News

(Estherville) Iowa Lakes Community College has established a new endowment supporting students pursuing careers in law enforcement and nursing. The Thom-Pedersen Endowment comes from a gift of more than $100,000 from Hank and Pam Pedersen. The college’s Board of Trustees formally accepted the gift September 15th. The endowment builds on scholarships the Pedersens established in 2022 in memory of their longtime friend Robert “Bob” Anthony Thom. Those scholarships began in 2023, with five students receiving $1,000 annually.

(Fairmont) After 42 years in business, Richard and Betty Wiederhoeft are retiring from Richard’s Auto Repair and Towing in Fairmont. The couple, both Martin County natives, started the business in 1984 after Richard left his job at Poppe’s. The business has operated at several locations over the years, including its current location on East Blue Earth Avenue. Just a year after opening, the business was forced to start over after a fire destroyed its North State Street location in December of 1985. The Wiederhoefts were able to temporarily operate out of DeBoer Motors before purchasing Zenk’s Repair on Park Street in [...]

(Hutchinson) A 56-year-old Fairmont woman was seriously injured in a crash that happened in Hutchinson shortly after 9pm last night. Amy Lynn Derrar as well as her passengers 44-year-old Kacee Griffith of Slayton and Jadie Saliaris, age 41 of Little Falls, were all transported to HCMC with life threatening injuries. Jaqueline Summers, age 40 of Hutchinson was driving a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee westbound on highway 22 near California street when it collided with Derrara’s 1989 Pontiac 6000 wagon, which was stopped in the westbound lanes. Sommers and her 16-year-old passenger Destiny Stroklund did not sustain any injuries. Alcohol was NOT [...]

27-year-old Jared Lee Malokowsky of St. James was driving a 2020 Freightliner eastbound on highway 14 when the truck left the roadway and crashed. Malakowsky was taken to Mayo Clinic in Rochester via life flight, with life threatening injuries. Faribault County Sheriff’s Office, Winnebago Fire & EMS and Life Flight all assisted at the scene.

(MARTIN COUNTY) — After nearly 30 years in law enforcement, Martin County Chief Deputy Corey Klanderud is retiring September 30. Klanderud began his career with the Fairmont Police Department in 1997 after studying law enforcement at Minnesota State University, Mankato. During his time with the department, he worked in patrol, the drug task force, tactical team, as a patrol sergeant, school resource officer and detective. In 2011, Klanderud joined the Martin County Sheriff's Office as chief deputy under Sheriff Jeff Markquart. He says one of his biggest accomplishments has been helping build and develop a strong staff within the Sheriff's Office. [...]

(Fairmont) The Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce has a new president. Miranda Tulowetzke officially began the job September 9th, bringing a diverse work background and about three years of experience on the chamber board to the position. A lifelong Martin County resident, Tulowetzke studied exercise science at Southwest Minnesota State University before returning to the area. She has worked at Green Mill, Green Plains and Sweet Financial, where she gained marketing experience. Most recently, she was the branch lead at CCF Bank in Blue Earth. Tulowetzke says she was drawn to the chamber because she enjoys community events and business networking. [...]

(Fairmont) A new grief support group is being formed in the Fairmont area through a partnership between CREST, the Sinn Family Celebration of Life Center and In the Clouds Counseling. The free group will meet on the last Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Sinn Family Celebration of Life Center in Trimont. The first meeting is scheduled for September 29th. The meetings will include educational information on topics such as sudden, unresolved and traumatic grief. Participants will also have access to grief-related books and other resources. The group is open to anyone who would like to attend. More [...]

(Fairmont) The Fairmont Area School Board has set its preliminary property tax levy at the maximum amount allowed for the upcoming year. The district’s final levy will be determined in December, with a Truth in Taxation meeting scheduled for December 8th. The school board also unanimously approved the next step in a potential two-question operating referendum in February 2027. The district will work with consultants to submit a review and comment document to the Minnesota Department of Education. Board member Michael Edman emphasized the vote does not guarantee a referendum will appear on the February ballot, but is part of the [...]

(Estherville) Estherville homeowners will have another year to take advantage of a city program helping pay for exterior home improvements. The City Council has renewed the Neighborhood Facade Grant program, which has been offered for the past five years. The program provides matching grants of up to four-thousand dollars for eligible exterior projects on owner-occupied or rental properties. Applications are typically due by November 15th, with funding awarded to the ten best projects. The grants can help with projects such as siding, painting and other exterior improvements, but do not cover sidewalks, driveways or landscaping. City Administrator Penny Clayton says the [...]

(FAIRMONT) — A 12-year-old Fairmont girl has been named one of the 2026 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. Natalie Flaherty founded I Stand with Anne, an initiative inspired by Anne Frank that promotes Holocaust remembrance, compassion and standing against hate. Flaherty began the project at age eight after watching a Holocaust documentary and reading Anne Frank's diary. She created bracelets that say, “I stand with Anne, put a stop to hate.” She has now distributed more than 100,000 bracelets across all 50 states and in more than 50 countries. In 2025, Flaherty also helped organize the planting of an Anne [...]