Root River Current - Root River Current

Land & Water / Policy & Government

In the News | Nitrate Risks in Karst Regions

Land & Water / Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery | Winter on the Water

Community Voices / Essays

Essay | Preserving the Past, Honoring the Present

In the News | Nitrate Risks in Karst Regions

A roundup of recent news regarding nitrate pollution, water quality and mitigation efforts in the Driftless Karst region of Southeastern Minnesota.

Close-up view of melting river ice with bright sunlight reflecting off the water’s surface. The light creates sparkling starburst highlights across the rippling water, and a faint rainbow prism appears near the upper right where the sun hits the surface. Pale blue ice edges frame darker flowing water beneath, creating strong contrast between frozen and moving sections.

Photo Gallery | Winter on the Water

Original photography of winter on the waterways of the Driftless region in Southeastern Minnesota.

A wide stretch of river covered in drifted snow. Banks are lined with bare trees.

Root River Watershed Sees Gains, Sets Priorities for Next Decade

Water quality in Minnesota’s Root River Watershed has improved over the past decade as officials plan the next 10 years of groundwater and soil protection.

A slender woman in a green zip-up pullover, jeans, and teal stocking cap stands with her hands in her pockets in a snow-covered field beside a long plastic-covered high tunnel greenhouse, with rolling hills in the background on a winter day in southeastern Minnesota.

Featherstone Farm: Growing Organic Food Through Fair Labor

Discover Featherstone Farm, a Minnesota organic vegetable farm rooted in soil stewardship, fair labor and local food systems since 1994.

Community members talk with utility staff at a Dairyland Power open house in Preston, Minnesota, reviewing poster displays about the proposed Gopher-to-Badger high-voltage transmission line project.

Planned Gopher-to-Badger Link Addresses Regional Power Needs

Dairyland Power outlines plans for the Gopher-to-Badger Link, a proposed 765kV transmission line across southern Minnesota to strengthen the regional electric grid.

A narrow trout stream curves through a wooded valley with patches of snow on the grassy banks and leafless trees on both sides, showing clear water flowing through a restored creek channel in winter

Landowners Recognized for Protecting Creek Habitat in Winona County

Landowners Claire Bender and Sue Ramthun are honored as Outstanding Conservationists for protecting land resources and restoring trout habitat along Trout Run Creek, a Root River tributary in Winona County, Minn.

Six Canada geese glide across a calm river lined with autumn trees, their orange and gold foliage mirrored in the still water.

Essay | Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall, Water Calls to Us

A reflective essay by John Weiss exploring our deep connection to water in all its beauty, its warnings and the vital role it plays in our landscape and lives.

From Ski Trails to Hiking Paths, Heat is Reshaping Recreation and Our Attitudes

A warming climate presents growing challenges for outdoor recreationalists, including trail users. The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk has this overview heading into another year of winter recreation.

Farm Programs Support Permanent Prairies, Wetlands and Sensitive Groundwater

Agricultural projects from Mower and Houston counties advance land preservation and water quality initiatives – updates from our county ag professionals.

Barb and Joel Mielke’s 37-Year Quest for Biodiversity in Bluff Country

Part three of Alison Leathers’ series on local conservationists features Barb and Joel Mielke who’ve restored prairie and oak savannah in Fillmore County, fostering biodiversity and creating habitat that’s now home to one of the region’s largest bat colonies.

See all stories in Land & Water

Business & Work

Outdoor patio at Sylvan Brewing in Lanesboro, Minnesota, filled with people enjoying drinks and live music beside the brewery building, with umbrellas, flowers, and scenic bluffs in the background.

How a Small-Town Brewery Became a Regional Destination

Discover Sylvan Brewing in Lanesboro, a small-town craft brewery known for quality beer, community events and a welcoming “third space” atmosphere.

A low, modern brick building sits on a snow-covered slope under a bright blue sky. Large dark windows face outward, reflecting the light. Bare trees line the hillside behind the building, and a tall communications tower rises above the trees. An American flag stands on a pole near the right side of the building.

Coming Together to Keep the Branding Iron Open

When the Branding Iron Restaurant in Preston, Minn. faced closure, community members and former employees united to save the beloved small-town supper club.

Aerial view of container ships and cargo cranes at the Port of Santos in Brazil, a major global export hub handling a large share of South American soybean shipments.

