Man unhurt in crash near W’bago

BLUE EARTH — An Amboy man was not injured after his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a dump truck Monday southwest of Winnebago.

According to the Faribault County Sheriff’s Office:

The accident occurred at 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of 170th Street and 330th Avenue.

Terry Ochsendorf, 51, of Amboy was driving west on 170th Street when his vehicle veered into the eastbound lane, colliding with the dump truck.

When law enforcement arrived on the scene, both drivers were found uninjured and later released from the scene.

Officials say distracted driving is believed to be a factor in the crash.

Blue Earth received SMIF grant

OWATONNA — Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation recently approved six grants totaling $48,800 to support small towns of 5,000 or less in SMIF’s 20-county region.

The Small Town Grant Program seeks to build sustainable and vibrant communities by engaging community members, enhancing existing leadership and creating opportunities for new leadership to emerge.

Rather than funding one-time projects, the program seeks to build collaborative efforts and partnerships that will perpetuate collaboration for future work.

The 2019 grant recipients include:

o $10,000 to Amboy Area Community Club to create a visionary plan for the continued viability of the historic downtown area.

o $7,500 to Blue Earth Economic Development Authority to support SHOP Blue Earth, which will provide local high school students with resources to learn more about career options in the community.

For more information on SMIF’s grant-making, contact Jennifer Heien at jenniferh@smifoundation.org or (507) 214-7040.

Police: Suspect nabbed in Georgia

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Georgia authorities have found a man suspected in an Iowa slaying.

Fort Dodge police say in a news release that 19-year-old Damion Chavez was spotted by a sheriff’s deputy in Lowndes County, Georgia, on Saturday in a vehicle on Interstate 75. The vehicle was pulled over and Chavez was arrested without incident. Two other people in the vehicle were released.

Arrangements are being made to have Chavez returned to Iowa.

Fort Dodge police say Chavez has been charged with robbery and first-degree murder in the slaying of 28-year-old Mohammed Yaqoub, who lived in Sioux Falls.