At Fillmore County, the health and well-being of our clients and community is top priority. Fillmore County WIC is currently providing nutrition education and benefits by phone or video appointment. If your economic situation or job status has changed, check the Minnesota WIC website for eligibility information. WIC is a nutrition and breastfeeding program that helps … [Read more...]
Essay winners explain what makes America great
Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions were recently sponsored by theVFW Post and Auxilliary of Preston, Minn. The following essays were chosen for first and second place, with winners each receiving a plaque, certificate and cash award for their effort. - Voice of Democracy - What makes America great Oliver Hoelztle, 1st Place In general terms, the United … [Read more...]
Spring Grove school year comes to a successful close amid a global pandemic
Due to COVID-19, the regular May 18, 2020, Spring Grove Public Schools Board meeting held in compliance with Minnesota’s requirements for remote board meetings at 7 p.m. remotely through Google Meet. Minnesota remote board meeting requirements are: •School board members are reminded to mute their microphone or phone when they are not speaking. •School board members wishing … [Read more...]
SMIF awards $30,000 in Grow a Farmer Assistance Grants
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently awarded three organizations $10,000 each through the Grow a Farmer Assistance Fund. These organizations will use the funding to support local food growers in SMIF’s 20-county region whose businesses have been impacted by the current health and economic crisis. The pandemic has resulted in restrictions of face-to-face … [Read more...]
SMIF awards $254,950 in immediate relief to child care providers
April 29, 2020 — Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently awarded 525 emergency grants totaling $254,950 to child care providers in SMIF’s 20-county region. At the urging of Governor Tim Walz, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations, including SMIF, created the Emergency Child Care Grant Program to provide immediate relief to child care providers caring for … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation approves $1 million in loans through DEED’s Small Business Emergency Loan Program
May 13, 2020 — Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved 41 loans to businesses in its 20-county region through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Small Business Emergency Loan program totaling $1 million. This program provides partially forgivable loans to restaurants, bars, hair salons and other public … [Read more...]
Wykoff man finishes the Iditarod
When Damon Ramaker was a child, his family took a trip to Alaska. While they were there they took a tour of the Iditarod. His parents brought home a map of the route and it has hung in their house since then. What he didn’t know then was that that map would take on a whole new significance when he was an adult. “It didn’t have a lot of meaning except something cool to look … [Read more...]
Historic Memories of Fillmore County A look back at The Preston Methodist Episcopal Church
By Dianne Ruud Continuing on, at least 60 years ago, as my siblings and I made our way to school from the south hill neighborhood, we passed by the old Preston Episcopal Methodist Church. It stood on the corner right across from the Preston Library. I wish the photo was in color as those stained glass windows must have been gorgeous! Sometimes we walked closer and looked up at … [Read more...]
Spring Grove resident Darrell Sinclair proof that life is a verb
Numerous sites on the world wide web defend the notion that life is a verb and not a noun. One such website, MBS Performance Counseling, argues that “life, as a noun, is a limiting way to define our existence.” Listening to 93-year-old Darrell Sinclair’s stories illustrates that he was an active participant in his life. Sinclair did not wait around for life to happen. He lived … [Read more...]
MiEnergy Cooperative members give $5,950 in local donations
MiEnergy Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Trust Board met in March and elected to donate $5,950 to the following local organizations: • $750, Caledonia United Methodist Church, to support the Helping Hands Giveaway which ensures students in Houston County have the supplies they need for the school year. • $700, Thunder Rode, Decorah, Iowa, to support the youth empowerment … [Read more...]