To organizers of The Big Freeze.

Hats off to organizers of Albert Lea’s The Big Freeze for all their work in planning our community’s winter festival.

Events were planned to expand this year to include activities downtown in addition to at the Edgewater Park pavilion. Some of the new activities slated include a hotdish cookoff, live music and fireworks over Fountain Lake. The last time there were fireworks in Albert Lea in winter were in 2006.

We hope residents take advantage of this opportunity for some winter fun and to take advantage of some of our assets in the community.

Thanks to the organizers and sponsors who make this event a reality.

To the decrease in crashes on South Broadway in the last two years.

City leaders and international transportation expert Dan Burden predicted it three years ago, and now we’re seeing it come to pass.

Since South Broadway was changed from a four-lane roadway to a two lane road with a center turn lane, crashes have reduced from about 12 to 13 a year on average to only four or five a year from November 2015 to Nov. 1, 2016, and in the same time period in 2016 and 2017.

The first year after the changes, the five crashes included a rear-end collision for a stopped train, a crash involving a lane change, two intersection crossings and a semi that made too sharp of a turn, hitting a vehicle.

The changes in the roadway appear to have drivers slowing down and ultimately leading to better reaction times and a lesser likelihood of a crash.

To multiple reports lately of drunken driving.

We have seen several incidents lately in the newspaper about people who have been charged with drunken driving after getting into crashes and injuring people.

This type of behavior can lead to devastating effects and is putting the whole community at risk.

If you’re going to be drinking, plan for a safe ride. Ask a sober friend for a ride, call a taxi or stay at the scene of your party or event. Don’t risk it.

To an effort underway to raise money for drinking fountains at four city parks.

It’s great when a community member sees a need and takes the initiative to raise money for it.

That’s exactly what is taking place with Albert Lea parent Nick Hanke, who has launched a fundraising campaign for drinking fountains at City Beach, Lakeview Park, Morin Park and Academy Park. He needs to raise $2,800.

Hanke is organizing a comedy show slated for April 20 for the cause, and we encourage people to support him. The show begins at 8 p.m. at Wedgwood Cove.

To news that Albert Lea’s Herberger’s will not close.

The Bon-Ton Stores this week released a list of 42 stores it will close this year, and luckily Albert Lea’s Herberger’s was not one of them.

This was good news for the area.

Austin’s Younkers will also stay open, and it appears the only Bon-Ton store that will close in Minnesota is in Maplewood. In addition to Younkers and Herberger’s, Bon-Ton operates department stores under the brand name Bergner’s, Bon-Ton, Carson’s and Elder-Beerman.