As our list of the top 10 stories of the year shows, 2001 was an amazingly newsworthy year in Freeborn County.

Sunday, December 30, 2001

As our list of the top 10 stories of the year shows, 2001 was an amazingly newsworthy year in Freeborn County. Fires, flooding, a tornado and crime all made headlines. For us in the Tribune newsroom, it was one thing after another. It seemed like we couldn’t turn around without seeing some kind of tragedy; luckily, in most cases, nobody was injured.

Many of the events that caught our attention this year were negative; indeed, at least seven or eight of the top stories we’ve chronicled in this edition were what you could call bad news.

We chose the top 10 stories by voting within the Tribune. I compiled a ballot with 30 nominations. Farmland, the Glenville tornado, the school levy failure and the city’s first murder in many years were clearly the top vote-getters; things were closer after those four.

In this strangely busy year, all this destructive news may be what sticks in our minds the most. However, when I look beyond the top 10 and examine some of the other stories that unfolded this year, I notice some important things that will have a long-term impact on this area, and they deserve a mention too.

n Two of them involve crucial matters within Freeborn County government. One is the resignation of County Administrator Gene Smith and the hiring of new administrator Ron Gabrielsen. When an organization the size of Freeborn County gets a new CEO, it’s news that affects a lot of people, starting of course with the hundreds of employees.

In this case, it goes beyond that. Those who worked with Smith, including former county board members, had great things to say about his abilities. However, the county seemed as if it needed to make a fresh start. Smith’s time as administrator included more than a little strife as the courthouse issue reared its head and seemed to stall without a solution in sight.

The hiring of Gabrielsen to replace Smith has already had an impact, as the tone of the discussion seems to have changed. The new administrator has a different style than Smith, and it appears that it’s a good match with this county.

Another storyline that developed quite a bit this year was what appears to be a step forward on courthouse planning. The county board explored options including an off-site jail and judicial complex, and even a joint facility shared with Mower County. After looking at those options, the county has apparently decided its future should be in downtown Albert Lea. The demolition of Western Grocery, expected next year, was a setback for those focused on preservation, but it will be a step forward in courthouse planning. It appears this issue, which just won’t seem to go away, may now have resolution in sight. Of course, there’s still work to do, but is that light I see at the end of the tunnel?

n Some positive developments this year deserve a mention. One that stands out is the huge success of the Albert Lea Festival of Bands, which in its second year seemed to emerge as one of the town’s biggest events, as well as one of the premier marching band competitions in the state. The number of bands participating doubled from the first year.

This is the sort of thing that helps put a city on the map, not to mention provides some great entertainment for our residents and a source of pride for our young musicians.

Also this year, we saw the establishment of a new skate park in Albert Lea, and hundreds of skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX bikers got the chance to use the new attraction. The support of the community made the park possible, and now the city’s kids have a new opportunity to enjoy themselves.

n A seed was planted this year that could grow into something big for Freeborn County. Despite having funding vetoed by Gov. Jesse Ventura, the Albert Lea Business Development Center was begun. This joint project of Greater Jobs, Inc., the Albert Lea Port Authority and Riverland is what they call a business incubator – a facility that can be configured to house an array of start-up businesses and, through shared services and access to expert advice, helps entrepreneurs take root and grow.

It’s a concept that has worked wonders in many Wisconsin towns, as well as other places across the country. Except for a nearby project in Owatonna, the idea is fairly new to Minnesota.

When the facility is done next year, it will start attracting tenants, and if the success rate of Wisconsin incubators is any indication – as high as 80 percent – Freeborn County will see some successful ventures come out of that building within a few years.

Yes, 2001 saw disaster, mayhem and loss in Freeborn County. But it also saw some great developments that we must not forget when we look back on an extraordinary year.

Dylan Belden is the Tribune’s managing editor.