BIRD ISLAND — A 45-year-old Bird Island man was arrested Friday, Aug. 8, after Renville County Sheriff’s deputies investigated reports that he had attempted to solicit teens online.  Deputies made contact with the man around 2:41 p.m. and learned he might be in possession of child pornography. Investigators confirmed his phone contained images suspected to be child pornography.  He was booked into the Renville County Jail on probable cause for possession of child pornography. The Renville County Attorney’s Office is expected to file formal charges. 

MORGAN, Minn. — Farm policy, ag trade, renewable energy, and emerging technologies will all be in the spotlight during the 2025 Farmfest Forums, held Aug. 5–7 at the Gillfillan Estate near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. The event, organized by IDEAg Group, a subsidiary of the American Farm Bureau Federation, will host three days of panel discussions in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center.  Kicking off Tuesday, Aug. 5, a morning forum titled "How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Agriculture” will feature ag experts including Zach Johnson, known as the “Millennial Farmer,” Ken O’Brien of Corteva, and Don Scriber from TeraClear. At 10:30 a.m., a [...]

MARSHALL — National Night Out will be held at Independence Park on Tuesday, August 5, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The free event brings together community members and local law enforcement and public safety agencies.  Activities will include food, ice cream, live music, a petting zoo, inflatables, and games. A $5 meal deal will be available, featuring a hot dog, chips, cookie, and bottled water. A $5  option will also be offered with ice cream and water. Proceeds will benefit the Marshall Area Crime Fund.  The Kayko Baton Twirlers are scheduled to perform at 5:30 p.m., and the Marshall Fire Department [...]

MARSHALL — The Marshall Adult Community Center (ACC) has a full slate of events and announcements for the month of August, including participation in National Night Out, summer golf outings, and parking changes during the upcoming Sounds of Summer festival. Marshall residents are invited to National Night Out at Independence Park on Tuesday, August 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. The event features live music, food, games, a petting zoo, and more. Highlights include the Kayko Baton Twirlers at 5:30 p.m. and a fire department demonstration at 6:00 p.m. Food sales benefit the Marshall Area Crime Fund. Local law enforcement will [...]

MORGAN, Minn. — A Morgan woman has been identified as the operator in an ATV rollover accident Monday evening on private property in rural Redwood County. According to the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office, the accident was reported at 7:19 p.m. on July 28 near the 28000 block of County Highway 11. Deputies responded to the scene and found that a single ATV had rolled over. The driver, identified as Catherine Hoffbeck of Morgan, sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital. Assisting agencies included Morgan Ambulance, Morgan Fire Department, CentraCare Ambulance, and North Air Care. The incident remains under [...]

MARSHALL — With recent heavy rainfall across southwest Minnesota and more storms possible in the coming weeks, Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen is urging residents to stay alert and use available safety tools. “We’ve seen a lot of rain the last few weeks, and thankfully a dry spell is nice,” Wallen said. “The ground needs time to catch up and disperse that water. Some rivers and water holding areas are full, so any more rain could certainly result in flash floods.” He stressed the importance of avoiding flooded roadways. “We do not know what’s under the water,” he said. “It’s very [...]

WABASSO, Minn. — The Wabasso Community Celebration starts today, August 1st, with a schedule of events running through Sunday, August 3rd at various locations around the city.  Friday’s activities include city-wide rummage sales from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., a book sale at the Wabasso Public Library, and a food stand serving $5 burger and brat meals at the Community Center beginning at 5 p.m. Additional events at the Community Center include an axe throwing competition for participants aged 10 and older, a wine tasting for those 21 and over (registration required), a bean bag tournament, and a kids movie screening.  [...]

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reports the following incidents:  On Wednesday at 7:11 a.m., a traffic stop was performed near the intersection of County Road 6 and County Road 9 near Marshall. A 39-year-old Arco male was cited for driving an unregistered motor vehicle.  On Wednesday at 10:19 a.m., a domestic incident was reported near the 100 block of West 2nd Street in Balaton. A report was forwarded to SWHHS for review.  On Wednesday at 4:21 p.m., threats being made were reported near the 1800 block of 190th Avenue near Russell. A Russell female was cited for obstructing the legal process [...]

VESTA, Minn. — The City of Vesta is set to celebrate its 125th anniversary with a two-day celebration on August 1 and 2, featuring music, games, food, and family fun.  Festivities begin Friday at 5 p.m. at City Park with live music from Alan Lang, a DJ set by Bob from 7 to 10 p.m., and a pageant at 7 p.m. Attendees can enjoy old-school games, inflatables, a beer garden hosted by the Lions, and free popcorn from the city council. Night Out with the Fireman and a fireworks show by Flashing Thunder will cap off the evening. Food options include [...]

MARSHALL — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert through 5 p.m. Saturday for the entire state due to elevated levels of fine particle pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Red, or "Unhealthy," category as thick smoke from Canadian wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan continues to move across Minnesota. All regions of the state are expected to experience poor air quality at times through Saturday afternoon.  The MPCA warns that sensitive groups including children, older adults, and people with lung or heart conditions, may experience health effects. Even members of the general [...]