for 39 years. Before Humble, Julie Zielbell Scuderio served from 2000-2013, and Anne Roberton served as volunteer director until 2000. … [Read more...]
Fillmore County goes forward with jail bonding process
At the May 9 county board meeting Mike Bubany, David Drown Associates, Inc., made final recommendations prior to sale of general obligation bonds for financing the renovation and expansion of the Fillmore County Jail. He recommends a rated, standard competitive public sale of bonds. The jail bonds are eligible for credit enhancement via the State’s Public Facility Authority, … [Read more...]