Local News Headlines – Thursday, December 24th

THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE WINDOM HOLIDAY LIGHTING CONTEST.   THE CONTEST WAS SPONSORED BY THE WINDOM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.  THERE WERE TWO CATEGORIES – RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND BUSINESSES.  IN THE RESIDENTIAL CATEGORY, 1ST PLACE WENT TO THE HOME OF JENNY QUADE.  2ND PLACE WENT TO WAYNE WORMSTADT.  3RD PLACE WAS A TIE BETWEEN THE HOMES OF BRENT MATTSON AND JIM GARRISON.   IN THE BUSINESS CATEGORY, 1ST PLACE WENT TO THE RIVER CITY EATERY.  2ND PLACE WENT TO STATE FARM INSURANCE.  THERE WAS A DRAWING FOR FIVE PEOPLE WHO WON $20 IN CHAMBER BUCKS. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT IS URGING FAMILIES TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FORMS TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS.  APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DECEMBER 31ST.  WINDOM RECEIVES FUNDING BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY.  IN RECENT YEARS ROUGHLY 45% OF STUDENTS HAVE MET THE QUALIFICATIONS.  IF ELIGIBLE FAMILIES DO NOT APPLY, THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT COULD LOSE UP TO $183-THOUSAND IN FUNDING.  THOSE FUNDS ARE USED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO AT-RISK STUDENTS, REDUCE CLASS SIZES, AND PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST FOR ALL STUDENTS.  FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE OR THROUGH THE SCHOOL OFFICE.   

 

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.  THE TRUTH-IN-TAXATION HEARING WAS HELD.  THE BOARD VOTED TO CERTIFY THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY AT $2.1-MILLION – AN INCREASE OF LESS THAN 1%.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE ANNUAL REPORTS FOR THE WORLD’S BEST WORK-FORCE PROGRAM AND THE ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEGRATION PROGRAM.  JANET WOLFF WAS HIRED AS A PARA-PROFESSIONAL.  THE BOARD REVIEWED SENIORITY LISTS FOR THE CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND THE NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES.  THE BOARD VOTED TO MAKE A PAYMENT OF ADDITIONAL FEES TO THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE, BUT AT A LOWER LEVEL THAN THE LEAGUE REQUESTED.   

 

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.  THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WAS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TRAIL PROJECT.  BIDS WERE APPROVED FOR UPCOMING BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS IN PETERSBURG AND MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIPS.  FINAL PAYMENTS WERE APPROVED FOR SEVERAL COMPLETED HIGHWAY PROJECTS.  TWO PEOPLE WERE RE-APPOINTED TO NEW TERMS ON THE COUNTY EXTENSION COMMITTEE.  THE COUNTY COORDINATOR INFORMED THE BOARD THAT HE PLANS TO RESIGN NEXT SPRING.  THE BOARD WILL BE REVIEWING THE COUNTY’S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.    THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY WAS CERTIFIED WITH AN INCREASE OF 1.75%.   

  

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD CERTIFIED THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY AT JUST OVER $969-THOUSAND; AN INCREASE OF 2%.  THE BOARD VOTED TO PAY ADDITIONAL FEES TO THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE, BUT AT A LOWER LEVEL THAN THE LEAGUE HAD REQUESTED.  A RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED FROM BUSINESS TEACHER KRIS SCHMIDT.  THE BOARD VOTED TO USE FUNDS PROVIDED THROUGH THE ‘CARES’ ACT TO PURCHASE A NEW VAN AND SMART BOARDS.  THE BOARD VOTED TO CHANGE THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION.  SEVERAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WERE CLASSIFIED AS SURPLUS AND DESIGNATED FOR SALE.