To Sibley and Lakeview elementary schools media specialist Kristen Seeger, who is one of 40 selected as semifinalists for this year’s Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to Kristen Seeger for making the cut to become a semifinalist for the state Teacher of the Year award.

The original list had 168 candidates.

Seeger manages both of the libraries at Sibley and Lakeview, overseeing the collection and clerks who work there. She also teaches media literacy lessons to approximately 800 students, she said, which include lessons on library skills, digital citizenship and research. Currently, the students are focusing on technology integration: how to use Chromebooks, iPads and online resources in the classroom with their teachers. Seeger also works with robotics and coding.

We wish Seeger the best of luck the selection committee narrows the list down to 10 finalists.

We are all proud of you here in Albert Lea.

To the record number of water main breaks that happened in Albert Lea in 2018.

We were disappointed to hear the city had 57 water main breaks in 2018 — the most it has ever seen.

This points to the lifespans of many Albert Lea streets and the utilities underneath them. It also points to the need for more infrastructure and street work in the city — all of which takes money.

With the rough winter we have had this year, that has likely not helped.

We support the city in continuing its approach to replace the aging roads and infrastructure and look ahead in hopes the number this year will not be as bad as the year before.

To the death of longtime Albert Lea resident Dan Borland.

The community this week is mourning the passing of former KAAL-TV reporter and community advocate Dan Borland, who died on Sunday of an apparent heart attack.

Borland, 62, was involved in numerous efforts throughout the community over the years, including the Lakes Foundation, Save Our Healthcare, Albert Lea Community Theatre, Albert Lea Parks and Recreation board and the Governor’s Fishing Opener, among others. In recent years, he owned his own business, Dan Borland Videography. He enjoyed documenting community events via photo and video, and in many cases did so free of charge.

Borland was a man with a big heart, and Albert Lea is at a loss for his passing. We send our condolences to his family at this difficult time.

To Albert Lea and Wells being selected to
participate in a program meant to address child care needs.

We were pleased to hear Albert Lea and Wells were two cities selected to work with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to address local child care needs through a new program titled Communities Addressing the Child Care Shortage.

We hope this program will help the communities come up with a solution for the hundreds of open child care slots needed in both cities.

We look forward to seeing what comes out of this effort.