Faced with a full agenda, the Whalan City Council was able to complete a long list of items including the approval of the proposed preliminary budget. Present at the September 14, 2020, regularly scheduled council meeting were Mayor Marlys Tuftin, council members Tanya Cook, Kim Berekvam, Thore Everett Johnson and Owen Lewis, along with City Clerk Michele Peterson. The … [Read more...]
Pages from the past
When David Phillips made plans for closing his six newspapers on Friday, March 27, 2020, including Bluff Country Reader, The Chatfield News, Fillmore County News Leader, Rushford Tri-County Record, Spring Grove Herald and Spring Valley Tribune, the Fillmore County Journal purchased the assets of his newspapers. Along with purchasing the trade names of each newspaper, we also … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Many walked from Winona into Iowa through Spring Grove and Houston
First of a two-part series Hundreds of years before paved roadways, there was an extraordinary prehistoric trail near present-day Spring Grove and Houston. Before statehood, Spring Grove Township named one early road Indian Trail Road, which is now part of Houston County Highway 8 where it meets Highway 44. “While most Indian trails were only narrow footpaths through the … [Read more...]
Preston certifies 2021 budget/levy
At the September 21 Preston City Council meeting, members unanimously approved a preliminary budget/levy of $1,034,386 for 2021; this represents an increase of $51,347, or 5% over 2020. City Administrator Joe Hoffman explained the majority of the increase is due to funding that is being set aside for bond payments, of which the first one will be due in early 2022 for the 2021 … [Read more...]
Houston School Board shows its flexibility
By Wanda Hanson The Houston School Board showed its flexibility in many ways at their September 17 meeting. A new seating configuration awaited their arrival at the meeting. Since the public had commented that not all of the board could be seen on their YouTube stream, the board seating arrangement was reconfigured with plexiglass dividers used to continue to ensure social … [Read more...]
Red Cross blood donors have new opportunity to help patients fighting COVID-19 Donors needed this fall to maintain blood supply amid ongoing pandemic
Plasma from whole blood donations made through the American Red Cross that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood now to help ensure coronavirus patients and others who depend on transfusions have needed blood products this fall. In … [Read more...]
Lanesboro school year off to a good start
Distance learning teacher Bret Klaehn updated the board about how the school year has been so far at the September 17 Lanesboro School Board meeting. “It’s been manageable,” he said, adding that no one was really sure how it would go until it had actually started. “As nervous as everyone was, at the end of the first day, everyone was just really happy to have spent a whole day … [Read more...]
Out of the Darkness Walk held in Chatfield
“If you know someone who is showing signs of anxiety or depression, reach out to them, show them that you’re a friend and that you are there for them and they can pull through this,” states Terry “Hogie” Haagenson, organizer of the Out of the Darkness Walk through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) held in Chatfield’s Groen Park on Saturday, September 19, … [Read more...]
Game on at Spring Grove Public School
The Spring Grove Public School Board met in person on Monday, September 21, 2020, at 7 p.m. in the media center while adhering to the Governor’s guidelines for capacity (10 people total). The public and media attended remotely through Google Meet. Board members present included President Aaron Solum, Stephanie Jaster, Christian Myrah, Kelly Rohland, Jenny Stender, and Rhan … [Read more...]
Fall sports resume at Fillmore Central
At the September 22 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Superintendent Heath Olstad informed the board that the Minnesota State High School League or MSHSL made the decision to hold the football and volleyball seasons this fall. Practices for both sports started on September 19 and will follow COVID-19 guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health as will the games. “We … [Read more...]