Photo: Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center MARSHALL (KMHL) – Progress continues in Marshall and Lyon County on vaccinating residents against COVID-19. Avera Marshall Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Meister told Marshall Radio this week that Lyon County has about 25 percent of its population with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. "The most vulnerable people, people 65 and older however, the numbers on that really become impressive," said Meister. "People 65 and older with at least one dose in Lyon County is 76 percent." Meister says area counties are also doing very well at getting their people [...]

MARSHALL (KMHL) - Southwest Minnesota State University has received a major commitment to create new tutoring and mentoring programs to support students at the university. SMSU announced, Tuesday, that Alumna Deeann J. Griebel has committed to provide $1.8 million for the Student Success and Advising Center scholarships at SMSU. In a press release, the university said the Student Success and Advising Center will be renamed the Deann Griebel Student Success Center to recognize Griebel's commitment to SMSU. "We are grateful for Deann's investment in our students and the trust she has placed in our faculty and staff with this gift," said [...]

BALATON (KMHL) – Balaton-based tru Shrimp has been recognized for an environmental initiative it has been working on. tru-Shrimp recently received the "Solar Impulse Efficient  Solution" label following a recent assessment from independent experts and now is joining the #1000 Solutions initiative by the Solar Impulse Foundation. To receive the label, tru Shrimp says it was thoroughly assessed by independent experts according to 5 criteria covering the topics of Feasibility, Environmental and Profitability. "We would like to thank the Solar Impulse Foundation for awarding our tru Shrimp technology its 'Efficient Solutions' Label," said President and CEO of tru Shrimp Michael Ziebell [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - Governor Tim Walz strongly hinted yesterday (Tues) that he could extend COVID closures of bars, restaurants and health clubs beyond December 18th. Walz points to the spike in the pandemic, even though a vaccine is on the horizon. "I just think I have to be as candid with Minnesotans as possible," said Gov. Walz. "Our hospitals are at the highest capacity they've been, our death rates for the last week was as high as any week in this pandemic, and our case-positivity rate is the highest it's been." However, House Republican Minority Leader Kurt Daudt offered some [...]

MARSHALL (KMHL) – With numbers of COVID-19 rapidly increasing across the region and state – the increased impact on the health care system is stressing Minnesota hospitals. "We're having to limit beds in hospitals, not because of the physical beds aren't there, but because our staff as healthcare workers are getting ill from this," said Avera Marshall Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Mesiter. "If we don't have healthcare workers, the beds are pretty useless." Meister is urging people to adhere to the governor’s new restrictions and limit social gatherings as much as possible. "With the holidays coming up, we know this [...]

MARSHALL (KMHL) – Marshall Public School officials held a community feedback session with business and community leaders focused on career and technical education programming. Marshall School District Superintendent Jeremy Williams said the discussion centered around existing job opportunities in the community that are hard to fill, what training is needed for those jobs, and how schools can help prepare students for those jobs. "Fostering business and community partnerships is an essential way to meet the needs of our community and help prepare our students for life after high school," said Williams. Community members at the meeting, said they feel there are [...]

ST. PAUL (KMHL)  --  Gov. Tim Walz announced new restrictions yesterday meant to combat surging cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota. Starting Friday, in-person service will be cut off at bars and restaurants at 10 p-m. In addition, Walz adds… "Bars and restaurants, indoor and outdoor capacity of 50 percent, no more than 150 people," said Walz. "Counters are closed for seating and service unless counter service only, patrons need to be seated at tables, and no bar games where standing is permitted," said Gov. Walz during his press conference Tuesday. In addition, Walz also announced wedding receptions and similar events are [...]

FAIRMONT (LEARFIELD) – Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) objects that Governor Tim Walz plans to nearly drain the state's disaster relief fund to compensate Minneapolis for fire damage from riots following George Floyd's death. The Republican from Fairmont says the relief fund is for *natural* disasters, and the riots could have been prevented or stopped sooner than three days. "People are adamant about do not make me pay for the cleanup for Minneapolis and St. Paul and the poor decision making of the governor and the mayor," said Rosen. Walz administration officials weren't available to comment. The federal government denied the governor's [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - COVID-19 cases are surging around the country and in Minnesota and Governor Tim Walz is expected to announce new state strategies very soon. Walz says expanded testing and continuing to wear masks and social distance will help, and he argues taking these steps is not a political act. "We do not need to accept that this is the position that we need to be in," said Walz. "And the false choice that it's the economy versus health is absolutely ludicrous," said Walz. The governor added that they have known all along that if "we want the economy [...]

MARSHALL (KMHL) – As case numbers continue to climb in southwest Minnesota Avera Marshall is announcing plans to open a drive through testing facility at Avera’s Carlson Street location. The drive through testing facility will be open from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Avera says they are offering the diagnostic testing – which will indicate if someone has a current active case of COVID. The site is solely a sample collection service – anyone who needs medical evaluation or care should be seen by a provider.