After much discussion at its May meeting, the Albert Lea City Council decided to seek more information from the police department on pet complaints, along with more public feedback, before deciding on proposed changes to dog and cat regulations. The proposed changes aim to promote responsible pet ownership, prevent nuisance and safety concerns, and strengthen…

In honor of Screen-Free Week May 4-10, a time to take a break from entertainment screens for more connection and fun, the City of Albert Lea is holding the following events. To help families register for summer programs, the Albert Lea Public Library and Recreation Department will hold an open house on Monday, May 4,…

At its April 27 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council proclaimed May as Motorcycle Awareness Month to highlight road safety. Mayor Rich Murray joined members of the Flatlanders chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (A.B.A.T.E.) in the photo above to help advocate for rider safety and education. Three motorcyclists have already died on Minnesota…

To help young bicyclists learn how to ride safely, Albert Lea Recreation has teamed up with Blue Zones and the Freeborn County Trail Association to offer a free bike rodeo on Thursday, May 7. The event will take place from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Edgewater Bay Pavilion, across from the Inclusive Playground, at…

Albert Lea Fire Rescue (ALFR) responded to 522 College St. West on April 26 at 7:54 p.m. for the report of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire in a bathroom on the second floor. Firefighters advanced hose lines and extinguished the fire. All residents of the home were able to escape unharmed. The losses…

Albert Lea Fire Rescue (ALFR) responded to 730 Alcove St., on April 25, at 7:16 p.m. for the report of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire showing on two sides of the house. Firefighters advanced hose lines and extinguished the fire. The residents were located at a neighbor’s and had no injuries. The residents had…

While the United States celebrates Earth Day this week, the City of Albert Lea aims to take steps every day to conserve resources and protect the environment: The city has installed solar projects at the wastewater treatment plant and arena with plans for four more buildings to reduce energy use and save money. The solar…

Today is Arbor Day, a time to celebrate the power of trees in providing habitat, absorbing stormwater, shading structures and people, and beautifying communities. Volunteers from the Albert Lea Lions Club, in the photo above, spent time this week preparing seedlings for distribution to local schools. Through this annual partnership with the Albert Lea Parks…

At its April 13 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council accepted the low bids for several street projects this season, including: The council also approved to $140,000 for repairing the paint in both pools and the surrounding deck at the Albert Lea Aquatic Center this spring. The surfaces were last scraped, acid-etched and painted in…

The Albert Lea City Council voted April 13 to approve a design proposal for a new Senior Center within the Jim and Dude’s building at 1705 S.E. Broadway Ave., the former HealthReach building. The design proposal from Wold Architects and Engineers of Minneapolis, which designed parts of the building for HealthReach in the past, will…