News

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council has announced the upcoming opening of a new Head Start center in Blue Earth, Minnesota. This center is made possible through a collaborative partnership with St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center, which will provide dedicated space within its facility for the new early childhood education site. Tri-Valley’s Head Start program serves families working in agriculture and provides comprehensive services to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pregnant women. The new center in Blue Earth will help meet the growing need for high-quality, free early childhood education and family support services in the region. Services are anticipated to begin in June of [...]

Governor Tim Walz today ordered all United States and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state buildings in the State of Minnesota immediately and until sunset on the day of interment, in honor and remembrance of Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor of White Bear Lake, who was killed on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. “Sergeant First Class Amor answered the call to serve and gave her life in service to our nation. She wore our nation’s uniform with courage and selflessness, demonstrating dedication and honor throughout her life and career,” said Governor Walz. “Her life was marked by service to others, and her memory will be treasured by all who were fortunate to know her. With [...]

A bus carrying members of the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team crashed on Wednesday, killing one person and injuring dozens. The incident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. local time on Iowa Highway 4 near Twin Lakes in Calhoun County, authorities said. There has been one confirmed fatality, Iowa State Patrol said. There were 33 people on the bus, which was the only vehicle involved, according to Iowa State Trooper Paul Gardner. All other occupants on the bus sustained minor to serious injuries, according to Gardner. Life Flight helicopters and ambulances transported injured occupants to various area hospitals, authorities said. State [...]

Fairmont Police Captain Mike Beletti has been promoted to Chief Of Police following the retirement of previous Chief Michael Hunter. Beletti attended Alexandria Technical College where he obtained an Associate of Applied Science degree in Law Enforcement and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Leadership through Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.  He began his law enforcement career in 2009 with the City of Winnebago and served as a part time officer for the cities of Blue Earth and Fairmont before being hired full-time in 2014.  Chief Beletti previously served as a Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Field Training [...]

Fairmont High School senior Cooper Gudahl has been selected as the Region 2A Male Triple A award winner. Cooper now advances to the state level as one of just eight Class A male finalists in the state, and of sixteen boys overall. The awards banquet is Saturday of the Boys State Basketball Tournament. Cooper participates in Cross Country, Speech, Track & Field, Debate, Musical, and several other activities at FHS.   Fellow Fairmont senior Brylee Miller has been nominated as a finalist for the Ms. Basketball award for 2026 in Minnesota. Brylee is already Fairmont's all-time leading scorer and is closing [...]

Notice of Special Meeting Public Notice The Fairmont City Council will hold a Special Meeting on Friday, January 9, 2026 in the Fairmont City Hall Council Chambers, 100 Downtown Plaza, Fairmont, Minnesota. The Council will convene at 11:00 am and begin interviews with applicants for a City Administrator position at 12:00 pm (noon). Following completion of the interviews, the Council may discuss and take action on the selection of a preferred candidate. The following candidates will be interviewed: • Jason Baker • Tiffany Duboski Ledee The press is hereby notified. By Order of the City of Fairmont. Betsy Steuber, City Clerk [...]

WRESTLING Dick Maher Invitational - Blue Earth 1st – Maple River/USC – 145 2nd – Goodhue – 138.5 3rd – Tri City United – 124.5 4th – Triton – 117 5th – Martin County Red Bulls – 102 6th – Waseca – 97 7th – WEM-JWP – 93.5 8th – Blue Earth Area – 83 9th – Worthington – 75.5 10th – La Crescent-Hokah – 68   Red Bulls placers: Brock Jagodsinske 5th at 114 Billy Arnold 6th at 127 Pierce Rohman 1st at 145, voted outstanding wrestler of the tournament Kaedin Lange 3rd at 152 Chase Birr 6th at 172 [...]

A house fire Monday evening has claimed the life of a Fairmont man. Responders were called to a fire at a home in the 300 block of South Park Street around 4:45 p.m. Heavy smoke was already filling the structure. Personnel were able to locate one man in the basement. He was taken to Fairmont MCHS where he was succumbed to his injuries. There were two other occupants of the house, who were both able to escape. One was taken to Fairmont MCHS, treated and released for smoke inhalation. The other refused medical attention. Four law enforcement personnel were also treated [...]

Five vehicles were involved in an accident Tuesday that left an Arizona man with life threatening injuries. At 5:40 PM Tuesday, an accident involving multiple northbound vehicles was reported at State Highway 15 and Torgerson Drive in Fairmont. The driver of a 2018 Cadillac XT5, Paul Mokelbust, 91, of Yuma, Arizona, was the most seriously injured in the accident. He was given CPR at the scene and transported to Mayo Clinic Health System Fairmont with what the State Patrol report termed life-threatening injuries. He was apparently not wearing a seat belt and the report stated alcohol was involved. The others involved [...]