January

4 — An article in this edition of the Tribune said Scott La Favre’s company, Eagles Rest Development, had filed for bankruptcy in St. Paul during the previous month. La Favre had been involved with the redevelopment of the former Albert Lea Golf Club and Wedge Nursery property.

4 — Conner Larson, 12, a Tribune carrier, was credited with helping Helen Sydnes, 82, who was having medical problems, while delivering papers.

7 — Jaelani Lenaiyah William, the daughter of Jocelyn Padilla and Larson William, became the first child to be born in Freeborn County for 2009.

8 — The Erlandson’s Inc. implement stores in Albert Lea and Kiester were sold to Mankato Implement.

9 — The United Way of Freeborn County announced it had exceeded its campaign goal with a total of $601,000 in donations. The goal was $592,000.

12 — A snow and wind storm gave Albert Lea about 4 inches of snow, caused problems for vehicle drivers, and resulted in the closing of area schools.

13 — The temperature dropped to 20 degrees below zero in Albert Lea.

14 — Albert Lea was selected for a 10-month health makeover as part of a AARP/Blue Zones project. One of the people coming to the city as part of this project was Dan Buettner, founder and author of the book about the Blue Zones.

15 — A major fire destroyed several downtown business places on Austin’s main street.

21 — Brianna Broitzman and Ashton Larson appeared in Freeborn County District Court to be arraigned on charges based on alleged abuse of residents at Albert Lea’s Good Samaritan Society. Charges had been filed for these two teenagers in December.

22 — A message regarding a bomb found on a restroom wall resulted in the evacuation of the Glenville-Emmons High School. No bomb was found.

27 — A news report in the Tribune said three of the juveniles also involved in the alleged abuse of residents at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Society pleaded not guilty in Freeborn County District Court earlier in the month. A fourth juvenile pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to report elder abuse.

29 — The Albert Lea Tribune won five awards at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Newspapers Association.

February

3 — An article in the Tribune said Albert Lea’s rental housing ordinance had officially become effective.

3 — The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners gave their approval for the sheriff’s department to update its radio system.

4 — Synder’s Drug Stores Inc. announced that their Albert Lea store would be closing. The firm said 14 of their 47 locations were to cease operations.

4 — The Rooms & Rest store in Clarks Grove, previously known as Minnesota Furniture Warehouse, would be closing in the near future.

6 — This was judging day at the Minnesota State Spring Barrow show held at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

11 — Andrew Waalkens, 44, Hartland, died when his vehicle rolled over on State Highway 13 about five miles north of Albert Lea.

17 — Jeremy Brian Rietsema, 21, Katherine Rose Aldrich, 20, and Brittny Michelle Billings, 18, all of Alden, appeared in Freeborn County District Court on multiple charges of alleged thefts. They were arrested as a result of shoeprints reportedly in the snow found at the scenes of several thefts in Alden.

17 — Adonis Adolph Dorman, 28, was sentenced in Freeborn County District Court to 15 years probation for selling meth.

22 — The Tribune issued its annual Progress Edition.

23 — The School District 241 Board of Education voted to offer the position of Albert Lea superintendent to Mike Funk, superintendent of the Bird Island, Olivia, Lake Lillian School District.

23 — Sheila Guerra, 40, Albert Lea, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with felony theft of $150,000, allegedly embezzled from Northstar Powersports.

23 — Pouch P. Ruach, 24, Albert Lea, was sentenced in Freeborn County District Court to 68 months in prison for the first degree robbery of the Kwik Trip store on West Front Street in August 2008.

March

1 — An article in the Tribune explained how various aspects of the nation’s stimulus programs would benefit this area.

5 — A fire destroyed a triple garage located next to the alley and behind the residence at 119 N. Second St.

11 — Snow, wind and a temperature of 21 degrees below zero were the highlights of the weather in the Albert Lea area.

14 — The annual Albert Lea Science Fair was held at the Northbridge Mall.

16 — Alan Nielsen, former member of the Albert Lea Fire Department and part-time New Richland police officer, was sentenced in Freeborn County District Court to 10 years probation and 14 days in jail on charges of third-degree burglary and receiving stolen property.

