News and Features

Commissioners approve road resurfacing projects, restructuring of several departments

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 3:13pm

Housekeeping was the order of the day during the Tuesday, Feb. 5, Fillmore County commissioners meeting. 

Highway Engineer Ron Gregg sought permission to buy a 2019 tandem truck and snowplow equipment from the state bid contract. He also had in hand a resolution for Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) funds to be used for resurfacing County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 30 leading to Niagara Cave, and wanted to advertise for a bridge replacement project on CSAH 4 west of Washington. 

International Owl Center contest explodes

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 12:30pm

Need proof that Houston’s International Owl Center does indeed receive attention around the globe? Consider the recently held children’s art contest.

 “We had 4,444 pieces come in from 37 countries and 20 U.S. states for this year’s contest,” said Karla Bloem, the center’s executive director. “The post office has a table set aside for our art entries and we were there picking some up every day for three months.”

R-P school board narrows superintendent candidate search to three

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 11:21am

After an arduous two-day interview process that involved five candidates from three states, the Rushford-Peterson School Board selected a trio of finalists for the district’s superintendent position. Those finalists were chosen during a special meeting held Friday afternoon, Feb. 1. One candidate selected by the board as a finalist withdrew his application, which led the board to select one of their backup applicants. By the end of that meeting the board voted to extend invitations for a second interview to the following three candidates:

R-P’s “Miracle Worker” ends season with strongest performance

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 11:19am

R-P’s One Act Play ended its 2019 season last weekend, placing 4th in the Section 1A competition held at Kasson-Mantorville High School. Byron won the section title, advancing to the MSHSL State One Act Play competition for the first time in school history.

St. Charles was runner-up, and Wabasha-Kellogg placed third. R-P tied for fourth with Fillmore Central, their toughest competitor at the conference and sub-section meets. Fillmore Central edged out R-P at the Three Rivers Conference competition, but R-P’s “Miracle Worker” reversed the order to win at sub-sections.

Cub scouts alive and active in Southeast Minnesota

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 11:17am

The Rushford-Peterson Cub Scouts are alive and well in southeast Minnesota. Though they’re most active during the school year, Scout Master Jessie Smith says area residents will see the blue Cub Scout uniform in a variety of places.

Decoding the Driftless film to be shown at Rushford-Peterson auditorium Feb. 9

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 11:14am

The “Decoding the Driftless” film will be shown on the big screen at Rushford-Peterson School Auditorium on February 9 at 4 p.m., beginning with an introduction from one of the film producers, George Howe.

County, school, and city step up to address dangers of vaping

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 10:53am

America’s small towns are rarely safe from epidemics that sweep the country, and the latest example is vaping.

  Originally designed to combat smoking, devices that deliver nicotine without burning tobacco are exploding in popularity among minors, and many health experts are concerned the devices are now becoming a stepping-stone to long-term tobacco use. Even more worrisome is the fact that these devices can also be used for inhaling any illicit drug available in liquid form.

Large crowd attends address on climate change at Eagle Bluff

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 10:26am

“Don’t allow our leaders to be dismissive. Right here in Minnesota, we are experiencing some of the most drastic changes in our weather of anywhere in the country,” warned Dr. Mark Seeley, emeritus professor of climatology at the University of Minnesota.

Seeley was the featured speaker at Eagle Bluff’s Dinner on the Bluff event this past Saturday, Feb. 2. Dr. Seeley spoke about how the drastic changes in the weather patterns affect myriad of aspects of a person’s daily life.

Rural Chatfield man is homicide victim

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:11am

A rural Chatfield man died in his home Wednesday, Jan. 30, of homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds, according to Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge.

The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man who died as Gregory Scott Davis, 49, of 32573 Ninebark Road. Deputies responded to a 911 call for medical assistance for an unresponsive male at the residence at 7:23 p.m. on Wednesday.

Free nitrate testing coming up at National Trout Center

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 02/05/2019 - 10:10am

The National Trout Center, Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Well Owners Organization will be hosting a Well and Stream Water Nitrate Testing Clinic on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the National Trout Center.

Area residents are invited to bring a water sample to the clinic to test for nitrates, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The testing is free and samples will be analyzed within 15 minutes.

Residents can bring as many water samples as they want from local wells, springs, ponds, streams and rivers.