The Fillmore County Planning Commission met on July 21 for a public hearing to consider an application for a conditional use permit for a sand and gravel pit, located in section 19 of Spring Valley Township. Mitch Froehlich spoke for Ulland Brothers, Inc., a local paving and excavation contractor (founded in 1920). The employee-owned company has a three-year lease agreement … [Read more...]
Caledonia’s parks use ordinance approved
Caledonia city staff reviewed parks use ordinances from Minnesota cities as well as conducted a thorough review of the proposed ordinance by commissioners and the city’s attorney. Councilmembers approved the revised parks use ordinance at the July 25 regular city council meeting. Members in attendance included Mayor DeWayne (Tank) Schroeder, Robert “Bob” Klug, David … [Read more...]
Chatfield to continue bag system for waste removal
At the July 25 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, a resolution was unanimously approved to continue the current method of waste and recycling collection for at least another year. Bill Hanson, William Hanson Waste Removal, agreed now is not a good time to make a switch. The Public Services committee needs more time to resolve the many issues that have popped up over the … [Read more...]
Unemployment sinks again to another all-time low: 1.8% Last six months strong for Minnesota employment; Labor force participation rises again
The unemployment rate ticked down two-tenths of a point to 1.8% in June 2022 – yet another record low since the metric has been tracked in 1976, according to numbers released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The lowest pre-pandemic unemployment rate was 2.5% in early 1999. The unemployment rate decline over-the-month was entirely … [Read more...]
Houston County ATV fatality
On July 22, 2022, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Houston County Dispatch received a 911 call of an ATV accident with one person injured in the southeast area of Houston County. Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Caledonia Police Department and New Albin Ambulance Service responded. Ms. Kayla Wimer-Wood, 33 years of age, of the Owatonna, Minn., area was pronounced deceased at the … [Read more...]
Rock Road Bandits ride for another fundraiser
The Rock Road Bandits, coordinated by Travis Warmka of Grand Meadow, Minn., has become a fundraising trailblazer. For anyone who loves riding in a side-by-side (a.k.a. RUV or recreational utility vehicles), this group of dirt road enthusiasts has taken their weekend rides to another level. They currently coordinate five fundraising rides per year. Back in June, they raised … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central replaces elementary school supply lists with supply fees
A K-6 grade supply fee of $25 per student was reviewed by the Fillmore Central School Board at their July 26 meeting. The fee will allow the teachers to purchase the exact supplies the students in their classrooms will need rather than sending out a school supply list for families to purchase individually. Due to the change, a supply drive will no longer be held, but people … [Read more...]
Mulhern family recognized as a 2022 U of M Farm Family
By Katie Drewitz Extension Educator University of Minnesota Extension Fillmore and Houston Counties The Mulhern family of Fountain has been named Fillmore County’s 2022 Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota. The Mulhern farm originated in 1900 when Michael Mulhern and Rose Gaughan were married. The couple had six children. Two of the boys grew up and … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – Too much judging
By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches While waiting at the airport terminal for her plane to begin boarding, a woman sat reading a newspaper. Earlier, she had purchased a package of cookies in the airport snack shop to eat after she got on the plane. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the man sitting next to her was eating a cookie. … [Read more...]
The Wild West comes alive in Lanesboro
Lanesboro lore states that William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, and his friend and business partner Dr. Frank “White Beaver” Powell, four time La Crosse mayor, concocted the Wild West show in the late 1880s. The first show was held indoors at Lanesboro’s Nelson Hall. Celebrate Lanesboro’s rich heritage at the 38th Annual Buffalo Bill Days. “Buffalo Bill Days offers a fun and … [Read more...]