A tragic head-on crash in Cottonwood County Friday afternoon has left multiple families and communities across southwest Minnesota grieving. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash occurred just before 4:45 p.m. on March 20th at the intersection of Highway 71 and 240th Street in Germantown Township, between Sanborn and Windom. Authorities say a northbound 2016 GMC Terrain SUV and a southbound 2019 Ford Transit Van collided head-on. Five people lost their lives in the crash. They have been identified as the driver of the GMC , 67-year-old Martin Nickolas Hanson of Springfield, along with four passengers in the van: 49-year-old Kelly Christine Hargus, 73-year-old Kathleen Ann Johnson, and 73-year-old Richard Warren Johnson, all from Jackson and 47-year-old Lindsey Kay Rossow of Lakefield. Several others were seriously injured. Forty-four-year-old Kassandra Lynn Ambrose of Jackson and 54-year-old Eric Charles Rossow of Lakefield both sustained life-threatening injuries. Rossow was airlifted to a hospital in Sioux Falls, while Ambrose was transported to Redwood Falls. The driver of the van, 42-year-old Matthew Arthur Schultz, along with multiple passengers, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Those injured include Nolan Ambrose, Andria Benson, Kristin Hanson, Brett Rossow, Karlee Rossow, and Keylee Rossow. They were transported to hospitals in Windom and Redwood Falls for treatment. Emergency response involved numerous agencies, including Cottonwood and Redwood County Sheriff’s Offices, Sanborn Fire Department, Windom, Lamberton, Westbrook and Springfield Ambulance services, and North Air Care. The Minnesota State Patrol reports that alcohol is not suspected as a factor in the crash, and the incident remains under investigation. This devastating accident has deeply impacted several communities, including Jackson, Lakefield, and Springfield, where many of the victims and their families are well known. As the region mourns, support continues to pour in for those affected by this heartbreaking loss.
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Windom Area Health Governing Board Meeting that will be held tonight at 5:30pm in the Large Conference Room at the hospital
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The Windom Area School Board will hold a work session meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the Windom City Council Chambers. Meetings can be viewed live or any time at SB22 on YouTube.
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Jeffers City Council will be meeting tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Jeffers City Hall.
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The City of Windom Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday March 24th at 7pm in the Windom City Council Chambers to gather input on proposed changes to the city code that would establish a new zoning district focused on technology facilities and data centers. Possible standards being considered include building height limits, setback requirements from residential or agricultural properties, and screening requirements to fully shield equipment and generators from view. The regulations are also intended to help manage issues such as high-power usage, noise levels and buffering from surrounding areas. Residents who would like to review the proposed ordinance can find it on the city’s website at www.windom-mn.com, at the Building and Zoning Office inside City Hall during regular business hours, or at the Windom Public Library. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed zoning changes is encouraged to attend the public hearing to express their opinions.
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The Red Rock Central School Board will hold a special meeting Wednesday, March 25th at 5:00 p.m. in the district media center. On the agenda, board members will consider a call for the sale of bonds, along with discussion and possible action regarding the superintendent’s contract.
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Residents across the region will soon have the opportunity to get rid of unwanted items as multiple communities announce their 2026 City-Wide Clean-Up events:
- In Westbrook, clean-up day is scheduled for May 8th. Residents must call City Hall in advance to be placed on the pick-up list at 507-274-5110.
- Residents in Jeffers can take part in clean-up on Saturday, April 18th. A $20 fee is required to be on the list, with sign-up due by April 16th. Mattress collection will take place the day before, on April 17th.
- The City of St. James will hold its clean-up on Saturday, April 25th, from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. Drop-off will take place at the Meadowlark Compost Site, located at 33890 733rd Avenue. Residents are required to show proof of residency.
- Meanwhile, Mountain Lake is planning its clean-up for Saturday, May 3rd. Items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m., and the event is limited to city residents. Several restrictions apply, including no household garbage, electronics, appliances, or hazardous materials at the curb. Many of those items can instead be taken to the Cottonwood County Landfill during designated collection opportunities.
- In Windom, the annual clean-up is set for May 16th, running from 7:00 a.m. to noon at Cottonwood Lake’s Tegels Park. Proof of residency is required, and items must be placed in open boxes, as bagged items will not be accepted.
- The City of Jackson will once again split its clean-up days by location. Spring dates are set for June 13th on the west side of Highway 71 and June 20th on the east side. Fall clean-up will follow on September 19th and September 26th. The program is intended for residential single-family customers, and certain items like appliances and electronics may require tags purchased at City Hall.
Residents are encouraged to check with their local city offices or official websites for complete details, including accepted items, restrictions, and any required fees or tags. City officials say these annual clean-up events are an important way to help keep communities clean, safe, and looking their best.