Editorial: Tribune Thumbs

Published 9:00 am Sunday, October 25, 2015

To an announcement this week about the Freeborn National Bank building. thumb.down

We were disappointed to hear the announcement Thursday that the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency did not award housing tax credits for the renovation of the Freeborn National Bank and Jacobson Apartments building on South Broadway.

Many people had their hopes up that the project would be approved and that this would be the beginning of a new age for the Albert Lea landmarks.

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The developers called for turning the upper floors into 21 apartments and having the Albert Lea Art Center on the ground level of the bank building and The Interchange Wine & Coffee Bistro on the ground level of the Jacobson building.

The funding project hinges on the awarding of the tax credits.

We look forward to hearing if the city and developer decide to reapply for the credits or if the city decides to reopen the project to other developers.

 

To the businesses recognized at the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce banquet.thumb.up

Congratulations to the three businesses that took home the big awards Thursday night at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet at Wedgewood Cove.

Southern Lock & Glass was recognized as Small Business of the Year, Erbert & Gerbert’s won Medium Business of the Year and Riverland Community College was named Large Business of the Year.

Congratulations to the businesses who received Worksite Wellness awards and to Ruth Vermedahl, who received the Lifetime Membership award; Brian Olson, who was named Ambassador of the Year; and Carole Bower, who was named Volunteer of the Year.

We appreciate their commitment to the community.

 

To area state qualifiers Kia Legred and Krister Bealthumb.up

We are lucky to be able to follow the success of two area athletes who qualified for state in their respective sports. Congratulations!

United South Central senior girls’ tennis player Kia Legred was seeded No. 3 in the Section 3A singles meet but upset No. 2-seed Karli Olsen of Blue Earth 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals to qualify for state.

Legred finished as the section runner-up and will compete in the first round of the Class A state meet against Trinity’s Katie Mulvey at 8 a.m. Thursday at Reed-Sweat Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis.

Lake Mills senior boys’ cross country runner Krister Beal overcame a late-race collapse due to dehydration Thursday at the Class 1A state qualifying meet to finish 10th out of 141 runners and qualify for the Iowa state meet set for 2:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

We admire Beal’s fighting spirit and encourage all athletes to stay hydrated as they train and compete.