RUSSELL, Minn. — The city of Russell will hold its annual Bandwagon Days festival from June 6 to 8, 2025. On Friday, activities begin at 5:00 p.m. with inflatables at the school park and a free Ranch Rodeo at 6:30 p.m. Concession stands will be open.  Saturday features a full schedule starting at 9:00 a.m., including a kickball tournament, vendor fair, kid’s tractor pull, and hog roast. Other events during the day include bingo, face painting, and a raffle. The Bierema Rodeo Bull Riding and Mini Bull Riding event is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — The American Red Cross is urging Minnesotans to donate blood as supplies typically decline during the busy summer months.  "We are really depending on Minnesotans to come out and give," said Minnesota Red Cross spokeswoman Sue Thesenga.  Thesenga emphasized the importance of consistent donations. "The Red Cross needs to collect more than 13,000 blood donations every day," she said, noting the organization is the nation’s largest provider of blood products and services to 2,600 hospitals nationwide.  "You can safely donate blood every 56 days. So, a lot of times donors donate once or twice a year, and that [...]

ST PAUL, Minn. — Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders have signed an agreement to eliminate health care coverage for undocumented adults, but how that move will be enacted remains unsettled. DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy insists the policy change should be addressed in a standalone bill. "It is my continued contingent and belief which I have expressed clearly that if it's going to pass, it will have to pass separately. I think the agreement that we reached means we have to pass it but the only way to pass it is in a separate bill."  Republican House Speaker Lisa [...]

MARSHALL — The Lyon County Soil & Water Conservation District has secured two grants from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) as part of a $3.1 million statewide initiative to improve water quality and build landscape resilience against increasingly severe weather events.  The funding comes from the Water Quality and Storage Program, which supports projects that enhance water storage capacity and reduce flood risks in vulnerable areas. Lyon County is one of six local governments receiving funding in this round of grants.  “Adding more water storage to Minnesota’s landscapes helps communities better prepare for flooding and the associated [...]

SAINT PAUL – Minnesota youth with a passion for agriculture are invited to test their crop science knowledge at the 2025 4-H/FFA Crop Scouting Contest, taking place Monday, July 28, on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus.  Open to both 4-H and FFA members, the hands-on competition features field-based stations where teams identify pests, diagnose plant diseases, analyze soils, and more, mimicking real-world tasks of crop scouts and agronomists. The event offers a practical introduction to careers in agriculture and natural resources.  Registration is open through June 15, and teams may be formed from 4-H, FFA, or both. A virtual [...]

MARSHALL -- North Bruce Street is closed today, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, from Willow Lane to Birch Street starting at 8 a.m., weather permitting. City crews and contractors are completing final street repairs related to a previous watermain break in the area.  The work is expected to be completed by the end of the day. During the closure, drivers can use Willow Lane and Birch Street as detour routes.  For any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at 507-537-6773. 

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Trump Administration has named Kurt Blomgren as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Minnesota. Blomgren, a lifelong farmer from Butterfield, officially assumed the role on May 5.  A fourth-generation farmer, Blomgren operates a crop and livestock farm with his family and brings decades of experience in agriculture and local leadership. He has been active in the Minnesota Farm Bureau for 27 years and held several committee and board positions.  As SED, Blomgren will oversee the administration of FSA programs across Minnesota, including those supporting commodity crops, conservation, disaster assistance, [...]

MARSHALL — The Minnesota National Guard will honor approximately 70 Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery Regiment with a pre-deployment ceremony today, Wednesday, May 28, at 5:00 p.m. at the Red Baron Arena and Expo Center in Marshall. Doors open at 4:00 p.m., and limited seating is available. The hour-long program will include remarks from elected officials and military leadership. According to First Sergeant Ryan Brunsvold, "It’s going to be a scripted program... it will be about an hour long with different speeches given from various levels." For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be [...]

MARSHALL — Residents throughout southwest Minnesota will come together this weekend to honor U.S. military members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. In Marshall, the American Legion post will lead Monday morning observances at area cemeteries, starting at 8 a.m. at Lynd Cemetery. Services will follow at Green Valley Cemetery (8:45 a.m.), Marshall Cemetery (9:30 a.m.), and Calvary Catholic Cemetery (10 a.m.). The day’s main program will begin at 11 a.m. at the Liberty Park band shell, featuring keynote speaker Victor Gades and a special tribute to veterans who passed away over the past year. Balaton will [...]

MARSHALL — Local officials, community members, and project partners gathered Tuesday, May 20, to mark the dedication of the Marshall Solar Plus (MSP) project, a renewable energy facility combining 10 megawatts (MW) of solar generation with 5 MW of battery storage. Located on 78 acres in Lyon County, the facility includes approximately 21,000 photovoltaic panels across 55 acres and an integrated energy-storage system. The combined components are expected to provide up to 15 MW of capacity and generate around 21,000 megawatt-hours annually—an amount estimated to power about 2,000 homes. MSP is owned by Marshall Solar Plus, LLC, a subsidiary of the [...]