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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition Chatfield’s Jake Mandt
Fillmore County Sports page
20-21
Happy New Year page
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Monday, December 28, 2015
First Baptist Church welcomes new pastor page
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Fillmore Central approves 2016 levy page
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Volume 31 Issue 14
Preston to request state bonding page
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Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff
Making a living and looking ahead to the future
Lanesboro School Board reviews 2016 levy By H annah Wingert hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
The Lanesboro School Board met on December 17, 2015 at 7 p.m. Treasurer Lolly Melander gave the treasury report. The Lanesboro school district currently has a bank balance of $181,339.41. The board reviewed the 2016 levy certification. Each school district is allowed to levy taxes in up to 30 categories. Lanesboro has 13 levy categories. Because the district is receiving more state aid than it did four years ago, it is able to ask for fewer tax dollars. The district is set to receive $504,004.66 in revenue with $398,730.78 in tax dollars and $105,273.88 in state aid if the levy is approved by Fillmore County and the State of MinneSteve and Ross Goldsmith and families. By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com
The Goldsmith brothers, Ross and Steve, were honored on December 8 at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual convention when they were named Minnesota’s Outstanding Conservationists for 2015. Ross is quick to point out that this recognition also goes to Fillmore County SWCD. There were 60 entries from the state; many were managing operations that have been handed down through their family for three generations. Ross said they were excellent people that all do little things for conservation. All of them have to make a living.
But all the while, they are looking ahead to the future and working to pass it down so that the generations that follow can make a living too. Ross maintains that farming practices that they use are not just for their time or his sons’ time, but for his grandson’s time. The Goldsmith farm was established in 1862 with about 320 acres by their great-grandfather. Ross and Steve purchased the farm from their dad in 1974, at which time it had grown to 520 acres. Currently, the brothers own 1600 and rent an additional 600. Half of the acres they manage are cropped with about 660 in corn, 140 in soybeans, and 300 in hay. The other half is in permanent grass pasture. They are dedicated
Photo by Fillmore County SWCD to this way of life, maintaining what they have, improving what they can, while making a living and raising a family. The brothers use minimum tillage (no tillage in the fall), just two passes with a cultivator in the spring working only about three to four inches, leaving crop residue on top. All acres are grid sampled over a three year period, one-third each year. Cover crops are planted on corn silage acres, a portion of which are enrolled in a five-year EQIP program using winter rye and winter wheat to improve soil health. These practices have almost eliminated erosion. The cover crops and manure applications increase the organic matter in the soil. Ross noted See GOLDSMITH Page 7
sota. The board voted to approve the levy certification form and submit it the the county and state. The budget summary for 2016 was reviewed and adopted by the school board. Due to lower enrollment numbers, the budgeted expenses will go up from $4,503,314.00 in 2015 to $4,778,112.67 in 2016. The current number of students enrolled at Lanesboro is 338 with approximately 120 open enrolled students. Superintendent Jeff Boggs noted that the expenses have been calculated high to cover all bases. A business manager contract has been offered to Sally Ming. There was a good pool of applicants and several were very well qualified, which made the decision a tough one. Ming has See LANESBORO LEVY Page 2
We have to work together and make this happen By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Rep. Greg Davids (R) invited area residents to a listening session on broadband. Fifty or more residents, provider representatives, and area officials gathered at the Spring Valley Community Center on December 18 for the two hour discussion. Davids introduced Rep. Ron Kresha (R) who represents north central Minnesota and is assistant majority leader in the state House. Kresha who started out as a teacher in the early 1990s said at that time in a small town he had a tough time getting resources for his classes.
Kresha acknowledged that technology is continually changing. We need to find out how to connect the most households efficiently. He explained there are two ways to drive costs down: • With a government subsidy and • By bringing in more providers for better cost and better access. Broadband connectivity does not necessarily mean fiber. He insisted we have to think outside the box. The younger generations want mobile connections. Private sector providers come into high density populations where it is most profitable. Kresha believes the private sector and See TOGETHER Page 6
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