Chatfield News

Norwegian tradition baked into Chatfield church congregation

Published by rkramer@bluffco... on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 12:39pm

Members of Chatfield Lutheran Church are maintaining the Norwegian tradition of making rosettes, krumkake, flatbread, sandbakkels, lefse, fattigman and other baked goods while also providing tasty treats for Chatfield area residents each year during its annual Norwegian bake sale.

Biology project to start blooming next year

Published by rkramer@bluffco... on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 12:36pm

Independent study students of Chatfield High School (CHS) biology instructor Nora Gathje have planted the seeds of a project that should bloom in the coming years.

New School Board member eager to give back to community

Published by rkramer@bluffco... on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 12:34pm

Chatfield’s School Board welcomed Rick Lowrey to its membership following the Nov. 5 election. 

Lowrey has lived in Chatfield for the past 15 years and chose to run for School Board because he wanted to give back to the community. He received the most votes in a race that had two candidates on the ballot of a special election to fill the remaining term of an open seat, currently held by appointee F. Mike Tuohy.

EDA meets in special session to consider Twiford project issues

Published by rkramer@bluffco... on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 12:28pm

Chatfield’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) held a special meeting last Monday evening to handle a few items of business, mainly questions that surfaced about the Twiford redevelopment project.

The EDA does not normally hold a November meeting because it hosts an annual gala in November to honor local businesses’ accomplishments and contributions to the community.

David Phillips: Plenty to be thankful for during this quiet holiday

Published by rkramer@bluffco... on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 10:57am

The two most American holidays are Independence Day, which highlights our freedoms, and Thanksgiving, which highlights all the things for which we are thankful. Thanksgiving often gets overlooked because there are no big fireworks or mass celebrations and there are few things for big business to market to us.

SEMAC awards arts grants to local groups

Published by rkramer@bluffco... on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 9:59am

The board of directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) on Nov. 19 awarded 66 grants to applicants representing 10 counties for a total of $335,888 in funding. 

Several nonprofit organizations in Fillmore and Houston counties were among those groups awarded grants:

• Chatfield Brass Band received a $3,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Chatfield "Music in the Park" summer concerts.

• Chatfield Center for the Arts received a $3,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for production administrative expenses, fiscal year 2020.

Julie Papenfus, 67, of Racine

Published by rkramer@bluffco... on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 9:31am

Julie K. Papenfus, 67, of Racine, died Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, at her home following a short illness with cancer.

Julie Kay Meyer was born on Dec. 27, 1951, in Preston to Norman and Dorothy (Jeche) Meyer.  She grew up on the family farm in rural Wykoff and attended Wykoff schools, graduating from Wykoff High School in 1969.  She moved to Rochester and was employed at the First National Bank.

Age Well at Home seeking additional volunteers

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 8:16am

Age Well at Home, formerly Chatfield’s Help Our Neighbors senior assistance program linking senior citizens to volunteers who can lend a hand to keep them independent in their own homes, is short several people who can make the difference for their neighbors. 

“Right now, we are in need of volunteers to fill all of the services that we provide,” stated coordinator Tina Kerns. “We have 15 volunteers on our call list, but because of jobs, families or other obligations, we have five who have been active the past year.”

Council OKs two zoning requests

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 8:15am

The Chatfield City Council addressed a zoning request during its first November meeting, which was held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, instead of Monday, Nov. 11, due to the Veterans Day holiday.

School Board canvasses election results

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 8:14am

Chatfield’s School Board convened last Tuesday evening, Nov. 12, for the first meeting following the Nov. 5 special School Board and property tax levy referendum election.

Board members held roll call votes for resolutions canvassing the return of votes of the special election, beginning with the referendum’s failure and then on to acknowledge that Rick Lowrey had prevailed over Dorothy-Helen Billmeier as the new School Board member to fill the empty seat, currently held by appointee F. Mike Tuohy, from January 2020 to January 2021.

Administrator reports