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Unemployment Declines Slightly In Southeast Minnesota

Unemployment Declines Slightly In Southeast Minnesota

According to the latest numbers from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, unemployment decreased in southeast Minnesota last month.

In southeast Minnesota in May, the unemployment number rate was 5.9%.  It was 6.2% the month before.

Here are the latest unemployment statistics for southeast Minnesota for the month of May:

  • Dodge County:  5.5%
  • Freeborn County:   6.6%
  • Fillmore County:  6.0%
  • Goodhue County:  5.9%
  • Mower County:  5.4%
  • Olmsted County:  5.3%

Rochester Library's Next Step

Want to watch an educational video from the Rochester Library?. Now you don't even have to get out of your pajamas.  The library is unveiling a new video delivery system you can access over the internet. The only other thing you need is a library card.

The Rochester Library has been testing the system called, Access Videos, for the past month. Webmaster Susan Hansen says response has been great, so the library has bought an 18 month subscribtion to the service for $10,000.  Fortunately it won't cost library members a cent, but she cautions the available videos are not feature movies.

     "It's a different way to deliver educational videos like you'd see on PBS, NOVA, The History Channel. We often buy the DVD's and the videos but they're kind of a one use at a time..." says Susan Hansen.

With the the new system, multiple users can watch the same video at the same time if need be.

Sprinkler System Saves Downtown Business

Sprinkler System Saves Downtown Business

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Fire official say sprinklers may have saved one downtown business from burning to the ground.

The owner of Hight and Randall Jewelers smelled smoke just after 4 p.m. yesterday.

As he was walking to the back of the store to check it out, the sprinkler system kicked on.

Turns out one of his jewelry cleaners had caught fire in the back room.

The sprinklers extinguished the blaze.

Damage from the fire is estimated at about $2,000, but that doesn't include water damage to the building.

Get Ambushed!

Get Ambushed!

8 lucky women will receive an ambush makeover on Thursday, May 26.

Lillians of Rochester, 223 N. Broadway, is giving winners makeovers during it's Fabulous Ambush Makeover Party from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.  Four winners will be chosen from nominations.  Another four will be selected at the event.

"Dead Air: The Disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit" Book Signing

"Dead Air: The Disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit" Book Signing

Former ABC 6 News anchor Beth Bednar is the author of a new book called Dead Air: The Disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit. The book digs deep into the abduction of Huisentruit, who vanished while on her way to work to anchor the morning news in Mason City, Iowa back in June of 1995. The book is for sale at Barnes and Noble at Rochester's Apache Mall location and Bednar will be there for a book signing Monday, May 16th from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. To learn more about Beth Bednar and the book, go to http://www.bethbednar.com/.

Girl Scouts Celebrate New Cookie Delivery Method

Girl Scouts Celebrate New Cookie Delivery Method

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Local girl scouts switched up their cookie delivery system this year, and they're calling it a huge success.

Rather than fill out order forms, girl scouts used a direct sales model, where they had the cookies on hand.

And the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, managed to sell five million packages this year, bringing in more than $450,000 in proceeds.

"It was a huge impact.  We saw an increase in girls' sales of 17% for an average troop.  Girls were much happier because they had the cookies on hand, and the parents were happier because they didn't have to make two trips," said Marianne Thompson, the Membership Manager for the Girl Scouts.

Girl Scout officials say there were some kinks with the new system, so they're working on fixing those, and will roll out the new-and-improved delivery model next cookie season.

World's Largest Grain Dryer in Kasson?

World's Largest Grain Dryer in Kasson?

The world's largest grain dryer could soon be located in Kasson.

The Greenway Co-op held a ceremonial ground breaking today on a $5.5 million expansion project. The project will add another 40-thousand bushels per hour of dumping capacity and a new huge grain dryer.

     It's a Zimmerman Dryer and their biggest one that they made was 10,000 bushels per hour. This is the first one that they're selling of their 12.000 bushels per hour. Our grain system designer, Marquette Systems, says it is the biggest dryer that they make in the world," says Greenway Co-op General Manager Tim Clemens.

The Co-op expects to start work on the expansion project next week and hopes to have it finished in time for the Fall harvest.