News

MCW Board OKs new curriculum

Local News March 24, 2026

SHERBURN— At the Martin County West School Board meeting last Thursday, there was discussion about the reading curriculum, which has been looked into at the school district for two years. There were several varied curricula used and a new one was tried in 2007. The inconsistencies, lack of fidelity and achievement gaps necessitated a revision for a district-wide curriculum with variety and consistency. A list was compiled and then samples were ordered from several curriculum sources. The Minnesota Department of Education rubrics were considered and the standards were aligned. The ...

Banquet recognizes pork producer legacies

Local News March 24, 2026

FAIRMONT – The Martin County Pork Producers formally inducted Larry Becker, Duane Behrens, Daryl Bartz and Lonny Schwieger as the inaugural class of their pork producers hall of fame at the banquet on Saturday. Lynn Becker, who helped come up with the hall of fame and choose its first ...

Report shows Fairmont PD activity

Local News March 24, 2026

FAIRMONT— The 2025 Fairmont Police Department annual report was recently released. While this is the 10th consecutive year a report has been released, it’s the first year it’s been released under the guidance of Chief Mike Beletti. Beletti said that while the report would have ideally come out about a month sooner, transitions with staff pushed it back this year. The report is 45 pages long and includes a wide range of information, which was complied by staff. “This is really a collaborative effort. Several officers that are assigned to different areas in our agency ...

Objections made on Lake Ave. assessments

Local News March 24, 2026

FAIRMONT— The Fairmont City Council on Monday faced a 217 page agenda with the absence of Councilors Britney Kawecki and Wayne Hasek. While much was on the agenda, many of the people gathered inside council chambers were present for the hearing on the 2025 Improvement Program, which entailed the Lake Avenue project. Tyler Cowing, an engineer with the city, prefaced the hearing by acknowledging that the Lake Avenue project was the sole project for the 2025 Improvement Program. It was a total reconstruction project from Bixby Road to Fairlakes Avenue that carried an expected project ...

Courts

Courts March 24, 2026

MARTIN COUNTY DISTRICT COURT Speeding — Dewayne L. Glenn, 41, of Fairmont; Coleton G. Gast, 18, of Truman; fined $145; Jasmine N. Kutzbach, 39, of Fairmont; fined $225. Operate vehicle with expired registration — Amber C. Olson, 29, of Spirit Lake, Iowa; fined $115. Driving after revocation — Patrick M. Creech, 42, of Fairmont; fined $285. FARIBAULT COUNTY DISTRICT COURT Hands-free law-hold wireless communications device with one or both hands — Roger W. Redding, 50, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; fined $135. Sacheen M. Skluzacek, 40, of Easton, was convicted of no proof of ...

MCW and Welcome discuss sports complex

Local News March 21, 2026

SHERBURN — During the Martin County West School Board meeting on Thursday evening, a discussion about the possible purchase of the Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome was held, and two Welcome City Council representatives were present and answered some questions about the proposed contract between the City of Welcome and the MCW School District. Mayor Dan Schmidtke mentioned that the assessed value of the property was $208,000, and the city had taken some losses over the last few years. Some losses were $18,000, and some were $12,000. The board asked what the losses were from and ...