To Albert Lea’s Main Street designation.

Congratulations to the city and the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce for doing the work to help Albert Lea become designated a Main Street community.

The designation opens the city up to resources and a network of people that will help further develop the downtown.

The Main Street program has been proven successful in several other cities across the state and nation, including Faribault, Mankato, New Ulm, Northfield and Owatonna, to name a few.

We look forward to seeing continued improvements in Albert Lea’s downtown, and we hope residents will jump on board to make the program a success.

 

To the completion of construction work on westbound Interstate 90 from Freeborn County Road 46 to Minnesota Highway 13.

It has been a long construction season, but we are pleased to see that work has concluded on Interstate 90 in Freeborn County.

The $17.2 million concrete paving project, included a 12-mile stretch of the westbound lanes of the interstate, along with the replacement of a bridge deck over County Road 46.

Construction will continue east next year from County Road 46 in Freeborn County to Minnesota Highway 105 in Austin.

Though it was sometimes a challenge this summer maneuvering the various detours, we’re glad to see the smooth roadway.

 

To Lakeview Elementary School students and teacher Mark Nechanicky.

Hats off to Lakeview students, who raised $275 to fund small loans through an online giving program called Kiva, with the guidance of fourth-grade teacher and district technology integration coach Mark Nechanicky.

This is the second year for the effort, which goes to support underserved individuals or individuals in underserved communities.

The process not only teaches the students about the impact they can make on a worldwide basis, but also serves as an introduction to economics.

Kudos to Nechanicky for introducing such a worthwhile cause for the students.