Local News Headlines – Friday, February 5th

THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ANNOUNCED A CHANGE IN THE SCHOOL CALENDAR.   A SUPPLY OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE HAS BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THE SCHOOL STAFF.  STAFF MEMBERS WHO SIGNED UP WILL BE VACCINATED ON FRIDAY.  AS A RESULT, WINDOM WILL HAVE NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS THIS FRIDAY.  IN ANOTHER CHANGE, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH WILL BE CHANGED TO A FULL DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS.  THAT DAY WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED AS A HALF-DAY OF CLASSES.  WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS STATED THAT HAVING THE STAFF VACCINATED WILL HELP KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN FOR STUDENTS AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RETURNING TO NORMAL.    

 

THE FULDA CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.    A QUOTE WAS ACCEPTED FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW PORTABLE RADIOS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  THE COUNCIL RATIFIED THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE FULDA FIRE DEPARTMENT.  APPROVAL WAS GIVEN FOR FULDA TO SERVE AS THE HOST CITY FOR A REGIONAL GRANT APPLICATION.  IF APPROVED, FUNDING COULD BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE NEW PAGERS AND PORTABLE RADIOS FOR THE FULDA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AMBULANCE SQUAD.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A NEW SITE USE AGREEMENT WITH LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE SENIOR DINING SITE AND THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM.   

 

WINDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL HOSTED A VIRTUAL SENIOR-HIGH KNOWLEDGE BOWL MEET THIS WEEK.   40 TEAMS PARTICIPATED WITH ONE ROUND OF WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND THREE ROUNDS OF ORAL QUESTIONS.  THERE WERE TEAMS FROM 20 AREA SCHOOLS.   1ST PLACE WENT TO A TEAM FROM MURRAY COUNTY CENTRAL WITH 59 POINTS.  A TEAM FROM ADRIAN WAS 2ND; MARSHALL 3RD; AND TEAMS FROM GLENCOE-SILVER LAKE IN 4TH AND 5TH PLACE.  WINDOM HAD ONE TEAM IN THE MEET.  THE TEAM OF PARKER ALVSTAD AND FAITH FORD FINISHED IN 29TH PLACE WITH 31 POINTS.  THE MT LAKE “SILVER” TEAM FINISHED IN 14TH PLACE WITH 40.5 POINTS.  THE MT LAKE “MAROON” TEAM FINISHED IN 20TH PLACE WITH 37 POINTS.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   THE COUNCIL APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CITY SERVICES.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A PROPOSAL FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR A PROJECT TO REPAIR THE PAVEMENT AT THE WINDOM AIRPORT.  IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, LISA VOLLAN WAS HIRED AS A PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.  JAMES SMEDSRUD WAS HIRED AS A STREET AND PARKS MAINTENANCE WORKER.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE HIRING OF CHERYL ULFERTS OF LAKEFIELD AS THE NEW WINDOM FINANCE DIRECTOR AND CONTROLLER.  THE MAYOR PRESENTED SOME ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND RE-APPOINTMENTS TO CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. 

 

AN OPENING RECEPTION WILL BE HELD THIS SUNDAY FOR A NEW ART EXHIBIT AT THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM IN WINDOM.    THE REMICK GALLERY WILL BE FEATURING THE ANNUAL PHOTO SHOW, “GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT.”  THIS YEAR’S THEME IS “FOCUS ON COTTONWOOD COUNTY SIGNS.”   THE RECEPTION WILL BE FROM 2:00 TO 4:00 SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN THE REMICK GALLERY.  ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS ON DISPLAY WERE TAKEN IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY AND RELATE TO THE THEME OF “SIGNS.”  ADMISSION IS FREE AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.  PEOPLE MAY VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH.  THE PHOTO SHOW WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH MARCH 30TH.   

 

THE WESTBROOK CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.    THE COUNCIL RATIFIED THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE WESTBROOK FIRE DEPARTMENT.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF SOME NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND APPROVED AN APPLICATION FOR TYLER SCHOBORG TO BECOME A NEW MEMBER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  JUDY TIGHE WAS APPOINTED AS A NEW MEMBER OF THE LIBRARY BOARD.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE AMBULANCE DEPARTMENT.  THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED AN APPLICATION TO THE STATE “LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.”  IF APPROVED, FUNDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR A STREET PROJECT IN WESTBROOK.   

 

WINDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL HOSTED A V-E-X ROBOTICS MEET LAST SATURDAY.    THERE WERE 27 TEAMS REPRESENTING 7 AREA SCHOOLS.  WINDOM HAD 6 TEAMS COMPETING.  THE “PINEAPPLE POSSE” TEAM OF DYLAN SERREYN, ETHAN BROCKMAN AND CARTER ALLEN WENT 7-0 IN QUALIFICATION MATCHES.  IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND, PINEAPPLE POSSE FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH A TEAM FROM SAUK RAPIDS.  THEIR ALLIANCE FINISHED IN SECOND PLACE IN THE MEET.  WINDOM HAD ANOTHER TEAM THAT LOST IN THE SEMI-FINALS.  THE “REBELBOTS” TEAM OF SOUTHLAND HIGH SCHOOL WON THE SKILLS CHALLENGE, WITH PINEAPPLE POSSE IN 6TH PLACE.  THE “WILDCATS” TEAM FROM HERON LAKE-OKABENA WON THE JUDGES’ AWARD.