Echo Press Newsminute, week of May 17-23, 2026

Echo Press Newsminute, week of May 17-23, 2026

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about a glamorous celebration at New Life Christian Church, upcoming Memorial Day events. Plus mini-camps to fill your summer with learning and a story about an unparalleled 80th birthday celebration. Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute. Check out the top headlines from May 20 and May 22 below: Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, May 20 issue: Royal Celebration at New Life Christian Church was full of glitz and glam (W/VIDEO) [https://www.echopress.com/news/royal-celebration-at-new-life-christian-church-was-full-of-glitz-and-glam-w-video] Douglas County Sheriff Troy Wolbersen announces his retirement [https://www.echopress.com/news/douglas-county-sheriff-troy-wolbersen-announces-his-retirement] Memorial Day events are planned for the lakes area [https://www.echopress.com/news/memorial-day-events-are-planned-for-the-lakes-area] Building boats for the war effort [https://www.echopress.com/news/building-boats-for-the-war-effort] Send in the clowns [https://www.echopress.com/news/local/send-in-the-clowns] Area softball roundup for May 15: Parkers Prairie closes regular season with third-straight shutout win [https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/area-softball-roundup-for-may-15-parkers-prairie-closes-regular-season-with-third-straight-shutout-win] Here are the top stories in our Friday, May 22 issue: Bicyclists bond in a silent ride in Alexandria (W/VIDEO) [https://www.echopress.com/news/local/bicyclists-bond-in-a-silent-ride-in-alexandria] 4 fire departments battle house fire near Farwell on Tuesday, May 19 [https://www.echopress.com/news/local/4-fire-departments-battle-house-fire-near-farwell-on-tuesday-may-19] Douglas County Board gets update on Extension Office, approves a new clean energy program for The Rune [https://www.echopress.com/news/douglas-county-board] Smokey Timbers announces summer mini-camp schedule [https://www.echopress.com/news/smokey-timbers-announces-summer-mini-camp-schedule] Alexandria veteran celebrates 80th birthday on Veterans Honor Flight in Washington, D.C. [https://www.echopress.com/news/alexandria-veteran-celebrates-80th-birthday-on-veterans-honor-flight-in-washington-d-c-1] College Baseball: Alexandria Tech leans on toughness, memories in run to NJCAA Division III World Series [https://www.echopress.com/sports/college/college-baseball-alexandria-tech-leans-on-toughness-memories-in-run-to-njcaa-division-iii-world-series] Opinion [https://www.echopress.com/opinion]

Echo Press Newsminute, week of May 10-16, 2026

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the season for baby bears and farmers markets has arrived, not to mention graduations and ukelele music. Plus DECA students, baseball players and track and field athletes bring honors to Alexandria. Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute. Check out the top headlines from May 13 and May 15 below: Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, May 13 issue: 'We're capturing more wildlife, probably, than bad actors' W/VIDEO [https://www.echopress.com/news/were-capturing-more-wildlife-probably-than-bad-actors-w-video] Alexandria couple share their story at Habitat for Humanity's annual Hard Hat event [https://www.echopress.com/news/alexandria-couple-share-their-story-at-habitat-for-humanitys-annual-hard-hat-event] SOKs is a new mental health support group for children [https://www.echopress.com/news/soks-is-a-new-mental-health-support-group-for-children] Alexandria City Council calls for bids on runway project [https://www.echopress.com/news/alexandria-city-council-calls-for-bids-on-runway-project] A chilly but successful Alexandria Farmers Market (w/video) [https://www.echopress.com/lifestyle/a-chilly-but-successful-alexandria-farmers-market-w-video] Baseball: Pitching carries Alexandria to sweep of Bemidji [https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/baseball-pitching-carries-alexandria-to-sweep-of-bemidji] Here are the top stories in our Friday, May 15 issue : Alexandria College holds spring 2026 graduation ceremony [https://www.echopress.com/news/alexandria-college-holds-spring-2026-graduation-ceremony] Vikingland Ukuleles and Grand Arbor Choir perform together in 'Sing-a-lele' (w/videos) [https://www.echopress.com/community/vikingland-ukuleles-and-grand-arbor-choir-perform-together-in-sing-a-lele-w-videos] Firm hired to build awareness for local sales tax in Alexandria [https://www.echopress.com/news/firm-hired-to-build-awareness-for-local-sales-tax-in-alexandria] Out of thousands of students competing at international DECA event, Alexandria brought home 2 glass trophies [https://www.echopress.com/news/out-of-thousands-of-students-competing-at-international-deca-event-alexandria-brought-home-2-glass-trophies] Track and Field: Alexandria shines at B Lohman Invitational [https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/track-and-field-alexandria-shines-at-b-lohman-invitational] Opinion [https://www.echopress.com/opinion]

