JASPER -- Two people were injured in a two-vehicle collision on Saturday in Pipestone County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 5:51 Saturday afternoon, a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound on Highway 23 and a 2014 Subaru Forester was traveling eastbound on Highway 269 when they collided.  The driver of the Jeep, 50-year-old Kimberly Ann Jones of Rosemount, and her passenger, a 17-year-old boy from Rosemount, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the Pipestone hospital.  The driver of the Subaru, 19-year-old Joseph Tyler Just of Kensington, CT, was not injured.  Assistance was provided by the Pipestone [...]

SANBORN -- A Sanborn woman was injured after a two-vehicle collision on Sunday in Redwood County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 5:53 Sunday afternoon, a 2016 Ford Explorer and a 2015 Ford Expedition were both traveling northbound on Highway 71 in Willow Lake Township when they collided in a rear-end crash.  The driver of the Expedition, 41-year-old Lois Jean Sauck of Sanborn, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Redwood hospital. The report notes that Sauck was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the Explorer, 37-year-old Christa Kathleen Schilling [...]

Communities across Minnesota are celebrating Veterans Day today with ceremonies and events honoring those who served in the military. State Veterans Affairs Commissioner Brad Lindsay expressed gratitude to veterans, noting, "We're grateful for our veterans who were willing to raise their right hand and committed to serve and defend the nation by being part of our armed forces." The state's main Veterans Day ceremony and breakfast was set to take place this morning in Arden Hills, with Lindsay sharing plans to bring the event to different locations across Minnesota in future years. Meanwhile, Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a warning to [...]

RUSSELL -- On Sunday, a fire erupted at the old elevator site along Front Street in Russell, Minnesota. The Lyon County Sheriff's Office received the report at 9:18 a.m., and deputies, along with the Russell Fire Department and Russell First Responders, arrived on scene to find one of the elevator buildings in flames.  The Russell Fire Department received substantial support from fire departments across the region, including crews from Balaton, Tracy, Lynd, Ghent, Minneota, Taunton, Cottonwood, Garvin, Marshall, Tyler, Chandler, and Lake Wilson. The Balaton Ambulance team also provided on-site assistance to firefighters, ensuring their safety and well-being.  The Lyon County [...]

WINDOM – One person is dead and another in critical condition after their vehicle collided with a semi on Thursday in Cottonwood County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 6:35 Thursday evening, a 2007 Peterbilt semi was traveling westbound on Highway 60 in Windom and a 2016 Ford Edge was traveling southbound on Cindy Street when the vehicles collided in a T-bone crash.  The driver of the Ford, 76-year-old Terry Lee Fredin of Windom, died from injuries sustained in the accident. His passenger, 78-year-old Karen Jean Fredin of Windom, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Sanford Hospital [...]

PIPESTONE COUNTY -- An Edgerton man has been charged with second-degree murder following a fatal incident at an Edgerton residence on November 2nd. According to a criminal complaint filed on Nov. 5, Pipestone County deputies responded to a possible domestic assault after the property owner reported receiving a message from 35-year-old Joseph James Benson, indicating he had killed his girlfriend, who was house-sitting with him.  Upon arrival, officers found Benson with scratches on his face and arms, which he attributed to his girlfriend. He informed them, "there’s a dead body upstairs," leading officers to discover the victim unresponsive in a bathroom [...]

RAMSEY COUNTY -- A Granite Falls man, Keanu Avery Labatte, 20, was sentenced on Monday to 90 months in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct for holding his girlfriend captive and assaulting her in a St. Catherine University dorm room in September 2023. Labatte will receive credit for 16 days of time served and must register as a sex offender for life. Additionally, he is prohibited from contacting the victim under a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order. According to court documents, Labatte visited the university to see his girlfriend, but after seeing messages on her phone, he launched [...]

DELHI -- A Redwood Falls woman was hospitalized after a one-vehicle crash in Redwood County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 5:55 Wednesday morning, a 2009 Ford Focus was traveling northbound on County Road 6 in Delhi Township approaching Highway 19. The intersection was not visible due to the dense fog, and the vehicle went through the T-intersection and crashed into a field.  The driver of the Ford, 32-year-old Amanda Lyne Hopkins-Madden of Redwood Falls, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Redwood Falls Hospital.  Assistance was provided by the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office and CentraCare Ambulance. 

Amiret Township  Town Supervisor Seat 1: Travis Prill (Nonpartisan) led with 91.59% (98 votes), write-ins held 8.41% (9 votes).  Town Supervisor Seat 2: Ben Ludeman (Nonpartisan) received all votes (100%, 113 votes).  Town Clerk: Tonya Ormberg (Nonpartisan) won with 97.3% (108 votes), while write-ins totaled 2.7% (3 votes).  Mayor Races  Balaton: Lonnie Lambertus (Nonpartisan) received 84.21% (256 votes), with 15.79% (48 votes) going to write-ins.  Cottonwood: Corey E. Moseng (Nonpartisan) won with 93.45% (571 votes), and write-ins received 6.55% (40 votes).  Florence: Susan Johnson (Nonpartisan) achieved 93.75% (15 votes), with write-ins making up 6.25% (1 vote).  Garvin: Jim Julien (Nonpartisan) secured [...]

In a recent vote on School District Question 1, residents of the Russell Tyler Ruthton (ISD #2902) area rejected a $20 million bond proposal aimed at improving school facilities. With all eight precincts reporting, the results showed 34.67% in favor (207 votes) and 65.33% opposed (390 votes). The bond, if approved, would have funded significant upgrades, including new classrooms, an elementary music room, a full-size gymnasium meeting storm shelter standards, and expanded fitness and restroom facilities. Additionally, plans included converting the existing fitness room into a guidance and career exploration center. However, the measure required a property tax increase, which may [...]