• Marshall Area Insider
  • Posts
  • DWI Arrests in Lyon County Climb as Marshall Sees Pre-Pandemic Activity Levels — New Public Dashboard Aims to Curb Unsafe Driving

DWI Arrests in Lyon County Climb as Marshall Sees Pre-Pandemic Activity Levels — New Public Dashboard Aims to Curb Unsafe Driving

Issue #127

06 Nov

In this Marshall Area Insider issue…

⛅ Marshall, MN Weather - Partly cloudy with a high of 51

🗞️ SMSU Mourns Passing of Student-Athlete Hunter Smith

🗞️ DWI Arrests in Lyon County Climb as Marshall Sees Pre-Pandemic Activity Levels — New Public Dashboard Aims to Curb Unsafe Driving

📣 Want to get your business in the Marshall Area Insider? Let’s talk!

📌 Know of other local events not listed? Send us the details!

SMSU Mourns Passing of Student-Athlete Hunter Smith

Southwest Minnesota State University has shared the sad news of Hunter Smith’s passing, a 22-year-old student-athlete and pole vaulter.

Smith was a political science major set to complete his MBA in the spring, with aspirations for law school.

A Nebraska native and accomplished high school athlete, he earned multiple academic honors at SMSU, where he was deeply involved in campus life.

Smith led SMSU's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter and worked as a graduate assistant.

Counseling services are offered to students and staff throughout the week.

DWI Arrests in Lyon County Climb as Marshall Sees Pre-Pandemic Activity Levels — New Public Dashboard Aims to Curb Unsafe Driving

Recent figures from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) reveal a striking rise in DWI arrests in Lyon County, where 85 cases have been reported so far in 2024, compared to only 35 in 2022.

Local law enforcement attributes this increase to proactive engagement in statewide anti-impaired driving initiatives and amplified police presence.

The launch of the BCA’s public-access DWI Dashboard now allows residents to explore detailed information about DWI arrests and accidents, shedding light on patterns and trends across the state.

This tool, previously used only by law enforcement, now helps citizens view arrest and crash data by factors such as age, location, and incident time, providing a transparent view into impaired driving in Minnesota.

In Lyon County, the city of Marshall has emerged as a DWI hotspot, with 57 of the year’s incidents occurring within its limits.

The return to pre-pandemic activity levels in Marshall is thought to be a contributing factor, as is the recent legalization of cannabis, which could present new challenges in traffic safety.

Both Sheriff Eric Wallen and Marshall Public Safety Director Jim Marshall express concerns that despite increased arrests, some impaired drivers may evade detection, posing a continued threat to road safety.

They hope the public’s use of the dashboard will foster greater community awareness, reinforce safe driving habits, and support law enforcement’s adaptive approach to public safety.

Upcoming Area Events

 🗓️ Have an event to add? Send us the details!

Wednesday, November 6th (first Wednesday of every month)

  • Dementia Caregiver Support Group from 10:00 - 11:30 AM at Adult Community Center in Marshall

    • Open to everyone, come when you can, no cost or obligation to attend, refreshments available

    • For questions contact Jamie Lanners (507) 828-8891

Thursday, November 7th
Saturday, November 9th

  • Lincoln County VFW Post #2980 in Ivanhoe, MN is hosting a Deer Hunter's Supper from 5:30 Pm - 8:00 PM

    • Menu: 8oz New York Strip Steak for $18.00 or Country Fried Steak with Country Gravy - $13.00. Both meals are served with a Lettuce Salad, Bake Potato, Green Beans & Dinner Roll.

    • The Post is located at 116 E. Saxon St. in Ivanhoe.

  • Lefse and Kringla sale at Clarkfield Mall from 1:00 - 7:00 PM

Sunday, November 10th
Friday, November 15th - Sunday, November 17th

  • Kananaskis Christmas Market at the Redwood Area Community Center in Redwood Falls

    • Friday, November 15th from 6:00 - 9:00 PM - residents only

    • Saturday, November 16th from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    • Sunday, November 17th from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday, November 16th

  • Fall Vendor Show at KB’s Ballroom in Ghent from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Sunday, November 17th
Thursday, November 21st
Thursday, November 21st - Saturday, November 23rd
Friday, November 22nd
Saturday, November 23rd

  • Prairie Home Hospice & Community Care’s A Light to Remember events

    • Legion Lion Park in Balaton at 4:30 PM

    • Veteran’s Memorial Park in Tracy at 6:00 PM

  • The 12th Annual Indoor Christmas Tree Walk at the Lyon County Museum in Marshall from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    • The trees and museum will stay decorated through December 31.

  • Holiday Kick Off in Granite Falls from 3:00 - 6:00 PM in downtown Granite Falls

Sunday, November 24th

  • Prairie Home Hospice & Community Care’s A Light to Remember events

    • Memorial Park in Minneota at 4:30 PM

Friday, November 29th

  • Light Up The Night takes place at Independence Park in Marshall from 5:— - 9:00 PM every night. Starting November 29 through January 1st. Enjoy this beautiful Winter Wonderland!

Saturday, November 30th
Sundays, November 3rd - March 9th

  • Open Gym at YME for School District Residents from 3:00 - 5:00 PM

We want to take a moment to express our gratitude to you for being such a fantastic part of our newsletter community.

Your support, feedback, and engagement mean the world and it's what keeps us motivated to bring you valuable content every time.

But guess what? We're on a mission to make an even bigger impact on our community, and we need your help!

You can share our newsletter with your friends & family. Together, we can grow our community and reach even more people!

As a token of our appreciation for your support, you'll have the chance to receive a birthday shout out, a $10 gift card from Kwik Trip, or a $25 gift card from Rolling Hills Pizza! 🎉

So help us spread the word!

Marshall’s & Southwest MN’s Best Kept Secret:
Is Your Business One of Them?

We ❤️ local businesses!

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts.

If you're a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you!

Marshall Area Insider is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our town. Send us a message and let's collaborate to let the community know what makes your business special!

👇 Select an option below:

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.