MARSHALL -- The Marshall Area YMCA will host a Model Airplane Show this Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Presented by the Marshall Radio Control Club, the event offers free admission for spectators and a $10 entry fee for participants, regardless of the number of planes.  Held at 200 South A Street in Marshall, the show will feature radio-controlled model airplanes from across Southwest Minnesota, Southeast South Dakota, and Northwest Iowa. Highlights include flight simulators, videos, and competitive plaques for categories such as Best Scale Plane, Best Sport Plane, Best Paint, Best Iron-on Covering, and Best of Show.  Participants must [...]

MARSHALL -- A community spring cleaning event is scheduled for Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, at 6:00 p.m. at Independence Park, 1200 East Lyon St. Participants will meet at the large shelter to help clean up the park.  The event is organized by the Lyon County Democrats and is open to the public. Trash bags will be provided; attendees are encouraged to bring their own work gloves. 

IVANHOE, MN — A fire early Friday morning severely damaged the roof and upper floor of a building at the corner of North Norman Street and West Saxon Street in Ivanhoe. Although there were no reported injuries, the blaze required assistance from multiple area fire departments to bring it under control.  The building, formerly home to a local café, was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire. The Ivanhoe Fire Department was paged around 12:15 a.m. after a caller reported seeing flames coming from the roof. Crews worked from both inside and outside the building to contain the blaze and [...]

GHENT, MN  — A Marshall man died Friday evening in a tree cutting accident in Ghent, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Monday.  Authorities said 42-year-old Miguel Antonio Ramirez-Monterroso was helping cut a tree in the 300 block of West Burlingame Street when he was struck by a branch. Bystanders called 911 after noticing something was wrong.  Firefighters brought Ramirez-Monterroso down from the tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sheriff Eric Wallen. 

Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis resided. The pontiff had recently returned from a 38-day hospitalization for double pneumonia.  Elected in 2013, Francis led the Catholic Church for over 12 years, emphasizing humility, inclusivity, and social justice. He was known for advocating for the poor, promoting interfaith dialogue, and addressing global issues such as climate change and LGBTQ+ rights.  While celebrated for his progressive stances, Francis faced criticism from [...]

MARSHALL -- As the school year winds down, the City of Marshall’s Community Education Department is ramping up for a packed summer of classes and activities.  Community Education Coordinator Jasmine DeSmet says the transition from spring to summer programming is well underway, with just one class left in the spring session: an Ice Cream Science class on May 12 at 3:30 p.m. “They make all kinds of different flavors of ice cream and you get to bring it home,” she said.  The summer brochure preview will be available online starting Monday, April 21, with physical copies expected by April 23. Swim [...]

FAIRFAX -- A Balaton woman was injured in a two-vehicle collision on Wednesday in Renville County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 6:55 Wednesday evening, a 2022 Infiniti QX60 was traveling northbound on Highway 4 and a 2015 Buick Enclave was traveling westbound on Highway 19 when the vehicles collided.  The driver of the Buick, 23-year-old Logan Sherman of Balaton, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the CentraCare Hospital in Redwood Falls.  The driver of the Infiniti, 56-year-old Warren Lochner of Montrose, was not injured.  Assistance was provided by the Fairfax Police Department, Fairfax Fire Department, and Fairfax [...]

MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota State University President Kumara Jayasuriya will retire on May 15, 2025, following six years of leadership focused on enrollment growth, academic innovation, and community partnerships. In a message to the campus community, Jayasuriya reflected on the university’s progress during his tenure, including a nearly 20% increase in enrollment, the highest fall enrollment in 14 years, and significant fundraising milestones—nearly $24 million raised toward a $30 million campaign. He also highlighted the addition of new academic programs, expanded partnerships with regional industries, and major campus renovations. Jayasuriya joined SMSU in 2019 after holding leadership and faculty roles at [...]

TRACY, MN — A Marshall man armed with a handgun was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon after making public threats, prompting a lockdown of local schools and a coordinated search involving multiple law enforcement agencies in Tracy. The Tracy Police Department received the initial report around 4:06 p.m. on April 15. When the suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Alec Joseph Jahn of Marshall, was not immediately found, officers from multiple agencies were dispatched for assistance and joined the search effort.  Tracy Elementary School, Tracy Kids World, and Tracy High School were placed on lockdown as a precaution.  Jahn was located hiding [...]

MARSHALL — The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) has condemned the arrest of Aditya Wahyu Harsono, a hospital employee detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center, where MNA represents staff. Harsono, an Indonesian national and recent graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University, was working legally under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. His F-1 student visa, valid through 2026, was revoked without notice on March 23. He was arrested four days later. In a statement issued this week, the MNA Board of Directors reiterated that nurses have no role in immigration enforcement and expressed concern [...]