Mankato will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day while continuing to recognize Columbus Day.

By a 6-1 vote at its meeting last week, the City Council adopted a resolution designating the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day and encouraged "other businesses, organizations and public entities" to recognize it annually.

The lone vote against the resolution came from Mayor Eric Anderson, who said he didn't object to it on its merits, but thought a different day should be chosen. Both events will be marked on city calendars, but city offices will be open as usual.

Mankato was the site of the largest public execution in U.S. history, when 38 Dakota men were hanged on Dec. 26, 1862, after a six-week war that summer that left about 600 white settlers and 100 Dakota warriors dead. The city has been engaged in an ongoing reconciliation process for decades.

"I don't think there's another community in the country where this is as significant," said Mankato resident Jack Considine. Added local resident Dave Braveheart: "It's important for the next seven generations."

John Reinan

Detroit Lakes

Animal attack on edge of town is a mystery

A 5-year-old boy is recovering after an animal attack that has mystified local authorities.

Police said the boy tried to pick up an animal that wandered into his yard near the edge of town when he was attacked, leaving him with two large facial wounds that required more than two dozen stitches.

The boy told doctors that he thought the animal was a cat, but wildlife officials believe it may have been a fisher — a member of the weasel family — or possibly a raccoon.

Authorities have put out live traps and are hoping to catch the animal.

John Reinan

Southeast Minnesota

'Making it Home' program recruiting small towns

A program designed to help small towns in southeast Minnesota recruit or retain workers is accepting applications for a six- to nine-month training opportunity.

The University of Minnesota Extension and Southeast Minnesota Together, a collaborative organization, have joined to lead the effort, said Jennifer Hawkins, who works with the Extension office's Community Vitality team. The cities of Lake City and Spring Valley participated in the program this year. Litchfield, Gaylord and Arlington have gone through a similar program or are doing so now, Hawkins said.

The marketing effort, called the Making it Home program, is based on similar programs in North and South Dakota and Nebraska.

The program in southeast Minnesota allows communities to go through the process together to foster regional collaboration. Hawkins said a city or civic group may apply. Applications are due Oct. 1, and interested parties are encouraged to participate in a webinar from 1-2 p.m. June 27. Applications elsewhere in the state may be submitted anytime, Hawkins said.

For information, contact Hawkins by e-mail at hawki044@umn.edu, or by phone, 507-280-5575.

Dan Browning