News

After lengthy and thoughtful debate, the Visit Fairmont Board of Directors has decided that they cannot proceed with hosting the 2021 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. The decision to submit an application to host this event was made in 2019. It was announced in October of 2019 that Fairmont was selected to host the 2020 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. In August of 2020, Governor Walz postponed the event until 2021. Visit Fairmont’s Board of Directors saw the Opener as a fabulous vehicle to showcase our community, our area, and our great state of Minnesota. Due to the impact of the [...]

AVOCA, Minn. (AP) — Two South Dakota men have died in a highway crash in southwestern Minnesota. The men were driving separate vehicles when they collided in Murray County Monday night, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Officials said 26-year-old Alexander Bretsch, Frederick, was northbound on Highway 59 near Avoca when his pickup collided with a southbound car driven by 37-year-old Kyle Thompson, of Huron, near Lime Lake. Both men were transported to Murray County Medical Center where they were pronounced dead. The State Patrol says alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

The Kossuth County Sheriff's Office issued this press release at 2:38 p.m. Tuesday: On 04-19-2021 at about 9:10 p.m., the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office and Swea City Ambulance were dispatched to 407 390th Street, rural Swea City, for a person found unconscious at a hog-site building. Upon arrival a female was transported to the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona by the Swea City Ambulance with assistance from Algona EMS. It was reported that the female had been assisting in the cleaning and power washing of the facility and was found lying on the floor by another person that was also [...]

Update on Local COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts Weekly Update: 4/19/21 Vaccination work as of 4/16/21: • Faribault County: 5,276 individuals have received at least their first vaccination for COVID-19. 38.2% of the total population has received at least 1 dose. The percentage of population over age 65 in Faribault County who received their 1st dose of vaccine is 81.8% and the population of those eligible for vaccine (age 16+) vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine is 47.6%. • Martin County: 7,846 individuals have received at least their first vaccination for COVID-19. 39.5% of the population has received at least 1 [...]

On Wednesday, April 7th, at approximately 6:12 pm, 911 Communications Operators received a call of a motorcycle and truck collision that occurred at the intersection of South 8th Street and 2nd Avenue South in Estherville. The caller reported that the motorcyclist was injured and needed an ambulance. Responding officers administered first aid along with local citizens and the Estherville Ambulance Service. The driver of the motorcycle was identified as Samuel Woolery, age 25 of Estherville. Samuel Woolery was transported to Avera Holy Family Hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he passed away as a [...]

There will be a strategic planning meeting for Fairmont City Staff and City Council members on Tuesday, April 13th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meeting will be held in Room 112 of the Southern Minnesota Educational Campus building at 115 South Park Street in Fairmont.

An Iowa man wanted in connection with a murder in Mason City last week was taken into custody Monday afternoon in Algona. According to a release from the Mason City Police Department, an arrest warrant for 37-year-old Benjamin Gonzalez of Mason City was issued on March 31st after law enforcement began investigating the death of 36-year-old Michael Creviston. Creviston was found after a shooting was reported just west of the downtown area. Gonzalez was taken into custody around 4 P.M. Monday after law enforcement blocked off an area on the northwest side of Algona. Gonzalez was transported back to Cerro Gordo [...]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced plans for a mass vaccination site at the state fairgrounds in St. Paul next week that will have the capacity to vaccinate 100,000 Minnesotans against the coronavirus over eight weeks. The site will receive 168,000 doses of vaccine from Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson over eight weeks. The governor said the site, which will begin administering shots on April 14, will prioritize underserved communities hit hardest by the pandemic. “This site will help us protect some of the Minnesotans hardest hit by this pandemic as we continue to [...]

Update on Local COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts Weekly Update: 3/30/21 Vaccination work as of 3/27/21: • Faribault County: 4,188 individuals have received at least their first vaccination for COVID-19. 23% of the total population has received at least 1 dose. The percentage of population over age 65 in Faribault County who received their 1st dose of vaccine is 75.8% as of 03/27/2021. • Martin County: 6,275 individuals have received at least their first vaccination for COVID-19. 24% of the population has received at least 1 dose. The percentage of population over age 65 in Martin County who received their 1st dose of [...]