Fairmont CER suspends activities

FAIRMONT — Due to these unprecedented and challenging times, Fairmont Community Education and Recreation (CER) has suspended all CER activities, meetings, and district facility usage through May 4 as per the Governor’s Executive Order.

Adult Basic Education distance learning is available for adults.

Please call CER for more information. For questions or if you need further information, contact the CER office at (507) 235-3141 or email rdauer@fairmont.k12.mn.us.

Fines proposed for animal food operation

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — An agency wants to fine an eastern Iowa animal food operation for workplace safety violations, saying it has exposed employees to risks that include long falls.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants to impose fines of more than $74,000 on Devenish Nutrition, the Telegraph Herald reported. The company is based in Fairmont, Minnesota, and has a feed mill in Maquoketa. Company officials have declined to comment.

Inspectors said after a Dec. 2-3 check that they found a lack of proper protection from falls along the Maquoketa building’s catwalk and no protection for workers who climbed onto the roof to open bin lid covers.

Inspectors also said employees were exposed to “explosive dust hazards,” including corn gluten meal and grain dust.

North Dakota groups want evictions blocked

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Several groups urged North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on Monday to block evictions and foreclosures to protect those suffering economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

The request from groups that include the North Dakota Farmers Union and the American Civil Liberties Union comes as the state reported its second and third deaths from complications of the coronavirus and as the number of cases surpassed 100.

Janna Farley, a spokeswoman for the ACLUís North Dakota chapter, said the groups, which also include the union representing state employees and teachers, want the Republican governor to issue an order similar to one in neighboring Minnesota that forbid landlords to evict people right now. For mortgages, banks in Minnesota also cannot foreclose if someone is about to have problems paying due to COVID-19 causing them to lose income or incur sudden expenses.