Parking dilemma in downtown area

THUMBS DOWN:

Traffic on Main Street through downtown Marshall gets pretty brisk during weekday business hours. That’s a good sign for area merchants. But we heard the downside Wednesday morning during the Marshall Downtown Business Association meeting. Several business owners complained to City Administrator Sharon Hanson of motorists parking their vehicles on Main and other downtown streets and leaving them for hours. Those vehicles end up taking up valuable space for customers shopping in the various shops. Some of the those business owners suspect some shoppers get frustrated looking for a open parking stalls and keep on driving away.The current downtown design is not parking friendly.

WWII museum puts on a show

THUMBS UP:

The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls put on quite a show Thursday for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. The museum is a historic gem for southwest Minnesota. It captures a time-period in history that should never be forgotten and this museum keeps it alive for those who visit it.

Give 2019 session a better review

THUMBS UP:

Rep. Chris Swedzinski and Sen. Gary Dahms did not give the 2019 Legislative session a raving review. Dahms called it a “very interesting” session. It might not have been all what Republicans were hoping for, it was still a productive session. Southwest Minnesota will benefit from several budget items. Area school districts will benefit from the 2% increase in student funding and $47 million investment in per-kindergarten funding. Farmers get help with unceasing ag tax credit.