To the meals being provided to children this summer.

Thanks to all the people involved with providing free breakfast and lunch meals to any children in the community 18 and under.

Meals are provided Mondays through Thursdays through July 11.

Breakfast is available from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., and lunch is available from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., both at Hawthorne Elementary School and Southwest Middle School.

There are many who could benefit from this in the community, and we are grateful this opportunity is available.

 

To a successful first Wind Down Wednesday of the summer.

One of the best events of the summer started this week in downtown Albert Lea.

The weather was perfect, and a good time was had by all who attended Wind Down Wednesday.

Hats off to the organizers of this great Albert Lea event, who organize live music, activities, food vendors and other arts and crafts vendors.

Didn’t make it downtown this week? Don’t worry, there are two more Wind Down Wednesday events this summer — one on July 17 and one on Aug. 14. Festivities take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days.

 

To unfavorable weather conditions for area farmers.

With a cool spring this year, farmers in the area have expressed concerns about Mother Nature’s effect on their crops. 

The weather so far this year has been cooler and wetter than an average planting season, leading to seeds being planted later and questions about whether plants will be able to reach maturity as they should. This ultimately affects yields.

With agriculture being such a large part of Freeborn County’s economy, we hope the weather turns back around and crops are able to recover.

 

To rising tuition prices through the Minnesota State college system.

The Minnesota State college system’s board of trustees voted this week to raise tuition by 3% as enrollment declines.

The college system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities — including Riverland Community College, St. Cloud State University, Minnesota State University, Mankato and Rochester Community and Technical College, among others — has reportedly lost almost a fifth of its enrollment over the past decade.

The system stated it needed to raise tuition to keep up with the cost of inflation.

Though we cannot say enough good about the value of these educational establishments, we also worry about the increase in tuition costs for students. We hope in the future these rising costs can be alleviated with more state funding or other measures.