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 [...]

MURRAY COUNTY -- Murray County election results are in, with 100% of precincts reporting. Voters selected officials for County Commissioner seats and Soil and Water Supervisor positions. In County Commissioner District 1, Loy Woelber secured the seat with 844 votes (99.29%), while write-ins accounted for 0.71%. District 2 saw Mark K. Carlson emerge victorious with 725 votes (75.92%), defeating Trevor J. Humphrey, who received 227 votes (23.77%). In District 5, Roger Zins won with 527 votes (68.8%) over Randy Donahue, who garnered 237 votes (30.94%). For the Soil and Water Supervisor positions, all candidates ran unopposed. Jason Miller won the special [...]

LYON COUNTY -- Lyon County voters made their selections for key local positions, with three County Commissioner seats and several Soil and Water Supervisor roles on the ballot. In District 2, Todd Draper won the County Commissioner seat with 2,104 votes (99.39%), with write-ins receiving 0.61%. District 4 saw Gary Crowley elected with 2,600 votes (99.35%). In District 5, Rick Anderson narrowly defeated Tom Chandler, earning 1,263 votes (52.54%) to Chandler’s 1,134 (47.17%). For Soil and Water Supervisor roles, all candidates ran unopposed. Gary Laleman won in District 1 with 10,884 votes (99.57%), Mason Johnson took District 3 with 10,623 votes [...]

MARSHALL -- In Marshall's recent city election, incumbent Bob Byrnes was re-elected as mayor with a commanding 72.14% of the vote, totaling 4,264 votes. His opponent, Noel H. Ayala, garnered 1,595 votes (26.98%), while write-in candidates received 52 votes, or 0.88%. In Ward 1, Amanda Schroeder was elected as council member with 1,514 votes, securing 98.7% of the vote. Write-ins accounted for 1.3%. Ward 2 saw a closer race, with Amanda Schwartz leading with 1,039 votes (44.77%). David E. Sturrock received 705 votes (30.37%), and Dereck C. Deutz followed with 573 votes (24.69%). In Ward 3, James Lozinski was re-elected as [...]

MARSHALL -- In the recent election for the Marshall School District No. 413 school board, three candidates were chosen to fill seats on the board. With all 15 precincts reporting, the results show Matt Coleman as the top vote-getter, receiving 3,861 votes, or 24.41% of the total. Mary Swanson followed with 2,852 votes (18.03%), and Timothy Van Moer secured the third spot with 2,590 votes (16.37%). Other candidates included Anne Marie Vorbach, who garnered 2,461 votes (15.56%), Anne Veldhuisen with 2,259 votes (14.28%), and Charlotte Wahle with 1,694 votes (10.71%). Write-in candidates accounted for 103 votes, representing 0.65% of the total.