How Tariffs and China’s Global Investments are Reshaping Farming

Tune in for a free virtual forum that will explore how tariffs and China’s global investments are reshaping Upper Midwest agriculture and soybean markets; in partnership with Mississippi Basin Ag & Water Desk.

Grand Meadow Artisan Creates Handmade, Permanent Leather Goods

Grand Meadow artisan Zech Sindt of Bluffland Leather Co. creates hand-stitched leather goods built to last a lifetime using traditional, sustainable methods.

Person wearing a knit hat and beige sweater stands on a snowy sidewalk in a small Minnesota downtown, with a local grocery store and historic brick buildings in the background.

Bluff Country Business Academy to Support Local Businesses

Preston and Lanesboro are partnering on the Bluff Country Business Academy, an eight-week program designed to help small businesses grow and thrive.

Featherstone Farm: Growing Organic Food Through Fair Labor

Discover Featherstone Farm, a Minnesota organic vegetable farm rooted in soil stewardship, fair labor and local food systems since 1994.

Wildlife rescuer wearing a brown jacket and yellow gloves carefully holds a large adult bald eagle inside a cluttered workshop, with shelves of tools, containers and equipment in the background. The eagle is looking back at the man.

Area Family Rescues Animals Year-Round

An injured juvenile bald eagle rescued near Spring Valley during a snowstorm sheds light on the work of The Rescue Connection, a family-run wildlife rescue serving southern Minnesota.

A combine harvester cuts through a field of mature soybeans while unloading grain into a tractor-pulled wagon beside it, creating a cloud of dust on a sunny day.

Regional Soybean Production: Understanding What Happens When the Top Buyer Stops Buying

An in-depth look at how halted Chinese soybean purchases, falling prices and a $12B relief fund are reshaping farming across the Midwest.

A full gymnasium filled with about 100 people seated in rows of folding chairs for a community meeting. The audience consists mostly of middle-aged and older adults, chatting and holding printed handouts. The room has basketball hoops, beige block walls, and fluorescent lights overhead.

Harmony Annexes 60 Acres for Possible Data Center

John Torgrimson and Julie Little report on community meetings surrounding a potential data center coming to Harmony.

three actors on state with deep blue curtains in background

In Rural Minnesota, this Resident Ensemble Model Thrives

Robert Hubbard takes us behind the scenes at Lanesboro’s Commonweal Theatre to reveal the secrets of its success as a professional theatre for nearly 40 years!

See all stories in Business & Work

Policy & Government

In the News | Nitrate Risks in Karst Regions

A roundup of recent news regarding nitrate pollution, water quality and mitigation efforts in the Driftless Karst region of Southeastern Minnesota.

How Tariffs and China’s Global Investments are Reshaping Farming

Planned Gopher-to-Badger Link Addresses Regional Power Needs

Dairyland Power outlines plans for the Gopher-to-Badger Link, a proposed 765kV transmission line across southern Minnesota to strengthen the regional electric grid.

Yellow diamond road sign showing a horse-drawn Amish buggy with a small amber light above it that flashes when a buggy is present, standing beside a snowy rural highway with cars passing on the left and leafless trees lining the roadside in winter

First-ever Amish Buggy Alert Signals Installed in Fillmore County

MnDOT installs flashing Amish buggy alert signs on Highway 44 in an effort to improve safety after two separate fatal vehicle-buggy crashes.

Regional Soybean Production: Understanding What Happens When the Top Buyer Stops Buying

An in-depth look at how halted Chinese soybean purchases, falling prices and a $12B relief fund are reshaping farming across the Midwest.

Farm Programs Support Permanent Prairies, Wetlands and Sensitive Groundwater

Agricultural projects from Mower and Houston counties advance land preservation and water quality initiatives – updates from our county ag professionals.

A large Channel One Regional Food Bank truck is parked beside a red brick building with boarded windows. A worker in a gray hoodie unloads boxes on a lift gate, while two people stand near the open door labeled “Food Shelf.”

Local Food Shelves Stepping Up to Meet Record Demand

David Phillips reports on food shelves across southeastern Minnesota facing record demand in 2025 as inflation, high costs and reduced SNAP benefits strain family budgets.

Harmony Annexes 60 Acres for Possible Data Center

John Torgrimson and Julie Little report on community meetings surrounding a potential data center coming to Harmony.

A young woman (left) and a young man (right) stand on either side of a wide, rusted bridge railing and hold a container of water with a rubber tube coming out of the bottom of the container.

