Fillmore County Journal - 4.20.15

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PRSRT STD ECR WSS US. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 70 MADELIA, MN 56062

POSTAL PATRON

“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition

Monday, April 20, 2015

Volume 30 Issue 30

Albino squirrel?

Harmony moves forward with plans for community garden

Wykoff wastewater Plan of Correction underway

Spring Valley contracts for EMS training

Chatfield supports downtown improvements

Page 26

page 6

page 14

page 16

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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

Get ready to “Swing into Spring” with HACF By Barb Jeffers barb@fillmorecountyjournal.com

The Harmony Area Community Foundation (HAFC) is having a party and everyone is invited. The Foundation and it supporters are celebrating the accomplishments that hard work and determination have brought to the community. The Swing into Spring fundraising event will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at The Old Legion Hall, located at 35 First Avenue NW in Harmony, Minn. and promises to be an evening full of entertainment and inspiration. This is the second year of the annual event with the initial event last year being so successful there was need for a larger venue this year. Co-chairs of the Swing into Spring committee, Umbelina Cremer and Roxanne Johnson are preparing for an even larger turnout this year. Last year we “did really well” with the event and were “quite happy with the support of the community,” states Johnson. Cremer agrees saying last year was “excellent” and states that a big draw to the event is that “everything we do stay within

our community and schools so the money helps enrich and strengthen our communities!” The event last year was held at the Harmony Golf Course and “everything was wonderful there,” notes Johnson, adding “we just needed a little more room this year” which is a good thing because it shows the large amount of support for the HACF. The evening begins at 6 p.m. for social hour giving attendees time to browse silent auction items and purchase raffle tickets. Tasty hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6:30 and although a meal will not be served, Cremer states that they are “very generous hors d’oeuvres” and is confident that “people won’t go hungry” at the event which will be catered by On The Crunchy Side of Harmony. At 7 p.m. guest speaker Tim Penny, President and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), will talk about the efforts of the HACF, the SMIF, and how funding works as HACF is under the umbrella of the SMIF and receives matching funds from the organization. The ticket price of the Swing

into Spring event is $25 and includes hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets. There will also be a Wine Tasting held at a separate cost of $12 for wine connoisseurs or those wishing to acquire more knowledge of wine. The Wine Tasting is sponsored by On The Crunchy Side. A highlight of the evening will be the silent auction featuring many unique and appealing items which have been donated by supporters of HACF. The silent auction vary from Pet Care Package from the Harmony Veterinary Clinic, jewelry & pottery by local artist, two night stay in cabins, an authentic Mexican dinner for six, High Ropes Challenge at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, a Niagara Cave tour and mini-golf, wagon ride, a signed and numbered print, Bluetooth Bose Speaker, A Maid for A Day, and many more offering a wide variety of fun things for the winning bidder. An exciting raffle will be held and winners need not be present to win. The cost of a raffle ticket is a $20 donation, with only 250 tickets available giving buyers a See HACF Page 2 

Meet, Greet, and Ride to remember

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Dust off the leather and shine up the bikes, because you have a great reason to ride. The Minnesota POW/MIA Riders will be hosting the Hero’s Ride to honor our fallen heroes on Saturday, July 18, 2015. The 100+ mile ride through southeastern Minnesota will begin with registration from 10 a.m. 12 p.m. at the Harley Davidson Shop of Rochester located at

barb@fillmorecountyjournal.com

7180 U.S. Hwy 14, Rochester, Minn. A short program will be held at 12 p.m., followed by kick stands up at 12:15 sharp when the ride will leave for its first destination which is the Rushford American Legion in Rushford, Minn. A meal will be served to the riders while in Rushford. Upon leaving Rushford, the Hero’s Ride will head toward the Veteran’s Cemetery in Preston, Minn. Scott Eggert, Presi-

Riverside

By Barb Jeffers

dent of the Minnesota POW/ MIA Riders, states that the reason the Veteran’s Cemetery is the last stop is because “it’s a pretty final avenue when you are going there” and it will be an emotional time for everyone. Eggert says when people are riding from Preston back to the VFW in Rochester, where the ride ends, “it will give them time to reflect” because, he states, “it’s all about remembering” our See RIDE Page 14 

MON., TUES., & WEd. CLOSED THUR. 4:30PM-8PM FRI. 4:30PM-9PM SaT. 12PM-9PM SUN. 12PM-8PM

Henrytown devastated by loss

On April 16, 2015, at approximately 2:50 a.m., the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a call reporting the Henrytown Lutheran Church was fully engulfed in flames. This church is located at 36190 County Road 18, north of the City of Canton. Fillmore County 911 Dispatch paged out both the Canton and Harmony fire departments. A Fillmore County Deputy arrived on scene shortly after the report and found the church fully engulfed. Canton and Harmony Fire also arrived shortly after. TriCounty Electric also was called and responded to the scene to deal with cutting power to the structure. Canton and Harmony Fire remained on scene throughout the night, with Harmony Fire clearing the scene at about 6 a.m. that morning. Canton Fire continued to remain on scene. The Minnesota State Fire Marshall was contacted and arrived on scene at about 7:45 a.m. that same morning. The fire remains under investigation at this time. Henrytown Lutheran Church is known, on its website, as “A small church with a Big Heart”. It was also reported, date not confirmed, that this same church also suffered from a fire years ago. Press release information provided by Sheriff Tom Kaase. Photos by Jana Olson

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