News

SPIRIT LAKE-Dickinson County authorities are currently investigating a shooting that took place on Tuesday afternoon. According to reports, the incident occurred around 3:30pm at an address northwest of Montgomery. The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, responded to the scene of the shooting. S hortly after the incident, Lakes Regional Healthcare stated on its Facebook page that they had received a patient with a gunshot wound. However, they also clarified that the shooting did not happen on their premises. As a precautionary measure, the hospital initiated a lockdown to ensure the safety of their patients and staff. [...]

Wednesday afternoon a crash at the corner of State Street and Blue Earth Avenue in Fairmont sent one man to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.   According to a Minnesota State Patrol report, a 2010 Chevy Camaro driven by Jeffery Alan Heupel, 68, of Fairmont was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Blue Earth Avenue when the vehicle was struck by a northbound 2018 Toyota Prius driven by Scott Lynn Tow, 70, of Fairmont. Heupel was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System Fairmont for treatment. Road conditions were dry, and both drivers were wearing their seat belts. The accident [...]

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) — A suburban Minneapolis community was in mourning on Monday after authorities said two police officers and a firefighter were killed by a heavily armed man who shot at them from inside a home that was filled with children. The shooting on Sunday in a tree-lined neighborhood of Burnsville, Minnesota, left a third officer wounded. The suspect, who officials said had multiple guns and large amounts of ammunition, also died. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said there was an exchange of gunfire, and authorities were still piecing together details of what he described as a [...]

ISG will host the second annual Future of Southern Minnesota Lakes Conference at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minnesota. The conference will open on Friday evening, April 12, with a fireside chat featuring writer and host of the television show "Minnesota Bound," Ron Schara. The evening is an exclusive opportunity for conference attendees to share stories about Minnesota’s natural resources and learn from one another in a relaxed atmosphere.   The main conference on Saturday, April 13, will focus on empowering lake residents and stakeholders with knowledge and tools to manage their lakes using a four-phase framework: [...]

On Tuesday, February 6th at 3 am the Swea City Fire Department was dispatched for a structure fire at 308 Park Avenue in Swea City. On arrival, a detached garage was found fully engulfed with the fire starting to spread to the house. All occupants were safely out of the house on arrival thanks in part to working smoke detectors. The fire on the house was quickly extinguished and the garage brought under control afterward. The garage was a total loss, the house received minor fire damage and significant smoke damage due to windows near the garage breaking, also a vehicle [...]

OWATONNA, Minn., February 5, 2024 - Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), in partnership with publishing companies Capstone and ABDO, is accepting applications for its Early Literacy Grant program. This grant is designed to support early literacy efforts that enhance school readiness for children birth to age eight by providing children with books. Nonprofit organizations working with these children and their families in SMIF’s 20-county region are encouraged to apply. Priority in funding will be given to projects that target diverse and at-risk populations that may not be receiving books through any other avenues in the community, strengthen parental awareness of early literacy needs including communication and language development, include a parent [...]

RICHFIELD, Minn. (AP) — Travelers in northwestern Minnesota can shake off their trepidation about hitting the winter roads knowing Taylor Drift is clearing a path ahead of them. The snowplow named for Taylor Swift was the runaway winner of Minnesota’s fourth annual Name a Snowplow contest, with eight new names announced Tuesday. Taylor Drift received 12,027 votes, nearly twice as many as the second-place finisher, Clark W. Blizzwald — honoring the star character of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” In order of votes received, the other winners out of 49 finalists were Dolly Plowton, Waipahinte — a Dakota word for “snowplow” — Beyonsleigh, You’re Killin’ Me [...]

Fairmont Area School District is continuing monthly Early Childhood Screening (ECS) the first Tuesday morning of each month. The screening dates to be offered for the remainder of this school year are: March 5, 2024; April 2, 2024; and May 7, 2024. Screening will be offered through Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) at Fairmont Elementary School, 714 Victoria Street, Suite 101. These sessions are being offered to children born between September 1, 2018 and May 7, 2021. (Note: Your child must be 3 years of age to participate in screening). The annual large fall screening will be offered for three days [...]

 A Powerball ticket purchased in Fairmont for the Jan. 27 drawing matched four of the first five winning numbers plus the Powerball to win $50,000.    The winning ticket was purchased at Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh, located at 917 South State St., in Fairmont The winning Powerball numbers drawn on Jan. 27 are 7-38-65-66-68 and the Powerball is 21. The $50,000 prize can be claimed by mail or at any Minnesota Lottery office. It is recommended that winners call ahead to check hours and to make an appointment.         Unless the winner chooses to opt in to publicity, their name and city will [...]

This past Sunday evening, 63 year-old Keith Douglas Romsdahl of St. James was injured in a one-vehicle rollover on Highway 15 in Fieldon Township of Watonwan County. Romsdahl was driving a 2009 Ford Ranger northbound when the vehicle went out of control, entering the ditch and rolling multiple times. The Minnesota Highway Patrol noted road conditions were snowy and icy at the time of the accident.   Romsdahl was taken to Madelia Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Watonwan County Sheriff's Office and Madelia Fire & Ambulance responded to the incident.