The Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting, virtually, on Wednesday, January 25, with storyteller Al Batt as its special guest speaker. Board President Joe Goetzke presided over the meeting and shared several personal reflections about the Chamber and his time in Lanesboro. Executive Director Andrzej Zalasinski reviewed the past year, highlighted marketing … [Read more...]
Lauren Lawston, rugby player – sports after high school
Lauren Lawston, a 2019 Rushford-Peterson graduate, was a typical girl athlete at R-P – always competitive, she played volleyball, basketball, and ran track. The middle child of Lisa and Gene Lawston, Lauren has an older brother, Blake, who’s 25 and a younger brother, Jack, who’s 15. Once she graduated from R-P, she headed to University of Wisconsin Eau Claire to major in … [Read more...]
Fillmore County legislative priorities
Department heads advocated for their 2023 legislative priorities at the board’s January 24 meeting. Rep. Greg Davids and Senator Jeremy Miller attended the meeting virtually. Davids commented that it will be an interesting session with the huge $17.4 billion surplus. The 2023 legislature is dominated by one side. Davids suggested it is not good to have the legislature one … [Read more...]
Chatfield city administrator and city clerk begin duties
City Administer Joel Young administered the oath of office to Beth Carlson for the position of city clerk at the January 23 meeting of the city council. Councilors Mike Urban and Paul Novotny were absent. At an October 10 city council meeting, amendments to the City Charter were unanimously approved, which were to take effect 90 days after publication. The amendments included … [Read more...]
Houston County signs long-standing mental health services agreements
The Houston County Commission signed two long-standing mental health service agreements at its January 24 meeting. Human Services Director John Pugleasa explained that the first contract is the two-year agreement Crest Adult Mental Health Initiative (CREST). This is a program that has been utilized by the county since 1995. Pugleasa explained that CREST is a regional … [Read more...]
Sand, Fill Pit permit approval recommended
At the January 19 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, a public hearing was held on a conditional use permit application for a Sand, Fill Pit submitted by K. Rodney and Holly Beer. As this was the first meeting of the new year; election of officers was first on the agenda. Trinity Johnson was elected board chairman and Gary Ruskell was elected vice chair. … [Read more...]
Collaborative trail to R-P school
Derek Olinger, Rushford city engineer from Bolton & Menk, presented a trail proposal to the Rushford-Peterson School Board at their first meeting of the year on January 23. The proposed 10-foot wide trail would run 1,660 feet from the north end of Prairie Street to the school parking lot. It would go between the ball fields and the backyards of some houses on Eiken … [Read more...]
Spring Valley Council hears noise ordinance concerns, votes against street proposal
City resident Brad Musel spoke to the city council at their meeting on Monday, January 9, regarding the enforcement of a noise ordinance the city has on the books. “I’d like to know what the penalty is (for violating the ordinance),” he said. “It doesn’t seem to quit happening, and it is all hours of the day (the noise)… This keeps on going on and going on.” Mayor Tony … [Read more...]
Collaboration is common discussion theme during Preston Chamber annual meeting
“Collaboration” was the theme of the night on Wednesday evening, January 18, during the Preston Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. Guest panelists agreed with Chamber Board directors and staff that collaborating on individual, community and regional levels not only benefits private businesses, but can strengthen the entire region by creating a travel destination. The … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Fair Board receives “farmers grow communities” award
PRESTON, MN, January 12, 2023 — Local farmer Jared Olson recently directed a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities donation to the Fillmore County Agricultural Society (Fillmore County Fair Board). The Fair Board used the funds to complete a safety project for bringing water to the grandstand at the Fillmore County fairgrounds. The Fair Board graciously wants to … [Read more...]