Local News Headlines – Friday, August 28th

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED A PLAN FOR THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.   BASED ON THE AVERAGE CASE LOAD IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, MT LAKE WILL BEGIN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING CLASS IN PERSON WITH CLASSROOMS AT 50% OF CAPACITY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.  STUDENTS WHO DO NOT WANT TO ATTEND IN PERSON WILL BE OFFERED DISTANCE LEARNING.  INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO PARENTS THROUGH THE DISTRICT WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, E-MAIL AND THE INSTANT ALERT SYSTEM.  STAFF MEMBERS HAVE GONE THROUGH TRAINING ON THE RE-START PLAN.  THE DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED A SCHEDULE OF CLEANING AND DISINFECTING.    

 

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.   THERE WAS A PRESENTATION BY NEXT ERA ENERGY RESOUCES ON THE “THREE WATERS” WIND PROJECT.  THE JACKSON FOOD SHELF REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR 2021.  THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIRECTOR DISCUSSED THE REPLACEMENT OF SOME MOBILE DEVICES.  THE 2019 COUNTY AUDIT REPORT WAS PRESENTED.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE.  THE BOARD HELD A ZOOM MEETING WITH AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO DISCUSS FACILITY PLANNING FOR THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.   THEY DISCUSSED THE USE OF SICK LEAVE DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION EARLIER THIS WEEK.  THEY APPROVED ASSIGNMENTS FOR COACHES AND ACTIVITY ADVISORS.  AN AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED WITH THE PARA-PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BUS SUPERVISION. THE BOARD ADOPTED A BASIC LEARNING MODEL FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.  STUDENTS WILL ATTEND CLASS IN PERSON WITH 50% CAPACITY IN CLASSROOMS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.  A FORMAL PRESENTATION WAS MADE ON THE DISTRICT’S RE-OPENING PLAN, WITH DETAILED GUIDELINES FOR BUSSING, FOOD SERVICE, AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE HALLWAYS.  REVISIONS WERE MADE IN THE SCHOOL CALENDAR. 

 

THE JAMIE TORKELSON ‘FALLEN BIKER’ MEMORIAL RUN WILL BE HELD SATURDAY.   THERE WILL BE A SUGGESTED DONATION OF $20 PER PERSON.  IT’S BEING HOSTED AT THE PHAT PHEASANT PUB.  THE MEMORIAL RUN WILL LEAVE AT NOON FOR A RIDE OF 90 MILES.   AFTER THE RIDE, THERE WILL BE A CASH RAFFLE DRAWING AT THE PHEASANT.  THE REGISTRATION FEE FOR THE DAY INCLUDES FOOD, MUSIC AND DOOR PRIZES.  ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE PROVIDED BY “HICKTOWN MAFIA.”  ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO SUPPORT THE WINDOM YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.  THE EVENT IS HELD IN MEMORY OF JAMIE TORKELSON.  HE PASSED AWAY AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN 2005.    

 

KDOM RADIO SALUTES ITS GOOD NEWS BUSINESS OF THE DAY, THE RIVERBEND LIQUOR STORE.  RIVERBEND LIQUOR IS LOCATED ON HIGHWAY 60/71 IN SOUTH WINDOM.  HOURS ARE 10:00AM TO 9:00PM MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, 10:00AM TO 10:00PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AND 11:00AM TO 4:00PM ON SUNDAY.  RIVER BEND LIQUOR OFFERS A FULL LINE OF BEVERAGE PRODUCTS.  THE BEER SELECTION INCLUDES DOMESTIC, IMPORTED AND CRAFT BEERS.  THEY CARRY DOMESTIC AND IMPORTED WINE, INCLUDING VARIETIES FROM LOCAL WINERIES.   THE STORE ALSO HAS A VARIETY OF SPIRITS INCLUDING FLAVORED VODKA, SELTZER AND MORE.  RIVER BEND LIQUOR IS CURRENTLY HOLDING A FUND DRIVE TO SUPPORT THE WINDOM FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

 

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED A PLAN FOR THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.   FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF.  FLOOR MARKINGS WILL BE PLACED 6-FEET APART IN HALLWAYS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL DISTANCING.  PLAYGROUNDS WILL BE OPEN, BUT THERE WILL BE A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ALLOWED AT ONE TIME.  ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WILL GO TO THEIR LOCKERS IN SMALL GROUPS.  THE CAFETERIA WILL HAVE LIMITED SEATING CAPACITY.  OTHER EATING AREAS WILL BE USED.  ALL STUDENTS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH PORTABLE TECHNOLOGY.  STUDENTS RIDING THE BUS WILL HAVE ASSIGNED SEATS.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY TELE-COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.   FIBER-OPTIC SERVICE HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT THE NEW LAKESIDE APARTMENT BUILDING, THE NEW AVERA CLINIC AND THE NEW WINDOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.   NEW CUSTOMERS ARE BEING HOOKED UP ON COUNTY ROAD 13 AND 17.  SOME EQUIPMENT ON DES MOINES DRIVE IS BEING MOVED DURING THE STREET PROJECT.  THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLE PURCHASE OF A FIBER-OPTIC SPLICING TRAILER.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON POSSIBLE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING.   FURTHER DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON VIDEO SERVICE.  WINDOM-NET IS STILL PLANNING TO OFFER A NEW STREAMING VIDEO SERVICE, BUT THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO COVID-19.