Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

To 10 years of the Carter Christmas Lights Show.

Thanks to Mike and Freddy Carter, who started the Carter Christmas Lights Show in Austin before moving it to Albert Lea in 2018. In their 10th year, the show will have 50,000 lights this year.

We know this is no small feat to get the lights and decorations up each year, and we thank the family for their efforts to bring a little joy to both young and old alike during the holiday season.

Each year they try to add to the show, usually by lights or effects. This year, in addition to 5,000 new lights, they also added an ornament in an area where people can stand and take pictures, along with nine stars, two of which are in honor of family members who passed away. The lights on the tree in the front yard have also been upgraded to where they can now be lit up any color.

The lights show kicks off this weekend at 1905 Brookside Drive in Albert Lea. If you’ve never driven by to check it out, we encourage you to do so.

To completion of Interstate 90 between Albert Lea and Alden.

After a long construction season, the work on Interstate 90 between Albert Lea and Alden has finally concluded.

In addition to resurfacing of nearly nine miles, crews also installed new guardrail on the eastbound and westbound lanes and installed 1,700 feet of permanent snow fence along the north side of a portion of the road.

We’re glad to see the improvements and that all the work went smoothly.

To declining gas prices.

While gas prices fluctuate all the time it seems, we’ve been happy to see the prices trending down in the last few weeks as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday.

Prices have seen an about 40-cent decrease in Freeborn County since the end of October, from $3.03 per gallon to as low as $2.59 per gallon, with some other areas of the state seeing even lower prices.

Whatever the reason for the decline, we’re glad to save a little money at the pump, particularly at this time of year when there are additional financial costs for many with the Christmas holiday.

We’ll see what happens to the gas prices in the coming weeks and months and welcome any further decreases that may be coming this way.