16 — The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva School Board voted to cut the budget by $400,000. As a result, kindergarten though sixth grade students would go to the Ellendale School, and students in grade seven through 12 would attend the New Richland school.

23 — First District Congressman Tim Walz announced that $550,000 in federal stimulus funds had been allocated for runway improvements at the Albert Lea Airport.

24 — A fire at Hanson Tire on East Main Street did extensive damages to six of the firm’s service bays and caused smoke problems for the firm’s offices.

25 — A contract between Freeborn County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would result in inmates being kept in the county jail for short periods of time.

30 — A report in the Tribune said Julio Cesar-Zamorano, 28, of Wheatland, Calif., and Virginia Martinez Castillo, 20, of Nashville, Tenn., were charged in Freeborn County District Court with attempting to cash forged payroll checks reportedly taken from Thompson Sanitation.

April

2 — A fire in the apartments above the Nasty Habit Bar on West William Street resulted in the displacement of 10 people. Two of these people were treated for possible smoke inhalation.

3 — Jennifer Amanda Estes, 23, Lake Mills, Iowa, died of injuries she received the previous day as a result of being thrown from a 4-wheeler west of Lake Mills.

3 — This was the official ice-out day for Fountain Lake.

3 — Sue Ann Peterson, 54, Hartland, pleaded guilty in Freeborn County District Court to one charge of aggravated forgery based on obtaining prescriptions from area pharmacies.

8 — Sherrie Gayken, a sixth-grade teacher at Halverson Elementary School, was named as the School District 241 Teacher of the Year.

9 — Carol Jean Cramer, 45, of Riceville, Iowa, a passenger in a vehicle that rolled over, died at the scene of the accident in London Township.

14 — An electric fish barrier was completed at Mud Lake west of Albert Lea.

14 — Timothy Patrrick Winter, 36, Lake Mills, Iowa, was charged in Winnebago County District Court with attempted murder after he allegedly beat his mother in the head with a hammer.

22 — Michael Anthony Madrigal, 33, Albert Lea, appeared in Freeborn County District Court. He was charged with two felony counts of mistreating a dog.

28 — Three people were injured in a house fire at 1421 Academy Ave. The cause was determined to be a natural gas leak.

May

2 — The Southeast Minnesota Honor Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., included 16 veterans from Albert Lea, three from Glenville, and two area guardians or escorts.

3 — The annual 100-mile Freeborn County Cancer Bike-A-Thon took place on a day with fairly nice weather conditions.

5 — A news report in the Tribune said two of the people injured in the house fire on Academy Avenue, Luis Marino Reyes-Embales and Servando Ramos Flores, were in fair condition at Regions Hospital, St. Paul. Jose Rafael Valle Ruis was also treated locally for injuries received in the fire on April 28.

5 — A fire damaged the basement portion of the residence at 334 W. William St.

13 — As a preliminary event for he AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project, “walking school buses” involved the participation of students and parents at several Albert Lea elementary schools.

14 — This was the kickoff for the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project in Albert Lea.

16 — This was the day for the fourth annual downtown cleanup in Albert Lea.

20 — An article in the Tribune explained the circumstances that resulted in the closing of the Albert Lea Inn at the end of April.

20 — Charles Kenneth Dennison, 21, Albert Lea, pleaded guilty in Freeborn County District Court to two felony charges of criminal vehicular homicide based on an accident on County Road 34 on June 29, 2008.

25 — An article in the Tribune said Albert Lea Lake was one of the state’s top seven walleye lakes.

26 — Ulland Bros. won the $4.3 million contract to construct a new cross runway at the Albert lea Airport.

29 — Jose Ignazio Martinez-Navidad, 48, Blue Earth, died as a result of an accident at the corner of County Road 46 and 700th Avenue when his motorcycle ran into a vehicle driven by Marvin William Steinhauer, 86, Albert Lea. The Steinhauer vehicle reportedly didn’t stop for a stop sign.

29 — A report issued by the Minnesota Department of Health cited Thorne Crest Retirement Community for failing to assist a resident with health problems. The alleged incident took place on Nov. 5 and 6, 2008, and the resident died on Nov. 6.

