News

(Fairmont) The Fairmont City Council is seeking an independent engineering assessment of the steel beams at the Martin County Arena amid a dispute over repair costs. The Martin County Fair Board rejected a proposed shared-use agreement and is demanding the city cover the full cost of repairs. Council members unanimously approved seeking proposals for an engineering assessment to determine what repairs are needed and how much they will cost. The council also approved having Wayne Hasek and James Kotewa participate in potential negotiations with the fair board. In other business, Police Chief Mike Beletti reported a required two-year audit of body-worn [...]

(Fairmont) A 26-year-old Fairmont man is facing four felony charges of criminal sexual conduct involving a minor. According to a complaint filed Monday in Martin County District Court, Alexander Sterling Johnson is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a victim between June 2025 and January 2026 in the Fairmont area. The complaint alleges Johnson was a manager at the workplace where the victim worked, placing him in a position of authority. According to court documents, Johnson was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Martin County in 2021 and has been on probation since.

(Fairmont) Empower Coalition and Stronger Together Coalition are teaming up to offer a free interactive training that will focus on reducing stigma, encouraging conversations and promoting messages of hope, resilience and support to help change the narrative on Suicide & Mental Health. The Free training will run from 12:00 to 2:30 at the Best Western in Fairmont on Wednesday October 21st and lunch will be provided. Registration is required and we have provided a link with this story under the news tab at 1065lakesfm.com or ksum.com You can also contact Shelly Larsen with Empower or Kaley Hernandez with Fairmont Mayo Clinic [...]

TRUMAN – A 13-point-8-million-dollar renovation project at Truman School is nearing completion after two years of construction. Superintendent Lisa Shellum says the upgrades address aging electrical systems, an outdated boiler, asbestos, roofing and ventilation issues. The project also reopened classrooms that had been unused since 2019 and modernized the school kitchen. Students returned to renovated spaces this fall, with work on the gym, locker rooms, music and agriculture areas expected to wrap up by November 15th. The district plans to host a community open house December 8th to showcase the improvements.

(FAIRMONT) – Delays could push part of Fairmont’s Blue Earth Avenue reconstruction project into spring 2027. Public Works Director Matthew York says the section from the Prairie Avenue roundabout to Highway 15 is expected to be open today, but petroleum contamination discovered beneath the pavement near Park Street has delayed other work. The city is awaiting state approval for grant funding to replace the water main. The project includes reducing Blue Earth Avenue from four lanes to three, adding a stop at Park Street and installing a mini roundabout at Prairie Avenue. Meanwhile, all 11 of the city’s other mill-and-overlay projects [...]

(FAIRMONT) – Fairmont Area Schools is offering free early childhood screenings during MEA break on October 13th and 14th.The screenings check children’s vision, hearing, speech, motor skills, social development and immunizations to help identify concerns before they enter school.Appointments are available October 13th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and October 14th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.Pre-registration is required. Parents can call Fairmont Elementary School at 507-238-4487 to schedule an appointment.

(MARTIN COUNTY) – Area school districts are taking different approaches to artificial intelligence, student cell phones and classroom technology. Fairmont, Martin County West and Granada-Huntley-East Chain all allow some use of artificial intelligence, but prohibit students from submitting AI-generated work as their own. Fairmont uses a green, yellow and red system to clarify when and how students may use AI, while MCW says reports of possible misuse have declined this school year. Cell phone policies also vary. Fairmont restricts phones during the school day, GHEC allows them in lockers and at lunch, and MCW requires students to store phones in classroom [...]

(Sherburn) The Sherburn City Council has voted to keep Cornerstone Management in place at Temperance Lake Ridge through 2027. During Monday’s meeting, Cornerstone representative Ryan Ravallette reported the facility’s financial situation has improved significantly. The shortfall is now about 4-thousand dollars over budget, compared with a roughly 275-thousand-dollar shortfall earlier this year. Revenue is up about 48-thousand dollars, while expenses have been reduced. The council approved continuing with Cornerstone on a 3-to-1 vote, with one abstention. Council members said another management change could create additional turmoil for residents and staff. They also asked Cornerstone to provide more frequent financial reports and [...]

(Fairmont) The Martin County Board of Commissioners heard an update Tuesday on MnDOT’s 10-year Capital Highway Investment Plan, including several projects affecting the area. MnDOT officials said the Truman sidewalk project is receiving engineering and construction funding through the agency’s Local Partnership Program, which provides about 700-thousand dollars a year for locally led projects in state highway rights-of-way. Commissioners also questioned MnDOT about improvements to Highway 15 south of Fairmont. Officials said there currently is no project scheduled for next year, although the highway remains on MnDOT’s radar. The board also unanimously approved moving forward with a 20-thousand-dollar grant application through [...]

A head-on collision Monday evening on Highway 71 near Windom has claimed one life. The Minnesota State Patrol says an 80-year-old Glen Edward Letellier of Mountain Lake was turning southbound on to highway 71 when their vehicle collided with a northbound semi driven by 24-year-old Colin Hooley of Plymouth. Hooley was not injured in the crash. The Jackson and Windom Fire Departments, Windom Ambulance, Windom Police Department, the Cottonwood and Jackson County Sheriff’s Offices and the Minnesota DNR assisted at the scene.