The Freeborn County Sheriffs Office has been notified that people have been moving barricades and driving through posted “Road Closed” work zones on West Richway Drive (County Road 20) near the former Stables area.

Albert Lea City Engineering Department advised that the barricades have been in place to restrict work zone traffic providing safety for motorists and for work vehicles.

Traffic has been noted moving center barricades and driving through the work zone which is against statutes prohibiting traffic into this area.

Snow berms were put in place on shoulders earlier to prevent vehicles from driving around the end of the barricades in the ditches.

Sheriffs deputies and Albert Lea Police have been requested to work this area aggressively and cite vehicles found driving through this restricted area. Citations have already been issued for violations observed.

This restricted work zone and detours is expected to be in place until the end of March 2009 during remediation work at the City Landfill and North Edgewater Park. The public is being requested to honor this work zone detour and to not move barricades or drive through this restricted zone.

Violation of Minnesota Statute 160.27 for driving around a barricade is punishable with a $121 fine.

Fire at Hayward cafe

Hayward’s Korner Cafe sustained extensive damages from a fire reported at 11:18 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office.

This fire reportedly started in the grill area and caused some interior and exterior damage to the cafe.

The Hayward Fire Department responded and soon put the fire out.