Fillmore County Journal 8.20.2018

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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

Full agenda at Whalan’s August council meeting page

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Spring Valley fence concerns aired page

Monday, August 20, 2018

Rushford Village moves forward

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page

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Volume 33 Issue 48

Chatfield abatement agreement page

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Donations for Veterans Home page

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Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff

The piano man By A nnie Lewis annie@fillmorecountyjournal.com

By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com

More than a quarter of registered voters cast their ballots in the Minnesota 2018 primary election in Fillmore County on August 14. Interest was significantly higher than normal possibly in part due to the fact that a new governor will be elected in November and two U.S. Senate seats are on the ballot. Also, the U.S. House First Congressional District seat is open without an incumbent. Or, it may be that enthusiasm is driven by strong feelings over the current executive in

the White House. Over 52% (1,474) of Fillmore County primary voters voted on the DFL ballot, while nearly 46% (1,291) voted on the Republican ballot. This reporter was asked to observe and report on the returns while they came in by Edison Research. Edison conducts market research and provides exit polling and tabulates results across every county for ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and NBC News. Employees in the auditor/ treasurer’s office worked efficiently receiving reports from See VOTERS Page 7 

What came first, the chicken or the ordinance? Chickens are allowed in 43% of Fillmore County cities By Jason Sethre jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com

Born blind and disabled nearly 70 years ago, Jim Fossum learned to play the piano at a very young age. Today, he brings joy to young and old alike at churches, nursing homes and events. Jim lives in a group home in Preston run by Maple Leaf Services and works at the Fillmore County Developmental Achievement Center. If you are interested in having Jim play, contact Maple Leaf Services at (507) 765-2494. Photo by Annie Lewis Jim sang softly while he played, but never looked up. Head down, he looked intently at the keys as if he could see them. His final song was “Amazing Grace,” my favorite. When he finished playing for me, I applauded and he smiled ever so slightly. Deneen says it’s such a joy to have Jim in their lives. “It’s absolutely amazing to hear him

play,” she said. “He is completely blind and has had to learn each song by ear and then memorize it. He so enjoys playing for others and has a portable keyboard that he uses if there isn’t a piano on site. What a gift and inspiration he is. It goes to show how every person can contribute and have See PIANO MAN Page 11 

In recent years, Fillmore County has become a brooder box of chicken politics. It’s not about whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican. It’s about important stuff. It’s about whether townies should have the right to egg it up. The late KFC kingpin Colonel Sanders would delight in all this crispy chicken chatter. On Tuesday, November 6, 2018, voters living in the City of Fountain will decide the fate of chickens within the city limits. Yes, it will be on the ballot. Will chickens get the axe or claim a new roost on Election Day? TBD. If a reporter does a little rubbernecking around Fillmore County, the latest poultry analytics indicate that six out of 14 cit-

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ies are pro-chicken — allowing chickens within the residential district. Here are the results from top to bottom, alphabetically speaking, of course. No in Canton According to City Clerk/Treasurer Lolly Melander, “No chickens are allowed in Canton unless they have 10 acres of land.” Yes in Chatfield Joel Young, City Clerk of Chatfield, cited Section 6.12 of the city ordinance, “No zoning certificate shall be issued for more than six hens or one chicken per 1,800 square feet of lot size, whichever number is less. The issuance of a zoning certificate shall not permit the keeping of a rooster.” Furthermore, Section 6.13 of the city ordinance states, “All See CHICKENS Page 6 

Since 1856

Since 1901

Born blind and disabled nearly 70 years ago, Jim Fossum learned to play the piano at a very young age. Today, his music brings joy to young and old alike at churches, nursing homes and events. Jim has lived in a group home for persons with disabilities for most of his life. Since 2003, he has lived in the same home in Preston operated by Maple Leaf Services. When I visited Jim, he had just got home from his job at the Developmental Achievement Center (DAC). This job gives him the opportunity to use his musical talents to entertain nursing home residents throughout Fillmore County. Deneen Trogstad from Maple Leaf Services greeted me when I arrived at the ranch-style home located in a nice residential area. A couple of residents were curious and Deneen told them I was there to interview Jim for an article in the newspaper. She introduced me to Jim. We sat at the kitchen table. Jim was shy and didn’t want to talk too much. But when I asked him to play me a song, he stood up and waved his hands towards the piano. With Deneen’s help, Jim was guided to the beautiful upright piano in the living room. As soon as he sat down, his fingers found the keys and he was off in his own world. It was as if he was transformed into another person—a musician! He started off with his favorite song — “How Much is that Doggie in the Window” and then went right into “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

Primary turnout strong


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