The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is encouraging organizations that benefit Minnesota fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop producers to apply for Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBG) to help increase the competitiveness of their crops in local, regional or global markets. Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Grant projects can … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $33,900 in grants
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) approved four Economic Development grants totaling $33,900 to organizations that participated in a “Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” event earlier this year. The goal of the grant is to fund projects that support the development of entrepreneurial cultures in communities that are in SMIF’s 20-county region. Funding was … [Read more...]
Be a holiday hero – give the gift of life Red Cross urgently needs blood donations
Emergencies don’t take a holiday. The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donors to make an appointment now to give and help ensure patients can get the treatment they need at a moment’s notice. In November 2016, a 100-foot maple tree fell on Mike McMahon, causing life-threatening injuries. He needed 11 units of blood during emergency surgery and another seven units to … [Read more...]
2018 Valley Design Employee Sharing Tree
For the past 12 years Valley Design’s Employee Sharing Tree has made donations to Christmas in Fillmore County and the Fillmore County Food Shelf. Both programs assist families in Fillmore County. Christmas in Fillmore County benefits families in need during the Holiday Season with gifts for kids. The Fillmore County Food Shelf provides food for those in need. This year … [Read more...]
Hunters on the lookout for Chronic Wasting Disease leverage state IT and scientific data
ST. PAUL, MN — Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a neurological disease afflicting deer that causes the animals’ brains to deteriorate until they experience emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions, and ultimately death. This hunting season, hunters and wildlife researchers are using a new online application developed by state science and technology experts at … [Read more...]
R-P Superintendent met with some pushback on hiring process suggestions
Preparations for the selection of a new Rushford-Peterson School District Superintendent continue. At the Monday, December 17 school board meeting, Superintendent Chuck Ehler provided a chart for the interview process which he said was based on feedback from the teachers and board members requesting a process of involving others in the interview process. Ehler’s suggestions … [Read more...]
Kingsland approves tax levy
Kingsland school held the annual Truth in Taxation public hearing on December 17, just prior to the regular board meeting. All members were present (Doug Plaehn, Ann Oeltjen, Leah Stier, Jackie Horsman, Tiffany Mundfrom, student representative Zachary Queensland, and Superintendent James Hecimovich). Approximately 40 citizens were in the audience. Doug Plaehn started by … [Read more...]
Legislators listen to county priorities
Minnesota Rep. Greg Davids and Senator Jeremy Miller listened to Fillmore County department heads describe concerns that they feel are important to address in the upcoming legislative session. Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) government relations manager Matt Hilgart provided a ranking from 11 southeast Minnesota counties (district IX). The number one legislative … [Read more...]
Movie showing of Decoding the Driftless to be held in Harmony
The recently released documentary movie, Decoding the Driftless will be shown at the Jem Theatre in Harmony, Minn., the first weekend in January. Showings will be Saturday, January 5 at 11 a.m., Sunday, January 6 at 1:30 p.m., and Monday, January 7 at 7:30 p.m. The showing on Saturday, January 5 will include a visit from writer and producer George Howe, who will be available … [Read more...]
Lanesboro school levy to increase thanks to November 6 vote
The Lanesboro school district held its Truth in Taxation meeting at the December 13 school board meeting. No one from the public was present for comments or questions. During the 2017-18 fiscal year, the district’s revenues were $4,915,918 and expenditures were $5,205,976. The levy was set at $423,478.95 during that time. This year’s levy has been set at $868,693.87 due to … [Read more...]