PRSRT STD ECR WSS US. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 70 MADELIA, MN 56062
Senior
Living
POSTAL PATRON
“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Pages 12-14
Initiative Foundation continues page
8
Monday, July 15, 2013
Ten Strings, five knee levers, and a little inspiration page
14
Volume 28 Issue 41
Rushford upgrades, land surveys, issues page
22
Harmony celebrated with a BANG! page
23
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
Harmony considers road purchase By Jade Sexton jade@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Left to right: Jennifer, Mark, Aaron and Ryan Bishop stand in front of the new mini golf course at Niagara Cave. Photo by Barb Jeffers
Niagara Cave adds a maximum feature By Barb Jeffers
barb@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Niagara Cave in Harmony, Minn. has added something new and fun to its list of available activities. Owners Mark and Jennifer Bishop, along with their sons, Aaron and Ryan, are proud to announce the opening of a miniature golf course at Niagara Cave. The idea for a mini golf course was thought of for many years and last Winter the decision was made to go ahead and build it in the Spring of 2013. Mark and Jennifer checked with different mini-golf course builders to see what each had to offer for options and prices and
the decision was made to have Miniature Golf Construction Co., LLC of Neenah, Wis. construct the miniature golf course at Niagara Cave. Mark Bishop stated that Miniature Golf Construction Co. was close, which was a “deciding factor,” since it was convenient to have the company nearby. The Bishops had originally hoped to open the mini golf course the week of Memorial Day 2013 when they broke ground in early May 2013. However, with the wet spring there were weather delays. The course was completed at Niagara Cave on July 3, 2013 and opened on July 4. Rick Steckbauer, who owns
Miniature Golf Construction Co., said that weather was definitely a factor when constructing the mini golf course at Niagara Cave, but said he had a great deal of help from the owners as well as local contractors during the process. Rick also said he enjoyed the people in the area while working on the miniature golf course at Niagara Cave. “The mini golf course at Niagara Cave is an 18 hole course with the first nine holes being handicap accessible,” Mark said. There are several special feaSee NIAGARA CAVE Page 7
Comment on this article at www.fillmorecountyjournal.com
New LaNdING behind Outfitters for Tubing Tuesday is Tubing
101 Parkway Ave. S. Lanesboro • 507-467-3400
two-for-tuesday
Cory Scrabeck approached the Harmony City Council with an offer to sell some of his property to the city. Third Avenue southwest ends at his property, and Scrabeck owns the rest of the road all the way to the end. Scrabeck said he has closed it and put up “No Trespassing” signs, but people still go through his property. “Instead of worrying about insurance, I can offer it up for sale or shut it down permanently,” he said. Scrabeck said he would be in favor of trading the road for an area known as “Out lot C,” which includes the pond. He does not, however, want to own the pond itself. City Administrator Jerome Illg said the city should retain ownership of the pond for cleaning it out when needed. According to Scrabeck, it would cost $50,000- $60,000 to put that road in there today. He
offered to turn it over to the city for $30,000. Mayor Steve Donney said they have to think about how much they value that road. He said he measured the area at 1.05 acres. Councilor Debbie Swenson reminded Scrabeck that if the city owns it, they can improve the road and assess the cost to the property owner, which would be him. If the city owned the road, which is a gravel road right now with no curb and gutter, there would be a 25-foot setback for any structures. Mayor Donney recommended they leave the Out lot C option out, as it would create a lot of complications. City Attorney Richard Nethercut asked if the road even meets standards for a city street. Illg said they would have to tear it up to put a water main through there. Councilor Jim Bakken felt it was necessary to have someone else look at the property and See ROAD PURCHASE Page 8
Lanesboro Local has a new view By Megan K iehne megan@fillmorecountyjournal.com
The Marketplace has a new home: 201 Parkway Ave North, right downtown Lanesboro, Minn. This centralized location will hopefully attract more customers to the market along with making Lanesboro Local the outlet for producers to sell their foods and goods. Along with the great new view,
Summer Music!
Mon., July 15TH • 5-9pm • Charlie Warner Wed., July 17TH • 5-9pm • Beef Slough Boys Sat., July 20TH • 8-11:30pm • Ravens Fire Sun., July 21ST • 5-9pm • To be announced
Lanesboro Local has a bigger and better store. The building is much larger which gives more space for goods to be displayed. The downstairs is newly finished and the larger cooler and freezer space allows for more products to be in stock, which come in on a daily basis. Upstairs, the renovation continues over the next few months but will have upstairs Grand Opening followSee LANESBORO Page 11 Dirty
Martini
Lounge
109 S. Parkway, Lanesboro, MN 55949 www.riversideontheroot.com