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SE Holiday Lights in Motion are back

After taking 2024 off, Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion are back. Sportsman’s Park in Sleepy Eye is filled with over a half million Christmas lights and a full schedule of themed event nights through the rest of the month. The lights display is a decade-long tradition. Its absence in 2024 was felt throughout the community. Many people took for granted the lights display would always be in Sleepy Eye, but getting the park ready requires a lot of volunteer support. The return of Holiday Lights in Motion is a sign the community is dedicated to keeping it for another decade.

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Financial Fraud seminar proactive step at preventing scams

A fraud prevention workshop was held Thursday in New Ulm. It was a follow up to a similar seminar held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church last May. Representatives from six area financial institutions, Brown County Human Services, Oak Hills Living Center and local law enforcement participated in the seminar to help individuals identify potential financial scams.

The number of groups involved in the seminars shows the seriousness of the problem. Online fraud is extremely common. Every month, The Journal reports on a fraud or scam attempt in the police logs. It is rare for money lost in these scams to ever be recovered. Prevention is the best way to fight back. Seminars like the one Thursday are a great resource for the community.

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Trend of mild winters is over

Winter is back on schedule this year. The last two winters were relatively calm in south central Minnesota with very little snow. This season, things are already looking different. The New Ulm area received 7 inches of snow last weekend and seems to be returning for another round this weekend. Overall, this snowfall is nothing unusual for Minnesota. In fact, this type of snowfall is fairly common, but the region was spoiled the last few years by mild winters. Everyone will need to relearn how to operate in the snow again. That means a higher number of traffic accidents as people adjust to a normal winter. It is an unpleasant reality of living in a cold climate.