Breaking News

Opinion

Call it what you like, it’s an invasion

Local Editorials

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops on Monday into sections of Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists. Putin had earlier recognized the validity of the separatists’ claims of independence, and said the Russian troops were entering the regions as “peacekeepers.” Peacekeepers? Right. President Joe Biden has pegged the move for what it is, the beginning of an invasion of Ukraine, and he announced heavy economic sanctions against Russian oligarchs and banks, with harsher sanctions to come if Putin advances further into Ukraine. Germany took steps to halt the ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

Seek feedback on community center To the Editor: I recently read an article in the Sentinel (Feb. 10, 2022), about the Community Center Advisory Board (CCAB) meeting with Tegra, the city’s owner representative for the proposed Fairmont Area Community Center. Tegra stated that they have seen a shift in communities since COVID-19 in regard to how people view a community center. Their suggestion to survey the people of Fairmont to verify what they want is reasonable. It would provide the city council with a much clearer understanding of how the people want to use the revenue from their ...

How do you prove hate?

Local Editorials

The three white men convicted in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, last fall were all sentenced to life in prison. Two of them, Travis and his father Gregory McMichael, got life without parole. William “Roddie” Bryan Jr., who just chased Arbery through his Georgia neighborhood and recorded his death on his cell phone, could get parole after 30 years. This month they have been on trial again, on federal hate crime charges. The jury went into deliberations on Monday. Prosecutors hoped their arguments proved the three were motivated by racial hatred. While that motivation ...

Readers' Views

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died Thursday at 59 after a long battle with kidney cancer. Hagedorn was a strong supporter of veterans. Perhaps his biggest accomplishment for veterans went without much fanfare. He worked with the Mayo Clinic to get it to sign on with the VA Care in the Community Act. Many residents in the 1st District have no other options for health care than the Mayo’s system of hospitals and clinics, and Mayo participating reduces veteran drive times. The congressman also was a cosponsor ...

Et. Cetera

Local Editorials

FEDA federal grant opportunity The FEDA board heard about a grant opportunity from Economic Development Coordinator Linsey Preuss during its meeting Tuesday. The grant would fund an economic recovery coordinator. Workforce recruitment and retention is critical to our area. This position would benefit both Fairmont and Blue Earth and the surrounding area. We’re excited to see where this project goes. Food trucks to park board The Fairmont City Council on Monday revisited the topic of food trucks and the possibility of bringing the matter to the park board. We think it’s wise for ...

Olympic dreams

Local Editorials

Olympic athletes dream of winning a gold medal, standing on the top step of the platform and hearing their national anthem played. That’s not happening for participants in the team figure skating event in the Beijing Olympics. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team took the gold, and the U.S. skaters the silver, but no medal ceremony will be held while Olympic doping officials check for possible performance-enhancing drug violations by Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, age 15. Valieva continues to compete until the investigation is completed. The outcome of her investigation ...