News and Features

Sheriff updates county commissioners on Memorial Day tornadoes, damage to farms

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 05/30/2019 - 10:23am

Fillmore County’s commissioners held their Tuesday, May 28, meeting, hearing a short update from Sheriff John DeGeorge on the Memorial Day tornado that skipped through the county, nicking four farms and several houses in the Greenleafton area.

County attorney updates commissioners on court case involving gray water systems

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 05/30/2019 - 10:21am

County Attorney Brett Corson updated the Fillmore County Board on the status of the court case involving Amish families that live in homes that do not have gray water systems installed during the Tuesday, May 7, commissioner meeting.

The gray water systems, or subsurface sewage treatment systems, have been an issue that has involved the county and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) over the past several months.

Commissioners review vehicle leasing agreement for sheriff’s office

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 05/30/2019 - 10:18am

Enterprise Fleet Management representative Wong Nystrom, Sheriff John DeGeorge and Chief Deputy Lance Boyum appeared before the Fillmore County commissioners on Tuesday, May 7, with information regarding the county’s fleet vehicle contract with Enterprise that was signed approximately a year ago.

Chatfield Relay for Life team looking forward to 2019 event

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 05/30/2019 - 8:06am

Eighteen individuals are proud to gather for a good cause, putting one foot in front of the other against cancer.

Chatfield fourth graders have opportunity to pay respect to veterans in local cemete

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 05/30/2019 - 8:04am

“You’ll want to look real close to make sure you haven’t missed any,” advised Chatfield veteran Greg Forbes, keeping track of the gaggle of fourth graders eagerly seeking veterans in Chatfield’s cemetery on the southwest end of town last Thursday morning.

Chatfield float not ready to be sent out to pasture

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 05/30/2019 - 8:02am

What does one get a horse for its 25th birthday?

Indoor-outdoor carpeting and matching skirting.

“I ordered the fabric from Illinois, and I figured out how many yards we’d need, and I laid it out in my garage. We had 50 feet of skirting to do, and I mocked it all in and cut it. I found the same fabric in my catalog that was on it when it came, and that’s got to be at least 25 years ago,” said Roy Lange.

‘Pinky’ makes return appearance to help raise awareness at Relay for Life

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Wed, 05/29/2019 - 3:51pm

It’s Pinky, rollin’ against cancer again.

“I bought it on the auction about three or four years ago when Chatfield had the cancer relay, and I donated it back just to help raise money for awareness. That’s the reason I did it,” stated Chatfield resident Linus Hammell.

Hammell has brought “Pinky,” the very pink International-Farmall M tractor, back to the Relay for Life this year. He bought the tractor at the 2016 Fillmore County Relay for Life when it was the jewel of the live auction to raise funds for the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Highway 52 paving underway from Chatfield north to Olmsted County 7, short delays expected

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Fri, 05/24/2019 - 10:29am

Highway 52 motorists can expect short traffic delays as paving work is taking place on the north end of Chatfield to Olmsted County Road 7, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Flaggers will be stopping traffic for short periods so each direction of traffic takes turns in the open lane that’s not being paved at the time. The paving will take place, weathering permitting, during the weekday. The highway is open again after being detoured for a short period earlier this month.

Retiring SWCD administrator plans continued personal conservation efforts

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Fri, 05/24/2019 - 9:03am

“I knew I wanted to do something that took me outside. I spent most of my childhood in the creek and the woods, exploring. It was years later that I realized that the creek where we played was fed by several septic systems,” shared retiring Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Administrator Donna Rasmussen. “I think that’s something that proves the science that says the more kids are in dirt, the stronger their immune systems. I think that’s why I have such a strong immune system. And, I’ve worked around water all my life, and I’ve never learned to swim.”

Chatfield Center for the Arts Board president gives report to city council

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Tue, 05/21/2019 - 3:51pm

The Chatfield Center for the Arts Board president, Carla Gallina, presented the center’s annual report to the City Council during its Monday, May 13, meeting.

Gallina shared financial information and noted the 2019 budget is 128 percent higher than the 2018 budget.

“We’ve learned a lot about budgeting – there were some surprising utility expenses, some mechanical expenses with the chiller going down,” Gallina said.