News and Features

Chatfield man finds joy in beekeeping

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Tue, 08/13/2019 - 3:41pm

F. Mike Tuohy’s in it for the bees’ knees.

It’s a honey of a thing to do.

“I’ve done it for six or eight years. I can’t say I know how, but I’ve done it,” stated Chatfield native Tuohy, standing next to hive number four on his yard, enjoying the gentle buzz as his honeybees came and went, went and came back again with wildflower pollen on their knees to make honey to feed their queen and a whole nursery of upcoming worker bees that are getting a start in the honeycomb just like they did.

Commissioners and sheriff discuss jail inspection, future needs

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Tue, 08/13/2019 - 2:23pm

Sheriff John DeGeorge and jail administrator Jamie Fenske attended the Tuesday, Aug. 6, Fillmore County commissioners meeting to speak about the jail inspection by the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

“Jail inspection – we just had it with the same inspector we’ve had for three years,” DeGeorge noted. “It was pretty short, nothing real unexpected. We had a 100 percent compliance rate of our mandatory criteria and 90 percent of our essential. The 90 percent is due to the facility itself and the logistical things….”

Commissioners approve new floodplain ordinance, FEMA maps

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Mon, 08/12/2019 - 1:04pm

Fillmore County’s commissioners held the first meeting of August this past Tuesday, Aug. 6. Zoning matters dominated a portion of the meeting. The board held a public hearing for the updated floodplain ordinance and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps that have been brought before the commissioners at previous meetings.

Commissioners and sheriff discuss jail inspection, future needs

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Mon, 08/12/2019 - 1:03pm

Sheriff John DeGeorge and jail administrator Jamie Fenske attended the Tuesday, Aug. 6, Fillmore County commissioners meeting to speak about the jail inspection by the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

“Jail inspection – we just had it with the same inspector we’ve had for three years,” DeGeorge noted. “It was pretty short, nothing real unexpected. We had a 100 percent compliance rate of our mandatory criteria and 90 percent of our essential. The 90 percent is due to the facility itself and the logistical things….”

Invasive vine spreading through southeast Minnesota

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Mon, 08/12/2019 - 1:01pm

Japanese hops, Humulus japonicus, is overtaking the banks of the Root River in southeastern Minnesota and growing onto adjacent property. Weed experts at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) are asking for the public’s help in controlling the weed and reporting new finds.

Currently, infestations are found along the Root River from Preston to the confluence of the Mississippi River. Small infestations of Japanese hops have also popped up in Winona; however, these have been controlled.

Krage Insurance in Lanesboro grows with addition of Chosen Valley Insurance

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 08/08/2019 - 3:42pm

Lyman Hare: Insurance agent due to a change of policy.

“I began selling insurance on May 8, 1978, but I started selling insurance in Chatfield on May 1, 1986. There was a job opening at Root River State Bank for an insurance manager to Northwest Security Agency,” recalled Hare. Hare recently retired from being an insurance agent at Chosen Valley Insurance in Chatfield, having sold his interests to Krage Agency in Lanesboro in April. Hare has gone on to become an ad salesman for Bluff Country Newspaper Group to fill his days.

Sale of Twiford redevelopment land complete

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Tue, 08/06/2019 - 11:24am

Generally speaking, there’s finally going to be another new place to put one’s dollar.

Chatfield Economic Development Director Chris Giesen reported that the city of Chatfield and its and economic development authority (EDA) closed on the purchase of the Twiford redevelopment property on Monday, July 29. The lot is located just south of Sunshine Foods, just off Highway 52 in Chatfield, where a Dollar General store is anticipated to be constructed and opened shortly after Christmas.

Highway 52 project behind schedule due to rainy spring

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Tue, 08/06/2019 - 11:21am

The falling sky is the culprit.

“It’s behind schedule. Rain has hampered efforts at times – it’s not way off, but it’s behind the schedule the contractor had. We’ll have a sharper focus on where things stand in early August as they review how much work remains,” stated Mike Dougherty Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) District 6 director of Public Engagement and Communications. He acknowledged that the Highway 52 reconstruction project from Chatfield to Marion is not on the original course set for it to be completed at the end of July.

Local banks provide grant for teachers to enhance learning

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Tue, 08/06/2019 - 11:18am

Teachers know: Learn the code, be flexible and ready to move, understand that education STEMs from the quad, be ready for personalized projecting, keep memories working, hear the drummer, and not to take things for granted.

“The grant dollars awarded will serve all levels. Not all requests were approved – 13 elementary requests were made,” shared Chatfield Elementary School Principal Shane McBroom, speaking of the Chosen Valley Mini Grant Program made possible through a partnership with Root River State Bank and F&M Community Bank-Chatfield.

Fillmore County welcomes new court administrator

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Tue, 08/06/2019 - 10:31am

Becky Brandt knew, when accepting her new position as Fillmore County’s new Third Judicial District court administrator, that she had big shoes to fill. Retiring administrator James Attwood has served the court for 31 years before retiring on June 3 of this year. Brandt stepped in on June 4.

Brandt describes herself as being a motivated and high-energy person. “I have to achieve or accomplish something every day, like working out, coming home and cleaning the garage after work, getting something off my checklist done,” she said.