MORTON – Five people were injured after a two-vehicle collision by the corner of Highway 71 and 19 near Morton, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 7:27 Sunday evening, a 1997 GMC Sierra pickup was traveling southbound on Highway 71 and a 2009 Chrysler Town & Country minivan was traveling northbound on Highway 71 when they collided.  The driver of the Chrysler, 40-year-old David Michael Degre of Fairfax, and three passengers, 31-year-old Timothy Shawn Roth of Redwood Falls, an 11-year-old boy, and a 13-year-old boy, each sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the Centracare Hospital.   The driver [...]

MARSHALL -- Marshall Community Services will be transitioning to a new registration software system on May 1st. MCS asks area residents to create a new account in the new system for yourself, your family, or your business. To facilitate a smooth registration process, accounts should be created prior to the opening of summer registration, which begins May 1st. After creating an account, you can register for the “Online Registration Raffle” activity to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a family pool or open skate season pass.   To start your new account, visit https://com.finnlyconnect.com/ and click on [...]

MARSHALL -- A Marshall woman faces second-degree manslaughter charges in connection to the death of a five-week-old infant in September, according to Lyon County court documents. Prosecutors allege 29-year-old Heaven Lee Jones' negligence led to the infant's death. Jones claimed she fell asleep with the baby on her chest and woke to find him missing, later discovered on the floor. Despite life-saving efforts, the infant was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined positional asphyxia as the probable cause of death, further complicated by Jones testing positive for alcohol and THC. Jones appeared in court where bail was set at [...]

Columbus, OH — A student in southwest Minnesota has been named Regional Winner of the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. Caden Baune, a 4th-grade student from Red Rock Central, and 27 other students from across the nation were recognized as Regional Winners of the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. The winners come from 19 states and represent grades Kindergarten through 6th grade.  All contestants wrote the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” because it includes the entire alphabet. Judges selected winners for each level based on Zaner-Bloser’s Four Keys to Legibility: the shape, size, spacing, and slant of the letters.   [...]

On March 23rd, 2024, at approximately 9:05 PM, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash near Hwy 212 and 545th Street, about 2 miles east of Buffalo Lake, in Preston Lake Township. The driver, 20-year-old Anthony Aviles from Clara City, MN, was eastbound on Hwy 212 when his 2005 Buick Century veered into the ditch, damaging a street sign. Aviles, who was alone in the vehicle, escaped injury. However, he was suspected of impaired driving and was arrested, booked into Renville County Jail on probable cause of 3rd degree driving while impaired. Formal charges are pending from the [...]

MORTON -- On March 24th, 2024, at approximately 9:44 PM, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office responded to a sledding accident at Beaver Falls County Park, about 3 miles northwest of Morton, MN. A 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by a juvenile male from Redwood Falls, MN, was towing two sleds, each with a rider. One rider, 19-year-old Mario Sanchez-Salinas, hit a tree after going down an embankment. Sanchez-Salinas was taken to CentraCare – Redwood Hospital with serious injuries, while the other rider, 18-year-old Kohen Prescott, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital by private vehicle. Assisting at the scene were [...]

GRANITE FALLS – The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man that was found in the Minnesota River on Tuesday. 65-year-old David Drown was recovered by emergency personnel at approximately 11:50 Tuesday morning after a passerby observed a body in the water.   According to the medical examiner, Drown died from an apparent suicide by hanging. The investigation is active and ongoing. If you or a loved one is at risk of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MN to 741741.  

GRANITE FALLS -- The Granite Falls Police Department is investigating a body found in the Minnesota River near Highways 212 and 23. Responding to a 911 call, officers arrived around 11:50 a.m. Investigators currently deem the death non-suspicious with no public danger. If you have any information about this incident, contact the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office at 320-564-2129. The body is undergoing an examination by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office to determine identification and cause of death. Assistance was provided by the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Further updates will follow the preliminary [...]

JEFFERS – A Slayton man was injured after his semi collided with another semi on Monday in Cottonwood County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 1:11 Monday afternoon, a 2003 Peterbilt semi was pulling a trailer and traveling eastbound on Highway 30, while a 1994 Peterbilt semi was pulling a trailer and traveling northbound on US Highway 71. The vehicles collided in the intersection.  The driver of the 1994 Peterbilt, 23-year-old Mitchell James Bonnstetter of Slayton, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Windom hospital. The report notes Bonnstetter was not wearing his seat belt.   The driver [...]

DAWSON -- The identities of two men that were involved in a fatal traffic incident in Lac Qui Parle County have been released by the Minnesota State Patrol.  At approximately 10:34 Sunday evening, 68-year-old Steven Michael Schanning of Gary, SD was traveling southbound on Highway 75 and 48-year-old Jonathan Edward Kallemeyn of Lake Benton was attempting to turn onto Highway 75 from 180th Street when they collided.  Schanning was transported to the Dawson hospital where he died from injuries sustained in the accident. Kalleymeyn sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.  Assistance was provided by the Lac Qui Parle County [...]