News and Features

Bottled up creativity leads to new look for Chatfield liquor store

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/13/2018 - 10:29am

Claire Conway and Travis Bartels have some bottled-up creativity.

The new co-owners of Chatfield’s new 52 Bottle Shop, which opened Friday, Nov. 9, are using their creative talents to sell bottles of spirits, liqueurs, wines and beer at the former Countyline Bootleg Wine & Liquor.

DNR intensifies CWD response efforts in southeastern Minnesota

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/06/2018 - 1:39pm

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is taking additional steps to help limit the spread of chronic wasting disease in wild deer in southeastern Minnesota.

Eleven new cases of wild deer infected with the neurological disease were discovered this fall in or around the CWD disease management zone in Fillmore County.

In response, the DNR will open two special hunts in December; provide shooting permits to landowners; conduct deer culling efforts in January; and will hold a public meeting in Preston on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Preliminary property tax levies in county show significant increases

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/06/2018 - 1:20pm

If local units stick with their preliminary levy proposals, property taxes will likely go up for most residents of Fillmore County.

County residents recently received property tax notices in the mail with proposed levies from local units of government. After input from citizens during Truth-in-Taxation hearings, local governments must set their final 2019 property tax levies by Dec. 28. The final levies can be set lower, but not higher, than preliminary levies.

Secure pork supply workshop for producers set in Rushford

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/06/2018 - 1:19pm

University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health will be hosting a secure pork supply workshop at the Rushford Community Center, 43038 State Highway 30 West, Rushford Village, on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. Local swine producers are encouraged to attend and complete their own secure pork supply plan during the workshop.

County land rent survey shows costs stabilized at $200 per acre

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/06/2018 - 1:15pm

The 2018 local land rental survey shows rates in Fillmore County averaged between $195.42 and $207.46/acre, which indicates long-term trends in local data have stabilized at about $200 per acre since around 2014, according to Michael Cruse, U of M Extension educator.

Survey responses for 2018 land rent ranged from $20 to $379/acre. The predicted average for 2019 land rental rates is between $191.39 and $203.25/acre, noted Cruse. These values are based on 88 returned surveys.

Commissioners handle several personnel issues during last meeting of November

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/06/2018 - 1:14pm

Fillmore County commissioners convened post-turkey for the last meeting of November, on Tuesday, Nov. 27, handling various items of business to prepare for the end of the year and budgeting for 2019.

First, Highway Engineer Ron Gregg presented a resolution to apply for an administrative variance to state aid rules for a part of the road in the city of Wykoff that does not meet the geometric horizontal roadway design. He explained that there is a need to adjust things to make way for a road project this coming summer on County Road 5. 

Residents tour newly renovated high school

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 12/04/2018 - 3:33pm

Chatfield residents enjoyed dinner and a tour — the ultimate Thursday-night entertainment — at the newly-renovated Chatfield High School.

Chatfield city maintenance crews ready to take on winter

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 12/04/2018 - 3:30pm

It’s beginning to look a lot like winter, everywhere you go…

“We typically start getting ready for winter at the end of October or the first week in November,” stated Brian Burkholder, Chatfield’s city maintenance supervisor, plugging in the last of the new Main Street Christmas lights the city purchased last year. In addition to making sure the town is ready for the holiday, Burkholder must also make sure the plows and other equipment are ready to keep streets and sidewalks safe.

Civic leaders discuss priorities with legislators during annual forum

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 12/04/2018 - 3:28pm

 Chatfield welcomed its local legislators on Tuesday evening, Nov. 20, for the city’s annual legislative forum to share its priorities for the coming year.

Sen. Jeremy Miller, Sen. Carla Nelson and Rep. Greg Davids joined Chatfield’s mayor, Russ Smith, city councilors and City Clerk Joel Young, as well as members of the Chatfield School Board, representatives of the Chatfield Center for the Arts (CCA) and Chatfield Economic Development Director Chris Giesen in reviewing legislative priorities that have been set for 2019.

Builder shares how housing development impacts whole community during EDA gala

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 12/04/2018 - 3:05pm

Modern-day pioneering, continued.

 “There were 20 new houses built in Chatfield over the last year, and per capita, Chatfield built more houses than Rochester,” said Chatfield Mayor Russ Smith. “None of this would be possible if it weren’t for the original builders of Chatfield. They were the settlers who ventured west from Winona, looking for an exceptionally beautiful spot for their new settlement.”