Foundation accepting applications

FAIRMONT — Martin County Area Foundation has announced the start of its 2020 competitive grant cycle.

The foundation will accept applications from eligible organizations from March 1 through May 31. It also accepts inquiries year-round for emergencies or high need. Those interested may refer to the grant guidelines and application form at https://fairmont.org/faf. For more information, contact the foundation’s administrative staff at (507) 235- 5547.

Martin County Area Foundation is a community endowment founded in 1993 by a group of community residents and established by a matching grant from the Mickelson Foundation. Martin County Area Foundation is governed by a volunteer board responsible for growing the endowment and selecting grant recipients. Per its mission, the foundation focuses its giving in five general areas: arts and humanities; community and civic affairs; social and economic growth; environment; and youth.

Recycling plant fire continues

BECKER (AP) — Officials are monitoring the air quality in Becker where a fire at a metal recycling plant has been burning for more than 24 hours.

Firefighters continued to fight the stubborn blaze Wednesday after working all day and through the night Tuesday at Northern Metal Recycling plant.

Firefighter Toni Knutson says the fire is burning under a huge pile of cars. She says cranes are being used to remove the vehicles from the pile one-by-one as firefighters spray water on the fire.

Knutson says dozens of firefighters are on the scene, with aid coming from as far as two hours away.

The city requested help from the National Guard, the state Pollution Control Agency and Health Department.

The Star Tribune reports police have told residents with respiratory problems who live near the plant to stay inside or in well-ventilated areas.

Authorities ID employee killed

REMBRANDT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of an employee killed when equipment collapsed inside a barn in northwest Iowa.

A structural failure early Friday morning at the Rembrandt Foods facility just east of Rembrandt caused a catastrophic collapse of equipment inside the building, Buena Vista County authorities said.

The victim had been working inside. He’s been identified as Humberto Jesus Lopez, who lived in Worthington, Minnesota.

A search for him was suspended Friday evening because of safety concerns for rescue workers, authorities said. The search resumed Saturday, and his body was recovered around 2 p.m.