29 — Albert Lea’s Alamco Wood Products Inc. was sold to Bell Lumber & Pole Co. of New Brighton.

31 — Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Service unveiled its new 14,000-square-foot facility at 2210 E. Main St.

June

2 — Albert Lea teachers favored a pay freeze to help avoid layoffs, according to a Tribune new article.

2 — Two Waste Management buildings near Clarks Grove were destroyed by fire.

5 — Graduation ceremonies for over 200 students were held at Albert Lea High School.

10 — At least six Albert Lea police officers responded to a reported fight between two men at the Stop & Go Food Mart at the corner of South Broadway Avenue and Front Street.

14 — The Albert Lea Ramada Inn changed its name to Americas Best Value Inn, with no change in ownership.

15 — The School District 241 Board of Education approved the 2009-10 budget.

16 — Albert Lea’s involvement in the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project was featured in the USA Today publication.

17-21 — The Family Motor Coach Association held its Midwest Area Rally at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

20 — Gary Huper, 48, Wells, died as a result of falling into a campfire at a campground in Waseca.

21 — Jody Lee Morrow, 38, Albert Lea, died at her home in the Rainbow Terrace at 730 Larimore Circle after what police described was the result of being “bludgeoned to death.” Chad Gulbertson , 37, Albert Lea, was arrested for alleged homicide.

23 — Chad Jamie Gulbertson was charged in Freeborn County District Court with one count of second-degree murder and one count of third-degree murder in the death of Jody Lee Morrow. Bail was set at $1 million.

30 — This was the last day of work for David Prescott who had been the superintendent of schools for Albert Lea’s District 241 since December 1995.

30 — The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Albert Lea lost 112 people during the previous year.

July

3-4 — Albert Lea, Bricelyn, Northwood, Iowa, Austin and Blooming Prairie and other area communities would be observing the Fourth of July with various activities, including parades and fireworks.

4 — Milton Christian Paulsen, 63, Albert Lea, allegedly drove a golf cart over a woman at Beaver Trails Jellystone Park east of Austin. Paulsen was later charged in Mower County District Court with fourth-degree DWI and felony criminal vehicular operation.

6 — Sue Ann Peterson, 54, Hartland, appeared in Freeborn County District Court on charges of aggravated forgery of medical prescriptions and was sentenced to 10 years probation and a $1,206 fine.

6 — Katherine Rose Aldrich, 19, and Jeremy Brian Rietsema, 22, appeared in Freeborn County District Court and were sentenced to probation and fined for burglary incidents in Alden during February.

8 — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that SoyMor Biodiesel of Glenville had been awarded a $25 million loan to expand its operations.

10 — The Wisconsin Public Service Commission approved the Wisconsin Power and Light Co. proposal to construct the Bent Tree Wind Farm north of Albert Lea.

12 — Kang Chol Tang, 25, Albert Lea, was reportedly badly beaten by several men on S.E. Marshall Street and airlifted to Rochester for treatment of injuries. Two men, Gilo Otor Gilo, 18, Austin, and Kim James Gatlauk, 30, address not listed, were arrested and charged with assault by Albert Lea police.

15 — Marco Antonio Morales, 37, Albert Lea, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with four counts of assault from first-degree to third-degree for the alleged slashing of a woman’s neck on July 14.

16 — Joshua Quincy Hill, 30, Albert Lea, was arrested by Albert Lea police on a charge of armed robbery. He was allegedly one of two men who robbed a 33-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman in a home on South Washington Avenue, Hill was later charged in Freeborn County District Court with seven felony counts.

20 — Riverland Community College announced plans to start a wind energy technician program in the fall.

20 — A fire caused damages to the John and Jamie Leibeg home in Hartland.

22 — ABC Television’s program, “Good Morning America,” presented a segment from Albert Lea’s Brookside Education Center based on the local participation in the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project.

24 — A Tribune article featured Terry Jensen, the new superintendent of the United South Central School District.