Conservation Conversation on Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Quality

Alison Leathers continues her Conservation Conversations with a report on the Fillmore County SWCD and its wide range of services for farmers and landowners.

Wilderness-Style Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail Making Progress

An update on the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail which is close to opening a couple stretches of this proposed 100-plus mile wilderness trail through Southeast Minnesota.

See all stories in Policy & Government

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Culture & Community

Inside a room filled with framed sports memorabilia, an older man wearing glasses and a maroon baseball cap sits facing the camera while holding a framed certificate and a small glass award. The certificate reads “Heritage Award.” A woman with shoulder-length wavy blond hair stands beside him, leaning in and smiling toward the camera with one hand resting near his shoulder. Behind them are framed photos, vintage signs, and a window, creating a warm, personal setting that reflects community history and recognition.

Essay | Preserving the Past, Honoring the Present

The Houston Area Museum names Ron Carrier as its first Heritage Award recipient, honoring decades of dedication to preserving Houston, Minn. history as the museum approaches its third anniversary.

A woman stands at the front of a community meeting room, speaking and gesturing with both hands while facing seated attendees. A projector screen behind her displays a slide titled “Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture” with a circular diagram of terms. Several people sit at long tables in the foreground, listening and taking notes. The room has gray walls, a refrigerator on the left, and daylight coming through a small window.

FACT Workshop Hopes to Empower Marginalized Groups

Fillmore Action on Coming Together hosted a workshop in Rushford Village examining how marginalized groups are excluded from decision-making and how allyship can help build more inclusive communities.

Coming Together to Keep the Branding Iron Open

When the Branding Iron Restaurant in Preston, Minn. faced closure, community members and former employees united to save the beloved small-town supper club.

Grand Meadow Artisan Creates Handmade, Permanent Leather Goods

Grand Meadow artisan Zech Sindt of Bluffland Leather Co. creates hand-stitched leather goods built to last a lifetime using traditional, sustainable methods.

Bluff Country Business Academy to Support Local Businesses

Preston and Lanesboro are partnering on the Bluff Country Business Academy, an eight-week program designed to help small businesses grow and thrive.

A sound meditation facilitator sits cross-legged on a patterned rug, holding a frame drum and mallet, surrounded by crystal singing bowls, metal bowls, gongs, and softly lit candles in a calm indoor setting.

Essay | Sound Bath Healing: Relaxation Through Vibration and Stillness

Discover how sound baths and vibrational healing help calm the nervous system, release stress, and restore balance in Southeast Minnesota.

First-ever Amish Buggy Alert Signals Installed in Fillmore County

MnDOT installs flashing Amish buggy alert signs on Highway 44 in an effort to improve safety after two separate fatal vehicle-buggy crashes.

Area Family Rescues Animals Year-Round

An injured juvenile bald eagle rescued near Spring Valley during a snowstorm sheds light on the work of The Rescue Connection, a family-run wildlife rescue serving southern Minnesota.

Historic log cabin in winter, partially covered in snow, with weathered wooden walls, small windows and bare trees casting long shadows across a snowy rural yard.

Southern Minnesota’s Near-Miss: The Children’s Blizzard Revisited

Laney Smith revisits the historic and devastating Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888 and how the experience reshaped how Minnesota deals with snowstorms.

Young man wearing glasses and a white sweater with an American flag sits beside a lit Christmas tree indoors, looking to the side with a calm reflective expression.

Essay | Buon Natale! Christmas in Italy: Traditions, Food and Family

An Italian exchange student reflects on Christmas traditions in Italy while experiencing the holidays with his Minnesota host family.

See all stories in Culture & Community

Education

Returning the Sword: New Book Chronicles Local Man’s Gift to Japanese Family

Minnesota author Caren Stelson’s latest picture book focuses on the story of a Lanesboro man’s efforts to reconnect a World War II souvenir with its rightful owner in Japan.

A woman carrying a tall pole with a banner on it is followed by a large crowd of people through a path mown through tall grass.

Flourish at DreamAcres: 20 Years of Youth, Arts and Agriculture in Rural Minnesota

David Phillips reports on Flourish at DreamAcres, the unique summer camp in Wykoff that has blended arts and agriculture for 20 years.

Young children lean on a table with crafts made from egg cartons and pipe cleaners.

Youth of All Ages Engage in Creative Summer Arts Programs

Summer arts programs for area youth teach collaboration, creativity and community involvement; our photos and video montage capture their enthusiasm!

