An innovative solution To the Editor: Martin County 4-H provided its members an innovative way to showcase their hard work and project learning this year with its virtual Martin County Fair. The challenges of 2020 have caused many organizations to think creatively and provide programming in ...

Thanks for the support To the Editor: On behalf of Heaven’s Table Food Shelf, I’d like to thank so many folks for helping us to make it possible to bring some extra food drops to our area. We just couldn’t do it without such wonderful community support. Fabulous volunteers — ...

End Hawkins’ tenure To the Editor: On Wednesday, I withdrew as candidate for the at-large position on the Fairmont City Council. This was a difficult decision for me, but I think it’s the right thing to do for the city. I became interested in the dealings of council last year when the ...

Angered by aid to city To the Editor: Reading in Saturday’s paper that Fairmont received $766,000-plus for virus aid angered me. Their words that they are just covering their costs is just typical of the people who run this town. Makes me wonder if they meant they are padding their ...

Voting for Bjorn To the Editor: Bjorn Olson was my children’s seventh-grade history teacher and how much they loved him. I know, based on my interactions with him, that he is a man with great character. He cares about his students, their education and overall well-being. He has created ...

Trump avoided draft To the Editor: Last Saturday, a parade ran through Fairmont. The purpose was to celebrate the placing of a 1966 Bell Cobra attack helicopter at the Martin County Veterans Memorial on Winnebago Avenue. Many people worked hard for a long time to finally have this parade ...

Scrutinize candidates To the Editor: I have concerns about the Republican-endorsed candidate for Minnesota House District 23A. Voters need to scrutinize the candidates. Look at their websites and campaign postings. Mr. Olson has done little to reach out. Is he capable of working hard, ...

Presenting the facts To the Editor: We have read several times that the Minnesota House District 23A Republican convention results have been misleading when being put forth to the public. As a participant during this convention, as well as multiple previous conventions, I also wish to ...

Confederate flag? Really? To the Editor: While leaving church services on a recent Sunday, we saw a pickup pass by displaying a Confederate battle flag. We were disheartened by this symbolic display of racism, oppression and hatred in Blue Earth, Minnesota, in the year 2020. After all ...

A week to celebrate To the Editor: With the world in the midst of a global pandemic, it’s a good time to recognize the important role breastfeeding plays in protecting babies from germs all across the planet. Faribault and Martin County WIC program is celebrating Minnesota ...

Republicans will speak To the Editor: On June 24, the Sentinel reported: “[State Rep. Bob] Gunther said he believes it is important for the electorate at large to know that Republicans in District 23A already have spoken, by saying they want Olson.” I respectfully disagree. Rep. ...

OWATONNA Central to Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s current strategic plan is a strengthened commitment to look ahead at the future of rural Minnesota. While we continue to make our programming and resources accessible to communities of all sizes in our 20-county region, we ...

Gregory D. Oanes MOUNTAIN LAKE — A public visitation for Gregory Dean Oanes, 42, of Mountain Lake will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Kramer Family Funeral Home in Trimont. Oanes died suddenly on Thursday afternoon, July 23, 2020, at the Windom Hospital. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, ...

Hagedorn works for us To the Editor: I write in support of Congressman Jim Hagedorn, a steady hand in these troubled times. Jim has not missed being in Washington, D.C., attending every vote on legislation before Congress. The work of the First District is too important to not be there as ...

Relay for Life adapting To the Editor: Relay for Life looks different this year. Now more than ever, cancer patients and researchers need your help to sustain the fight against cancer. Our life-saving mission has been threatened by suspended events and a decrease in donations. One out of ...

Bacon will listen, help us To the Editor: I’m writing in support of Pat Fahey Bacon’s candidacy for Minnesota District 23A House of Representatives. I encourage others to get to know Pat and support her also. Please look beyond the conservative or liberal labels we give each other. ...

Family thankful for support To the Editor: Thank you seems insufficient to cover the outpouring of generosity that has been shown to us in the loss of Katie. The abundance of love, kindness and gifts given to us in this tragic time has been both overwhelming and heartwarming. We are truly ...

Voting my conscience To the Editor: I was born and raised on the West Coast. I had a D behind my name on the voter registration for decades. Every four years, I voted accordingly. However, as I grew older it was becoming harder to check that box. I can understand your concerns. The DFL ...

CREST adapting To the Editor: In the midst of our fast-changing world, CREST has found the basic needs of our aging and caregiver populations have not changed but are intensified. Isolation is the culprit that has given CREST an opportunity to modify our services to better meet the ...

Preventing the spread To the Editor: I just re-read the letter to the editor recently submitted by Char Kahler. I applaud her statements concerning wearing masks and social distancing. Her statement: “I have heard comments like, ‘If I get COVID, I get it,’ ‘It’s in my car, but I ...