Fillmore County Journal

"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"

Spring Grove School takes classes outdoors

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The start of the 2020-21 school year presented public schools with difficult challenges due to COVID-19. School administrators and staff worked together throughout the summer to address each challenge that arose. A tactic implemented by Spring Public School to address the needs of the Title 1 Essential Workers is the use of outdoor classrooms. Spring Grove Superintendent … [Read more...]

Fillmore County approves CARES Funding uses

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The Fillmore County Board extended its Emergency Declaration due to COVID-19 through November 3 during its October 6 meeting. The declaration allows the holding of virtual meetings per state of Minnesota guidelines and some workers to work from home during the pandemic. It also captures funding for continuing operations during this emergency period. Approval was given for … [Read more...]

Lanesboro EDA works to support local small businesses

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The Lanesboro City Council met via Zoom on October 5 for their regular meeting. A public hearing was opened to hear any questions or comments on the possibility of vacating a portion of Fillmore Avenue North, but there were no members of the public present for the hearing so it was closed. Cathy Enerson gave the EDA report. She has worked with CEDA for 12 years now with other … [Read more...]

Fountain approves relief for businesses

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With just three of the five council members in attendance, and Councilor Dave Gundundson serving as acting mayor, the Fountain’s City Council worked through a short agenda at the October 7 meeting. Two items were tabled for consideration next month with a full council. The council did unanimously approve the applications for utility relief for local businesses via federal … [Read more...]

One happy farmer

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By Wanda Hanson Amber Feine-Rasmussen has been farming full-time since 2003 when she asked her father if she could join him in the family operation. Amber had been attending UWSP (University of Stevens Point); she’d made the dean’s list and enjoyed her soils and water classes, but was tired of “sitting in a concrete box” and hated having to take tests. She had figured out … [Read more...]

Browsing broadband career with Jill Huffman

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For Jill Huffman, her passion has always been technology-driven. “I like technology, I like the advancements in technology and what it does to change people’s lives.” Jill is General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Spring Grove Communications, Harmony Telephone and MiBroadband. The trajectory of her career path began after graduating from Preston High School in 1992. … [Read more...]

Sally’s Hair to Dye For still going strong after 20 years

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Sally Gibson has known that she wanted to be a hairdresser since she was in eighth grade. After high school, she attended a beauty school in Rochester and then worked in Rochester at a hair salon for the next 20 years. Things changed though when her family moved to Preston into a house that already had a salon built into the basement. She had planned to retire from hair … [Read more...]

Gwen Stier knows doors

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Whoever is in the market for a garage door will be amazed at the incredible amount of colors and finishes offered, but it wasn’t always this way. Gwen Stier of Spring Valley Overhead Doors remembers how business changed and evolved. “Years ago, the color choices were so limited, and now they’ve come so far with that!” According to Gwen, “The first doors we ever put in were wood … [Read more...]

Meet the Candidates: William Gavin Candidate for Caledonia Mayor

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Tell us about yourself. I am a lifetime resident of Caledonia. I went to St. Mary’s School until the eighth grade, and then attended Caledonia High, graduating in 2001. In 2000 I joined the Army Reserve. After attending basic training, at Fort Knox, Ky., I served eight years in the Reserve. During my service, I served one tour in Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Since … [Read more...]