Students in black graduation gowns stand in front of an orange brick building and throw their black caps into the air.

Community Backs Students’ Educational Journey

David Phillips reports on the outpouring of support from Kingsland area donors to help support continuing education of graduating seniors.

A large group of people of all ages sit on benches in an outside grassy area with leafy trees behind them. All are facing the camera in a group photo setting.

Eagle Bluff Marks its 45th Year with Reunion

Outdoor education is key to Eagle Bluff’s success; Clare Mazack reports on the learning center’s 45th year of programming and the staff behind its programs.

A large group of students stand and kneel for a group photo in a classroom with a large white screen behind them.

Earning a Different Kind of Varsity Letter

Steve Harris reports on the first ever Fillmore County student to receive a high school letter in volunteering through the United Way.

Four high school students, two in chest waders, stand knee deep in a trout stream.

High Schoolers Learning from Trout

John Weiss checks back in with Rushford-Peterson students as they complete their Trout in the Classroom project with a stream release.

Students line up in a grassy area waiting to shoot at clay pigeons.

High School Clay Target League is a Growing Sport

Tom Brudvig visits the Lanesboro Gun Club as the Trap Shooting Team takes the course.

Groups of people of all ages sit around tables in a library with sun streaming in the windows.. They are leaning over tables sorting garden seeds.

Cultivating Community: How the Chatfield Public Library is Sowing Seeds

Move over books and periodicals: Laurie Byrne explains how seeds are making their way into area libraries.

A woman with blonde-brown hair reads a picture book to a child with red hair pulled back in a partial pony tail.

The READ Act: New Teaching Methods for Reading in Minnesota

Alison Leathers checks in on local schools as they implement a new comprehensive reading program through Minnesota’s READ Act.

See all stories in Inside Root River Current

Inside Root River Current

composite of Root River Current board of directors

Join a Visionary, Creative and Committed Board of Directors

Get involved — help advance Root River Current’s mission to publish stories that ‘build community’ in Southeast Minnesota!

A musician wearing glasses and a plaid shirt plays an acoustic guitar on stage inside a warm, wood-paneled venue. He faces an audience of older adults seated at small tables, listening closely under soft string lights.

Celebrating Creativity!

A photo gallery of Root River Current’s recent celebration of regional arts and artists featured in stories published in 2025.

kids gathered at table with art supplies

Celebrating 2025 Regional Arts & Artists

Root River Current celebrated its featured 2025 “Regional Arts & Artists” in November.

A group of people standing in a line above a deep impression covered in vegetation look down at a man standing in the middle of the hole.

Inside Root River Current | A Visit to the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry

The Root River Current team joined community leaders, archaeologists and area residents for a special tour of the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Yukan Preserve.

80+ people posing for group photo at Press Forward MN event

Inside Root River Current | Steps Forward

Behind the scenes, Root River Current advances Press Forward Minnesota collaboration and makes website changes to enhance your experience with its content.

Inside Root River Current | Community Leadership

Root River Current’s Board of Directors expands by one in 2025; meet the newly elected and re-elected directors.

Inside Root River Current | Our Ag & Water Connection

How do our partners approach their work? Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk’s Madeline Heim shares her insights.

Your Leadership Can Make a Difference in Root River Current’s Third Year

Root River Current seeks Board of Directors candidates to support 2025 growth—can you help?

Inside Root River Current, January 2025

Behind the scenes news from Root River Current — announcing a major grant award and expanding the board for growth and success!

Welcome to Root River Current!

We’re HERE FOR YOU! Learn more about Root River Current, an online magazine committed to sound journalism and engaging storytelling—content that builds community in southeast Minnesota’s greater Root River valley.

See all stories in Education

Community Voices

A small red and white child’s bicycle lies on its side in patchy melting snow on a wooden porch. A thin layer of fresh snow coats the bike’s frame, seat, and tires. Behind it, a red tricycle and a larger red bicycle lean near the house’s light-colored exterior wall and a dark-framed door. The ground shows a mix of ice, slush, and exposed wood, suggesting a late winter thaw.

Essay | Fool’s Spring

Our February thaw brought “fool’s spring” to Minnesota, says Greg Schieber, as he shares in this essay on homestead life, winter chores and a family walk along the South Fork of the Root River.

A stone statue of a woman stands at the center of a circular fountain, with water spraying outward from sculpted fish at the base. The statue is surrounded by trees with bright yellow and orange autumn leaves. Benches and a lawn are visible in the background, and sunlight illuminates the park setting.

