To organizers of all of the Fourth of July festivities in Albert Lea.

Whether it was the Third of July Parade, the fireworks, the car show or the Bayside Ski Club show, Albert Lea had lots going on for the Fourth of July holiday.

Thank you to all of those who played a part in organizing these activities and helping make the community a fun place to live.

We hope these traditions can continue to live on in Albert Lea for future generations.

 

To Alden resident Richard Thunstedt.

Hats off to World War II veteran Richard Thunstedt, who was this year’s Albert Lea Third of July Parade grand marshal.

Thunstedt, 98, served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945, with a majority of that time spent aboard the USS Salt Lake City.

He moved to Alden after he and his wife, Pearl, were married, and he was offered the job to take over the farm of his wife’s family. In addition to farming, Thunstedt also helped kick-start the Youth for Christ program and served on boards for Naeve Hospital, Alden grain elevator’s co-op board and Alden Area Development board, among others. He speaks at area schools and events telling his wartime stories.

We thank him for his service and hope he enjoyed the well-deserved spotlight during the parade.

 

To the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners for joining litigation against pharmaceutical companies in response to the opioid crisis.

Thank you to Freeborn County officials for taking a stand against the opioid crisis in the state and nation and joining several other Minnesota counties in litigation against pharmaceutical companies.

The County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday in a closed session to allow two law firms on behalf of the county to file a complaint against the companies. The complaint alleges that big pharmaceutical companies have oversold opiates, and doing so has caused many overdose deaths and resource expenditures at the county, state and federal levels.

The county hopes to receive payment for expenses, but also assistance for the future in responding to future needs for those addicted.

Hennepin, Ramsey, St. Louis, Washington, Olmsted, Carlton, Morrison, Mower and Douglas counties, among others, have already joined the lawsuit.