News

Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) received an American Public Power Association Energy Innovator Award during APPA’s National Conference in Orlando, Florida. The award honors utilities that have developed or applied creative, energy-efficient techniques and technologies to their work, to provide better service to electric customers or projects that increase the efficiency of utility operations or resource efficiency. SMMPA’s Member Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network was a collaboration between the agency, its member utilities, and ZEF Energy to facilitate the acceptance of electric vehicles and help with the transformation of both the electric utility and transportation industries. SMMPA provided each participating [...]

The Fairmont City Council heard a presentation from the Fairmont Community Center Committee and eventually voted 3-2 to move ahead with the project. Fairmont Community Center Committee member Amy Long gave a presentation stating the plan is the result of countless community volunteer hours and that it aligns with the priorities and goals of the 2040 Fairmont Forward Plan. Those goals are to attract a new work force, increase population, spur new businesses, provide new parks and recreational facilities, create a welcoming and inclusive community, and ensure Fairmont is a great place to live. The council was then presented with two [...]

An Estherville man has died as the result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in rural Emmet County over the weekend. According to Emmet County Sheriff Mike Martens, a 2003 Harley Davidson driven by Michael Schubert, age 64, was eastbound in the 4300 block of 230th Street, when the motorcycle failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway and entered the road ditch. Schubert was pronounced dead at the scene by the Emmet County Medical Examiner. Schubert had been reported missing to authorities at approximately 3:30pm Sunday after not returning from a motorcycle ride the day before. An investigation [...]

MANKATO, Minn. – Beginning June 21, motorists traveling through south central and southwest Minnesota can expect short-term lane closures as Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) stations are installed at six different locations. The six locations in Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Martin and Rock counties include: I-90 near Magnolia at Milepost (MP) 21.6 I-90 90 near Welcome at MP 93.7 I-90 90 near Wells at MP 138.7 Highway 60 near Mountain Lake at MP 48.2 Highway 14 near Springfield at MP 80.7 Highway 30 near Mapleton at MP 146.8 No detours are required for this project; work will be completed under [...]

(Alexandria, Minn.) – On Saturday, June 12 at its annual convention in Alexandria, Minnesota, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) announced its Officer of the Year and Legislator of the Year awards. 2021 MPPOA Legislator of the Year: Senator Julie Rosen Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) is currently serving her 19th year in the Senate and is Chair of the Senate Finance Committee as well as the Legislative Pension Commission. MPPOA Executive Director Brian Peters said, “Basically, Sen. Julie Rosen is an advocate for every cop in this state and a fighter for increased public safety. She has steadfastly stood [...]

2020 GRADUATION RATES FOR AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS FAIRMONT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT - 90.4% GRADUATED (122 GRADUATES) MARTIN COUNTY WEST SCHOOL DISTRICT - 98.1% GRADUATED (52 GRADUATES) GRANADA-HUNTLEY-EAST CHAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT - 94.7% GRADUATED (18 GRADUATES) TRUMAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS - 81.8% GRADUATED (9 GRADUATES) BLUE EARTH AREA SCHOOLS - 94.2% GRADUATED (65 GRADUATES) MADELIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS - 65.9% GRADUATED (27 GRADUATES) ST. JAMES SCHOOL DISTRICT - 85.5% GRADUATED (65 GRADUATES) JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOLS - 94.7% GRADUATED (90 GRADUATES) STATEWIDE GRADUATION RATE IN MINNESOTA FOR 2020 - 83.8%

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has condemned an Iowa police chief for using his city-issued stun gun to shock guests at two parties in 2016, calling it an “immoral activity” that could have caused serious injuries or death. Judge Nancy Whittenburg recently rejected arguments by Craig Merrill, the police chief in Armstrong, that his deployment of the Taser device in an off-duty, social setting against voluntary participants was not a criminal act. “Merrill did not have justification to use a defensive weapon with the intent to cause pain for entertainment purposes on compliant partygoers,” Whittenburg wrote in a ruling [...]

On June 7th, 2021 Agents with the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force received information on the whereabouts of Tyler Anthony Caputo, who had an active warrant issued by the Department of Corrections for violating the terms of his supervised release from prison. During a surveillance operation on June 7th DTF Agents observed Caputo leave an apartment complex in Fairmont. Caputo attempted to flee; however, he was quickly apprehended by Officers from the Fairmont Police Department and Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies. During a search of Caputo’s person arresting officers located a loaded 12-gauge shotgun which had been modified by removing the [...]

There will be a blood drive in Sherburn Monday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Regional Worship Center. The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give to help ensure a stable and diverse blood supply. Blood donors of all types are needed, especially those with AB Negative, O Negative and A Negative. To learn more or to make an appointment, call 1-800-733-2767, visit redcrossblood.org, or download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App.

An explosion occurred at Christensen Farms near Sleepy Eye Tuesday morning. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says it happened at the feed mill on-site just after 5 a.m. Nobody was injured, and no animals were in the vicinity of the explosion. There is no suspected foul play involved. The amount of value of the damage is undetermined at this time. The incident is being investigated by the Minnesota State Fire Marshall’s Office. Meanwhile, later on Tuesday multiple emergency crews were on the scene of an explosion at a New Ulm grain elevator. At 6:37 p.m., the New Ulm Fire Department and [...]