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Orchestra program sees growth The Fairmont Area School District continues to see its orchestra numbers grow. Instructor Katie Hoaglund said this is in part due to a grant the district received several years ago from the Schmeeckle Foundation. The program has grown so much at the elementary school that it moved into a new, bigger classroom this year. Music is such an important thing for our youth to learn and we’re happy to see both the district and the community support the program. County prepares for possible mandate This week the Martin County Commissioners had to take action ...

COVID’s rebound

A year ago COVID-19 was hammering health care workers, closing schools, stopping sporting events and other large group gatherings. Six months ago, thanks largely to the vaccines that were becoming increasingly available, COVID numbers were dropping and people were looking at leaving masks at home and getting out and around other people. But now, thanks to the delta variant and the more recent omicron variant, COVID has staged a big comeback. Hospitals are full of infected patients, the NFL, NBA and NHL are postponing games as players and coaches test positive, and it is expected that ...

Tailpipe standards

President Joe Biden announced a stricter set of mileage and emission standards for U.S. automakers on Monday, perhaps in response to Sen. Joe Manchin sticking a potato in the tailpipe of the Build Back Better Act on Sunday. The bill that Manchin said he couldn’t support contains $555 billion for renewable energy and clean transportation over the next ten years, including tax credits for installing solar panels and buying electric cars. It was meant to be the backbone of Biden’s plans to lower the U.S.’s production of greenhouse gases. By setting new mileage standards for ...

Manchin holds the power in Senate

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, (W-Va) holds the power in the U.S. Senate in regard to the $2 trillion Build Back Better bill that President Joe Biden is hoping to get passed. To get it through the Senate, which is equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, Biden needs all 50 Democrats to vote “yea”. On Sunday Manchin said that he won’t be doing that for a bill he feels is too expensive and too sweeping. The White House shot back, with Press Secretary Jen Psaki called Manchin’s statement a “sudden and inexplicable reversal of his position,” and said Manchin had given ...

The Minnesota difference

There is one thing that makes Minnesota different from every other state in the union. We are the only state with a divided Legislature — Democrats hold the majority in the House of Representatives, and the Republicans control the Senate. This may create some problems, like the inability to pass a two-year budget without going to special sessions, but it also produces one advantage. Since the House and Senate will never agree on a redistricting map every ten yeas, it falls to a panel of impartial judges. So instead of one party drawing up districts designed to add to their majority, ...

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Town Center all about community The Town Center in Trimont has stepped up to offer more services following the closure of Casey’s General Store. What a great thing for the town center to see the need and fill the void. The town center is an excellent asset to Trimont and the surrounding communities. Fairmont School Board OKs levy It’s truth in taxation month. Area schools and cities are increasing their levies. We believe these small increases are necessary to maintain quality education and improve infrastructure and safety in our communities. Local group aids tornado ...