An American Legion Riders Chapter 56 tradition will look a little different this year amid the pandemic. Members started taking commemorative coins to veterans in senior living facilities but with the loss of the in-person contact this year, the riders say they will be sending them to senior homes in Albert Lea, Blooming Prairie, New … Read more
Plans to transform the Marketplace Foods building at Skyline Plaza into a housing subdivision are moving forward. The Albert Lea City Council on Monday approved a new tax increment finance district and plan for the redevelopment of the property into one- and two-bedroom units. Construction is anticipated to start in May 2021 and be completed … Read more
NORTHWOOD – A Northwood woman who pretended she had cancer in order to get free gifts has pleaded guilty. Police say 43-year-old Jennifer Mikesell received a bedroom makeover from the non-profit group My Happy Heaven, as well as money. She could face up to 25 years in prison. -0-
A 24 year old Austin man busted in an undercover child sex sting accepted a plea deal in the case. Shadow Hawk Mallan, accused of soliciting sex from a child at an online site set up by undercover police, was sentenced to 10 years of probation Friday in Mower County District Court. He received credit … Read more
A South Dakota man facing multiple theft charges made his first court appearance in Mower County District Court recently. Police arrested Edward Arnold Clay, 35, after he was spotted stealing items from cars in the Austin Hy-Vee parking lot last week (Nov. 2), where officers allegedly found multiple stolen items inside a vehicle reportedly stolen … Read more
WASECA – A service outage left Mediacom customers throughout a wide area of the state without power Monday. The outage began about 9:30 a.m. when a fiber line was accidentally cut by another company, a Mediacom technical support specialist said. -0-
While some will be limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple events are still planned for Veterans Day in the area. The ceremony typically inside the Freeborn County courthouse will not take place this year due to pandemic restrictions, there will still be an outdoor ceremony in front of the courthouse, 411 S. Broadway Ave. … Read more
Freeborn County residents voted Tuesday to deny an Albert Lea Area Schools referendum that would have increased its operating levy from $573.74 per pupil to $714.67. Out of the votes counted, 6,906 voters cast their ballot against the levy, while 3,994 voters cast in favor. -0-
NORTHWOOD, Iowa – A Mason City man is facing charges in the death of a Worth County rollerblader. Luke J. Beenken, 44, pleaded not guilty and waived his right to a jury trial, but a judge ruled Monday that Beenken was guilty of homicide by vehicle. -0-
AUSTIN, Minn. – Four of five people arrested in February drug raids have now been sentenced. Austin police say they raided two apartments in the 100 block of 2nd Avenue SE on February 20, finding meth and marijuana. That led to charges against Jerry Hoy, Andrew Alexander, Kody Larson, Kelvin Cotton, and Kron Stevenson. -0-