ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is preparing to treat eight sites in Houston, Wabasha, and Winona counties to slow the spread of a gypsy moth. Officials will conduct the aerial treatment June 28-30, beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. each morning and continuing throughout the day. The dates are dependent on weather conditions in the area. The eight … [Read more...]
Step back in time at the McMichael grain elevator open house, July 3-4
A piece of Harmony’s history is in the process of being restored, and you have a chance to be a part of it. On July 3 and 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., residents and visitors are invited to the McMichael Grain Elevator located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 44 and Minnesota State Highway 139 in the center of Harmony. Harmony Area Historical Society (HAHS) members will be on … [Read more...]
Triplets at Dead End Dairy
Josh and Steph Dahl should have played the lottery Wednesday, June 16; that day they had a set of triplets, two sets of twins, and two single calves all born in less than five hours on their farm, Dead End Dairy. While twin calves are relatively common with a set born every 29 births, triplets occur much more rarely – once in every 105,000 births according to the internet. With … [Read more...]
Kingsland sets budget and designations for upcoming year
Kingsland School Board held a regular session on June 23, with all members participating (Jackie Horsman, Kyle Rader, Natasha Howard, Gwen Howard, Maranda Emig, Pamela Freet, and Superintendent James Hecimovich). Business Manager Amber Herbrand participated via Zoom technology. Herbrand explained the initial revenue expenditures budget for the upcoming school year. She … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central approves transportation contract as Harmony Transit changes hands
The Fillmore Central School Board reviewed the 2021-2023 transportation contract with Harmony Transit at their June 22 meeting. Harmony Transit Inc. has been sold to Faribault Transportation. The name will remain the same except that Inc. will change to LLC. Superintendent Heath Olstad, Principal Jim Peters, and school board member Jim Love met with representatives of Faribault … [Read more...]
Two thirds of Houston County residents age 12-plus have received at least one COVID vaccine dose
Commissioners Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert Burns, Teresa Walter, and Greg Myhre were all present on June 22, 2021, for the regular meeting of the Houston County Commission. Commissioner Dewey Severson attended the meeting virtually as he was on vacation. Chairman Burns called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. The meeting adjourned at 11:41 a.m. Commissioner Johnson … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Some lives ended, some began, all changed with emigration voyages
Norwegian emigration, part 3 Ole Olsen Sandness assumed responsibility for his five-year-old niece during a cholera-stricken voyage from Norway to America in 1854. His father, brother and sister-in-law were buried at sea. Ole, a single man at age 37, and young Alava would complete the ocean crossing and eventually settle in Wilmington Township, Houston County. What was … [Read more...]
Commissioners spar over future Human Resources position
Human Resources Officer Kristina Kohn asked the Fillmore County board to consider her own resignation at the board’s June 22 meeting. Kohn has been with the county for 10 years. Her resignation was accepted with sincere thanks, effective July 16. She gave four weeks notice. Kohn made a statement thanking the employees for the exemplary work they have done; she told the … [Read more...]
Preston increases part-time police pay rate
At the June 21 city council meeting, Police Chief Blaise Sass reported on the continuing challenges he faces when trying to fill needed part-time shifts in the police department’s schedule. The current part-time police officer wage was set in 2016 at $17 per hour. This is substantially below the average part-time wage of similar size departments in the area, which is about … [Read more...]
Wykoff man injured while loading semi
On June 19, 2021, at approximately 9:42 a.m., Fillmore County Dispatch received a call requesting an ambulance to 24861 County Road 1, Spring Valley. The caller requested an ambulance for an unresponsive male with a head injury who appeared to have fallen off a semi while loading corn. The victim was identified as 42-year-old Eric Howard of Wykoff. Mr. Howard was transported to … [Read more...]