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Proposed park on Adams Avenue: Public favors a mixed use area or full trailhead

November 14, 2025

The Albert Lea community favors either a mixed use of business and greenspace or a full trailhead for a proposed park on Adams Avenue, according to input received from surveys and comments on the project. The City of Albert Lea is applying for a federal grant to clean up a contaminated industrial site at 620 Adams Ave. The city acquired the site through tax forfeiture after the former owner, Merrick’s of Minnesota, went bankrupt and abandoned the site in 2018. The site includes a series of buildings, some of which are structurally unsound and need to be removed. As part...

Garage fire

November 12, 2025

Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 1525 Elm St. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 6:31 p.m. for the report of a garage on fire. Fire crews responded and found a 2-stall detached garage fully involved in fire. The fire was beginning to impinge on the home and everyone was evacuated. Fire crews were able to gain control of the fire and extinguish it quickly. The garage and contents were heavily damaged. The home’s siding nearest to the garage melted off, but no other damage was found to the home. Fire crews remained on scene for about an hour extinguishing hot spots and investigating the cause...

Hotel fire

November 11, 2025

Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 2301 East Main St. (Ramada Inn) on Monday, Nov. 10, at 11:30 a.m. for the report of a fire. Fire crews found smoke and fire coming from the first floor of the 3-story east wing of the hotel. Maintenance personnel and guests of the hotel had been trying to use extinguishers on the fire, but were unable to extinguish the fire. Fire crews entered the building and extinguished the fire along with verifying everyone had been evacuated from the building. Crews worked on scene for about an hour removing smoke from the structure. The first floor of...

Injury traffic crash

November 10, 2025

On Nov. 8, 2025, at approximately 2:46 p.m., Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) officers were dispatched to a report of a two-vehicle crash with multiple injuries near the intersection of County Road 46 and 775th Avenue. A 2012 Chevy Express G1500 van driven by 32-year-old Anna Christine Lindell of Albert Lea had been traveling westbound on County Road 46 and collided with a 2010 Ford Expedition driven by 32-year-old Ramon Paul Deboer of Albert Lea that had been turning north onto 775th Avenue off of eastbound County Road 46. Lindell was transported from the scene by Mayo Clinic Health System...

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Council extending special housing permit

At its meeting Monday, the Albert Lea City Council voted to approve extending a permit for temporary worker housing in an industrial building. Habben Properties first applied for the interim use permit in 2023 to convert part of an industrial…

Map and images showing parks, trails, and fun spots in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

City website: Same address, new features

The City of Albert Lea launched its new website today that is more accessible and offers more features. While the address - – remains the same, the site looks more vibrant and is easier to navigate. The revamped site…

ALBERT LEA GARAGE FIRE

For immediate releaseJune 20, 2025Contact for fire operations: Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske at 507-377-4311 or jlaskowske@ci.albertlea.mn.usContact for fire investigation during business hours: Albert Lea Fire Rescue at 507-377-4341 Albert Lea Garage Fire Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 1019…

Join the Jamboree July 3-6!

Albert Lea will kick off its Independence Day celebration on Wednesday, July 3, with the annual parade from the fairgrounds to Central Park at 6 p.m. Thursdays on Fountain will present Melissa Schulz Music at 7:30 p.m. at Fountain Lake…

City extending Eberhart Street

As part of preparing the Blazing Star Landing for development, the City of Albert Lea has contracted Jensen Excavating and Trucking to extend Eberhart Street by 370 feet. The $802,000 project includes underground water and sewer services along with a…

A high-angle close-up shot shows a diverse group of hands, belonging to approximately ten individuals, stacked on top of one another in a gesture of unity or teamwork. The hands vary in skin tone, ranging from light to dark, emphasizing diversity.

Human Rights Commission back in action

After taking a pause since the pandemic, the Albert Lea Human Rights Commission is back in action. The city reactivated this volunteer board at the request of several residents. Mayor Rich Murray recently appointed these seven members after receiving applications…

Children play on a slip and slide with water spraying around them on a grassy lawn, with houses and trees visible in the background.

Recreation offers free park activities for grade-schoolers

The Albert Lea Recreation Department will bring fun to neighborhood parks this summer, starting Monday, June 2. Free activities will be available for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade from Monday – Thursday at several parks: Mondays and…

An aerial view of a long, modern apartment building with a dark gray roof and multi-toned gray siding, surrounded by a parking lot with cars, and bare trees in a winter landscape.

New Era for Blazing Star Landing

By using state grants to help with cleanup costs, the City of Albert Lea continues to develop the Blazing Star Landing 1 parcel at a time. The city initially sought development of the entire 35-acre site as a whole, but…

A row of apartments with individual wooden decks overlooks a body of water and a grassy area. The apartment building is two stories high, with light grey siding on the upper level and a darker grey siding below. Each apartment has a sliding glass door leading to a private deck with a wooden railing. Some apartments also have air conditioning units mounted below the windows. In the background, across the water, there are trees and some buildings, possibly part of a town or industrial area. The sky is blue with a few clouds.

