• "If an article is attractive, or useful, or inexpensive, they'll stop making it tomorrow; if it's all three, they stopped making it yesterday." — Mignon McLaughlin, American journalist (1913-1983).

Terrific Kids for May honored May 16, 2012

First- and second-graders honored as Terrific Kids for May were (from left) Gabriel Wolff, Jaden Mason, Isabel Zamora, Olivia Anderson, Emma Swan and Brandon Schwering. In back are Todd Meyer, Dan Beert, Justin Lessman, MaryLou Drahota, Paul Meium, Kevin Anderson, Heather Koehne and Bonnie Traetow.

First grade

• Isabel Zamora, daughter of Kalee Smit
• Jaden Mason, son of John and Christine Mason
• Gabriel Wolff, son of Adam and Angela Wolff

Second grade

• Olivia Anderson, daughter of Kevin and Emily Anderson
• Brandon Schwering, son of Leann Schwering
• Emma Swan, daughter of William and Rachel Truong-Swan.

Third grade

• Sawyer Pierson, son of Lisa Reimer
• Mackenzie Henning, daughter of Brad and Ann Henning
• J.T. Steiner, son of Tracy and Sue Steiner

Fourth grade

• Alaina Wolff, daughter of Adam and Angela Wolff
• Britton Gordon, daughter of Macy Dresch and Aric Gordon
• Jordan Rogotzke, daughter of Steve and Angie Rogotzke.

Fifth grade

• Tanner Pigman, son of Mike and Amy Pigman
• Ashley Heinrichs, daughter of Ryan and Jenny Heinrichs
• Camden Schmidt, son of Dave and Beth Schmidt

Honored as Terrific Kids for May in grades 3-5 were, front row (from left) Mackenzie Henning, Tanner Pigman, Jordan Rogotzke and Ashley Heinrichs. In the second row are J.T. Steiner, Sawyer Pierson, Alaina Wolff, Britton Gordon and Camden Schmidt. In back are Dan Beert, Todd Meyer, Justin Lessman, MaryLou Drahota, Paul Meium, Heather Koehne and Bonnie Traetow.

DeBettignies wins award at Governor's Opener May 16, 2012

Several injured in two-vehicle accident May 15, 2012

New Highway 60 detour in place May 15, 2012

MANKATO - According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Highway 60 detour is scheduled to again consist of Nobles County Road 4, county Road 5 and County Road 33 starting this week.

Crews recently completed pavement repairs on the detour route, which was in rough shape from added traffic over the winter.

The detour is expected to be in place until this fall.

Construction has resumed on Highway 60 and the third phase from County Road 35 to Interstate 90 will begin this summer.

R&G Construction Company of Marshall is the prime contractor on the Paul Avenue to County Road 35 project. Mathiowetz Construction of Sleepy Eye is the prime contractor on the rural segment from County Road 4 to Paul Avenue. The replacement of the railroad bridge by Lunda Construction Company is part of the Highway 60 expansion from Bigelow to Interstate 90 in Worthington.

I-90 resurfacing project to get under way May 14, 2012

JACKSON - The westbound lane of Interstate 90 west of Jackson will experience lane restrictions and a rest area closure while crews resurface the road beginning Monday according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The milling and paving work requires lane closures that also will prohibit access to the Des Moines River Rest Area west of Jackson for about two weeks, weather permitting.

McLaughlin & Schulz Inc. of Marshall is the contractor on this project, which will improve the ride and safety on about one mile of I-90. This project was initially scheduled for summer 2011, but was delayed due to the state government shutdown.

Motorists should reduce speeds and watch for workers, equipment and traffic control devices.

For statewide travel information, visit MnDOT's website.

Asian carp may have back door into Minnesota May 14, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS - There's a back door for Asian carp to sneak into Minnesota, and fisheries officials are worried the invaders might have found it already.

It runs through Iowa.

Commercial fishermen recently netted dozens of Asian carp in northwestern Iowa's Great Lakes. Those waters connect with lakes and streams in southwestern Minnesota, so the haul came as an unwelcome surprise.

Officials believe the Asian carp reached East Okoboji and other lakes in the chain during record flooding last summer.

No Asian carp have been caught in southwestern Minnesota so far. But the state has already begun taking defensive measures. Several lakes, rivers, creeks and drainage ditches in Jackson and Nobles counties are now designated as infested waters because of the risk that a vanguard of Asian carp might already be lurking there.

By The Associated Press

Two facing felony charges in Spirit Lake May 12, 2012

SPIRIT LAKE - The Spirit Lake Police Department arrested 43-year-old Eduardo Artimo Rodriguez Lopez of Spirit Lake Thursday on two felony charges related to a sexual abuse investigation. The investigation began with a complaint to the Spirit Lake Police Department referencing an alleged sexual assault of a minor child.

Lopez was charged with 1st Degree Kidnapping – a Class A Felony, and 2nd Degree Sexual Assault – a Class B Felony.

Also charged in the investigation was 31-year-old Cindy Ann Schoenwetter of Spirit Lake on the charge of Child Endangerment – a Class C Felony.

