Sleepy Eye Area Foundation received word this week of an award in the amount of $3,000 through the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Program.

Special guests at the Brown County Congress of Elected and Appointed Officials last Friday included SFC Stephen Whitehead; retired 1SG Paul Severson; and National Guard Citizens Committee Chair, Jerome Benz.

What you didn't know... in a quick minute!

What you didn't know... in a quick minute!

The internationally acclaimed U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors of Washington D.C., will continue its long history of presenting free public performances when it appears at the Business, Arts & Recreation Center (BARC) Auditorium, 1012 5th Ave. in Windom, on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 PM. The Jazz Ambassadors’ concert in Windom is being co-sponsored by The Thrivent Cottonwood County Chapter, Thrivent Financial Associates and the BARC Education Connection.

What you didn't know... in a quick minute!

What you didn't know... in a quick minute!

State Rep. Paul Torkelson will be the featured guest at New Ulm Public Library˙s First Fridays at the Library, March 5, 10 a.m. Rep. Torkelson will speak briefly about the state budget; that will be followed by an informal coffee and conversation lasting up to an hour. For more information, call the library at 507-359-8334.

First-ever nationwide, county-by-county rankings examine both health outcomes and health factors

Brown County ranked 14th in health outcomes and 46th in health factors, according to the new County Health Rankings report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The County Health Rankings is the first report to use a standard formula to measure the health of the more than 3,000 counties across the United States. The rankings are designed to compare the health of counties within each state; they do not compare counties in Minnesota with counties in other states. The report ranks 85 of the 87 counties in Minnesota against each other.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - You don't need to be an entomologist to tell the difference between emerald ash borer and two-lined chestnut borer, but it sure helps. The destructive invasive pest (emerald ash borer) and its native look-alike are both tiny, metallic-green beetles, but they are worlds apart in their impact on Minnesota forests and urban landscapes.

Winter storm causes numerous crashes involving snowplows
Mn/DOT reminds motorists to stay back, stay alive

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Nine traffic crashes involving snowplows have occurred on area highways throughout Minnesota in the last two days, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  Five of the crashes happened in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and four took place in southeastern Minnesota.

Mn/DOT reminds motorists of these safe driving tips around snowplows:

Stay back - at least five car lengths behind the plow, far from the snow cloud; snowplow operators will pull over when it is safe to do so to allow traffic build-up to pass.

Stay alert - snowplows turn or exit frequently and often with little warning; they may also travel over centerlines or partially in traffic to further improve road conditions.

Slow down - snowplows typically move at slower speeds.

Be patient - remember snowplows are working to improve road conditions for your trip.

Check road conditions - go to www.511mn.org or call 511; it takes time to get roads back to good driving conditions.