Brayden Geerdes

Kudos to 11-year-old Brayden Geerdes. Brayden has found a unique way to make money by creating and selling decorative gnomes. But far from simply providing himself an extra source of income, he has instead decided that helping others in need brings a far greater reward.

We couldn’t agree more. It’s a lesson that takes some people a lifetime to learn, but he has picked it up early while also overcoming his own challenges with autism. Displaying both an entrepreneurial spirit as well as compassion for others, Brayden exemplifies the very best of what we all ought to strive for.

Justice Center

There’s no doubt that Martin County needs a new justice center, and we’re glad that Martin County Commissioners are not letting the issue fall by the wayside. Minnesota State Representative Bjorn Olson made a good point at the recent commissioner’s meeting when he shared that around $400,000 is being wasted on prisoner transportation due to the current but extremely outdated Law Enforcement Center.

We’re glad that the county is more than willing to pursue federal and state funding, and it was good to see them approve a potential memorandum of understanding with the City of Fairmont.

Red Rock

We’re glad to see the Red Rock Center in Fairmont continuing with its annual murder mystery. With this being the tenth year for the event, it’s clear that it is a local favorite and will likely stick around for years to come. Thank you to all involved.

Kinship Update

We were also glad to see an update from Kinship of Martin County. The mentoring program struggled like most through the pandemic but was able to find new and creative ways to continue operating. That speaks to good planning and leadership.

On top of that, it was shared that kids formerly involved in the program are now becoming mentors themselves. What a great testament to a great program. We encourage people to contact Kinship and consider becoming a mentor themselves.