THUMBS UP

High residential

development planned

The new year is only a few days away. As of Wednesday, we all have to remember to write 2025 instead of 2024. The new year always brings with it potential for progress. In 2025, New Ulm is expected to see progress on the housing front. Multiple residential buildings are scheduled to begin. The new development on the site of the former George’s Ballroom is the likely the most well-known, with a possibility of 88 rental units. A few yards away, Marktplatz Mall could also begin development. Near the high school the River Haven development at 1800 Highland is expected to start in 2025. The project would include a combination of around 100 apartment units and twin homes available for sale. A fourth mix-use building is being planned for North 300 block of Broadway.

THUMBS UP

Adopt a Family program receives help

Brown County’s “Adopt a Family” program has been helping families for nearly three decades. Each year, Brown County matches program participates with a local family in need. The participants then purchase items for the family and wraps them up as Christmas gifts. Recently, The Journal ran an article about New Ulm Veterinary Center participating in the program for 25 years. That is an impressive streak of donating, but New Ulm Vet Center is only one of the generous donors. Brown County is full of people and organizations willing to help.

THUMBS DOWN

Whooping cough is coming back

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is making a comeback in the United States. Brown County Public Health Director Jaimee Brand confirmed there is a rise in pertussis in Minnesota. There have been 2,814 cases of reported this year in Minnesota, the highest since 2012. Brown, Watonwan and Cottonwood Counties have all reported at least one pertussis case. There have been seven cases in Blue Earth. There is a vaccine to protect from pertussis, but it only works if people take it. The 2012 spike in whooping cough was linked to vaccine hesitancy and that is likely the reason for the increase this year. There are also vaccines for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 but again, the fatal flaw is people need to get vaccinated. Having to deal with the flu, RSV and COVID every year is bad enough. It’s infuriating that an old fashion disease like whooping cough was allowed to return.