Faribault and Martin County health officials are unsure if an Aug. 9 party of some 200 underage drinkers will result in an outbreak of COVID-19 cases. However, the huge party has affected how classes will be conducted at Blue Earth Area (BEA) High School when students in grades 8 through 12 start the year. During […]
Continue ReadingWhether or not the Open Meeting Law (OML) was violated, Blue Earth Area School Board approved several staff cuts due to next year’s budget deficit of more than $800,000. A special meeting was held Thursday by video-teleconference because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the state’s OML, a notice of a special meeting must be published […]
Continue ReadingBlue Earth Area School District officials have been working diligently due to COVID-19 closing schools statewide through March 27. During an interview on KBEW-Radio on Tuesday, Superintendent Mandy Fletcher says she, principals and teachers met a full day on Sunday to discuss how to provide on-line education to students. “We’re going into this focusing on […]
Continue ReadingMembers of a group who opposed passage of Blue Earth Area’s (BEA) excess levy referendum aren’t taking any credit for its defeat Tuesday. In fact, two persons associated with the group didn’t know who placed ads on KBEW Radio on behalf of the Five Star Group. The 10-year referendum, which would have generated about $900,000 […]
Continue ReadingDespite a news report in the Fairmont Sentinel on Wednesday, a cybersecurity breach last month did not cause damage to the Blue Earth Area High School gymnasium floor. “We actually had a plan to fix the floor prior to the cybersecurity event,” says Superintendent Mandy Fletcher. “It was not the cause of the damage. I’m […]
Continue ReadingBlue Earth Area School District officials acted quickly to thwart hackers efforts to gain control of the district’s schools unless payment was made. “They said we would need to contact them for the amount, which we did not do,” says Superintendent Mandy Fletcher. “They were attempting to gain a Bitcoin ransom in exchange for giving […]
Continue ReadingIf you are looking for information, just ask and you shall receive. It took only two days for Darren Esser, Faribault County auditor/treasurer/coordinator, to supply the information requested by Tripleanews.com. Former assistant County Attorney LaMar Piper has been paid $69,645 since being hired following the arrest of four teens charged in the beating of a […]
Continue ReadingThere’s no doubt there’s been a drastic spike in legal fees for Blue Earth Area School District the last two years. The question is how much of the nearly $70,000 spent on attorneys in 2018 and so far this year is tied to four students charged in the October 2017 assault of a football teammate. […]
Continue ReadingWaiting. Waiting. And, still waiting. A month ago, county authorities asked the Faribault County Attorney’s Office for information about an employee mentioned in the assault investigation of a Blue Earth Area football player. Chief Deputy Scott Adams says County Attorney Kathryn Karjala-Curtis has yet to turned over any transcripts. “It may be a good idea […]
Continue ReadingShortly after the teen who allegedly assaulted his son was sentenced, Dale Hurley walked out of the Martin County Courthouse to retrieve some court papers. Upon re-entering the courthouse, 19-year-old Wyatt Eugene Tungland held the door open as Hurley came in from the drizzling rain. Tungland is the last of four defendants to be sentenced […]
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