On September 12, 2019, at 7:42 p.m., a traffic pursuit and crash occurred. The traffic stop was at USTH 52 and Civic Center Drive, Rochester, with the crash at USTH 52 and mile marker 30 (south of Chatfield). Assisting agencies included Olmsted County Sherriff’s Department, Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department, Chatfield Police Department, Gold Cross Ambulance, and Chatfield … [Read more...]
Safety on the farm
When you make a mistake on the farm, most often you can learn from it and make corrections so it doesn’t happen again. Following these general safety guidelines can help you prevent accidents and keep you and your loved ones safe. Power take-off The power take-off, or PTO shaft, is an efficient means of transferring mechanical power between farm tractors and implements. … [Read more...]
AmeriCorps plays central role in controlling noxious weeds Along the Root River in Fillmore and Houston counties, crews work with SWCDs, agriculture department to treat Japanese hops, poison hemlock
PRESTON — The Fillmore Soil & Water Conservation District is battling two non-native weeds that threaten the Root River. Japanese hops and poison hemlock, both on Minnesota’s Noxious Weeds List, choke out native species that shade streams and stabilize their banks — putting cold-and-clear-water trout habitat at risk. For the fourth consecutive season, a Conservation … [Read more...]
Funding available for sustainable agriculture projects AGRI grants help farmers test new ideas to drive sustainability
ST. PAUL, MN — Farmers and Minnesota nonprofit and educational organizations focused on testing new ideas in sustainable agriculture are encouraged to apply for a Sustainable Agriculture and Demonstration (SustAg) Grant by 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2019. The MDA’s SustAg Program is part of the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program, which administers … [Read more...]
Apply for Beginning Farmer Tax Credit by Oct. 1 Incentives available for rent or sale of farm land and some assets
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority reminds beginning farmers and asset owners to apply by October 1, 2019, for the tax credit for the sale or lease of land, equipment, machinery, and livestock. To qualify, the applicant must be a Minnesota resident with the desire to start farming or who began farming within the past 10 years, provide … [Read more...]
Wykoff to test for water leaks throughout town
The Wykoff City Council held a regular meeting on September 9. All council members were in attendance (Lyle Morey, Richard Gleason, Mayor Al Williams, City Clerk Becky Schmidt, Mary Sackett and Mary Tjepkes). Kingsland School Board Chair Jackie Horsman addressed the council, stating, “As you probably heard, Kingsland is putting up an operating referendum in November, and I … [Read more...]
Chamber, Historical Society opposed to moving Harmony Visitor Center
The public forum at the September 10 Harmony City Council meeting was well attended by members of the Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce, the Harmony Area Historical Society, and the community who were concerned about a discussion that took place during the August meeting. At that time, Council member Tony Webber suggested that the council visit the possibility of selling the … [Read more...]
Nuisance properties still topic of discussion at Canton City Council meeting
At the September 11 Canton City Council meeting, nuisance properties were the topic of discussion. The council discussed multiple nuisance properties that have either been warned or cited. One of the main properties involved belongs to Danny Whalen, who did attend the meeting. Whalen will be appearing in court on October 8 to enter a plea for 2018 misdemeanor charges that … [Read more...]
Headstone unearthed beneath driveway of body shop
On Thursday, September 5, 2019, there was a discovery made in front of the Chatfield Body Shop. In Chatfield, Minn., the construction capital of Southeast Minnesota, the headstone of Almira Caw was found while crews were doing some dirt work to replace the driveway of the repair shop. Almira Caw’s headstone read “Almira, Wife of Joseph Caw, Born Feb. 23, 1831, Died Apr. … [Read more...]
Medical examiner 2018 review
R. Ross Reichard, D.D., Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner, presented 2018 data for Fillmore County at the September 10 county board meeting. Chairman Duane Bakke was absent. Reichard’s office serves eight counties in southeast Minnesota. He emphasized the importance of the medical examiner’s staff including investigators throughout the region. In 2018, 136 … [Read more...]