As more people make travel plans to celebrate with family and friends this year, the American Red Cross asks donors to set aside a time to give blood for patients waiting for care over the holidays. Throughout the season, several factors can disrupt the ability of the Red Cross to collect enough blood for patients across the country. • Travel: According to a recent study, … [Read more...]
Minnesota weekly gas price update
Average gasoline prices in Minnesota have fallen 12.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.21/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 2,856 stations in Minnesota. Prices in Minnesota are 38.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 8.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 13.6 cents in the last week and … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Council sets 2023 levy
At the December 5 Lanesboro City Council meeting, a public hearing was held for Truth in Taxation. Lanesboro resident Brenda Bonney spoke to the council about her request to rezone her property as a rural service district as it was denied by Planning and Zoning. She noted that she doesn’t receive any city services and the property is very rural in nature. “We request that our … [Read more...]
Taxes high in Valley High
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...]