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Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff
Big Girl Stickers moves into Chatfield storefront
Wykoff school buildings and equipment to auction By R ich Wicks rich@fillmorecountyjournal.com
During the Kingsland School Board meeting July 16, the board heard from representatives of Wykoff By Design, a group interested in finding ways for the vacant school building to be put to use. Wykoff city council member Richard Gleason and Susan Nash attended, with Gleason speaking on behalf of Wykoff By Design, saying, “We would like to have the three months to try to get funding.” He also asked the board to consider holding off on the auction, since the furniture and other equipment inside the school could possibly be used by Big Girl Stickers is a family affair for the Burnett family. By H annah Wingert hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
anymore.” Between Big Girl Stickers, Rocky’s full-time job as assistant director for the Chatfield Ambulance Service, Melissa’s part-time job as administrator for the Chatfield Community Television service, and raising their three children, ages 15, 12, and 12, the Burnetts are busy, but they’re ready to turn Big Girl Stickers into a fulltime venture. “We never thought it would go this far when we first started it,” Melissa explained. For several years now, she and Rocky had been talking about expanding Big Girl Stickers into a storefront and have even looked at a few different buildings as possibilities. “We hadn’t found one that we fell in love with, or that we liked the location of,” she said. Instead, they planned
nership between Burnetts and the Bucknells, but within six months, the Burnetts ended up buying the Bucknells out. “It’s been just us ever since,” Melissa said. Over the years, Big Girl Stickers has evolved and grown. They accept orders via their website from all over the country and the world. “We’re doing less vinyl work and more screen printing,” Melissa noted. All of the screenprinting and vinyl is done in the Burnetts’ basement, which means that they can control turn-around times on orders and allows for smaller orders instead of bulk. They also own a plotter to cut vinyl and use a conveyor dryer and special racks. Melissa does all of the design work herself. “It’s pretty involved,” she said. “It’s taken over my garage, basement, back room, and living room. My house can’t hold it See BIG GIRL STICKERS Page 2
See SCHOOL AUCTION Page 7
Fundraising campaign approved for veterans home By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com
At the July 16 Preston City Council meeting, the implementation of an area fundraising effort for the proposed veterans home was discussed. This is fundraising over and above commitments that have already been made by the city and the city’s utility. Funds raised or pledged prior to August 24 will be counted for a 2:1 federal match. The goal is to raise $750,000 or more for the federal funding match. The council supported the fundraising effort. The funds raised must be current funding. Land and existing infrastructure provided by the city will not be included in the amount for the 2:1 match.
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Cathy Enerson, representing the Veterans Home Committee, said they want to make as much impact as they can. There was some discussion about whether donations and pledges should be accepted by the city or the Preston Community Foundation or both. Mayor Kurt Reicks asked if there was any reason the donations and pledges shouldn’t go through the Community Foundation. The funds will be collected and put into an escrow account. City Administrator Joe Hoffman preferred the city not hold any funds donated by counties. Enerson said the Community Foundation is willing to set up the fund. Letters of request See VETERANS HOME Page 14
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“We ended up with something we never planned for, and it’s just blossomed,” Melissa Burnett said. “It started as just a side gig for some extra money.” Burnett and her husband, Rocky own and operate Big Girl Stickers, a vinyl lettering, screenprinting, and décor business. When they first started it together with another couple, they never imagined it would be so successful that it would outgrow their home, but here they are, planning the grand opening for their new storefront in Chatfield. Big Girl Stickers started in 2011 when Melissa, a graphic designer, created a vinyl design for the Burnett’s daycare provider, Karla Bucknell. “I did it and she was blown away,” she laughed. It began as a part-
Photo by Hannah Wingert
whatever venture may be found. All board members were present for the meeting (Doug Plaehn, Leah Stier, Jackie Horsman, Tiffany Mundfrom, Heather Betts, Ann Oeltjen and Superintendent James Hecimovich). Board members discussed the request from Wykoff By Design, as well as plans to auction the buildings and contents in August. Hecimovich stated that because of the need to complete hazardous material abatement, “The closing deal (if any property is sold at the auction) would be after abatement. Right now, they’re predicting up to 20 weeks to abate that build-