25 — An adult male was stabbed during an incident at Harmony Park near Geneva. Casey Alan Gefre, 23, no address listed, was arrested by Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a charge of second degree assault. Gefre was charged in Freeborn County District Court on July 27 with one count of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault.

28 — Michael Anthony Madrigal, 33, Albert Lea, was sentenced in Freeborn County District Court to two years probation and community service on a felony charge of mistreating a dog.

August

1 — Victor Nolaso-Linares, 25, no address listed, was hit in the head by a shovel allegedly wielded by Kevin Ellis, 30, Albert Lea, at a residence on South Newton Avenue.

4-9 — These were the dates for the annual Freeborn County Fair.

6 — Nancy Halverson of Emmons became the new coordinator of the Family Caregivers Network in early July, according to a Tribune article.

6 — Milton Christian Paulsen, 63, Albert Lea, pleaded guilty in Mower County District Court to operating a golf cart while intoxicated which ran over a woman at Beaver Trails Jellystone Park near Austin on July 4. He was sentenced to probation and a $750 fine.

10 — The Albert Lea City Council declared the community to be the national vitality center with the intention to extend the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project concept beyond October.

11 — An article in the Tribune said Albert Lea was being featured in the September/October issue of the AARP Magazine.

12 — The Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority received funding approval for a $610,000 foreclosure recovery program through the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund.

12 — After a two-hour search by more than 125 volunteers, a missing 2-year-old boy was found near Glenville.

14-15 — The Freeborn County Relay for Life was held at the fairgrounds. This event was a fund raiser for cancer research.

18 — A 69-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s disease living near Freeborn wandered away from her home. After a 90-minute search by several agencies, she was found.

19 — Four people died in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 90 just west of the State Highway 13 intersection. The casualties in this crash were Soubink Khemphomma, 46, his children, Bambi, 13, and Christi, 11, all of Waterloo, Iowa, and Gloria Anderson, 62, of St. Charles, Ill.

25 — Cummins Filtration of Lake Mills, Iowa, formerly known as Fleetgard, announced plans to cut 400 jobs at their Iowa plant and shift production to a plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

27 — The Albert Lea Economic Development Agency and the city was awarded a $770,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration for the construction of 777th Avenue in the I-35 & I-90 Business Park east of Albert Lea.

27 — Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab denied a plea agreement for Charles Kenneth Dennison, who was the driver of a vehicle which was in an accident during June 2008 which caused the deaths of two people. The plea agreement was for a guilty plea and no prison time. Judge Schwab felt prison time was needed. Thus, the agreement was withdrawn.

September

2 —Miguel Angel Sanchez-Hernandez, 28, Albert Lea, was charged in Mower County District Court with one felony count of drug possession and one felony count of drug sales.

7 — ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” telecast a program from Pioneer Park that featured Albert Lea’s AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project.

8 — This was the first day of the 2009-10 school year.

9 — Dilllon J., Gordon, 29, Alden, was seriously injured in a motorcycle collision near Gordonsville, He died Sept. 17 at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester.

10 — The United Way of Freeborn County started its 2009 fund-raising campaign with a goal of $645,000. This campaign was under the leadership of Ann Austin, United Way executive director, and Steve Merfeld, campaign chairman.

14 — William K. Reichel, 58, Albert Lea, was injured in a collision at Waseca.

14 — The Albert Lea City Council approved a fish barrier at the Fountain Lake Dam to control carp problems.

17 — A Tribune article was based on the class of ’59 donating a handicap driveway for the Albert Lea High School building.

20 — David Nordahl, former Albert Lea resident now living in Santa Fe, N.M., was Michael Jackson’s personal artist. Nordahl was featured in an article in this issue of the Tribune. Examples of his art owned by local residents were also featured.

21 — Morgan Stadheim was crowned queen and Jeff Thorstad was crowned king for the 2009 Homecoming at Albert Lea High School.

29 — Mark Kness of Albert Lea won first place in the Minnesota 2010 Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (duck stamp) contest.

October

1 — The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the plan by Wisconsin Power and Light to construct the Bent Tree Wind Farm north of Albert Lea.

