Arvig will expand its fiber network in Perham and the surrounding area with increased fiber-to-the-home connections in spring 2022.

The company's $7.4 million investment in will also improve existing infrastructure so upgraded speeds, up to 10 gigabits per second, can be reliably delivered to customers, according to a company news release.

"Arvig is proud to be investing in a faster and more reliable network in the Perham area," said David Arvig, vice president and chief operating officer at Arvig. "With network demands increasing rapidly, it’s more important than ever to provide these next generation speeds right here at home."

Arvig is headquartered in Perham and is an employee-owned broadband and full-service telecommunications provider.

More than half of the proposed new investment, $4.8 million, is due to federal funding being awarded to the company through the Federal Communications Commission's Alternative Connect America Cost Model program, a program designed to bring faster internet speeds to rural areas.

Customers of Arvig will be notified about their service options as construction begins next spring.

Winter gear sale at Washington Square Mall Oct. 30-31

The Detroit Mountain Ski Patrol will be hosting a winter gear and consignment sale at the Washington Square Mall on Oct. 30 and 31.

The sale will run on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday, Oct. 31 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Individuals wishing to donate gear, or drop off consignment items, need to bring their gear to the sale area at the mall on Friday, Oct. 29 from 4-8 p.m.

Any non-sold items must be picked up on Oct. 31 from 2-4 p.m.

Mattson's Barber Shop to relocate after downtown fire

Mattson's Barber Shop will not be returning to its Washington Avenue location after fire, smoke and water damage from a September fire proved too great to rebuild, according to a Facebook post from the business.

In the Oct. 14 post, Alex and Natalie Lindsay thanked community members for sending their "thoughts, prayers, kind words, and gifts our way. We have been so incredibly humbled and blessed by your love and generosity."

The couple confirmed they have secured a new barber shop location and are working to get it licensed and "ready to start cutting hair as quickly as possible!"

They also added that, in their old location, the damage from the fire was so great that the building will need to be removed.

Mattson's Barber Shop said it would post details about the new location on the Mattson's Facebook page once "everything is officially in place."

A GoFundMe page set up for the barber shop after the fire received 53 donations, totaling $5,350.

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