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Local Editorials

Trio of businesses open downtown Anyone who tries to say there’s nothing downtown really hasn’t looked recently because almost every storefront is now full. The downtown area has seen a few new businesses offering various services move in and they’re all a welcome addition. Council revisits arena, community center For the first time in awhile, the Fairmont City Council talked about the Martin County Arena and the proposed community center project during its meeting on Monday. However, the conversation went much the way it’s been going on and off for the past few years and no ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

Disappointed with councilor’s survey reaction I read with mixed emotions the article in the June 24, 2025 edition of the Sentinel on the City Council’s proposed Blue Earth Avenue street median project. Some of the factors that had to be considered with the proposed beautification of the median were: the extra cost of the project; snow removal issues; maintenance of the median; safety of city employees working between two lanes of traffic pruning, watering and weeding; probability of future damage from tree roots to sewer and road surface; and disruption of traffic when recycling ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

Political harassment, violence needs to stop To the editor: I am hurt to my soul to hear of the killing of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in an extreme act of political violence. The threats against me, my family, my property and in one case a threat against my dogs placed in my mailbox came flooding back. I have been politically active in my district for 20 years and have seen the political discourse become more and more divided over time, but nothing like I experienced when I ran for State Representative for the second time in 2024. I ran on the issues of rural ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

Solar project affects area families To the editor: There is a proposal before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that will affect Martin County, specifically Rutland Township. This is a proposal for a 1,000+ acre solar farm that will be located approximately 125 feet from my front door on Charlotte Oak Drive, on the east side of Charlotte Lake. It will go east to Highway 15 and north to Northrop. The solar farm will include a 16 acre BESS. BESS is an acronym for Battery Energy Storage Station, a rechargeable battery system that collects energy from different sources like wind and ...

Will a community center in Fairmont ever be celebrated?

Local Editorials

Wednesday was an exciting day around the county as two big projects were celebrated. First, there was the Bravo Zulu House Grand Opening in Winnebago, or Northern Martin County. Then later in the day the groundbreaking ceremony for Martin County West’s new school took place in Sherburn. The energy at both of these events was extremely positive and both were well attended with several hundred at each. When all was said and done and I was reflecting back on both I thought how amazing it would be to have a project of such magnitude celebrated in Fairmont. Don’t get me wrong, ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

City selectively enforcing zoning To the editor: As a long-time resident of Fairmont, I feel compelled to speak out about a serious and ongoing issue affecting my neighborhood and our local government’s credibility. For nearly 20 years, I’ve witnessed the City of Fairmont selectively enforce zoning and construction regulations — holding some property owners to the letter of the law, while allowing others to violate ordinances without consequence. This has caused not only frustration, but real damage to property and the environment, especially along the lakefront on Shoreacres ...