2 — A feed truck driven by Jeremy Drees, 29, Taopi, tipped over on a closed portion of County Road 46 west of Albert Lea. The driver was not injured.

2-3-4 — The 23rd annual Big Island Rendezvous and Festival was held at Bancroft Bay City Park.

8 — The fish kill for Pickerel and Mud Lakes was started by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Shell Rock River Watershed District. All the fish in both lakes would be killed and later replaced with more desirable fish at a later date.

13 — Albert Lea’s Elks Lodge No. 813 filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy during the previous week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in St. Paul, according to a Tribune article.

14 — ABC’s “Good Morning America” television program came to Albert Lea for a third time to feature the city’s part in the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project.

16 — Three men sustained non-life threatening injuries in a collision on Interstate 90 a mile west of State Highway 13 which closed down traffic on the freeway for a short time.

19 — A grand jury indicted Chad Jamie Gulbertson with five charges of premeditated murder, including first degree, for the alleged murder of Jody Lee Morrow on June 21.

19 — Albert Lea’s part in the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project was featured in the publication, USA Today.

20 — The Freeborn County Board approved a conditional use permit allowing Wisconsin Power and Light Co. to construct a transmission line from the proposed Bent Tree Wind Farm.

20 — Jan Tittle, VFW Auxiliary national president, visited Albert Lea and spoke to members of the local Post 447 Auxiliary.

21 — Dr. Harry Neel, 103, died at Albert Lea Medical Center.

22 — Power 96 Radio was named the Business of the Year at the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce annual banquet. Classic Reflections was named the Small Business of the Year.

26 — The Albert Lea City Council approved the purchase of the Mexico Lindo property on East Main Street next to the Shell Rock River “channel.”

26 — The first floor of the Jacobson Building on South Broadway Avenue would be the new Vitality Center, scheduled to open in early 2010.

28 — Corey Matthew Anderson, 32, Geneva, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with charges based on possessing and selling meth.

29 — Courtesy Corp. of Onalaska, Wis., purchased the McDonald’s on Albert Lea’s North Bridge Ave.

30 — Concerns about the H1N1 flu resulted in the Albert Lea Medical Center announcing that restrictions would be placed on visiting hospital patients.

November

2 — ABC-TV’s “Nightline” program had a segment based on Albert Lea’s AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project.

3 — Marco Antonio Morales, 37, Albert Lea, pleaded guilty to one second-degree assault charge in Freeborn County District Court. This charge, part of a plea agreement, was based on the slashing of a women’s neck on July 14 near the corner of Broadway Avenue and Clark Street.

3 — Randy L. Severson was elected mayor of Northwood, Iowa.

3 — Voters in the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva School District approved an operating levy with a margin of 131 yes votes.

9 — The Albert Lea City Council rejected a request by Post 56 of the American Legion for an electronic message board to be on the front of their building on North Broadway Avenue. The vote was 4-3.

10 — A Tribune news report said the bankrupt Albert Lea Inn on East Main Street would be reopening under new ownership and the Midwestern Hotel name.

11 — Area communities observed Veterans Day.

14 — Dr. Niles R Shoff, mayor of Albert Lea from 1959 to 1968, died at St. John’s Lutheran home.

18 — Two people died and 21 were injured when a bus owned by Strain Motorcoach Tours of Rochester rolled over on Interstate 90 in Freeborn County at Milepost 172 and just to the west of the County Road 34 overpass. Those injured were taken to St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Austin Medical Center and Albert Lea Medical Center.

18 — The North American Hockey League Board of Governors alleged that the Albert Lea Thunder violated rules with a “pay-to-play” policy involving eight players.

19 — The Minnesota State Patrol identified the two people who died in the bus rollover as Pamela S. Holmquist, 56, of Kasson, and Rhonda R. Hill, 52, of Plainview.

19 — Seth Strusz, 34, Hartland, drove a truck into a swamp and left the scene northwest of Albert Lea. A search by authorities failed to find him. Strusz was found by family members late Nov. 20.

