Windom Police Office reported on the 3rd they responded to a call from the Windom School Resource Officer who advised on a report of a 13-year -old female student that had been assaulted by a parent or legal guardian in the home. After investigation, a 56-year-old male was arrested for Malicious Punishment of a Child, pending review of Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Officers responded on October 30th at 7:57pm to a report of a sexual assault that occurred in Windom. The reporting party stated that on or about October 24th through October 30th, a 57-year-old Windom male engaged in sexual penetration with another person, causing injury to the person and having reason to know that the victim is mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless. The male has been charged with 1st Degree and 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, both felonies.
———————————————-
The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash early Friday morning at the intersection of County State Aid Highway 24 and Noble Avenue in rural Redwood County. Deputies were called just after 3 a.m. and found a white 2016 Chevrolet Equinox and a gray 2018 Jeep Cherokee in the ditch on the south side of CSAH 24. Both vehicles had moderate to severe damage. According to the Redwood Sheriff’s Office, the 30-year-old driver of the Equinox from Sleepy Eye was traveling southbound on Noble Avenue and admitted to failing to stop at the stop sign. The Equinox was then T-boned by the 28-year-old driver of the Jeep Cherokee from Redwood Falls. Passengers in the Equinox, including a 26-year-old from Sleepy Eye, sustained minor injuries and were treated on scene. A passenger in the Cherokee, a 19-year-old from Willmar, was transported to CentraCare Hospital in Redwood Falls with non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors. Assisting at the scene were the Lower Sioux Tribal Police Department and CentraCare Ambulance.
—————————————————-
TODAY A&W Restaurant in Mountain Lake is celebrating their 5 Year Anniversary!!
When owners Mike and Betty Adrian opened the doors in 2020, they faced an unforgettable start. It was the height of COVID, the dining room was closed, and long drive-through lines stretched around the building. Most of the brand-new staff, including the owners themselves, had never worked in fast food before. But the community showed up… patient, supportive, and hungry and that made all the difference.
One reason the couple chose Mountain Lake was simple: Two of their married children, and now seven grandchildren, live here. They wanted to build something that would give their family and the town more opportunities. And over the past five years, they’ve done just that.
The restaurant has grown more efficient over time, with a smaller but highly trained team. They’ve created memorable moments too, from hosting a K-Love meet-and-greet with Christian artist Brandon Heath, to the excitement kids feel when Rudy Bear makes an appearance.
The owners say the support from the community and beyond has meant everything. They appreciate every regular, every occasional visitor, and every customer who stops to say “thank you.” That encouragement fuels their commitment to giving back, whether that means supporting the schools, cheering on teen employees in sports and activities, or working with the Chamber to help promote community events.
Like many businesses, staffing has been their biggest challenge, especially with so many teens involved in sports, drama, music, church groups, and FFA. Still, they’ve built a tight-knit team. They started with 50 employees and now operate with about 30, some of whom started shortly after opening, left for a time, and even came back. Betty says, “We are a family.” Customers will tell you the food doesn’t disappoint either. Local favorites include the double cheeseburger and the signature Papa Burger. Tuesdays bring crowds for the $1.99 coney cheese dog, and everyone loves a 99-cent ice cream cone. Mountain Lake’s A&W is also known for its full set of original Papa Burger family statues and nostalgic décor that draws tourists for photos.
To celebrate the 5-year milestone, A&W will offer one dollar off every combo TODAY, along with giveaways, drawings, free balloons, and Rooty Bear ears for the kids.
Looking ahead, the owners plan to simply keep serving the community they love. Opening a restaurant was a first for them, and it brought long hours and a steep learning curve, but it also brought joy, friendships, and a sense of pride in seeing customers return again and again.
As they mark this anniversary, they want to say a heartfelt thank-you to Mountain Lake for five wonderful years… and they look forward to many more.
——————————————————-
Meetings Today include:
- The Economic Development Authority of Windom at Noon in the Windom City Council Chambers.
- Windom Library Board at 5:05pm at the Library. Please note the date change due to Holiday on the 11th.
- The Windom Area School Board of Education meets at 6:30pm in the Windom City Council Chambers. Meeting can be viewed live at Media SB22 on YouTube.
- Jeffers City Council at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall
—————————————————————–
City of Windom Planning Commission will be meeting on Wednesday November 12th at 7pm due to holiday on the 11th.
—————————————————————–
Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services Board will meet on Thursday, November 13th @ 9:00 am at the Cottonwood County Law Enforcement Center in Windom.
—————————————————————————–