News

(Fairmont) The Martin County Economic Development Authority heard a report Monday from Region Nine as the organization works on a five-year economic development roadmap for the region, including Martin County. Region Nine is collecting input to identify challenges and opportunities for the future. The group is updating its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for 2027, looking at areas including the economy, workforce, infrastructure and demographics. Officials say the plan will also address challenges such as business closures, natural disasters and declining birth rates. EDA members suggested holding additional listening sessions outside of Fairmont to gather input from more communities. The board also [...]

(Fairmont) Child Care Provider Appreciation Night & Open House will be held October 8th at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Doors open at 5:45 and the program will start at 6:15. Licensed Providers still have time to register and if you are considering becoming a licensed child care provider the open house is a great opportunity to connect with local and regional resources to learn more about getting started. The evening includes speakers, dinner and raffles along with many resources to answer any questions. The night is put together to celebrate day care providers from Martin & Faribault Counties.

FAIRMONT — D&S Trophies in downtown Fairmont is celebrating 40 years in business, while also being named Best Specialty Store and Most Community-Oriented Company in the 2026 Best Of Martin and Faribault Counties contest. Owner Sara Cyphers took over the business from her grandparents, Don and Sharon Oechsle, who started D&S in their basement in 1986 after making trophies for pedal tractor pulls. The business moved to its current Downtown Plaza location in 1999 and has since expanded beyond trophies to include screen printing, embroidery and laser engraving. D&S serves businesses and schools throughout Martin County and beyond, and also runs [...]

(FAIRMONT) — Water quality and management options for the Fairmont Chain of Lakes were the focus of a three-hour workshop Thursday involving city officials, DNR representatives, the Martin Soil and Water Conservation District and other stakeholders. Several technologies and management strategies were discussed, including nanobubble oxygenation, curly-leaf pondweed control, carp removal and biological treatments. During the presentation it was stated that 50% of bodies of water globally are impaired so this is just not a Fairmont Chain of Lakes issue.  MSU-Mankato researcher Ryan Wersal also reported an estimated 279 acres of curly-leaf pondweed across the chain of lakes. In Sisseton they [...]

MARTIN COUNTY — The Martin County Area Gymnastics Association is looking for a permanent home to keep its gymnastics programs growing in the area. MCA Gymnastics serves youth from 18 months through high school, with community education programs, special classes and competitive gymnastics. Classes can include up to 150 participants per session. The program is currently using the Fairmont Armory after previously operating at Fairmont High School and the former Welcome School. Association leaders say they’re looking for an existing building or land to construct a facility in Fairmont, Welcome or somewhere between the two. A gymnastics facility would need at least a 19-foot ceiling [...]

(Fairmont) – Fairmont mayoral and Martin County commissioner candidates discussed recreation, government spending and property taxes during a forum Tuesday evening. All six mayoral candidates supported some form of recreation center using Local Option Sales Tax funds, while differing on city spending and staffing. In the county commissioner forum, candidates debated the future of the 52-year-old Law Enforcement Center. Repairs and upgrades are estimated to cost between six-point-three and seven-point-two million dollars, as candidates weighed the costs of renovating the building versus constructing a new facility. The full forum is available at fairmont.org/forums.

(Martin County) – Pheasants Forever has hired Shelby Oldenkamp as its new Southwest Minnesota Precision Agriculture and Conservation Specialist serving Martin County. Oldenkamp grew up farming and has a degree in animal science from Iowa State University. She previously spent a year and a half working as a precision agriculture specialist in Austin. In her new role, she’ll work with farmers and conservation groups to improve farm profitability while protecting soil and creating wildlife habitat. Oldenkamp says removing less productive areas of farmland from production can help farmers improve their return on investment while providing habitat for pheasants, turkeys and other [...]

(Fairmont) – The Fairmont City Council has unanimously approved changes to the city’s special assessment policy following concerns about fairness and flexibility. The revisions allow the council to deviate from its assessment guidelines in unique circumstances, provided it complies with state law. They also establish a standard 36-foot street width for calculating reconstruction assessments. Councilor Britney Kawecki questioned whether the changes provide enough safeguards against favoritism, particularly as the city works through a dispute involving assessments for the Lake Avenue project. The city attorney said state law requires similar properties to be treated consistently. The new policy applies to projects beginning [...]

FAIRMONT — A new independent bookstore is opening its doors in downtown Fairmont. Evermore Books, located at 72 Downtown Plaza, will hold its grand opening Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m. The business is owned by Abby Shoen, a Sherburn native and 2009 Martin County West graduate. Shoen says her experience running her family’s feed mill, publishing All Things Home magazine and working on home renovation projects helped prepare her for opening the bookstore. Evermore Books features sections for fantasy, romance, thrillers, children’s books, fiction, nonfiction and cookbooks. Customers can also request books to be ordered through the store. The space [...]

(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.