News and Features

Three incumbents, one challenger seeking Chatfield School Board seats

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 10:32am

Voters in the Chatfield School District will choose three School Board members during the upcoming election on Tuesday. Four people filed for the positions, which have four-year terms. The three incumbents to file are Scott Backer, Lanny Isensee and Matthew McMahon. The other person to file is Dorothy-Helen L. Billmeier.

Incumbent mayor Russell Smith challenged by Dan Folken on city ballot

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 10:31am

In Chatfield, incumbent Russell Smith and Dan Folken will be on the ballot for the office of mayor.

Smith, an Air Force veteran and employee of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, has served on the Chatfield City Council and as mayor since the year 2000. He and his wife, Brenda, have two sons, Dustin and Josiah. He is a member of the Chatfield Center for the Arts and the Chatfield Lutheran Church.

Chatfield EDA discusses various topics in the name of progress

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 10:30am

 “Progress” was the word of the hour during the October Chatfield Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting held last Monday, Oct. 22. 

The first order of business encompassed the EDA’s membership voting to allow the environmental work on the Twiford development property to proceed. The members voted this way so a Dollar General store can be built there. 

Chris Giesen, community development coordinator, noted that the $230,000 Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) grant has come due with the state. 

City Council discusses ways to slow traffic on hill near elementary school

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 10:29am

How to stop traffic was the topic of most discussion during the quarter-hour-long Monday, Oct. 22, Chatfield City Council meeting. Councilor John McBroom reported that during the public services committee meeting, members debated as to how to answer a request from residents of Hillside Drive and Amco Drive for a stop sign to slow traffic coming down the hill from the elementary school. 

Owners of historic school seek suggestions for its future

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 10:23am

“It’s just a spectacle,” said Chatfield resident Jason Hoover, standing inside the one-room schoolhouse at the foot of his driveway on Chatfield’s west side. Inside the school, one will find yellow tin-paneled walls and ceiling, three neat rows of wooden desks lined up before a teacher’s desk at the front of the room, and a 48-star flag posted in the corner, all under the watchful eye of George Washington’s portrait.

Many get involved to keep banners flying in Chatfield

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 10:18am

Chatfield: Home of the Envy Factor.

‘Flushable’ wipes wrecking havoc on city pumps, private pipes

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/30/2018 - 10:16am

Enjoy the “go,” but DON’T slow the flow.

CWD tests mandatory in southeast Minnesota

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 3:46pm

Hunters in central, north-central and southeast Minnesota need to bring their harvested deer to be tested for chronic wasting disease on the opening weekend of firearms deer season, Saturday, Nov. 3, and Sunday, Nov. 4. 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is requiring the testing to determine whether CWD may have spread from captive deer to wild deer in central and north-central Minnesota.

Most county races not contested

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 3:45pm

Although Fillmore County has just two contested races — sheriff and auditor-treasurer — there are several other offices that will be on the ballot Nov. 6.

Only the incumbents filed for county commissioner. Randy Dahl of Rushford is seeking re-election to the District 2 seat and Duane Bakke of Lanesboro is seeking re-election to the District 4 seat.

Incumbents were also the only candidates to file for the county offices of recorder and attorney. David Kiehne filed for re-election as recorder and Brett Corson of Wykoff filed for re-election as county attorney.

Commissioners approve upcoming road construction projects, bridge replacements

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 3:44pm

Fillmore County commissioners entertained a short agenda during the Tuesday, Oct. 23, board meeting. Included in the discussion were proposed construction projects for 2019. 

Highway Engineer Ron Gregg presented a resolution for the final payment of $31,518.91 to Allied Blacktop Co. for the 2018 chip-seal project, including 30 miles of pavement.  The board voted in favor. 

He then addressed a list of proposed construction projects for 2019, citing there is federal, state aid and municipal money and local option sales tax (LOST) to provide funding for the projects.