News

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

(12/3/2022) Benson Elementary teacher Roger Ebnet, 59, is being held in the Yellow Medicine County Jail on Criminal Sexual Conduct - 2nd Degree charges. He was taken into custody Friday in Swift County, held initially in the Swift County Jail, but then transferred to the jail in Granite Falls.

Saturday morning, Supt. Dennis Laumeyer issued the following statement:

“The Benson School District is aware of the pending criminal charges regarding Roger Ebnet, an employee of the school district.  The school district takes the safety and security of our students very seriously and has been cooperating and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement in its investigation.  Mr. Ebnet is currently on paid administrative leave.  

Publisher

Larissa Overlie of rural Benson has earned the prestigious American FFA Degree. It was presented at the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 29. She was accompanied by her family and members of the Benson High School FFA Chapter.

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

Swift County and the City of Benson through Community & Economic Development Associates (CEDA) will be conducting a housing study in the coming months. It is considered essential to meeting the economic development needs and challenges of the area.

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

Nature Energy, the firm with which the City of Benson has been working for the past three years on the construction of a biogas plant on the former Fibrominn site, is being sold to Shell Petroleum NV.

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

Swift County has $298,422 coming from the State of Minnesota. The funds are part of $300 million being provided through a bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature and signed by Gov. Tim Walz last May to address the state’s opioid crisis.

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

With 2.45 inches of precipitation since Nov. 8, Swift County has seen an easing of drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map.

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

“It’s the heartbeat of our office,” Swift County Sheriff John Holtz told the county board of commissioners at their Nov. 15 meeting. He was referring to his office’s records management system tied into its dispatching operations. 

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

Swift County Environmental Services will raise its tipping fee by 20% in January from $100 per ton to $120 per ton. 

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

Benson area residents will be facing two detours next spring that will significantly disrupt their travel schedules for several months.

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

Finally, the Benson area saw a much needed rainfall. It came in a gentle three-day soaking that parched soil eagerly absorbed.