The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) recently announced $23.4 million in water infrastructure loans and grants St. James and several other Minnesota cities to improve water infrastructure in those communities. “I am thrilled St. James was included in this round of PFA funding,” said Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Vernon Center). “Clean water is one of the most important services government can provide to its citizens, and the St. James projects are long overdue.” St. James will receive $9,718,029 to replace aging sewer and water mains in conjunction with a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) project to reconstruct Trunk Highway 4. A Clean Water Revolving Fund (CWRF) loan of [...]

Update--missing person Harry Miller has been found safe.  He was located in Blue Earth County near Gilfillan Lake.  Public Safety thanks all who submitted tips or information.

Estimates suggest that about 50,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year and over half of the human trafficking cases active in the US were sex trafficking cases involving children.  Hear what is being done locally to fight this criminal activity Friday, October 25 at the VINE Adult Community Center. Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office Investigator, Marc Chadderdon will share information on Greater Minnesota collaborations to combat human trafficking Friday from 1:30-3 pm at VINE.  Chadderdon is president and founder of MSCIC, a coalition organization that tracks, investigates and prosecutes individuals involved in sex trafficking.  He is committed to protecting [...]

Public safety continues to ask for the public's assistance in locating Harry George Miller, age 84 of Mankato. It's believed Miller's photo was taken by a home surveillance system on Inverness Drive at approximately 7 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16. He may have also been in the area of Victory and St. Andrews drives on October 15 around 12:45 p.m. Public safety requests residents and businesses in these areas to check surveillance systems for Miller. If seen, please contact police at 911 or 507-387-8780. Miller left home (Shalom Avenue) at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday (October 15) on foot. He was dressed for [...]

The Blue Earth County Historical Society’s 33rd Annual Ghosts from the Past will showcase some of the odd and slightly unbelievable stories of Blue Earth County’s Past on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 from 6-8 p.m. each night at the History Center, 424 Warren Street, Mankato. BECHS is currently displaying the oddities in their collection in the temporary exhibit “Blue Earth County’s Believe It or Not.” In doing the research, many stories came to light that just don’t have objects to go with them. But the stories are too good not to be shared. Hear from characters of the past [...]

Minnesota State University, Mankato has renovated the president’s suite at the Mankato Civic Center, and President Richard Davenport announced that making the space available to student groups for select Maverick men’s hockey games – to include two of the team’s first four home games – is a point of emphasis for the space. For most games, the president’s suite is used for cultivating relationships with corporate partners, financial donors of the University and those who are prospective donors, as financial gifts to Minnesota State Mankato are central to the continued success and growth of the University. Davenport’s first invited student guests [...]

In honor and remembrance of U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings and in accordance with an order issued by the President, Governor Tim Walz has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota beginning immediately until sunset on Friday, October 18, 2019. Representative Cummings passed away early Thursday morning from longstanding health complications. Representative Cummings represented the people of Baltimore in Maryland’s Seventh Congressional District since 1996.

With the Cherry Street reconstruction project almost complete, at 6:30 a.m., Wednesday (October 23), the temporary transit hub on Second Street will be moved back to its permanent Cherry Street location. Staff will be on site to assist as needed during the transition.

Blue Earth County has launched a new web-based tool to assist residents with waste disposal and recycling. Waste Wizard allows residents to search items by name to find out how to properly dispose of them. The tool, which is specific to Blue Earth County, will give residents information about curbside disposal options, drop-off locations within the County, disposal fees (if any), and any special instructions. For items that can’t be recycled, like artificial Christmas trees or certain plastics, Waste Wizard recommends more sustainable alternatives such as reuse, upcycling and composting. For other items, like clothing or furniture, the tool will suggest [...]

Fourth-generation family farmer and businessman Ralph Kaehler, 58, is running for Congress. He says it is to build a better Minnesota by fighting for the best interests of the people of Minnesota’s First Congressional District. “I’m a farmer. I’m a businessman. I am not a politician. But I’m so fed up with the lack of real work being done in Washington that I’ve decided to get off the sidelines and take action,” Kaehler says. “I aim to be the native Minnesotan who forces Washington to wake up to our values of working hard in pursuit of the American dream, nurturing our [...]