News and Features

House bill would make volunteer firefighting equipment tax exempt

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:09am

A bill sponsored by state Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, would allow emergency equipment purchases to be tax exempt, a change that would largely benefit volunteer fire departments.

Davids said a city’s purchase of a fire truck or ambulance is currently tax exempt, but most other equipment for those departments are taxed.

Minnesota farmers to lead workshop on farm finances, soil health in Preston

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:07am

A Land Stewardship Project (LSP) workshop called, “Cover Crops, No-Till & Grazing: Evaluating the Economics and First Steps to Improving Soil” will be held Friday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the St. Columban Church in Preston.

County to hold special election to fill seat following Gary Peterson resignation

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Fri, 02/01/2019 - 11:00am

Fillmore County commissioners convened one man short last Tuesday, Jan. 22, as the Board accepted the resignation of District 3 Commissioner Gary Peterson, who submitted his resignation to the county coordinator on Thursday, Jan. 17, stating the reason to be “personal.” Board members thanked him for his dedication and wished him well.

Later in the meeting the commissioners discussed how to fill his position on the Board, which would have expired at the end of the year in 2020.

Local newspapers win awards at state contest

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 01/31/2019 - 1:14pm

Two individuals in the Bluff Country Newspaper Group won awards in the Better Newspaper Contest, which was part of the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association convention last week in the Twin Cities.

Publisher Dave Phillips, who is also editor of the Spring Valley Tribune, won first place for his photo story. His collection of photos documented the Fins and Films event in Spring Valley last summer.

“Perfect angles. You have natural talent. Loved this entry!” wrote the judges about the photo story, titled “Drags, burnouts and pinups in Spring Valley.”

Free nitrate testing coming up at National Trout Center

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 01/31/2019 - 12:48pm

The National Trout Center, Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Well Owners Organization will be hosting a Well and Stream Water Nitrate Testing Clinic on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the National Trout Center.

Area residents are invited to bring a water sample to the clinic to test for nitrates, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The testing is free and samples will be analyzed within 15 minutes.

Residents can bring as many water samples as they want from local wells, springs, ponds, streams and rivers.  

Girls’ State participant shares impressions with Legion Auxiliary

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 01/31/2019 - 8:47am

Larissa Martin was a girl of Eagle at state.

“I want to thank you for sending me to Girls’ State. I went to the 72nd Annual Girls’ State convention, and it was a political camp to empower young women, to teach women about politics because there aren’t as many women in politics, so that’s the goal of Girls’ State, to change all that. I was at Bethel University from June 10 to June 16,” said Martin, presenting her experience to the Chatfield American Legion Auxiliary earlier this month.

Proposed Dollar General project moving forward

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 01/24/2019 - 8:59am

The Chatfield Economic Development Authority (EDA) held a special meeting last Monday, Jan. 14, to address items related to the development of the Twiford parcel on the corner of Highway 52 as a future site of a Dollar General store. Efforts to develop a hotel and a Family Dollar store on that same plot, over the past five years, have not been as promising as the current project.

Chatfield home destroyed by fire

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 01/24/2019 - 8:57am

Chatfield firefighters answered a call to a house fire in town last Monday evening, arriving at the home of Art Countryman.

One-act cast, crew prepared for contests

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 01/24/2019 - 8:55am

Think only onions have layers?

So does Theater Kisses.

“We’re doing ‘Theater Kisses,’ and it’s an original play about students putting on a play. It’s funny and fun, but it also shows some of the everyday stresses teens deal with. I think the cast identifies with it,” stated Rachel Schieffelbein, director of the Chatfield High School (CHS) one-act play. She has been preparing her student thespians for their stage appearances at upcoming one-act play competitions.

Students have more options for enrichment through high school’s flex time programming

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 01/24/2019 - 8:54am

Yoga, basketball, Senate meetings, crafting, science club, civic service: Now flexing from a nutshell at the local high school.

“In a nutshell, it’s an attempt to change study time to open, flexible time to give students lots of choices,” stated Chatfield High School biology instructor Nora Gathje. “Teachers offer more things for more personalized learning.”