At the August 5 meeting of the county board, three residents addressed the board over a bill enacted by the Minnesota legislature. The bill allows the use of rifles for deer hunting; the new law goes into effect in 2026. It also gives a county board the authority to limit firearms for deer hunting by adopting an ordinance. Notice of a public hearing is required before an … [Read more...]
Preston Creation of Comprehensive Plan on Schedule
At the August 4 meeting of the city council, City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton gave an update on the planners conducting the community group plan which is still on track. Mayor Kurt Reicks was absent. Due to weather, the recent Rhythm on the River event was held indoors and was well attended. Online surveys ended on August 4; there were a good number of participants … [Read more...]
Village Looks to Comp Plan Focus
At the August 5 meeting, the Rushford Village Council welcomed new Community Economic Development Associates’ (CEDA) consultant Jayme Longmire and CEDA Community and Business Development Specialist for Fillmore County Allison Whalen. The two presented details on a number of initiatives for the area that may pertain to the village, specifically now that the updated Comprehensive … [Read more...]
Houston County Commissioners Declare a State of Emergency
A severe thunderstorm and high winds on July 29 led the Houston County Board of Commissioners to unanimously declare a state of emergency during its regularly scheduled meeting on August 5. This marks the second time this summer that the board had declared a state of emergency. Vice-chairman Bob Schuldt called the hour-long meeting to order at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of … [Read more...]
New Location for Maple Leaf Services
Dean Aug, executive director of Maple Leaf Services, had been looking for a new building in Preston for years and then one seemed to drop into his lap. Maple Leaf Services had been sharing a rented office space a block from the downtown area of Preston, but was ready for a change. Aug brought up his search to Dan Christianson, CEO of F&M Community Bank in Preston and … [Read more...]
A Lasting Footprint: Bob Meiners Honored for His Love of Baseball
Bob Meiners, a former Eitzen resident now living in Caledonia, was inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame last September at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. He was joined by his wife Marlene and their six children and their families. Meiners said the honor came as “a complete surprise.” Hall of Fame inductees are recognized not just for … [Read more...]
Sno Pac Foods to Expand Facilities in Caledonia
At the July 28 Caledonia City Council meeting, the board unanimously approved a land use permit for Sno Pac Foods at 521 Enterprise Drive in Caledonia. The company plans to “build a 30,000-square-foot cold storage facility with loading docks, bathroom and office space, 15 parking spots, and approximately 30,000 square feet of driveway and truck loading area,” plus the … [Read more...]
Spots Remain for Rushford’s Bluff Land Tri
At the July 28 city council meeting, Councilor Sally Ryman provided an update regarding the 11th annual Bluff Land Triathlon on August 18. The event is a fundraising event for the Foundation for R-P Schools and takes advantage of the natural beauty of the valley and bluffs. The triathlon includes a 15.5 mile bike, 3.1 mile run, and a 2.1 mile hike. Participants can enter … [Read more...]
Chatfield 2025 Street Project Decision Postponed
At the July 28 meeting of the city council, Craig Britton, city engineer, announced that only one bidder, Rochester Sand & Gravel, had submitted a bid for the 2025 Street Project. Britton explained the base bid for the mill & overlay street project is $1,544,563. An alternative bid that includes a prefabricated modular gravity block wall is $1,568,260. The project … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Flashback Where are the Altar Paintings?
By Cheryl Boyum Eaton Peterson Station Museum Board member As a young child growing up in the Peterson area in the early 1950s, my family attended the Peterson Evangelical Lutheran Church. Occasionally, we attended a function or service at the other Lutheran Church in town, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. What was the reason for two Lutheran Churches in this small town? The … [Read more...]