News and Features

County Board opts to hire land services director to replace retiring assessor

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/08/2018 - 1:36pm

Fillmore County’s commissioners, some wearing their midterm election “I Voted” stickers, carried out regular housekeeping during the Nov. 6 Board meeting.

The Board focused mostly on the process of replacing retiring county assessor Cynthia Blagsvedt, set to leave her position on Dec. 14 and officially retire on Jan. 31, 2019, as there are certain certifications required of the assessor’s role.

Fillmore Central has five candidates for four open School Board seats

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:21am

Voters in the Fillmore Central School District will be selecting four Board members from a slate of five candidates on Tuesday. Four of the candidates are incumbents, seeking re-election, while Jennifer Pickett is seeking a position on the board for the first time.

Four Fountain residents seeking two open seats on city council

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:20am

In Fountain, current mayor Richard Kujath did not file for re-election, but Jim Schott, who is serving on the council now, filed for the office of mayor. Schott’s council term is up at the end of the year.

The other council member whose term expires, Bryan Ostby, didn’t file for re-election. Colleen Foehrenbacher, Terry Hanson, Ron Reisner and Michael Root filed for two open council seats.

Three candidates vie for two open Harmony City Council seats

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:19am

Harmony’s mayor, Steve Donney, is seeking re-election and is on the ballot with no opposition. There are three candidates seeking two open council seats. Incumbents Kyle Morem and Steve Sagen are hoping to return to the council while Tony Webber is running for his first term.

Candidates seek offices in local elections

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:17am

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, area voters will head to the polls to choose school board members, mayors and city council representatives in addition to voting for county and state candidates.

Voters in all area cities will have just one name to choose for mayor, but decisions for council will be more mixed as some cities have contests while others have a lack of candidates.

Harmony Enterprises donates SpartPack Compactor to community visitor center

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:16am

Over 10,000 tourists visit Harmony each year to visit bike trails and Niagara Cave and to take in Amish Tours, the Fourth of July Celebration, and to enjoy the many restaurants and shops in downtown. With this traffic, the Harmony Visitors Center is the hub of activity, providing guests with information about activities, history and exciting things to do in the area.

When Harmony Enterprises reached out to its fellow businesses and organizations earlier this year, it was expressed that there is a need to showcase Harmony’s products in and around the community.

Norse student finds Americans more talkative

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:12am

“Americans are much more outgoing and talkative. Norwegians are more shy and stay to themselves,” was the way Maren Ingebrigtsen of Bergen, Norway, summed up her initial impression of Americans.

Maren is a foreign exchange student at Fillmore Central High School this school year. She is staying with the Chris and Carrie Mensink family of Preston.

Coming from a city of 250,000 people to living and studying in a rural setting like Fillmore County is quite a change. But Maren said she is really enjoying the experience.

Fillmore Central School Board hears update on facilities projects

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:10am

At its regular October meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23, the Fillmore Central School Board was updated on facilities projects being done around the school.

Superintendent Richard Keith noted the recent wet weather has proven to be an inhibiting factor for work on the baseball field, though Scheevel and Sons, the excavating company, is still making progress. He stated the parking lot is finished, but it is likely the school will have to relocate for baseball games in the spring. Keith did say, since the field at Lanesboro was fixed up last year, it is possible to have some games there.

Fillmore Central School Board hears update on facilities projects

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:09am

At its regular October meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23, the Fillmore Central School Board was updated on facilities projects being done around the school.

Superintendent Richard Keith noted the recent wet weather has proven to be an inhibiting factor for work on the baseball field, though Scheevel and Sons, the excavating company, is still making progress. He stated the parking lot is finished, but it is likely the school will have to relocate for baseball games in the spring. Keith did say, since the field at Lanesboro was fixed up last year, it is possible to have some games there.

City Council candidates share priorities for Canton

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Thu, 11/01/2018 - 9:07am

Mayor Donivee Johnson filed for re-election in Canton as did council member Charlie Warner. The other incumbent councilor whose term expires, Ross Ducket, didn’t file for re-election. Carl Ernst, a former council member, and Jason Magnuson will join Warner on the ballot for the two open council seats.