It’s no surprise that Fillmore and Houston counties host numerous car shows each summer, thanks to a large community of car enthusiasts. While every show features an impressive collection of vintage cars and trucks, Spring Valley’s Fins and Films Car Show produces a full-blown rock n’ roll show. If you love the sights, sounds, and spirit of the rock n’ roll era, this two-day … [Read more...]
Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Announces Recent Project Support Grant Awards For Organizations
On May 12, 2026, the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) Board of Directors awarded $238,495 in Programming and Project Support Grants for Organizations to 28 applicants throughout Southeastern Minnesota. Recipients are listed by county. Dodge County • Mantorville Theatre Company received $7,500 for October Dinner Theatre. Fillmore County • City of Chatfield … [Read more...]
Lanesboro American Legion Post #40 Flag Burning Ceremony
Lanesboro’s American Legion Post #40 conducted its annual flag retirement ceremony on Monday evening, June 15, at the Bass Pond parking area near downtown Lanesboro. The national organization of the Legion adopted its flag code at its National Flag Conference in 1924, and in 1937, formalized its “Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags,” intended to be “a dignified tribute … [Read more...]
Community Foundations
By Benya Kraus President and CEO, SMIF June 25, 2026 - In a world that often asks us to be in a hurry, Wendell Berry – a Kentuckian farmer poet – asks us to slow down and to pay attention. “We have the world to live in on the condition that we will take good care of it,” he writes in one of his essays. “But to take good care of it, we have to know it. And to know it and to … [Read more...]
Apple Maggots
By Katie Drewitz University of Minnesota Extension PRESTON and CALEDONIA, MN, June 30, 2026 – As the apples on your trees continue to grow there are numerous factors that we need to consider. The apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella) is the most important insect pest to Minnesota grown apples and typically starts to become active in July. Heavily infested apples are … [Read more...]
Water Fun in Rushford
RFD put a post on Facebook that they would be bringing a fire truck to the Brooklyn field; the Ambulance Department soon followed with a notice that they’d be handing out freezies. Anyone approaching the field knew immediately something fun was happening there. Kids were squealing and excitedly running to the water. Fireman Evan Meier handled the fire truck hose, spraying … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Receives Over $10,000 in Mini Grants
At the June 23 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Superintendent Heath Olstad extended gratitude to the local banks for continuing the mini grant program; $10,500 was awarded to Fillmore Central. The Strength and Agility program is going well this summer with over 100 students participating. Multiple windows at the elementary school in the fifth and sixth grade hallway are … [Read more...]
The Pit Stop is Open for Business
Mabel Economic Development and city council member Kirsten Wyffels announced at the June Mabel City Council meeting that it is nice to see the Pit Stop open and driving business to Mabel’s main street. In the blink of an eye, the for-sale sign was there one day, and the next day it was gone. The Pit Stop … [Read more...]
School Board Talks Future of Wrestling at Kingsland
The Kingsland School Board met for their first meeting of the summer on Monday, June 15, 2026, with a full agenda. The hot topic of the meeting was the 2026-2029 Cooperative Athletics Agreement. “We work with Grand Meadow, LeRoy-Ostrander and Southland Schools (GMLOS) to provide activities for sports that individually our schools wouldn’t have enough kids to have a program … [Read more...]
Rushford Council Approves Rent Assistance to White Barn Farm
With members Mayor Leigh Volkman and Councilmembers Jim O’Donnell, Andrew Linder, Nick Smith and Judi Brock as well as City Clerk Tiffany Jacobson and City Administrator Hayden Stensgard present, the Rushford City Council met on June 22. Chad Kingsbury, who owns The White Barn Farm with his wife Stephanie, was the lone visitor at the meeting. Kingsbury had applied for a … [Read more...]