Category Archives: Local News

Several Area Departments Respond to Sunday Morning Business Fire in Mapleton

A fire Sunday morning destroyed a building at Ero-Guard in Mapleton, which makes straw based erosion prevention mats used on highway construction projects and other projects. Mapleton Fire Chief Ben Froehlich said a passerby called in the fire, at 412 Highway 22 South, at 9:20am. No one was injured, but one firefighter was treated for…read more »

Minnesota Adds More Jobs from December to January

Minnesota gained 3,000 jobs from December to January, meaning the state has seen job growth for nine out of the past 12 months, according to the numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Average hourly wages for all private sector workers in Minnesota increased 56 cents to $37.46 in January…read more »

Easton Telephone Company Awarded DEED Grant for Broadband Expansion

Governor Tim Walz announced over $50 million in grants to expand broadband access to an estimated 8,900 homes and businesses throughout Minnesota on Tuesday. The Easton Telephone Company is one of twenty four broadband expansion projects that will receive grants from the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development, helping deploy new…read more »

Fairmont Police Urges the Public to be on the Lookout for Counterfeit $100 Bills

The Fairmont Police Department and surrounding agencies have seen an uptick in counterfeit money, specifically counterfeit $100 bills.  The counterfeit $100 bills seem to be a 1981 series with the serial number: G20133266A. There are a number of ways to spot counterfeit currency, but not all counterfeits are blatantly obvious.  As a rule of thumb,…read more »

USDA Offers Tips to Farmers Worried About a Potential Lack of Moisture

The USDA – Midwest Climate Hub says there is important weather information for farmers in Minnesota and Iowa to keep in mind going into the growing season this April. Due to the above average temperatures this winter, which in Minnesota was one of the warmest on record according to the National Weather Service, the soil…read more »

Fire Crews Continue to Monitor Area Following Sunday Wildfire Near Waseca

Around noon on Sunday crews responded to a reported wildfire new Blowers Park. The Waseca Fire Department reports that between 1500 and 1700 acres of land burned after what the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office believes to be a manmade brushfire on a nearby private property rekindled Sunday morning. The fire department reports three injuries from…read more »