Sarah Shelander

Sarah Shelander

Ross Park launches new event space, Gather

The loss of Adult Day Services at Ross Park Apartments last year left a gap in local programming for senior citizens and a sizable community room without a use, said Lisa Lax, executive director of the Sleepy Eye Housing Authority.The authority, which oversees Ross Park, recently decided on a new direction for that community room and is now promoting it for birthday parties, luncheons, classes, business presentations and other events.

Details of Balchem accident released

A Sleepy Eye plant that makes powdered creamers had a clogged dryer, and two employees were trying to dislodge the blockage when about a thousand gallons of 200-degree water discharged, severely burning one of the workers and nearly killing him, according to an account of the June 3 accident released this week.Balchem, the company that owns the factory at 301 Main St.

Animal mistreatment case that made mess of salon nets jail time

A husband and wife have each been sentenced to three days in jail, 12 days of community service and a year of supervised probation for their part in an animal mistreatment case this winter that resulted in a dog’s death, a busted water pipe in their second-story apartment and extensive damage to the Main Street salon below it.Aaron Scott Grubham, 36, and Krista Michelle Grubham, 38, were both sentenced this past week for their guilty pleas to a misdemeanor count of mistreating an animal by depriving it of inadequate food or shelter.