Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

To Albert Lea Fire Capt. Trevor DeRaad.

Congratulations to Albert Lea Fire Capt. Trevor DeRaad, who recently was named as Fire Prevention Officer of the Year by the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association.

DeRaad has worked for the Albert Lea Fire Department for 22 years and has worked with many groups to raise awareness about fire code enforcement, fire safety practices at area businesses and residential fire safety.

He also introduced training for firefighters on how to interact with special needs students without causing fear or anxiety and launched a living skills program to help students prepare for the real world.

Albert Lea is surely a better place because of his efforts, and we thank him for his dedication.

To funds going to support the expansion of broadband access.

We are pleased to hear that parts of Faribault and Freeborn counties will soon be the benefactors of a portion of grants announced this week by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to expand broadband access throughout the state.

In Faribault and Freeborn counties specifically, $1.78 million was announced for a project by Blue Earth Valley Telephone Co. out of a total of $57 million in grants.

In May 2023, Governor Walz signed legislation providing $100 million to the state’s broadband grant funding program for the biennium.

Earlier this year, Walz announced over $50 million to expand broadband access to an estimated 8,900 homes and businesses throughout Minnesota.

The grant awards announced this week will help broadband providers expand high-speed broadband service in 24 counties across Minnesota.

To Riverland Community College instructor Nick Schiltz.

Congratulations to Riverland agricultural sciences instructor Nick Schiltz, who was named the 2024 Post-Secondary Educator of the Year by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation.

Schiltz has a passion for everything he does, and that passion comes through for those he interacts with, whether it’s students or others. This recognition is well deserved.