HIGHWAY 4 RESURFACING PROJECT – SLEEPY EYE SOUTH TO WATONWAN COUNTY
While there is plenty of road construction all around the county, many of the smaller projects will be completed within the next couple of weeks. The major construction project in Brown County is the Highway 4 project between St. James to Sleepy Eye which includes roadway, bridge, and drainage improvements. Traffic in Brown County will be detoured to Highway 14, Brown County Road 8, and Brown County Road 24. Per the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Highway 4 project is expected to be complete in early October, weather permitting.
PATROL SATURATIONS – COUNTY ROAD 29 – Tuesday August 6-8, 2024
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol will be participating in a traffic enforcement campaign. Our primary target is speed and to set an expectation for safe driving conduct as we start the three days of Farmfest from Tuesday August 6, 2024 through Thursday August 8, 2024. Brown County Road 29 is the most heavily traveled county road and the traffic has increased over the years.
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office and the Brown County Highway Department want to remind motorists that ALL Brown County Roads have speed limits of 55 MPH. There are no signs stating such, but per Minnesota State Statute the speed limit is defined as 55 MPH. Please be mindful and drive the speed limit and hopefully we may not need to have a conversation along the side of the road.
BROWN COUNTY FAIR – August 7-11, 2024
The Brown County Fair is just around the corner. This is a great way of gathering and getting to see our friends and neighbors that we may have not seen for some time. The Brown County Fair is an opportunity for the whole county to showcase their talents and accomplishments and put them on display. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office would like to invite everyone to come out and enjoy the Brown County Fair and all it has to offer August 7-11, 2024. We hope to see you all at the fair.
REMINDER – MINNESOTA HANDS FREE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2023
Minnesota law now explicitly prohibits “holding a wireless communications device with one or both hands.” Navigating a vehicle while holding a cell phone — even on speaker with a single hand — is illegal.
The new law makes it clear that merely holding a phone is a violation. Hands-free is hands-free on Minnesota roads. Again, please do not text and drive or hold your cell phone in your hand while driving and we will not have to have that awkward conversation along the side of the road about the law.
NEW AREA CODE
A new area code, 924, will soon join the existing 507 area code serving southern Minnesota. The 507-area code is expected to run out of new numbers in early 2025. Existing customers will keep their current telephone numbers, but new customers, or requests for additional lines, may be assigned the new 924 area code once it’s activated.
Beginning July 30, 2024, all local calls made within the 507-area code region must be placed using 10 digits (area code + the 7-digit telephone number). Calls placed using just 7 digits will not be completed.
Beginning August 30, 2024, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 924 area code.
- Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- You will need to dial the area code + telephone number for all local calls, including calls within the same area code.
- You will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long distance calls.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call.
- The price of a call, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
- You can still dial three digits to reach 911 (emergency telephone number) and 988 (suicide and crisis lifeline), as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 711, and 811 where available.
You may want to go through your phone contacts and make sure you have the 507-area code in front of the 7-digit telephone number for your contacts, or they will not work after July 30, 2024. Again, please do this at home and not while you are driving.
On behalf of the great men and women that make up the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, I would like to wish everyone a great rest of your summer and safe travels along the way.
