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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Health, Mind & Body Pages 8-11
Relay for Life returns to Harmony page
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Monday, February 11, 2013
New office for the Olmsted County Journal page
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Volume 28 Issue 21
Preston proceeds with 2014 street project page
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Spring Valley Bakery is a staple 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
Amos hits the century mark By Barb Jeffers bjeffers@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Amos Anderson of Preston, Minn. has hit a milestone. On February 16, 2013, Amos will celebrate his 100th birthday. Amos Sidney Anderson was born on February 16, 1913, to Hovel and Josephine (Larson) Anderson on a farm between Peterson, Minn. and Rushford, Minn. Growing up on a farm Amos was always busy. There was time for work but also time for fun. Amos says, “You don’t live on a farm without working,” and doing chores was a part of childhood. Along with many brothers and sisters, working on the farm was a fact of life for Amos as he stated, “We grew up that way,” and so did many other people in the area. When asked what he did for fun while growing up on the farm, Amos laughs and says, “Most anything was fun in those Amos Anderson relaxes in his room at Traditions of Preston. days,” as life was more simple Photo by Barb Jeffers back then. Amos stated that
kids years ago always had something to do and never got bored, unlike many children nowadays. Reflecting back to his childhood, with a gleam in his eye, Amos said, “Our farm was on the river - we practically lived on the river.” As a smile took over his face, he added, “Kids those days had the world to themselves.” Amos went on to serve his country in WWII from March 17, 1944 - December 5, 1945, serving in France and Germany. He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service, starting first in the office and then as a rural carrier. As a rural mail carrier Amos would deliver mail on his route all over the county. He was employed with the Postal Service for over 35 years. Amos and his wife, Helen, had four children; Larry, Greg, Janice, and Patricia. Things have changed quite a bit since Amos was born and raised in Fillmore County. He talks about when he first started driving saying that he remem-
bers gas being twenty cents a gallon. He stated, “We could get five gallons for a dollar,” which is a bit different than today’s prices! Memories and statements from Amos show his wisdom, but also show his quick wit and caring nature. When asked his secret of longevity Amos had none to reveal. As for if he exercises Amos replied, “Not anymore than I have to,” but added when it’s nice outside he would like to go fishing. Perhaps reminiscing about growing up on the river brought this thought to mind! Amos now lives at Traditions of Preston where the caring staff seem to enjoy Amos’ company as much as he enjoys their company and caring attentiveness to his needs. Amos says that he likes living at Traditions and said, See ANDERSON Page 6
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Lanesboro looks at radium issues Fight for Alex pumphouse is in poor condition. Well #3 (also high in jsexton@fillmorecountyjournal.com radium) is in better condition, The Department of Health and with reduced radium levhas informed the City of els, could still be used. Lanesboro that the levels of According to Kochie, it radium in their drinking water is highly unlikely that they are too high, and they have would be able to find a water until 2015 to be in compli- source in Lanesboro that was not high in radium, meanance with state regulations. Jim Kochie of Davy Engi- ing the water will have to go neering attended the February through a radium treatment city council meeting to go over process. the preliminary report he had Council member Tom Smith asked Kochie what the health drawn up. Kochie explained that Well effects are of high radium lev#1 is high in radium, Well #2 els. Kochie said the long-term is a multi-aquifer well, which effects are an elevated risk of is also high in radium, and the bone cancer. By Jade Sexton
“It’s a naturally-occuring element,” said Kochie. “Up until 20-30 years ago, nobody looked at it or thought about it.” He added that other towns have had to deal with this issue, and Rushford had to put a treatment plant in a few years ago. Davy Engineering had put together several options for financing such a project. They broke it down into three priorities. Priority A would be See LANESBORO Page 16
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is described by Fillmore Central Principal Heath Olstad as “very bjeffers@fillmorecountyjournal.com easy-going, very personable, and The Fillmore Central girls bas- liked by all” will have many ketball team is used to fighting people fighting for him through his battle with cancer. for a win. Now, together Coach Sarah with their coach, Sarah Tollefsrud had been Tollefsrud, and their planning on holding parents, they are fighta Coaches vs. Caning again….for Alex. cer event which she Alex Scrabeck, son of explains is “a nationDevin and Terisa Scrawide collaboration beck, is a sophomore at between the American Fillmore Central High Cancer Society and the School who has recently National Association of been diagnosed with a Basketball Coaches that form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma called Lymphoblastic t-cell lymphoma. Alex, who See ALEX Page 3 By Barb Jeffers
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