Big plans downtown

Thumbs UP: We must say, the plans approved by the New Ulm Planning Commission on Thursday for the former Ben Franklin building look very appealing. The current concrete block shoe box of a building has been vacant for years. It had been retail space, but plans proposed by Eric Bode are to build a vertical addition on the back of the building for apartments. In all there would be four apartments in the back. The front of the building would be a wedding and events center, with a restaurant and roof deck on the second floor.

Bode has an excellent record for taking some of New Ulm’s older buildings, such as the former Martinka Motors building, and the former Thrifty White building, and turning them into something new and useful. We think this idea would continue that record.

Memorial Day travel

Thumbs UP: This Memorial Day weekend is turning into another step on the way back to normal. News reports indicate people are hitting the road this holiday weekend. With vaccinations and relaxed mask and social distancing requirements, people who have been cooped up for the past year are getting rid of their cabin fever with a holiday trip, be it by car, rail or plane.

As the holiday travel season begins, it is worth a reminder that holidays are historically the most dangerous times on the nation’s highways. Please drive carefully, give yourself extra time to reach your destination and stop and rest when you get tired.

It would be tragically ironic for someone who has spent the last year sheltering at home, venturing out only with a face mask in order to survive the pandemic should lose their life in their first vacation travel trip.