News

FAIRMONT — Halloween festivities are planned throughout Fairmont this weekend, with activities for children and adults. Downtown Prowl the Plaza will take place Friday, October 30, from 4 to 5 p.m., with 29 businesses, organizations and families participating. That’s up from 18 last year. Trick-or-treating is also planned at Ingleside Assisted Living from 3:30 to 4:30 Friday, followed by a trunk-or-treat at St. Paul Lutheran School from 5:30 to 6:30. Saturday’s activities include Halloween Fun at the Martin County Library, family activities at Bowlmor, trunk-or-treating at Ward Park and Halloween Rock On Ice at the Martin County Arena. Adults can also [...]

FAIRMONT — Imagine Martin is launching a new monthly concert series at The Hive in Fairmont, featuring music, songwriting and storytelling. The series, called “This Song’s for You,” begins Sunday, November 1st, at 7 p.m. with musician Radoslav Lorkovic. Performances will continue on the first Sunday of each month through March, featuring artists Erik Koskinen, Charlie Roth, David Stoddard and Kelly Smith. Imagine Martin Chair Jeff Rouse says the concerts will offer an intimate setting with limited seating, giving people a chance to relax and enjoy live music on Sunday evenings. Tickets are $20, or $15 for Friends of the Hive, [...]

FAIRMONT — Fairmont Elementary students are getting extra emotional support from a four-legged friend. Hazen, a therapy dog, works alongside school social worker Amy Becker to help students feel comfortable and connected at school. Since the school year began, Hazen has greeted students in the morning and participated in classroom lessons focused on mindfulness, self-control and safely interacting with animals. Becker says one parent reported that a student who had struggled with coming to school began transitioning more easily after seeing Hazen. The school district has supported the program, and Becker hopes to use this year to fine-tune it while Hazen [...]

WORTHINGTON — One person was injured in a collision on Interstate 90 in Worthington Friday morning. The Minnesota State Patrol says a pickup driven by 70-year-old Jon Prestin of Belle Plaine was merging onto I-90 from Highway 60 shortly before 11 a.m. when it collided with a semi driven by Ibrahim Grahovic of Waterloo, Iowa. Prestin suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a Worthington hospital. Worthington police and fire departments and Sanford Ambulance assisted at the scene.

(Southern Minnesota) — Three utility companies are proposing a major new electric transmission project that would cross southern Minnesota.Great River Energy, Xcel Energy and ITC Midwest have filed an application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for the PowerOn Midwest project. It includes a 765-kilovolt transmission line connecting substations in Jackson, Mower and Olmsted counties. The companies say the project would improve electric reliability and connect new energy sources to the regional grid. But opponents to this project say there are way too many unknowns to push this project forward. Route options are still being developed, with permit applications expected in [...]

(Fairmont) Fairmont Park Board members are being asked to voluntarily inspect city parks and green spaces to help identify maintenance needs and plan future improvements. Public Works Director Matthew York says members will receive individual checklists to document park conditions, problems and ideas. The information will be compiled to help the city prioritize projects, with the goal of having a plan ready when the board resumes meetings in April. York says participation is voluntary and will supplement, not replace, work already done by city employees. The board also heard that city officials will discuss material options for proposed pickleball courts at [...]

(Sherburn) The Martin County West School Board received an update Monday on construction of the district’s new school building. Work continues on the parking lot, track, football field, locker rooms and interior finishes, with landscaping planned for spring. The board also approved a construction payment of more than two-point-two million dollars. Superintendent Cori Reynolds said the district was one of 15 schools selected for a Veterans and Military salute at a football game, and the F-F-A forestry team took first place. The board also approved its crisis management plan, including a new cardiac emergency response plan, and accepted donations for math, [...]

(Sherburn) — The Sherburn City Council is seeking more information before deciding on repairs to the Community Building, including a lift repair estimated at nearly 1,200 dollars. Council members also discussed other concerns with the building, including deteriorating areas and closed bathrooms. The council voted to contact the city attorney and demolition contractor for more information about roof damage at Contemporary Styles, next to the former Foxy’s building, before deciding who is responsible for repairs. In other business, the council approved a wellhead protection plan proposal and a cannabis business license request. The city also received an 11-thousand-dollar safety dividend from [...]

(Fairmont) The City of Fairmont’s curbside leaf pickup program is underway for its 20th year. Public Works crews will collect leaves in three sections of the city, starting October 26th through the 30th, followed by November 2nd through the 8th, and November 9th through the 13th. Residents should rake leaves into long rows along the curb, rather than large piles, and avoid parking on the street during pickup. Leaves can also be taken to the city’s yard waste site at 1880 100th Street, where compost is available free of charge. Officials say pickup could be canceled if snow covers the leaves. 

(Estherville) The Estherville City Council is considering a proposed data center that could be built on 8 to 12 acres in an industrial park on the city’s south side. Representatives from Path One Companies say the facility could be up to 25 megawatts in size. City officials also recommend a development agreement be approved before construction begins. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission will begin discussing potential regulations Thursday at 4:30 p.m.