Breaking News

Local News

Facilities and equipment top preliminary budget talks

FAIRMONT—The Fairmont City Council held a workshop on Wednesday to begin discussion about the 2027 budget. The preliminary budget does not need to be set until September and the final budget and levy won’t be adopted until December. In the two hours allowed for the meeting, council did not get through the entire agenda. Council members Wayne Hasek and Jay Maynard were absent for the budget meeting. To start the meeting, Finance Director, Paul Hoye provided a draft of the five year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) but said they would focus on projects outlined in 2027 for the purpose ...

Schools transition to new athletic schedules

MARTIN COUNTY – Martin County schools in the Big South and Tomahawk-Valley conferences are going through changes as they move to the Bound system for athletic schedules. Fairmont Activities Director Mat Mahoney said having an online schedule where people can see dates, times and locations ...

Local providers feeling chiropractic adjustments

FAIRMONT – For the past six months, adults on Minnesota Medical Assistance ages 21 and older, and the providers that treated them, have been dealing with a change that removes chiropractic care from this coverage. Dr. Scott Burtis of Burtis Chiropractic in Fairmont said people commonly come in to have their backs and necks worked on, and his practice also includes nutritional consultations. He had heard early in 2025 from the Minnesota Chiropractic Association that this was a possibility, and then that it had passed during that year's legislative session. In his 38 years of ...

Truman City Council, School Board meet Aug. 17

TRUMAN — Truman Active Living will host a farmers market from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, in the northern parking lot of the Truman Tavern. Vendors are welcome. For any questions, call Nancy Salic at (507) 236-1314, Pat Jones at (507) 236-4433 or Joni Sandwick at (507) 236-5404. ...

Housing remains focus for FEDA

FAIRMONT— The Fairmont Economic Development Authority (FEDA) continued to talk about housing during its meeting on Monday. Economic Development Coordinator, Ned Koppen, presented the executive summary from Bowen National research on the recent housing study that was done. He said in total it was a 250 page document and that a two page summary doesn’t provide a lot of clarity, but he hit the high points of the study that stood out to him. “The housing gap over five years, 400-plus total units,” Koppen said. “Our largest age group projected growth is going to be ...

AI, cell phones a part of new handbook changes

FAIRMONT – Multiple handbook changes, including regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI), cell phone usage and dress code, were approved at Tuesday’s Fairmont School Board meeting. On a case-by-case basis, AI could potentially be used for assistance on class assignments at the junior/senior high school level. Principal Chad Brusky said they will be deploying a green/yellow/red matrix starting this year. “If it's a green assignment, we encourage you to use AI to quiz yourself or seek deeper understanding,” he said. “A yellow is that it can be a resource, but work has to be ...