From staff reports
MARSHALL Law enforcement responded to 42 property damage crashes in 13 southwest Minnesota counties during Wednesday’s blizzard, according to Sgt. Troy Christianson with the Minnesota State Patrol.
The crashes were reported from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday within the State Patrol’s District 2300, that includes Lyon, Lincoln, Yellow Medicine and Murray Counties. The winter storm blew snow across the region the entire day and into the evening, creating whiteouts on roads and highways.
Christianson also reported 69 vehicles went off the road and five semi-trucks jackknifed. The crashes caused six injuries. A Lyon County Sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries when his squad car was rear-ended while responding to a highway mishap, according to Sheriff Eric Wallen.
mlamb@marshallindependent.com
MARSHALL Blinding blizzard conditions on Wednesday sent vehicles into ditches and caused multiple rear-end collisions on southwest Minnesota roads and highways.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Department reported on its Facebook page that one deputy suffered minor injuries when a vehicle rear-ended his squad car. The deputy was responding to vehicle in a ditch.
“Cars were getting rear-ended or going into the ditch because they (drivers) couldn’t see,” Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen told the Independent.
Messages from other area law enforcement agencies were similar.
“Please stay put. We have multiple vehicles stranded including sheriff’s office vehicles,” the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page. “We are going to have difficulties getting to you if you choose to venture out. You may end up spending a long time in your vehicle waiting for help.”
dgau@marshallindependent.com
Photo by Deb Gau
From left, county commissioners Rick Anderson, Charlie Sanow, Gary Crowley and Paul Graupmann discussed setting commissioner salaries for 2021. The county is required to set commissioner pay annually, under state law.
MARSHALL Â It wasn’t a task Lyon County commissioners were enthusiastic about. But they had to take action, to set their own salaries for 2021.
“State statutes require the board to set compensation for commissioners,” Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg said.
After discussion of a few different possible ways to calculate future pay increases, board members voted Tuesday for a 2% increase in commissioner salaries. That means in 2021, Lyon County commissioners will be paid $20,600.