News

WINDOM, Minn. (AP) — An Iowa pork producer says it it will not keep more than 1,000 employees at a bankrupt Minnesota plant if a judge approves its winning bid to purchase the business. Premium Iowa Pork, based in Hospers, Iowa, bid $13 million to buy the slaughterhouse in Windom, which is the largest employer in the southwestern Minnesota town. The plant was scheduled to close Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Stacey Ashley, a spokesperson for HyLife, which owns the Windom plant, confirmed in an email that the company had a buyer, pending court approval. She also confirmed Premium Iowa Pork [...]

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) — Surrounded by dozens of cheering people in green clothes, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21 starting in August, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults. “This has been a long journey with a lot of folks involved,” Walz said. Among them was one of the first governors in the U.S. to openly support marijuana legalization. “For me personally, it’s very wonderful to see a dream of yours over 20 years ago finally happen today, and I’m still alive to see [...]

There will be a training session for anyone that is interested in becoming a CREST volunteer and the opportunity to meet seniors and brighten their lives. The training will be held on Tuesday, June 6th at 6:30pm at the CREST offices, located at 820 Winnebago Avenue, Suite 2 in Fairmont. CREST volunteers provide “Live In Home Services” such as friendly visiting, telephone reassurance, home helper, minor home repair, transportation, and respite care. Your time with area seniors will make a difference in their lives and enhance yours as well. The need for volunteers at CREST continues to grow, so if you’re [...]

At 3:56 pm Friday,  a two vehicle accident on Sailor Street and East 8th Street in Blue Earth resulted in non-life threatening injuries to the persons who were involved. According to a Minnesota State Patrol report: A 2021 Ford Explorer driven by a male Fairmont Police Officer, age 23, of Fairmont, was in pursuit of a 2020 Hyundai SUV driven by a female pursuit suspect, age 47, of Cleveland, Ohio, in the City of Blue Earth. The suspect’s vehicle made a u-turn and struck the police squad vehicle.  Both the police officer and the pursuit suspect were transported to Blue Earth [...]

The Memorial Day festivities in Fairmont begin with flag raising at Veteran's Park at 9:30 a.m. A parade will follow, going up Prairie Avenue to the Martin County Veterans Memorial on Winnebago Avenue. The program begins approximately 10:30 a.m.

On May 14th at 10:45 P.M., a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in the crosswalk at Downtown Plaza and 3rd Street in Fairmont. Upon arrival by first responders, it became obvious that the victim had been struck by a vehicle. The suspect vehicle was not at the scene. Ambulance and Air launch was requested, and the victim was airlifted to  St. Marys Hospital in Rochester with serious injuries. Through investigation, officers were able to identify a suspect of the driver of the vehicle. The driver gave a written statement that they did not know what they hit and did not [...]

On Sunday, May 14 at approximately 10:43 pm, Fairmont Police officers responded to a report of a person sleeping in the roadway in the area of Downtown Plaza and 3rd Street in Fairmont. An officer arrived shortly after and quickly determined a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and Mayo Clinic Ambulance responded to assist. The vehicle involved had left the scene.   The victim is a 70-year-old male Fairmont resident who transported to Mayo Clinic Health System Fairmont, then immediately flown via helicopter to Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester where he is currently listed in critical condition. The name [...]

Federated Rural Electric Trust awards scholarships to 9 local graduates   (Jackson, Minn.) -- Nine area graduates have a diploma in one hand and a Federated scholarship in the other. The Federated Rural Electric Trust recently awarded nine $700 scholarships. One scholarship was awarded in each of the six Federated districts, plus three more to the son/daughter of a Federated member for District At-Large where remaining applicants had a second chance to win. These are the same districts used for the co-op’s director elections. The recipients from each district are listed: District 1: Carter Johnson, Lakefield. He graduates from Jackson County [...]