Fillmore County Journal - 12.11.17

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determination Fillmore County Winter Sports Preview Inside this issue

“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition

The Confederate flag page

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Monday, December 11, 2017

Fountain plans for utility hearing page

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Volume 33 Issue 12

Houston Planning talks turkey on Owl Center page

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A cold fire in the valley page

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Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff

Rushford Village Norwegian family arrives for lutefisk dinner in Preston approves 2018 levy By K irsten Zoellner kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com

After deliberation and a brief Truth In Taxation hearing that brought no citizen comments, the City of Rushford Village approved the 2018 levy in the amount of $425,000. The amount has remained the same the last three years. There was consideration for raising it and the council was cautious as it plans for future needs. Mayor Gordon Johnson praised the work of City Clerk Mary Miner and City Treasurer

See RUSHFORD LEVY Page 2 

Lanesboro Council reconsiders decision not to pave Zenith Street By H annah Wingert hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com

The Lanesboro City Council revisited the matter of the Zenith Street paving proposal at their December 4 meeting. Council member Jason Resseman was Mayor pro tem in Mayor Autumn Johnson’s absence. Mayor Johnson participated in the meeting via remote access. Currently, a portion of Zenith Street is unpaved and is a gravel road. The residents had hopes that it would be paved during the Auburn/Zenith project. At last month’s meeting, the council heard appeals from several of the residents asking them to reconsider their decision not to pave the gravel road. Lanesboro resident Phil Dybing acquired estimates for the project and

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presented them to the council at that time. The council had also received quotes from city engineer Brian Malm which were higher than Dybing’s. Dybing felt that now would be the best time to pave the gravel section of Zenith, as the Auburn/Zenith project is now underway and contractors are available. He also added that he believes the lack of utility services in that area has inhibited its growth. “I would submit that the decision makers shouldn’t take either scenario as gospel truth,” Lanesboro resident Andy Webb stated at the December meeting. He felt that Dybing gave a best case scenario, and Malm gave the worst case. “There are four questions the See ZENITH STREET Page 7 

Since 1856

Since 1901

Arlene Staupe with her Norwegian relatives. Left to right: Arlene, Annalisa Staupe Gaard, Karl Gaard, Karen Staupe, Ann Veronika Gravdal, and Joachim Gravda. Photo by Hannah Wingert bringing different members for Christmas each year, but By H annah Wingert of their family from Norway she’s found that the lutefisk in hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com with them. One of their three Minnesota is different in some Each year, Christ Lutheran daughters lives in Denver so way and she actually likes it Church hosts a Norwegian they spend a lot of time there better. lutefisk and meatball dinner as well as in Minnesota. They The Norwegian traditions that draws out hundreds of estimate that they’ve made celebrated in Minnesota have people. This year, over 900 around 60 trips to the U.S. been passed down through people bought tickets for the so far, sometimes visiting as the generations, but haven’t dinner. They come from all often as four times in one changed much and are still over, some traveling from as year. fairly similar to the origifar as Iowa or the Twin Cities Annalisa and Karl first came nal traditions from Norway. area to eat the gelatinous white to the lutefisk and meatball Generally lutefisk, translated fish. But the diners who come dinner in 2015 with Arlene to mean lye fish, is served the farthest are husband and and loved it so much that they with mashed potatoes, green wife Annalisa Staupe Gaard just had to come back. This beans, and other sides in Norand Karl Gaard from the west year, they brought Annal- way. The lutefisk dinner at coast of Norway. This year isa’s mother Karen Staupe, the Christ Lutheran Church is is the couple’s second time their daughter Ann Veron- served with meatballs, mashed attending the dinner. ika Gravdal, and her son potatoes and gravy, carrots, The Gaards are related to Joachim Gravdal. This was cranberry sauce, and lefse with Preston native Arlene Staupe baby Joachim’s first trip to the rommegrot, sweet soup, and through Annalisa’s father’s side United States. Christmas cookies for dessert. of the family. They make “The lutefisk tastes better While in Minnesota, lefse is regular trips to the U.S. to here,” Annalisa said, laughing. visit family and sightsee, often In Norway, they have lutefisk See LUTEFISK DINNER Page 16 

Judy Graham for keeping operating expenses in line, despite a number of projects. “We’ve had some increases that hit us pretty hard. We’ve managed to make it work,” added Johnson. A number of other projects are in the works for 2018 including a contract with Community & Economic Development Associates (CEDA) to improve and achieve the city’s planning goals. The council reviewed a number of items, consider-


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