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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Happy Easter!
Waking nightmares: Sleep paralysis page
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Monday, April 10, 2017
Commonweal Theatre announces free nights page
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Volume 32 Issue 29
Lanesboro switches recycling services page
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County discusses courthouse security page
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Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff
Winners announced in The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge
Ostrander talks cars, cats and cleanup By R ich Wicks rich@fillmorecountyjournal.com
The Ostrander City Council met on April 4. Members present were Erin Volkart, Pam Kunert, Mayor Pat Nesler, Clerk Chris Hyrkas, and Heidi Jones. DJ Start was absent. Jason Boynton, on behalf of the Smith Schafer accounting firm, gave a summary of the annual audit of the city’s finances, which resulted in an unmodified “clean” opinion. He shared that there were no legal compliance exceptions, and the only “issue” found is in regards to segregation of duties, which is solely related to the small size of the city’s staff. He stated, “We don’t anticipate that going to change, but we do continue to report it.” He noted that General Fund receipts totaled about $225,000, and disbursements were about $203,000, so the fund
balance grew by over $20,000. He also stated, “The (only) big change is that we started issuing debt for the infrastructure project”. Two citizens addressed the council regarding vehicles on their property. One said that while he does have many vehicles on his property, “They’re all licensed and tabbed… why is that anybody else’s business?” Police Chief Mosher agreed that, “Your vehicles, if they’re all licensed, are all in compliance.” Council members explained that other citizens have complained about some properties that have many vehicles, and that cities have tried to address this issue in a variety of ways, but Ostrander did not take any action on the issue at the last meeting. Another citizen then spoke to the council about a vehicle that he has in his yard for decorative purposes, but he recently got it licensed to See OSTRANDER Page 10
National Trout Center update By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com
First place winners of The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge Delia Bell and Judson Bell are all smiles holding their prize money earned by creating “Proud Mother.” Photo by Barb Jeffers By Barb Jeffers barb@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Now that spring is here, it is a good time to take a look back at the winter we endured and enjoyed, including the results of The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge. During this first annual event in Lanesboro, Minn., organizer David Applen states that people had fun, which is what it’s all about. Applen explains, “the reason I wanted to do this is because in the winter there is not much to do,” compared to other times of the
year and he says, “if you can go out with your families” and have fun you will also create memories. The directions for The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge are simple: “Build a snow sculpture of whatever you like. Be creative! The only rule is to have fun. After you’ve taken the picture, upload to one of the sites listed below. At the end of the competition, a committee will decide on the winners,” explains a flyer on the event. If a person does not have access
to a camera or a computer they could contact Applen to get a photo taken and uploaded on the sites which include The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge on Facebook, and #lanesborosnowart. The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge is open to anyone who lives in Lanesboro because, “We’re all kids at heart and we need to have some winter fun!” states advertising for the event. The challenge will begin each fall/winter when the snow starts and continues into the next year See LANESBORO Page 2
Prices Effective April 10th - 15th, 2017
Jeff Broberg, geologist, environmental consultant, and NTC board member, spoke to the Preston City Council about the center’s activities at the council’s April 3 meeting. Broberg, an avid fisherman, named other NTC board members that come together giving their time and energy to make the center work. Board member George Spangler was in the audience. The center was started about seven years ago with a grand vision for a big center, a very expensive proposition. To bring that vision closer to a reality will take more community support. Some positive direction the center is taking includes the
Will bE ClosEd APril 16th
hire of Annie Lewis, Mabel, for one day per week and the hire of Kelsey Hoffmann, a young biologist, as a seasonal program director. Lewis will work year round, has experience in non-profit fund raising, and will put her energy into promoting the NTC. She is also an avid fisherman. Hoffmann directs students at Winona State and will work for the center in season, Wednesday through Saturday. The intention is to have a program every other week. Broberg suggested the center could grow toward a community center for outdoor activities. The habitat improvement project within Preston has been fully permitted and should begin soon. It will take two seasons to comSee TROUT Page 13