To a group of residents planning an inclusive park in Albert Lea.

Kudos to the group of residents planning an inclusive park near Albert Lea City Arena, which will allow children with disabilities to play alongside their peers.

The park will include Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps and other play equipment, along with a chain-link fence for protection from nearby traffic.

This will be the first inclusive city park in Albert Lea and will also serve the neighborhood, which does not have a nearby park.

According to organizers, the city has offered to pay for park equipment and wood chips, but the city would install rubberized padding if the park committee was able to fundraise the additional cost of about $160,000.

Funds will be collected at the Chamber Foundation.

We look forward to seeing this project come to fruition and encourage people to support it.

 

 

To the death of a second person in a crash earlier this month west of Oakland.

We were saddened to hear news that Albert Lean Elaine Lieb died Jan. 17 at Mayo Clinic Health System-St. Marys campus from injuries she sustained in a crash Jan. 10 with her brother, William Studer.

Studer suffered an unknown medical condition that led to the crash. He ultimately died at the scene.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of both of these people for your loss.

 

 

To the bitter cold temperatures this week and next.

It sure has been a cold couple days, and it’s not over yet. According to the National Weather Service, dangerous wind chill values will continue this week, and actually get even worse, with lows of 25 to 50 degrees below zero possible. Add that in with the expected snow to come Sunday night and Monday, and it has the potential to get pretty ugly out there.

We hope everyone stays warm and protects themselves against risks for hypothermia and frostbite. Stay inside if you can.

 

 

To the Alden-Conger School District, for having its community play an active role in deciding how to spend $1 million in leftover money.

Alden-Conger voters in November approved allowing the district to find a new use for $1 million in funding the district levied for previously but did not use because their project came in under budget.

Now, the district has asked residents to vote in a survey on how they would prioritize other projects being considered for some of the funds.

Results shared indicated just over 100 people took the survey and identified the community’s top three priorities were to renovate existing sports fields, repair and expand the elementary playground equipment and build a three-stall garage with storage.

The district will complete a few smaller projects as well.

We credit the Alden-Conger leaders for seeking input from the community in moving forward with spending these funds and hope this will give residents an ownership over what projects are selected for completion.