TRACY -- The town of Tracy, Minnesota, is set to host its 97th annual Box Car Days from August 30th to September 2nd, 2024, organized by the Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce. Friday, August 30th kicks off the festivities with the Tracy Area Chamber Burger Night at 5 p.m. followed by a Beer Pong Tournament and entertainment by Kayla Daniels under the beer tent. Saturday, August 31st begins with "Kegs & Eggs" and includes events such as a Softball Tournament, Texas Hold’em, a Farmers Market, and a Kiddie Parade. Evening highlights include the Bean Bag Tournament, the Tween Pizza, Puzzle & [...]

MARSHALL -- Marshall Food4Kids has been awarded a $7,746 Community Impact Grant by the United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN). The grant will support the organization’s weekend backpack program, providing nutritious snacks to preschool through eighth-grade students in the Marshall area. The initiative aims to combat food insecurity among local children, aligning with UWSWMN's mission to address hunger. The grant is part of UWSWMN’s broader effort to improve health, education, financial stability, and safety within its service area. This year, UWSWMN allocated a total of $181,000 to various community programs.

MARSHALL – Marshall Public Schools have entered the T-Mobile 5G Friday Night Lights Sweepstakes, a multi-tiered competition aimed at supporting student activities and high school football. The school received a $1,000 sponsorship for its initial entry in early August, putting it in the running for additional prizes, including a $5,000 weekly grant and the chance to become a finalist for a $100,000 high school grant.  The grand prize, valued at $2 million, includes a cash grant, a new scoreboard, 5G network upgrades, and an enhanced weight room. The competition is designed to engage the community, encouraging participation by sharing school spirit [...]

CLARA CITY -- A Currie man was injured after his vehicle collided with a semi on Tuesday in Clara City, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 5:32 Tuesday morning, a 2020 GMC Sierra was traveling northbound on Highway 23 and a 2015 Peterbilt semi was traveling westbound on Highway 7 when the vehicles collided in the intersection.  The driver of the GMC, 65-year-old Dale Allen Robinson of Currie, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Rice hospital.   The driver of the Peterbilt, 34-year-old Benjamin Anthony Ruther of Winsted, was not injured.  Assistance was provided by the Chippewa [...]

SANBORN – Three people were injured after their vehicle collided with a semi on Tuesday near the intersection of Highway 14 and 71 in Redwood County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. At approximately 1:38 Tuesday afternoon, a 2013 Volvo semi was starting to travel eastbound on Highway 14 and a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was traveling northbound on Highway 71 when the vehicles collided in the intersection.  The driver of the Chevy, 42-year-old Lance D. Stephens of Guthrie, OK, and his two passengers, 21-year-old Breanne Stephens of Guthrie, OK, and a 10-year-old girl from Marrieta, OH, all sustained non-life-threatening injuries and [...]

The Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners has voted to remove the historic Rapidan Dam following its failure on July 24th due to severe rains and flooding. District 2 Commissioner Vance Stuehrenberg noted that while discussions about the dam have been ongoing for five years, the recent damage has accelerated the need for action. The plan includes restoring the Blue Earth River and replacing the CSAH 9 bridge, which is vital for farm-to-market transportation. Vice Chair Kip Bruender emphasized the importance of the road for local agriculture. The county will seek federal and state funding assistance for the project.

GasBuddy's annual Labor Day travel forecast predicts that the average gas price will fall to $3.27 per gallon, the lowest for Labor Day since 2021. The downward trend is expected to continue, with a possibility of the national average dropping below $3 per gallon by Thanksgiving. The transition to winter-blend gas on September 16th is likely to further accelerate the decline in prices.

FALCON HEIGHTS -- The Minnesota State Fair saw its lowest Monday attendance in decades, with only 80,546 visitors, due to extreme heat and severe storms that caused flash flooding on the fairgrounds. The fair delayed its opening on Tuesday for cleanup efforts. Despite record-setting turnout on Thursday and Friday, Monday's attendance was the lowest for a first Monday since 1983 and one of the lowest for any non-opening day since the mid-1980s.

MARSHALL -- The Marshall City Council approved a proposal to construct a 108-unit apartment complex in the city’s general business district. The project, called Stone Meadows, will consist of three 36-unit market-rate apartment buildings on Clarice Avenue, behind the former Shopko building.  Kuepers, Inc., a development company from Brainerd, is leading the project. The council granted a conditional use permit to allow multifamily housing in the business district, following a recommendation from the Marshall Planning Commission. Concerns about potential traffic impacts were raised, but the area is expected to handle the increase.  The council also approved the introduction of the development's [...]

Minnesota's minimum wage will rise by 2.6% on January 1st, 2025, reaching $11.13 per hour. Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach noted that this increase follows a recent law change, which eliminates reduced minimum wages for small employers, youth under 18, and J-1 visa workers. “Those minimum wage workers that are working in the state are able to help keep up with inflation to really better provide for themselves and their families,” Blissenbach said. Workers who don’t see the updated wage or are currently underpaid—$8.85 for small employers and $10.85 for large employers—are encouraged to report it to the [...]