22 — Three waterfowl hunters were treated for cold exposure-related injuries at Albert Lea Medical Center after their boat capsized in Pickerel Lake. One person was rescued by Jeremy Henrickson, who lives on the lake; the other two were rescued by the Albert La Fire Department. The three hunters were identified as Kirk Neilsen, 36, and Daniel Classon and Levi Gardner, both 17.

23 — The I.R.S. placed a tax lien of $11,065 against Albert Lea’s American Legion Club.

27 — A man with a handgun robbed the Subway on Blake Avenue.

30 — The late Lt. Phil Bartusek of the Albert Lea Police Department was honored by Minnesota Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his efforts to prevent underage drinking in the community.

December

1 — The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously not to have any pay increases for elected officials.

2 — Erin Tiffany Carlsen, 29, Clarks Grove, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with alleged first-degree sale of meth. Bail was set at $100,000, plus $10,000 for a second charge of alleged fifth-degree meth possession.

2 — A 31-year-old man from Moline, Ill., allegedly fired at a stare patrol officer north of the Hope exit on Interstate 35 in Steele County. The officer fired back as the man ran away. The man was soon arrested.

3 — Winnebago County (Iowa) District Court Judge Colleen Weiland found Timothy Patrick Winter, 37, Lake Mills, Iowa, competent to stand trial for the alleged attempted murder of his mother in April.

4 — Addison Rose Harig, the daughter of Nicole Everett and Randy Harig, was born early in the morning in the bathroom of her parent’s home on South Shore Drive, rural Albert Lea.

4 — Anthony Paul Sharper, 39, Plymouth, Iowa, was charged with one count of aggravated robbery by Freeborn County prosecutors for the alleged robbery of the Blake Avenue Subway in Albert Lea on Nov. 27.

7 — The North American Hockey League voted to terminate the membership of the Albert Lea Thunder in the league.

9 — A storm system covering two-thirds of the nation hit the Albert Lea area with deep snow, high winds creating drifts, and traffic problems galore.

10 — Albert Lea City manager Victoria Simonsen has reportedly been selected to be the new town administrator in Lyons, Colo.

11 — Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab sentenced Marco Antonio Morales, 37, Albert Lea, to 21 months prison time on a second-degree assault charge based on his slashing of a woman’s neck in July.

11 — Timothy Patrick Winter, 37, Lake Mills, Iowa, pleaded guilty in Winnebago County (Iowa) District Court to a charge of willful injury based on hitting his mother in the head with a hammer in April.

14 — City Manager Victoria Simonsen officially announced she had accepted the position of town administrator in Lyons, Colo. Her last day as an Albert Lea employee would be Feb. 12, 2010.

14 — The Albert Lea City Council voted unanimously to table adoption of the 2010 budget because of concerns based on preventing any cuts in police positions.

15 — The Freeborn County Board recognized Jeremy Hendrickson of rural Albert Lea for his actions on Nov. 22 when he saved the life of one of three people in a boat that capsized in Pickerel Lake. Also honored by the board were Annie Cunningham and Jennifer Jordahl, Law Enforcement Center dispatchers, for their services on Nov. 18 in coordinating responses to the bus rollover on Interstate 90.

15 — The Freeborn County Board approved a $4.124 million communications system for the county.

16 — Kelvin and his wife Kathy Attig of Albert Lea were charged in Freeborn County District Court with at least seven charges each for allegedly selling morphine tablets to a Drug Task Force informant.

17 — Ashton Larson, 19, Albert Lea, pleaded not guilty to all counts filed against her relating to alleged elder abuse at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center. Her case will be scheduled for a pre-trial and jury trial later.

17 — Sara Berg, 11, Albert Lea, was injured when she ran in front of a vehicle on East Front Street near the Trailside Apartments. The vehicle’s driver was listed as Donald Jensen, 42, Albert Lea.

18 — No charges would be filed regarding the bus crash in Freeborn County that resulted in two deaths and 21 injuries. The bus driver, Edwin Erickson, 52, Elgin, reportedly had sudden internal bleeding.

21 — The Tribune reported that Mark Heggestad had resigned as mayor of Emmons.

28 — A house at 208 S.E. First St. in Clarks Grove burned only two days after Christmas.