Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability of the Minnesota legislature to pass a bonding bill for 2020, determining the assistance for non-metro areas of the state is challenging. That was the sentiment shared by Elizabeth Wefel, attorney and lobbyist for the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, at the July 27 Rushford Council meeting. Wefel summarized a … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central adds mask statement to student handbooks
At the July 28 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, the board reviewed and approved the K-6, 7-12, Faculty, Paraprofessionals, and Coaches handbooks. With the mask order from Governor Walz in effect, Superintendent Heath Olstad recommended adding a statement to the student handbooks requiring that students wear appropriate face coverings at school. Other additions included a … [Read more...]
College News
Spring 2020 Graduation List • Iowa State University: Steven Rein, Lanesboro, BS, Software Engineering, Cum Laude; Madeline Snyder, Lanesboro, BS, Agricultural Business, Cum Laude • Lake Area Tech: Alexis Melander, Lanesboro, Agriculture • Minnesota State College Southeast: Stefan Escobar, Houston, Certificate, Automotive Technology Foundation; Lorenz Buchanan, Rushford, … [Read more...]
Two CUPs to Fillmore County Board
The Fillmore County Planning Commission faced an unusually busy agenda at their July 23 meeting. Public hearings were held on two applications for conditional use permits: a Rock Quarry by Skyline Materials, Ltd. and a Meteorological Tower by Timberwolf Wind, LLC. Skyline Materials, Ltd. The application for the Eickhoff Rock Quarry was submitted by Greg Bruening, Skyline … [Read more...]
Spring Grove’s new city administrator, Julie Amundson
Spring Grove eliminated the position of city administrator in January 2013 and briefly had an administrator for four months at the end of 2018 and the first two months of 2019. The city took action to hire Fillmore County resident, Julie Amundson on February 18. Spring Grove’s new city clerk/administrator started on April 13 after two false starts due to COVID-19. Julie … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Public Schools student awards
Academic and Club Awards • FFA Star Greenhand - Ty Cleven, Xander Lewis • FFA Star Chapter - Elizabeth Garcia-Holty • Almore Mathsen Choral Award - Elizabeth Garcia-Holty • National School Choral Award - Lillian Hutchins • Louis Armstrong Jazz Award - Carter Bratland • John Philip Sousa Award - Amelia Solum • International Thespian Society Award - Ryan Carten, … [Read more...]
Manion Law Office welcomes new attorney
When Joseph O’Koren was attending high school at Lanesboro Public School, he had the opportunity to spend a day shadowing a profession of his choice. “Attorney came to mind,” O’Koren said. He was matched with local attorney Thomas Manion and was able to attend court with him and meet with him in his office. During O’Koren’s senior year of high school, he participated in a work … [Read more...]
RAGBRAI teams ride the Root River Trail in the first and last FAKEBRAI
Iowa’s famed RAGBRAI did not happen this year in its usual form, but it did not stop RAGBRAI teams from pulling on their jerseys and shorts and riding the paved bike trails in SE Minnesota. This past week over 100 bike riders gathered in Fillmore County to ride the trail along the scenic Root River. The pseud-RAGBRAI earned the name FAKEBRAI for obvious reasons. RAGBRAI … [Read more...]
What will the first day of school look like in Spring Grove?
The Spring Grove Public Schools Board, including administration and the business manager, met in person on Monday, July 20, 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 Aaron Solum, Stephanie Jaster, Rhan Flatin, Kelly Rohland, and … [Read more...]
Fountain works through restrictions with concert events
The fate of concert events in the City of Fountain appears to have gained some forward momentum. A local establishment, on the recommendation of several entities, will be working to develop their plans for events to be held through the remainder of the year. Beaver Bottoms Saloon co-owner Jody Wiza has been undertaking creative events for the last year in effort to bring … [Read more...]