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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
GetFresh Vintage Page 15
Robert Maust joins Preston Council page
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Grinch is Right!
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Volume 28 Issue 12
Works in progress
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2012 Holiday Inn Tour in Lanesboro page
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Canton l Chatfield l Fountain l Harmony l Lanesboro l Mabel l Ostrander l Peterson l Preston l Rushford l Rushford Village l Spring Valley l Whalan l Wykoff
Equine rescue By K aren R eisner kreisner@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Teri Root with her children (left to right): Teahya, Aalyiah, Tatum, and Haven. Absent is oneyear-old Tannen who was ill. Photo by Barb Jeffers
Building a dream of their own By Barb Jeffers bjeffers@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Habitat for Humanity is giving Teri Root and her family the chance to work for their dream of owning their own home. When Teri walked away from her former living situation due to domestic violence, she had no idea what the future would hold for her and her five children. Now, just over a year later, Teri is helping to build her new home. The home is being built through Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties. There are many misconceptions about Habitat for Humanity homeowners. Many people believe that the home is given to the applicants who are approved. In fact, the homeowner has to make a down
payment and will have a mortgage just as if the money were borrowed from a bank. The difference with the Habitat for Humanity homes is that the homeowner is required to contribute several hundred hours of work or “sweat equity” into the home. Friends and family can earn “sweat equity” for Teri and her family also, but Teri must work the majority of the hours herself. The children, who are too young to work on the home, can earn their own “sweat equity” by doing a variety of activities as well as earning more for receiving good grades in school. As Teri explained, “It makes them feel like they helped in paying for our home.” The homeowner then receives an affordable interest-free loan. The house payments are put into a fund to use to build
more Habitat for Humanity homes. Habitat for Humanity “seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action,” according to the Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota website (hfhmn.org). Habitat For Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties was founded in 1994 and finished its first Habitat home in that year as well. By 2009, as Habitat Winona-Fillmore Counties celebrated its 15th anniversary, 40 homes had been completed. In response to devastating floods in southeastern Minnesota, Habitat built its first See BUILDING Page 14
Monday-Wednesday - Closed Thursday - 4-8pm Friday - 4-9pm Saturday - Noon-9pm Sunday - Noon-8pm 109 S. Parkway, Lanesboro, MN 55949 www.riversideontheroot.com
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About 55 horses, mules, ponies and donkeys were removed from a farm in southwestern Fillmore County on November 29 due to alleged neglect and cruelty. After the Fillmore County Sheriff Department and Animal Humane Society (AHS) Agent Keith Streff responded to a complaint regarding the hazardous conditions for the animals, arrangements were made with the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation and other equine rescue organizations to remove the animals. During the 24-hour period from the time of initial contact and the time when transportation and other preparations for the removal of the animals were made, the owner managed to remove 20 to 25 of the animals from the property. Their whereabouts is unknown. Agent Streff, Golden Valley, Minnesota, is the director of humane investigations and
is tasked with enforcement and conducting criminal investigations of alleged violations of the Minnesota animal welfare chapter. As a certified investigator, he is employed with the AHS, a non-profit organization, which is supported solely with donations and fees. It is his job to react to facts and determine culpability. Streff noted that this is the largest case of equine seizure and transportation during his 25 years of humane investigations. He explained via telephone that they were gathering prima facie evidence of a chronic case of neglect. Through photographs, forensics, and an individual medical report on many of the animals, facts and circumstances are presented for criminal review. No arrest has been made at this point. Criminal charges may or may not be filed after a review of the evidence by the county attorney. The investigation was still ongoing at the time of this See RESCUE Page 16
Lanesboro City Council hears ambulance staffing dilemma down to nine EMTs, a number that does not allow for adequate mwalbridge@fillmorecountyjournal.com coverage to serve the commu Lanesboro Ambulance Direc- nity. The decline in crew memtor Dave Haugan addressed bership is due to retirements the Lanesboro City Council on and resignations from the squad Monday, December 3 at the of volunteers. Haugan explained city’s regular monthly meet- that with the lack of volunteers, ing. Haugan and many current an ambulance service is likely ambulance crew members were unsustainable. present to express great concern Colleen Lamon also spoke to with the future of the city’s the council, sharing that other ambulance service. As of March See AMBULANCE Page 15 2013 the ambulance crew will be By Mitchell WA lbridge
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