MARSHALL — The Marshall School Board is recommending a 1.11% increase in its property tax levy for 2025, raising the total to $7,971,809.32, up from $7,884,609.49 in 2024. This represents an $87,199.83 increase.  Director of Finance Sarah Kirchner explained that property tax rates would rise modestly, with residential homesteads seeing a 1.14% increase, apartments a 1.43% increase, and farms a 0.048% increase. Relief for agricultural properties will continue through the Ag2School tax credit, which remains at 70%, and residential homesteads will benefit from expanded state homestead exclusions.  Key drivers of the levy include funding for long-term facilities maintenance, community education, early [...]

MARSHALL — The Marshall City Council has approved a scaled-back redesign for the city’s new Aquatic Center, cutting costs while preserving key features. The revised plan, presented Tuesday, reduces the overall size of pools and buildings by 20-22%, bringing the project’s estimated cost to $18.98 million.  The new design includes a zero-depth entry recreational pool, a smaller lap and diving pool with four lanes, a leisure river, and one extended water slide. While additional features like a splash pad, climbing wall, and two more slides are listed as optional add-ons, they are not included in the base design.  The project will [...]

MARSHALL – Three people were injured after a two-vehicle collision on Highway 23 on Tuesday in Lyon County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 5:19 Tuesday evening, a 2014 Ram pickup was traveling northbound on Highway 23 slowly due to a prior crash. A 2002 Ford F150 was traveling southbound on Highway 23 when it spun, and the two vehicles collided. The report notes the roads were covered with snow and ice at the time of the crash.  The driver of the Ram, 59-year-old Jeffrey Carpenter of Lake Benton, and his passenger, 58-year-old Sandy Carpenter, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and [...]

WINDOM -- An Albert Lea man is dead, and several others were injured in a two-vehicle collision on Tuesday in Cottonwood County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 6:22 Tuesday evening, a 2018 Kia Sportage was traveling southbound on Highway 71 near Windom and a 2023 Buick Enclave was traveling northbound on Highway 71. Near the intersection with 510th avenue, the vehicles collided.  The driver of the Kia, 28-year-old Hunter Schwartz of Albert Lea, was taken to the Windom hospital where he died from injuries sustained in the accident. The report notes Schwartz wasn’t wearing his seat belt at [...]

JACKSON – One person was injured when their vehicle lost control on Tuesday in Jackson County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 4:48 Tuesday afternoon, a 2002 Chevy was traveling eastbound on I-90 near Jackson when the driver lost control and rolled on the snow and ice-covered roads.  The driver of the Chevy, 61-year-old Randall Raak of Edgerton, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Jackson hospital.   Assistance was provided by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackso County Ambulance, and Fire Department. 

MARSHALL – The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is calling on the public to submit creative names for its fifth annual Name a Snowplow contest. Past winners like Taylor Drift, Plowy McPlowFace, and The Big Leplowski showcase the playful spirit of the tradition. Submissions are open until noon on Friday, Dec. 20. Each person can submit one Minnesota- or winter-themed name, limited to 30 characters, via the MnDOT website. Inappropriate or political names, as well as past winners, won’t be considered.  MnDOT will review entries and invite the public to vote on finalists in January 2025. The top eight names will [...]

MARSHALL — Minnesota could see a record number of fatalities from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crashes in 2024, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  DNR spokesperson Bruce Lawrence reported that 30 people have died in ATV-related crashes this year, with a median age of 44. Of those fatalities, 23 were male operators.  Lawrence noted that many of the crashes involved ATVs being driven on roads, where vehicles either rolled over or were struck by other traffic.  “You know road use is there depending on the county where you live without restrictions. There is a handful, probably upper 30, now that allow [...]

MARSHALL -- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering grants to help livestock and specialty crop producers strengthen their operations against extreme weather.  “This grant provides funding for livestock and specialty crop producers to buy and install supplies and equipment that would make their operations more resilient against extreme weather, so that being drought, flooding, storms,” said Farm and Business Development Coordinator Courtney VanderMey.  Producers can receive up to $10,000 for projects such as water-handling equipment, wells, irrigation systems, livestock vans, misters, shade structures, or windbreaks. A 50% cash match is required for all grants.  Farmers have already put previous grant [...]

MARSHALL — A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz sold for $28 million at an auction hosted by Heritage Auctions on Saturday. Including fees, the final cost to the buyer reached $32.5 million, significantly surpassing the initial estimate of $3 million.  The live auction attracted competitive bidding, with the price quickly rising as phone bidders competed for 15 minutes. The slippers, one of four known surviving pairs from the 1939 film, are regarded as a significant piece of movie history.  The slippers were previously displayed at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, [...]

MARSHALL -- The American Red Cross is encouraging individuals to donate blood and help save lives this holiday season. Two blood drives are planned in Minnesota for tomorrow, Wednesday, December 11.  In Redwood Falls, donations will be collected at CentraCare from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In Ghent, a blood drive will take place later in the day at KB’s Bar & Grill, running from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Eligible donors must be at least 16 years old (with parental consent in some states), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good health. Blood donations can be made [...]