News

An officer with the Fairmont Police Department has been arrested and is awaiting charges following an investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). On the evening of May 30, 2026, Fairmont Police Department responded to a civil-custody issue involving Fairmont Police Officer Dustin Wade Schwebke. Due to the conflict of interest, Martin County Sheriff’s Office was requested to conduct the investigation. On June 15, 2026, an adult female reported additional crimes to the Fairmont Police Department. The accusations involve Officer Schwebke. For that reason, on June 17 the Fairmont Police Department requested the BCA take on the investigation as [...]

According to a press release from the Mankato Department Of Public Safety:   On Sunday, April 26, at approximately 1:36 p.m., 911 dispatch received a call from a person who believed someone was shooting in a neighboring residence on Castle Pines Drive. Officers responded to the scene and approached an open door at 700 Castle Pines Drive. While approaching, officers heard what they believed to be a gunshot coming from inside. Officers immediately entered and apprehended the suspect, Joseph David Bulfer, age 44, of Fairmont. Officers then entered a bedroom and located a deceased adult male who had sustained multiple gunshot [...]

The Fairmont High School Speech Team competed at the Minnesota State High School League Section 2A Speech Tournament on Friday, April 10, in Janesville. Twenty-four individuals were Section finalists and 14 individuals advanced to the state tournament. State-advancing Section Finalists: Discussion: Calixta Tessendorf placed third. Dramatic Interpretation: Cooper Gudahl was the Champion. Extemporaneous Speaking: Emma Schmidt placed third. Levi Loughmiller placed second. Belinda Lutterman was the Champion. Humorous Interpretation: Megan Wheeler placed third. Thomas Hamlet placed second. Leon Yang was the Champion. Informative Speaking: Allie Streit was the Champion. Original Oratory: Addie Lintelman placed third. Bella Coan placed second. Poetry: Anthony [...]

A 31-year old Fairmont man is in custody and charged with felony Domestic Assault after an incident last Monday. Police were called to a residence for a report of an assault. According to the police statement, the victim identified the perpetrator as Blake John Lawrence Strait, 31, of Fairmont. Police observed bruising on the victims left arm and back. The victim alleged that during an argument earlier in the day, Strait pushed them down and smashed their face into the ground. While the victim was on the ground, Strait allegedly placed his knee on the back of their neck, inhibiting their [...]

A 47-year old Sioux Falls man is in jail in Martin County awaiting felony charges after a stop on I-90 last Friday afternoon. According to the criminal complaint, a motorist on I-90 reported a vehicle stopped on the shoulder near mile marker 83, and seeing a man fall into the ditch. Upon arrival, law enforcement personnel identified the driver as Joseph Emmanuel Makwat, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A preliminary breath test indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.365. Makwat reportedly asked for transportation to a hospital, but refused to submit to a blood or urine test after a search warrant [...]

Five people were killed in a two-vehicle collision Friday afternoon on US Highway 71 north of Windom in Cottonwood County.   A northbound 2016 GMC Terrain driven by Martin Hanson, 67, of Springfield, collided head-on with a southbound 2019 Ford Transit Van driven by Matthew Arthur Schultz, 42, of Lakefield. The van contained 11 passengers, four of whom were killed in the collision. Schultz, the driver of the van, was transported to Windom Area Health Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Hanson, the lone occupant of the other vehicle,  died at the scene.   The deceased in the van have been identified [...]

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 [...]