To frigid temperatures this week.

After somewhat mild temperatures most of the season, the area endured frigid wind chills as low as 40 degrees below zero this week, leading to the closures of most area schools.

Many schools started school late Friday and were closed Thursday to allow time for the wind chill advisory to expire.

After making it through Friday morning, the good news is that temperatures were expected to rebound to a high of 17 degrees on Friday and 32 degrees on Saturday.

 

To Albert Lea couple Albert and Doris Reynen.

It’s not often you meet someone who has been married as long as Albert Lea couple Albert and Doris Reynen, who will celebrate their 75th anniversary next month.

The couple lived most of their time together in Hollandale, before moving to Hidden Creek in Albert Lea in October 2018.

Though they said they didn’t have all the answers to a long and successful marriage, they advised people to work through their arguments and “forgive and forget,” Albert Reynen said.

We extend our congratulations to the Reynens and wish them a happy anniversary next month.

 

To the sale of the Herberger’s building in Albert Lea.

About a year and a half after Herberger’s closed its doors in Albert Lea, the building was sold Friday to the Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition with plans to bring a new clinic to the community.

No matter how you feel about the clinic, we hope all would agree that it is great to see this building be used again and for it to be used for a purpose that will benefit many — not only in Albert Lea but the surrounding area, too.

Construction is slated to take place over the next nine months, with the projected opening of the new MercyOne clinic by Oct. 1.

 

To Albert Lea High School graduate John Morrison.

It’s not every day that you see an individual donate $1 million to a project in Albert Lea, but that’s exactly what happened Friday with Albert Lea High School graduate John Morrison, of the class of 1955.

In the short time Morrison spoke at the Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition’s closing on the Herberger’s building at Northbridge Mall, it was clear Morrison has a love of Albert Lea and his roots in the community.

After doing a little more research, it was also clear this was not the only time Morrison has stepped up to help the community and others around the nation.

We thank Morrison for his generosity and appreciate his leadership.