Lopez and Schoenwetter were booked into the Dickenson County Jail. The Spirit Lake Police Department and the Iowa Department of Human Services are continuing their investigation and further charges may be filed at a later date.

County residents are lottery winners May 12, 2012

JACKSON - Two Jackson County residents were recent winners in the Minnesota State Lottery.

Jodinna Honken of Lakefield won $5,000 by playing the Million $$ Match scratch game, claiming the prize Wednesday. The winning ticket was purchased at Expressway in Lakefield.

Also, Lori Gilmore of Jackson won $5,000 in the Coffee Break Crossword scratch game, winning the prize on Monday. She purchased the winning ticket at Poppe Oil Company in Fairmont.

Parade of Bands Concert Friday May 11, 2012

JACKSON - The annual Parade of Bands Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Performing Arts Center at Jackson County Central High School.

Featured will be the Sixth Grade Band, 7th & 8th Grade Band, HS Jazz Band and the Senior High Concert Band.

The Sixth Grade Band will be presenting “Linus and Lucy” from the Peanuts, “La Bamba”, “Guantanemera” and the theme from “Hawaii Five-O”. The students have been working very hard and are excited to be performing on Friday night.

The Seventh and Eighth Grade Band will be performing Neil Diamonds’ “Sweet Caroline”, a great novelty tune called “Around the World in Eighty Measures”, “Clocks” by the band Coldplay and the rousing “Captain America’s March” from the movie.

The JCC Jazz Band will be performing “Cool” from West Side Story, the classic “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “Hot Java Jump”.

Finishing up the concert will be the HS Concert Band – honoring their 8 seniors in their final concert. They will perform music from “Wicked”, music from “The Chronicles of Narnia”, a medley from “Santana” and “Pop Culture” . Pop Culture is unique because each section gets a chance to shine on music from our own “Pop Culture”: Songs like The Flintstones, Wipeout, Stars and Stripes Forever, Pink Panther and Hey Baby.

Admission is free, there will be a free-will donation at the door.

Farm land sales remain strong May 9, 2012

JACKSON - Farm land sales remain strong in the area.

Dan Pike of Land and Home Services Unlimited, the Dan Pike Auction Company in Jackson said 81 acres of land last week in Minneota Township brought $8,150 per acre. There were no buildings on the property.

A local person purchased the land and it will be farmed by a local area farmer. Pike said the land market continues strong as grain prices and interest rates are good.

Prices are a little higher in Iowa. A recent farm sales near Linn Grove brought $12,100 an acre.

County will not use eminent domain for trail system May 9, 2012

JACKSON - The Jackson County Commission Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution stating that the county would not use eminent domain for land acquisition for the Des Moines River Valley State Trail. The motion for the resolution was made by Kim Hummel and seconded by Bill Tusa.

The proposed trail would run through Jackson, Cottonwood and Murray counties. The state has indicated it would not use eminent domain for land acquisition for the trail, and the DNR does not have the authority.

The Des Moines River Valley Association appeared before the commissioners at their April 24 meeting and requested that they pass a resolution stating that the county would not use eminent domain for land acquisition.

Brent Staples of Lakefield and Clay Walinga of Windom are co-chairmen of the Des Moines River Valley Association.

Staples said he and the group appreciate the commissioner’s vote. Walinga said Cottonwood County and a number of townships have passed a similar resolution.

The Des Moines River Valley Association sent letters to property owners along the route at the end of last year and Staples there were many letters commenting on the proposed project sent to the DNR. About 200 of those letters came from Jackson County.

County Attorney Bob O’Connor told those attending Tuesday's meeting that the resolution is non-binding. A future board could take different action.

O’Connor said the resolution is more of a political question, or a formal action of opinion.

Commissioner Bill Tusa told the group to be aware about actions by DNR planners and that the issue of eminent domain regarding trails needs to be addressed in the legislature.

Although it was stated that the DNR does not have the authority to use eminent domain for land acquisition for a trail, Tusa pointed to a case of the DNR attempting to acquire land near Preston. A judge ruled in favor of the DNR in the dispute and the matter has gone to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Federated helps AGCO with development loan May 8, 2012

JACKSON - AGCO was presented a Federated Rural Electric USDA Economic Development Loan Monday.

What began as a loan application in 2011 was capped off Monday morning with the awarding of a $740,000 check to AGCO during a ceremony held at the AGCO Engineering Center.

Federated Rural Electric in Jackson applied for the loan on behalf of AGCO through USDA Rural Development.

AGCO is using the funds for the 75,000-square foot addition to its existing facility that will result in increased production of its high horse power tractors and related equipment. A portion of the expansion also will included a visitors’ center. The project has helped to create 200 jobs.

Federated Rural Electric General Manager Rick Burud said the loan program has benefited many organizations and businesses in Jackson and Martin counties since 1990.

Burud said the creation of additional jobs is exciting.

Colleen Landkamer, USDA Rural Development State Director, said Monday was an exciting day for Jackson. She loans are not only considered as a business development loan, but also as a benefit for community development.

Eric Fisher, manager of the Jackson-AGCO Operations, said AGCO appreciates all the community support they have received for the expansion.