News and Features

Local SWCD administrator honored by peers

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/13/2018 - 12:13pm

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Executive Director John Jaschke presented the 2018 Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District Employee award on Monday, Dec. 10, to Fillmore Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Administrator Donna Rasmussen. The recognition ceremony took place during the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ (MASWCD) annual convention in Minneapolis.

Civic leaders discuss priorities with legislators during annual forum

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/13/2018 - 10:35am

 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.

Chatfield implements new citizen alert system

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/13/2018 - 10:33am

Residents of Chatfield will now have the opportunity to be more informed about what is going on in the community. A citizen alert system has been activated to keep citizens updated on weather and emergency notifications. The system is being conducted by the city of Chatfield and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department.

By signing up with this system, residents can be notified of situations like snowplowing, water breaks and street closings. When enrolled in this system, the residents can choose how they want to be notified.

Martial arts students work together to support ill child

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/13/2018 - 10:32am

“It was all for Sammy Chesney this year – we had around 75 students kicking,” related Shawn Yennie, of Yennie Martial Arts (YMA) in Chatfield, Spring Valley and Grand Meadow,

His martial arts students raised funds for 8-year-old Chesney through the schools’ annual Kickin’ for Cancer kickathon fundraiser held Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Chatfield YMA studio.

Chatfield forms student drama club, plans first open mic night

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 12/13/2018 - 10:31am

Rachel’s kids like to go clubbing.

It’s a dramatic outing worthy of an open mic.

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.