WOOD LAKE, Minn. — The Wood Lake Fair returns today for three days of community activities and entertainment, continuing traditions that date back to the fair’s founding in 1935.  The fair runs Aug. 24-26 and will feature the Midwest Rides Carnival, bingo, the Wood Lake hamburger stand, fair exhibits and free entertainment throughout the week.  Monday’s activities include a scavenger hunt beginning at 4 p.m., exhibit entries and a coloring contest at the Community Center, and the Little Scrapper’s Kid’s Tractor Pedal Pull. The Wood Lake Fire Department will hold water fights and raffle drawings at 6 p.m., followed by music from North [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — Three longtime Marshall Hy-Vee employees will be honored today by having their pictures featured on a Hy-Vee semi-trailer.  The unveiling is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. at the Marshall Hy-Vee at 900 East Main Street.  The employees being recognized for more than 40 years of service are bakery clerk Sylvia Nenortas, meat clerk Tom Pickering and recently retired food service manager Michael Schultz.  Hy-Vee has a tradition of recognizing longtime employees by featuring their photos on semi-truck wraps. The employees will be on hand for the unveiling, which will also include opportunities for photos and interviews. 

BOON LAKE TWP, Minn. — A 24-year-old Hector woman suffered minor injuries in a single-vehicle crash Sunday morning in Boon Lake Township.  The Renville County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 5:52 a.m. on County Road 20 near 870th Avenue, about 10 miles northeast of Buffalo Lake.  Lexus Salazar was driving a 2002 Acura RSX northbound when she entered a curve and crossed into the oncoming lane. She overcorrected, causing the vehicle to skid across both lanes and into the east ditch.  Salazar was out of the vehicle when responders arrived and was treated for minor injuries at the scene [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — A juvenile female was injured Friday afternoon after a vehicle collided with her while she was riding an electric scooter in Marshall.  According to the Marshall Police Department, the crash happened around 1:23 p.m. Friday near the intersection of East College Drive and Mustang Trail. The juvenile was not wearing a helmet and was transported to Avera Marshall Hospital with a possible injury.  The electric scooter sustained minor damage. Police did not provide additional information about the driver or the extent of the juvenile’s injuries. 

MARSHALL, Minn. — A Marshall man was arrested early Saturday morning on charges of domestic assault, kidnapping and false imprisonment. Josh Paul Davis was arrested at about 2:55 a.m. Saturday at the 1100 block of Birch Street in Marshall. According to the Lyon County Jail roster, Davis was booked at 3:55 a.m. Saturday by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held for court on misdemeanor domestic assault, kidnapping and false imprisonment charges. The domestic assault charge alleges an act committed to cause fear of immediate bodily harm or death. The kidnapping charge alleges confining or removing a person without [...]

Five Minnesota volunteer fire departments, including four in southwest Minnesota, are receiving $10,000 grants through the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program. The Bird Island, Maynard, Murdock and Ormsby fire departments are among 150 volunteer departments nationwide receiving grants this year. Bemidji Fire Department Station 3 is the other Minnesota recipient. The program, conducted by State Farm in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council, provided $1.5 million in grants this year to help departments purchase equipment to improve firefighter safety and emergency response. Grant funds can be used for equipment including personal protective gear, EMS and rescue tools, communication [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public feedback on its updated vegetation management plan for Lake Shaokatan in Lincoln County. The plan, first developed in 2016, establishes when herbicide treatment of native aquatic vegetation can occur. Each year, DNR staff conduct a point-intercept survey at about 200 locations across the lake. Treatment is allowed if at least 85% of the survey points show common or abundant vegetation. If the level is below 85%, treatment is not allowed. Nate Hodgins, DNR regional assistant fisheries manager, said the plan was created to balance recreational access with the habitat [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — Several parking lots and streets in Marshall will be closed this week for the Sounds of Summer celebration. The Splash Aquatic Center parking lot will close Wednesday at 4 p.m. and remain closed through Sunday at 6 p.m. The west portion of the lot will remain open with access from Greeley Street. Saratoga Street between West College Drive and Greeley Street, along with Greeley Street between Saratoga Street and Lawrence Street, will close Friday at 2 p.m. through Sunday at 7 a.m. Additional closures will be in place Saturday for the Sounds of Summer parade. East Lyon Street [...]

The Minnesota Farmers Union is making conservation funding a top priority as work continues on the next farm bill. MFU Vice President Anne Schwagerl says members will continue pressing lawmakers during the August recess to protect funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP. “Really advocating strongly for the things that we care most about, namely, I want to protect the conservation dollars that are in (the Environmental Quality Incentives Program). Our bread and butter of federal conservation funding, and not rob Peter to pay Paul and move that out into other programs.” Schwagerl says many farmers, including her own [...]

A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s effort to obtain unredacted Minnesota voter rolls.  U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit Monday, ruling federal law does not give the federal government authority to demand the records.  The DOJ sought voter information including birth dates and partial Social Security numbers. Menendez rejected arguments based on the Civil Rights Act and Help America Vote Act.  The Justice Department says it disagrees with the decision and is considering its next steps.