MARSHALL, Minn.—Marshall’s Assistant City Engineer Eric Hanson provided updates on ongoing and future infrastructure projects in the city. Hanson said the city’s largest project this year, the Hill/Charles/Minnesota project, is mostly complete but awaiting warmer weather for site restoration. “We got a little site restoration left to do there,” he said. “That would typically be a project that's rather visible.” Another high-profile project is the MnDOT Trunk Highway 19 reconstruction. Hanson noted, “The downside of fall construction is shorter days, colder weather delays, how quickly you can get that concrete placed and get it open to traffic.” Other current projects include [...]

MARSHALL, Minn.—The Southwest Minnesota Orchestra will present “Fate and the Faustian Bargain” on Sunday, October 26 at 4 p.m. at the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts in Marshall. Led by pianist and conductor Dr. Daniel Rieppel, the program explores the sacrifices artists make for creative greatness through works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Brahms. The concert features Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, with Rieppel performing his own cadenzas, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for students.

MARSHALL, Minn.—Marshall Public Schools officials say they will ask voters on Nov. 4, 2025, to approve a 10-year operating levy for the district. An operating levy is a local property tax used to fund day-to-day school needs such as teacher salaries, classroom materials, technology and utilities. According to the district’s website, the proposed levy would raise about $2 million per year (approximately $765 per student) for the schools’ general fund. The district notes this is roughly a 5% boost to its budget and would allow it to preserve existing programs and staffing – for example, keeping all current teachers, support staff [...]

Food bank officials are warning that Minnesota’s food shelves could face a severe strain if the federal government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits are delayed next month. Zach Rodvold of Second Harvest Heartland said the situation was already critical before the shutdown. “We’re already seeing lines out the door at food shelves. They’re running out of food in some places and in some cases because there is not enough to meet today’s demand. If we’re in an extended shutdown and adding tens or hundreds of thousands more people to the lines, it’s gonna create a catastrophe,” Rodvold said. Approximately 450,000 Minnesotans [...]

LYND — The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding Orion Charwood, who was last seen in the City of Lynd on October 16.  Charwood is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 220 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black “Ice Nine Kills” t-shirt.  Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office at 507-537-7666. 

MARSHALL, Minn.—United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) has awarded $12,000 in emergency relief grants to residents impacted by the July 18 flooding.  The grants, ranging from $500 to $2,000, were distributed based on each applicant’s damage, insurance coverage, and financial need, with a focus on those within the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) demographic.  Funding for the program included a $5,000 donation from Leading Edge Credit Union, additional support from the UWSWMN Board of Directors, and contributions from local donors. A panel of board and community members reviewed applications and determined awards.  The relief effort aligns with UWSWMN’s new focus [...]

MARSHALL, Minn.—Families are invited to enjoy Halloween Family Fun Day at the Lyon County Museum on Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 4 p.m. The free event will be held at the museum, located at 301 W. Lyon St. in Marshall.  Children who come dressed in costume will receive a treat bag, and activities will include a pumpkin scavenger hunt, crafts, and coloring projects. Visitors can also stop by the museum’s ice cream shop for $2 orange or root beer floats.  For more information, contact the Lyon County Museum at 507-537-6580. 

MARSHALL, Minn.—The U.S. Department of Agriculture will reopen about 2,100 county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices nationwide on Thursday to ensure farmers and ranchers can access $3 billion in aid, even as the federal government shutdown continues.  Each office will operate with two paid employees to help producers apply for loans, crop insurance, disaster assistance, and other programs. The move aims to maintain critical agricultural support during harvest season while most other federal agencies remain closed or understaffed.  Funding for the reopening will come from the Commodity Credit Corporation, which manages agricultural price support and stabilization efforts.  The decision follows growing [...]

LYND, Minn. — Camden State Park will be closed to all visitors on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25–26, for a youth deer hunt, and again on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31–Nov. 1, for an accessibility hunt. According to Park Supervisor Adam Kurtz, the closures are necessary to ensure safety and allow hunters to participate without interruption. “The park is closed for visitors, just for visitor safety and so visitors don’t unknowingly interfere with someone else’s hunt,” Kurtz said. The two hunts serve different groups of participants. “The youth deer hunt is the participants have to be youth. For the accessibility hunt, [...]