At the Truth in Taxation meeting held December 1, the same night as the regular December Houston School Board meeting, several property owners from Valley High attended to voice their concerns about their increased taxes. Valley High is considered its own little community consisting of about 45 homes. Around half of the residents are retired and on fixed incomes. Within the … [Read more...]
Preston adopts 2023 budget and levy
City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton gave a presentation on the budget and levy during the Truth in Taxation portion of the city council’s December 5 meeting. This is to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed final levy. Councilman Dean Aug was absent. Throckmorton noted that the preliminary levy certified in September showed a 5.14% increase over the 2022 … [Read more...]
Three awards support agricultural mental health
ST. PAUL, MN - Three new projects are joining the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Bend, Don’t Break Initiative to help Minnesota farmers cope with adversity. “Agriculture can be a tough profession and Minnesota farmers experience a wide variety of physical, mental, and business stresses day-to-day and season-to-season,” Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom … [Read more...]
Fillmore and Houston County Land Rent Survey results
By Katie Drewitz University of Minnesota Extension Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s land rent survey. According to our survey results, 2022 land rental rates in Fillmore County averaged $218.16/acre with a range of $57-$425/acre. The weighted average was $226.42/acre and the mode (most commonly reported) was $200/acre. In Houston County the rent … [Read more...]
Clarification
In the Monday, December 12, 2022, issue of the Fillmore County Journal, the article titled “Wanted: snowmobile club members,” listed a number of local snowmobile clubs. The Valley Crest Riders Snowmobile Club of Rushford, Minn., was inadvertently excluded from the list of area snowmobile clubs. We apologize for this error. The Valley Crest Riders Snowmobile Club is responsible … [Read more...]
Fountain approves contract
At the December 7 meeting, the Fountain Council welcomed several in attendance, including incoming council members Cory Spratte, Jordan Kerns, and mayor-elect Tami Danielson. Also in attendance were Rick Whitney and Michael Morris, MMS Environmental, who joined via phone. Whitney and Morris provided plant management contract proposals to the city. Before discussing the … [Read more...]
Rushford Village approves increase
The Rushford Village Council approved a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for city employees: Clerk Mary Miner, Treasurer Judy Graham, Public Works Supervisor Trenten Chiglo, and Public Works/Maintenance worker Jeff Michel. The sticking point in the discussion was giving a secondary increase after employees received a step increase this summer. The council looked at … [Read more...]
Give thanks for good health by donating blood Help patients relying on blood transfusions throughout the holidays
The American Red Cross urges donors to shake up their holiday traditions and plan a time to give blood in the coming weeks. Blood and platelet donations tend to drop more than 20% during holiday weeks. Seasonal illness and the threat of winter weather can add more concern during a time of year that is traditionally hard on the nation’s blood supply. In the U.S., blood … [Read more...]
Wanted: snowmobile club members
Calling all snowmobilers in Fillmore and Houston counties! Join your local snowmobile club! Your help is needed to maintain the snowmobile trails in your county. If younger snowmobilers do not step up and help, the well-maintained trails in southeast Minnesota may not be available to ride within the next five to ten years. Mabel-Canton Trailbusters President Devry Kerns … [Read more...]
Rep. Davids announces state grants for City of Lanesboro
ST. PAUL – State Representative Greg Davids (R-Preston) announces that the City of Lanesboro will be receiving assistance for its wastewater and drinking water infrastructure from the State of Minnesota. “I congratulate the local and state officials who worked together and secured needed funding for these necessary projects,” Davids said. Davids said the Minnesota Public … [Read more...]