To improvements in Freeborn County’s health rankings.

While Freeborn County still has room for improvement, it was exciting to see that the county has made great gains in the health rankings released this week by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

The county has come a long way in just a few years and has moved up to 44th out of 87 Minnesota counties.

Of particular notice, though, was that Freeborn County’s smoking rate of 15 percent is lower than the state average by 1 percent and is only 1 percent away from some of the top performers in the nation. At a time when obesity is rising in other communities, it is going down in Freeborn County.

Congratulations to all of the people who have helped bring about change in the community.

To the 2017 Albert Lea Area Schools Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to Hawthorne Elementary School special education teacher Jacque Sorensen, who was named the 2017 Albert Lea Area Schools Teacher of the Year on Wednesday.

Sorensen has taught in Albert Lea for 23 years and is a member of several other committees for the district.

We are grateful for Sorensen and all of the other teachers in the district who impact so many for good.

To the Greater Minnesota transit grant awarded to Cedar Valley Services.

We were pleased to hear the announcement Thursday of more than $23 million in transit grants for Greater Minnesota, including about $470,000 for Cedar Valley Services, which owns and operates SMART Transit. The grant will provide preschool transportation for 100 students six hours per day, Monday through Friday, in Freeborn County, among other services in neighboring counties.

We appreciate the focus on Greater Minnesota, as many residents in this part of state need reliable access to transportation as well.

To the man that reportedly walked into the Southwest Middle School foyer with a
dangerous weapon.

We were shocked to hear news that a man, running from police after a theft at Bomgaar’s, ran in the outer door of Southwest Middle School while in possession of a knife. School Resource Officer Ted Herman reportedly followed the man into the school’s foyer before he was arrested, and the school was alerted not to let the man in.

We are grateful all of the Albert Lea schools have locks on their doors now that require someone in the front office at each school to allow people into the building.