Development Increases Value

The League of Minnesota Cities recently highlighted the Front Street Apartments project in its magazine that focuses on housing initiatives across the state. The city supported this private development of 48 rental units by using $944,000 in state funding toward…

Five children in swimsuits and goggles jump into an outdoor swimming pool, mid-air, with greenery and a fence in the background.

Before jumping in, take steps for swimming pool safety

With Memorial Day on May 26 kicking off summer, the Albert Lea Inspection Department urges residents to take safety steps when setting up swimming pools in their yards this season. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that…

A firefighter organizes gear inside the open back compartment of an emergency response vehicle.

Fire Rescue starts Help Connect program

Albert Lea Fire Rescue recently started a program to connect residents with resources to follow up on 911 calls.

Construction land with heavy machinery including an excavator and a roller, under a cloudy sky

Construction starting on oat-processing business, may impact traffic on 14th Street

Green Acres Milling plans to start building its oat-processing facility on 14th Street in Albert Lea on Monday, April 28, weather permitting. This activity may impact traffic on 14th Street in the Jobs Industrial Park on the city’s south side.…

Council extending special housing permit

At its meeting Monday, the Albert Lea City Council voted to approve extending a permit for temporary worker housing in an industrial building. Habben Properties first applied for the interim use permit in 2023 to convert part of an industrial…

Map and images showing parks, trails, and fun spots in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

City website: Same address, new features

The City of Albert Lea launched its new website today that is more accessible and offers more features. While the address - – remains the same, the site looks more vibrant and is easier to navigate. The revamped site…

ALBERT LEA GARAGE FIRE

For immediate releaseJune 20, 2025Contact for fire operations: Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske at 507-377-4311 or jlaskowske@ci.albertlea.mn.usContact for fire investigation during business hours: Albert Lea Fire Rescue at 507-377-4341 Albert Lea Garage Fire Albert Lea Fire Rescue responded to 1019…

Join the Jamboree July 3-6!

Albert Lea will kick off its Independence Day celebration on Wednesday, July 3, with the annual parade from the fairgrounds to Central Park at 6 p.m. Thursdays on Fountain will present Melissa Schulz Music at 7:30 p.m. at Fountain Lake…

City extending Eberhart Street

As part of preparing the Blazing Star Landing for development, the City of Albert Lea has contracted Jensen Excavating and Trucking to extend Eberhart Street by 370 feet. The $802,000 project includes underground water and sewer services along with a…

A high-angle close-up shot shows a diverse group of hands, belonging to approximately ten individuals, stacked on top of one another in a gesture of unity or teamwork. The hands vary in skin tone, ranging from light to dark, emphasizing diversity.

Human Rights Commission back in action

After taking a pause since the pandemic, the Albert Lea Human Rights Commission is back in action. The city reactivated this volunteer board at the request of several residents. Mayor Rich Murray recently appointed these seven members after receiving applications…

Children play on a slip and slide with water spraying around them on a grassy lawn, with houses and trees visible in the background.

Recreation offers free park activities for grade-schoolers

The Albert Lea Recreation Department will bring fun to neighborhood parks this summer, starting Monday, June 2. Free activities will be available for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade from Monday – Thursday at several parks: Mondays and…

An aerial view of a long, modern apartment building with a dark gray roof and multi-toned gray siding, surrounded by a parking lot with cars, and bare trees in a winter landscape.

New Era for Blazing Star Landing

By using state grants to help with cleanup costs, the City of Albert Lea continues to develop the Blazing Star Landing 1 parcel at a time. The city initially sought development of the entire 35-acre site as a whole, but…

A row of apartments with individual wooden decks overlooks a body of water and a grassy area. The apartment building is two stories high, with light grey siding on the upper level and a darker grey siding below. Each apartment has a sliding glass door leading to a private deck with a wooden railing. Some apartments also have air conditioning units mounted below the windows. In the background, across the water, there are trees and some buildings, possibly part of a town or industrial area. The sky is blue with a few clouds.

Development Increases Value

The League of Minnesota Cities recently highlighted the Front Street Apartments project in its magazine that focuses on housing initiatives across the state. The city supported this private development of 48 rental units by using $944,000 in state funding toward…

Five children in swimsuits and goggles jump into an outdoor swimming pool, mid-air, with greenery and a fence in the background.

Before jumping in, take steps for swimming pool safety

With Memorial Day on May 26 kicking off summer, the Albert Lea Inspection Department urges residents to take safety steps when setting up swimming pools in their yards this season. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that…

A firefighter organizes gear inside the open back compartment of an emergency response vehicle.

Fire Rescue starts Help Connect program

Albert Lea Fire Rescue recently started a program to connect residents with resources to follow up on 911 calls.

Construction land with heavy machinery including an excavator and a roller, under a cloudy sky

Construction starting on oat-processing business, may impact traffic on 14th Street

Green Acres Milling plans to start building its oat-processing facility on 14th Street in Albert Lea on Monday, April 28, weather permitting. This activity may impact traffic on 14th Street in the Jobs Industrial Park on the city’s south side.…

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