To additional discussion about Albert Lea’s workforce shortage. 

It’s great to see both state and national officials coming to Albert Lea to hear about the challenges the city and all of southeastern Minnesota are facing when it comes to finding enough skilled workers to fill the open positions right now in the workforce.

This week, Amy Klobuchar visited Albert Lea’s Riverland Community College campus and talked with campus leaders, as well as city, business and economic development officials about how many types of businesses are struggling to find enough people — both skilled and unskilled — to fill various jobs.

We hope that all of this discussion will motivate lawmakers into action. Much can be done to assist cities such as Albert Lea in overcoming this challenge.

 

To a high-risk predatory offender moving back to Albert Lea. 

We understand Minnesota law allows high-risk offenders to live wherever they choose once they have completed their jail or prison sentence, but we are sad to learn that yet another Level 3 offender will be moving back to the city on Monday.

Lorenzo Torres has been in and out of the community off and on over the years and has had at least three victims, according to an Albert Lea Police Department detective.

While we must stay vigilant in protecting our children against our identified Level 3 offenders, we must also stay on alert for those offenders who have not been identified or given a level label.

Evidence shows that a majority of predatory offenders are not strangers, but instead are people you are already acquainted with.

 

To a group of five Albert Lea seniors who signed national letters of intent this week. 

Albert Lea High School seniors Alex Syverson, Anna Andersen, Lindsey Horejsi, Jake Thompson and Parker Mullenbach this week signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate levels. Syverson will attend the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul for golf; Horejsi will attend the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities for women’s swimming; Andersen will attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks for women’s swimming; Mullenbach will attend Bethel University in St. Paul for baseball; and Jake Thompson will attend South Dakota State University in Brookings for baseball.

We wish these seniors the best of luck at the next level.

 

To Albert Lea cross country runners Jackson and Carson Goodell. 

The Goodell brothers saw success at the state cross country meet last weekend. Jackson Goodell, a senior three-time state qualifier, earned his highest state finish in 53rd place out of 176 runners. Carson Goodell earned the title of the fastest freshman in the state and came in 91st.

Congratulations!