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Letters to the Editor

Readers’ Views

No retaliation? Right To the Editor: To my fellow Fairmont citizens: After watching Monday’s City Council meeting, I have put my finger on what our problem is at City Hall. Three council members — Tom Hawkins, Randy Lubenow and Ruth Cyphers — are not in their right minds. How do I know this, you ask? Can anyone in Fairmont read the following statement and then not wet themselves laughing? “She (Soldo) believes, which I don’t agree with her, that employees could be retaliated against, but I don’t expect anybody on this council would ever retaliate against somebody,” ...

Readers’ Views

Mother/son event set To the Editor: Kids Just Want to Have Fun is excited to announce our second annual mother/son event, “Not All Superheroes Wear Capes,” to be held 4-6 p.m. Saturday at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont. The event includes a professional photo booth, bounce houses, face-painting, special guest appearances from superhero characters and our own local superheroes, along with many other games and activities. A pizza supper from Pizza Ranch, water from Culligan Water, and fruit and treats from Fareway Food Stores is also included. Pre-sale tickets ...

Readers’ Views

Your help needed too To the Editor: Giving back to the community for people with disabilities can be challenging. Limited funds, limited mobility and limited staff support are all barriers that limit participation in community events. Last year was the first year that Arc/People First worked a shift at the Kids Against Hunger Pack, taking place this year on Feb. 15 at the Fairmont Armory. Thanks to the leadership of Karla Ebert and Pat Kietzer, we provided two teams. The Kids Against Hunger committee members are fantastic and so well-organized. We were well-directed on each step we ...

Readers’ Views

They don’t care about us To the Editor: I have watched every Democratic presidential candidate debate. After the debate Dec. 19, it became clear. They are pandering to the East and West coasts, leaving all the rest of us in fly-over country behind. Diane Tow Fairmont It’s hard enough already To the Editor: It’s hard enough for patients living in rural communities to access vital health care services. A high rate of provider consolidation, rural hospital closures and a growing doctor shortage all translate to fewer options and higher prices for rural communities. Recent ...

Readers’ Views

Why I support Feehan To the Editor: Several people have asked me why I support Dan Feehan for Congress. There are so many reasons that it can get to be a lengthy conversation. One of the reasons became obvious recently when Jim Hagedorn proudly voted against allowing Medicare price negotiation, which would lower the cost of prescription drugs. People all across the district are being forced to make choices between skipping medication they need, putting food on their table or paying their mortgage. In the face of skyrocketing prescription drug prices, Jim Hagedorn, who has taken ...

Looking back at 2019

OWATONNA With 2020 just days away, I am reflecting on Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s many accomplishments in the past year alongside our regional partners and collaborators. It was a year filled with incredible stories of people doing amazing things for this region. I am thankful that SMIF was able to play a role in moving this part of the state toward an exciting future. It is impossible to include all the impactful stories of 2019, but this list is a start: Rochester-based Sonex Health, a company that received one of our equity investments, continues to rapidly ...