To the reopening of the Clarks Grove hardware store.

Congratulations to Sue and Jon Mickelson and the Clarks Grove community for the reopening of the couple’s Hardware Hank Store on Monday.

It has been a little more than two years since a tornado struck Clarks Grove, damaging much in its path, including the store. The store had broken windows, the roof was taken off and its brick walls were tilted inward.

The couple had only owned the store for a little over a year when the devastation struck.

We wish the Mickelsons the best in this endeavor, and we encourage the community to support them with their business.

 

 

To water levels on Albert Lea and Fountain lakes receding.

After the closure of East Main Street for over a week and a half, we are glad to see the water levels on Albert Lea and Fountain lakes receding. Levels have gone down enough so that the eastbound lanes reopened Friday morning.

The westbound lanes remained closed because of water on the road, but hopefully will be open soon.

We hope the closure of the roadway has once again brought to the forefront the importance of getting this issue resolved when the road is reconstructed in the next few years.

As one of the main thoroughfares in the community, this road impacts many.

We look forward to when this road will again be fully reopened and traffic on Bridge Avenue will return to normal.

 

 

To the Country Club Estates Association, Janis Owens and Richard and Margaret Jensen.

Congratulations to the Country Club Estates Association, Owens and the Jensens, who have been recognized by the Shell Rock River Watershed District for their assistance to the Watershed District as conservationists during the last year. Both groups were recognized with awards.

The Country Club Estates Association gave the district an easement to allow the construction of a berm containing a wetland along their properties, and Owens and the Jensens sold property to the district for a wetland restoration project.

Both projects will be helpful in providing water storage and improving habitat.