Local News Headlines – Wednesday, December 16th

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD VOTED TO PAY ROUGHLY $2,900 IN ADDITIONAL FEES TO THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE.   A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING WAS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONDAY TO DISCUSS THE DISTRICT’S LEARNING PLAN AND OPTIONS FOR HAVING STUDENTS RETURN TO CLASS IN PERSON.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE DISTRICT’S CASH FLOW SITIATION.   SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS WERE REVIEWED.  DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE ACCEPTED, INCLUDING $20-THOUSAND FROM DUDLEY HUSSONG AND KOZY HEAT TO HELP PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER. 

 

THE WINDOM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS ORGANIZING A “CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT” EVENT THIS THURSDAY.  SANTA CLAUS WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE ‘BARC’ BUILDING.  THERE WILL BE A PARADE WITH VEHICLES FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AMBULANCE SQUAD.  LOCAL RESTAURANTS WILL BE FEATURING CARRY-OUT ORDERS WITH CURB-SIDE PICKUP.  THE AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH IN WINDOM WILL BE PRESENTING ITS ANNUAL LIVING NATIVITY.  DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE FOOD SHELF.  THE STATE THEATRE WILL BE SELLING POPCORN AND CONCESSIONS.  PEOPLE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO VOTE ONLINE IN THE HOLIDAY LIGHTING CONTEST.      

 

A 21-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM JACKSON IS SUSPECTED OF BEING THE PERSON WHO COMMITTED A BURGLARY AT THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.   IN EARLY DECEMBER, THE JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARRESTED 21-YEAR-OLD PARKER KOLANDER OF JACKSON.  DURING A SEARCH OF HIS VEHICLE, OFFICERS FOUND A CHECKBOOK THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN IN THE BURGLARY.  KOLANDER ALSO HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH ON HIS PERSON, AND WAS WEARING CLOTHING THAT APPEARED SIMILAR TO FOOTAGE OF THE BURGLAR THAT WAS CAPTURED ON A SECURITY CAMERA.   KOLANDER IS FACING CHARGES OF BURGLARY IN THE 3RD DEGREE.   

 

THE WINDOM E-D-A MET THIS WEEK.   THE E-D-A DISCUSSED THE ‘SPEC’ BUILDING PROPERTY ON NORTH REDDING AVENUE.  PRESENTATIONS WERE HEARD FROM TWO DEVELOPERS.  THE E-D-A WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION TO REVIEW THE PRESENTATIONS.  AFTER RETURNING TO OPEN SESSION, THE E-D-A VOTED TO SELECT ‘UNITED DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS’ AS THE PREFERRED DEVELOPER FOR THE SITE.  THE PLAN CALLS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 84-UNIT MARKET-RATE APARTMENT BUILDING.  AS PART OF THE PLAN, THE SPEC BUILDING WOULD REMAIN AND BE CONVERTED INTO A HEATED GARAGE.  A FORMAL SITE PLAN WILL BE PREPARED.   THE E-D-A WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY. 

  

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AT 8:00 THURSDAY MORNING IN THE CAFETERIA AT THE JACKSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER EAST BUILDING.  THE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS STRATEGY FOR LABOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.   AFTER RETURNING TO OPEN SESSION, THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER APPROVING A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH AN EMPLOYEE UNION FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD.  THE BOARD WILL ALSO CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION ON ITS INVESTMENT POLICY.  

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL TAKE PLACE AT 2:00 THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MURRAY COUNTY 4-H BUILDING.  THE BOARD WILL BE HOLDING LABOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.  DURING A PORTION OF THE MEETING, THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD WILL BE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS STRATEGY FOR LABOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.