Echo Press Newsminute, week of April 5-11, 2026

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about impressive graduation rates in Douglas County schools, runestones in Melby, and lots of music and poetry on the way. Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute. Check out the top headlines from April 8 and April 10 below: Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, April 8 issue: Remembering the Resurrection [https://www.echopress.com/news/local/remembering-the-resurrection] Runestones in Melby? And one thrown down a well? [https://www.echopress.com/news/runestones-in-melby-and-one-thrown-down-a-well] Alexandria, Brandon-Evansville, Osakis graduation rates increase for 2025 [https://www.echopress.com/news/alexandria-brandon-evansville-osakis-graduation-rates-increase-for-2025] Ruby's Pantry partnerships left without answers [https://www.echopress.com/news/rubys-pantry-partnerships-left-without-answers] Easter Bunny makes appearances despite wintry weather [https://www.echopress.com/news/easter-bunny-makes-appearances-despite-wintry-weather] Basketball: Alexandria boys all-time leading scorer Mason Witt headlines all-CLC teams [https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/basketball-alexandria-boys-all-time-leading-scorer-mason-witt-headlines-all-clc-teams] Here are the top stories in our Friday, April 10 issue: Any legal firearm may now be used in Douglas County during deer hunting season [https://www.echopress.com/news/any-legal-firearm-may-now-be-used-in-douglas-county-during-deer-hunting-season] 'Poetry was always meant to be spoken' W/VIDEO [https://www.echopress.com/news/poetry-was-always-meant-to-be-spoken-w-video] Norton to perform Americana-style music at Evansville Sunday [https://www.echopress.com/news/norton-to-perform-americana-style-music-at-evansville-sunday] Opinion [https://www.echopress.com/opinion]

Echo Press Newsminute, week of March 15-21, 2026

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson says the Alexandria Jaycees have ceased operations after almost 80 years; yes, there were Irish pioneers in Douglas County, and Alexandria DECA students excelled at the state Career Development Conference. Plus bad art, good hotdish and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute. Check out the top headlines from March 18 and March 20 below: Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, March 18 issue: Alexandria Jaycees cease operations after almost 80 years [https://www.echopress.com/news/alexandria-jaycees-cease-operations-after-almost-80-years] A look at Irish pioneers in Douglas, Otter Tail counties [https://www.echopress.com/news/a-look-at-irish-pioneers-in-douglas-otter-tail-counties] Mount Carmel will be new option for preschool this fall [https://www.echopress.com/news/mount-carmel-will-be-new-option-for-preschool-this-fall] Kindness Night is this Thursday in Hoffman [https://www.echopress.com/news/kindness-night-is-this-thursday-in-hoffman] Alexandria DECA students excel at the Minnesota State Career Development Conference [https://www.echopress.com/news/alexandria-deca-students-excel-at-the-minnesota-state-career-development-conference] Boys Basketball: Alexandria fends off late Elk River challenge to win Section 8-4A title [https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/boys-basketball-alexandria-fends-off-late-elk-river-challenge-to-win-section-8-4a-title] Here are the top stories in our Friday, March 20 issue: Kyle Momsen takes Oath of Office at Alexandria School Board meeting [https://www.echopress.com/news/kyle-momsen-takes-oath-of-office-at-alexandria-school-board-meeting] Douglas County Library holds first 'Bad Art Night' [https://www.echopress.com/news/douglas-county-library-holds-first-bad-art-night] A hotdish that bowled over the judges [https://www.echopress.com/news/local/a-hotdish-that-bowled-over-the-judges-and-was-also-the-peoples-choice] Class 4A boys basketball: Alexandria opens state tournament against Maple Grove [https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/class-4a-boys-basketball-alexandria-opens-state-tournament-against-maple-grove] Opinion [https://www.echopress.com/opinion]

Echo Press Newsminute, week of March 1-7, 2026

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about this year's Polar Plunge and the plunges coming up at area schools, the death of a Miltona woman in a house fire, a group of local parents helping their kids - and themselves - unplug from screens, not-so dry history in Douglas County, a Habitat For Humanity Open House, township elections next week, and high school wrestlers and basketball players making their marks. Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute. Check out the top headlines from March 4 and March 6 below: Here are the top stories in our Wednesday, March 4 issue: Total raised for this year's Polar Plunge was nearly $61,000 [https://www.echopress.com/news/total-raised-for-this-years-polar-plunge-was-nearly-61-000] Alexandria clears a hurdle on its goal of becoming a GreenStep city [https://www.echopress.com/news/alexandria-clears-a-hurdle-on-its-goal-of-becoming-a-greenstep-city] Miltona woman dies in structure fire Thursday [https://www.echopress.com/news/local/miltona-woman-dies-in-structure-fire-thursday] Prohibition, bootlegging and rum running: Not so 'dry' history in Douglas County [https://www.echopress.com/news/prohibition-bootlegging-and-rum-running-not-so-dry-history-in-douglas-county] This is not your parents' debate over screen time [https://www.echopress.com/news/this-is-not-your-parents-debate-over-screen-time] MSHSL State Wrestling: Alexandria's Nolan Fettig reaches semifinal round in Class AA bracket [https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/mshsl-state-wrestling-alexandrias-nolan-fettig-reaches-semifinal-round-in-class-aa-bracket] Here are the top stories in our Friday, March 6 issue: Open house held at Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County home in Summer Meadows [https://www.echopress.com/news/open-house-held-at-habitat-for-humanity-of-douglas-county-home-in-summer-meadows] Nearly 7,000 watercraft inspections conducted during the 2025 season [https://www.echopress.com/news/nearly-7-000-watercraft-inspections-conducted-during-the-2025-season] Township elections to be held March 10 in Douglas County [https://www.echopress.com/news/township-elections-to-be-held-march-10-in-douglas-county] Boys Basketball: Alexandria cruises past Knights to open Section 8-4A playoffs [https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/boys-basketball-alexandria-cruises-past-knights-to-open-section-8-4a-playoffs] Opinion [https://www.echopress.com/opinion]