News

MANKATO, Minn. – Tis the season of a million errands and shopping trips, and it just so happens to coincide with that time of year when ice and snow begin to impact travel, both in our cars and on foot.   In the north country, a good pair of boots isn't always enough to protect your feet and ankles from injury if you're not careful. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 1 million adults in the U.S. are injured due to slips and falls every year, with the injury rate increasing significantly as temperatures decline.   "When [...]

A 19-year-old man became trapped and died as a result of a landslide at a state park in southern Minnesota. The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office received a call Saturday afternoon of a landslide trapping someone under collapsed earth at the falls area of Minneopa State Park, near Mankato. Emergency workers recovered the man, whom they found dead. The sheriff’s office, which called the death accidental in a press release, is investigating. Minneopa State Park is one of Minnesota’s oldest state parks, and contains waterfalls and a bison herd, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

A dispute at the McDonald's drive-thru in Fairmont on Thanksgiving Day resulted in an injury to a Truman man. At 9:55 a.m. Thursday morning, Fairmont Police responded to the report of an incident outside the McDonald's building. According to the Police report, the incident started as a verbal dispute between two drivers. One stated they had accidentally cut off the other vehicle in the merging area of the drive thru. The two drivers continued to yell at each other through their windows as they continued through the line. The first unit pulled up to the pick-up window, whereupon the second vehicle [...]

(Jackson, MN) -- The Federated Rural Electric Trust, Jackson, recognized local organizations receiving $20,984 through Operation Round Up. These donations occur due to monthly contributions by participating Federated members. 29 groups received money in this 58th round of funding:     Human Services of Faribault & Martin Co. $225 Buy 25 Love & Logic Way parenting workbooks JCC Ag Department $250 Fund 18 students with OSHA 10 work-based training certification MCW Speech Department $400 Speechwire software used for speech meets HL-O Family Career Community Leaders of America Circuit machine to make student display boards HL-O Elementary Special Education $478 Five flexible [...]

Last week the 80th annual convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting [NAFB] was held in Kansas City. A “Night of Honors” banquet is held each year that includes inducting two members into the NAFB Hall of Fame. This years inductees were Mike Perrine of MP Ag Radio in Troy, Illinois; and Mike Murphy, retired farm broadcaster at KSUM/KFMC, Fairmont.   Murphy became the Farm Director at Woodward Broadcasting in 1983 with the passing of then Farm Director Marv Carlson. Over the years Mike reported daily markets, covered ag events like the Minnesota Pork Congress, World Pork Expo, The National [...]

The FBI on Tuesday arrested a Faribault County man on charges that he participated in the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., charged Paul Orta Jr. of Blue Earth with a felony count of obstructing police during a civil disorder and misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds. According to the criminal complaint, Orta, 34, went to the FBI field office in Brooklyn Center, Minn., on Jan. 25, 2021 and “told the agents that he had seen his picture on the FBI website and that he wanted to do [...]

MADELIA — A 44-year-old Comfrey man was injured Thursday morning when the semi he was driving on Highway 60 rolled between St. James and Madelia. Nathan Alan Lang was driving a 2003 Peterbilt westbound near the Highway 30 ramp in Fieldon Township when the truck rolled into a ditch. Lang was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato. Road conditions were dry and alcohol was not a factor in the crash according to the Minnesota State Patrol report.

On Tuesday night, voters in the Martin County West school district went to the polls with the issue of a $63 million bond for a new K-12 school on the ballot. The issue was defeated with 911 no votes and 861 yes votes. A second question which would have provided an additional $9 million for an auditorium and additional gym facilities failed with 722 no votes and 655 yes votes. Turnout was good with 1,772 votes cast amongst 2,741 registered voters in the district.  

Please take notice that The City of Fairmont will be holding a public informational meeting on Monday, December 11, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. in Council Chambers at 100 Downtown Plaza, giving the public an opportunity to give feedback on the adequacy of the City’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan as required in our MS4 permit, issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.   This meeting may be attended by members of the Fairmont City Council.

A  Martin County man faces charges including second-degree manslaughter, child endangerment and negligent storage of a loaded firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of a 2-year-old boy by another child earlier this month. 33-year-old Colton Mammenga of Welcome was charged Thursday in Martin County District Court. The charges stem from the death of Matthew Alshaikhnasser. Authorities said he was fatally shot by his 4-year-old brother on Oct. 15 after the older boy found a loaded handgun while the two children were left alone for a few minutes in a pickup truck. Matthew died two days later. The criminal complaint alleges [...]