Essay | The Death of a Beautiful Woman: Unpacking the Legends of Winona

Explore the origins and evolution of the Princess Winona legend, tracing how history, folklore and myth transformed a Dakota story into a lasting American trope.

Leafless tree branches stand in silhouette along a dark hillside beneath a vibrant winter sunset sky, with layered pink, coral and purple clouds glowing near the horizon.

Root River Winter Hues

During Southeast Minnesota’s darkest weeks, winter sunsets still glow. Explore Craig Johnson’s photo gallery of December skies and river scenes from Houston County’s Root River Valley.

Exterior of the St. Mane Theatre with a vintage marquee on a small-town main street, brick facade, bench and sidewalk in daylight.

Essay | Lanesboro’s State Theatre, From Silent Films to Center Stage

A nostalgic look at the State Theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota, tracing its journey from silent films to its rebirth as the St. Mane Theatre and a vibrant community arts space.

Essay | Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall, Water Calls to Us

A reflective essay by John Weiss exploring our deep connection to water in all its beauty, its warnings and the vital role it plays in our landscape and lives.

A young girl wearing sunglasses, a pink hoodie, gloves, and colorful boots tosses a piece of firewood into a blue wood cart outdoors. She stands on a large pile of split logs next to evergreen trees, with bright sun shining behind her and a red barn in the background.

Essay | Putting Up Firewood: A Family Affair

Just in time for holiday gatherings…Greg Schieber’s original essay about putting up firewood for the winter, from memories of his own youthful years to the help lovingly shared by his own kids today.

Wide view of Stockholm’s waterfront with bridges, walkways, and historic buildings under a partly cloudy sky, with people walking and biking along the water’s edge.

Essay | The Pursuit of Happiness

Touring from Gothenburg to Stockholm, John Torgrimson explores firsthand why Sweden ranks among the world’s happiest nations – and has some “caring and sharing” observations for the holidays.

Autumn Colors in the Driftless

Root River Current photographers capture a range of fall colors for our November photo gallery.

A close-up of an old arched window framed in peeling white paint above a weathered wooden door. Bare tree branches partly obscure the view, and sunlight highlights the cracked glass and faded blue-gray siding.

Essay | Haunted by Time: Southeastern Minnesota’s Forgotten Schoolhouses and Farmsteads

John Weiss explores Fillmore County’s time-haunted schoolhouses and farmsteads where fading paint and sagging walls still teach lessons.

A glowing autumn sunset fills the sky with brilliant shades of orange and red above a wooded bluff. Below, a black steel railroad bridge spans a calm river that reflects the sunset colors. The trees along the water’s edge are beginning to show fall hues of gold and brown, creating a tranquil, scenic view.

Autumn Life in the Driftless

Root River Current photographers capture autumn activities in the Driftless.

See all in Community Voices

Regional Arts

Essay | The Root River Anthology: Five Years Later

Regional writer and performing artist Catherine Glynn reflects on the process of producing a radio play during Covid-19 in this 2025 essay.

sunshine streams through the clouds with an American flag on the left

Youth and Creativity: Watching Talent Grow

Root River Current’s 2025 review of youth arts stories.

Celebrating Creativity!

A photo gallery of Root River Current’s recent celebration of regional arts and artists featured in stories published in 2025.

Celebrating Regional Arts & Artists – Again!

Check out Root River Current’s 2025 review of Regional Arts & Artists included in this year’s reporting on arts and culture in Southeast Minnesota.

woman and man on stage during theater production

Profile | John B. Nicol: Lanesboro’s “Jack of Arts”

Meet Lanesboro artist John B. Nicol whose career blends theater, photography and history into his special role in rural Minnesota. Steve Harris has this profile.

An older woman with gray hair and glasses sits under a large tree on a sunny day, playing a nyckel harpa—a wooden instrument resembling a violin with keys and strings. She wears a blue T-shirt with a colorful abstract print and a Star of David necklace. The scene feels peaceful, with soft sunlight on green grass.

Houston Arts Resource Council Celebrates 27 Years of Creativity

Now in its 27th year, the Houston Arts Resource Council (HARC) remains the heart of Houston, Minnesota’s creative community. Rose Korabek reports on their work supporting local artists by sponsoring the Parade of Owls, Meadowfest and the Houston Arts Festival.

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