Local News Headlines – Friday, March 5th

MINN-DOT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SPRING LOAD-WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS WILL GO INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK ON STATE HIGHWAYS IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.   THE NEW RESTRICTIONS BEGAN THURSDAY IN THE SOUTH FROST ZONE AND WINTER LOAD INCREASES WERE ENDED.  TRUCKS AND LARGER VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE WITH HEAVIER WEIGHTS DURING THE WINTER WHEN THE GROUND IS FROZEN.  IN THE SPRING, WHEN THE GROUND BEGINS TO THAW, WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS GO INTO EFFECT ON STATE HIGHWAYS TO HELP PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ROAD SURFACE.  THIS YEAR, HEAVIER LOADS WERE ALLOWED FROM FEBRUARY 1ST TO MARCH 4TH.   

 

THE WINDOM STATE THEATRE IS FEATURING FREE “MERCHANT MATINEES.” DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, TICKETS WILL NOT BE HANDED OUT.  THE MOVIES ARE LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM AUDIENCE OF 50 PEOPLE.  DOORS WILL OPEN A HALF-HOUR BEFORE THE SHOWTIME.  MOST WEEKENDS, THERE WILL BE SHOWINGS AT 1:00 SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND 1:00 SUNDAY AFTERNOON.  THIS WEEKEND, THE FEATURED MOVIE WILL BE “GOONIES.”  MOVIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  UPDATES WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE WINDOM STATE THEATRE FACEBOOK PAGE.  THE MOVIE SERIES IS BEING SUPPORTED BY LOCAL BUSINESS SPONSORS.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.  AN AMENDMENT WAS APPROVED TO THE CITY’S AGREEMENT WITH MINN-DOT FOR THE HIGHWAY 60 CORRIDOR STUDY.  THE AGREEMENT WILL EXPIRE ON JANUARY 15TH, 2022.  THE STUDY IS BEING PAUSED UNTIL PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS MAY BE HELD.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND RE-APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.  A CONTRACTOR’S BILL WAS APPROVED FOR PAYMENT FOR WORK ON THE NEW MUNICIPAL WELL.  THE COUNCIL REVIEWED THE ANNUAL EVALUATION FOR CITY ADMINISTRATOR STEVE NASBY.  THE EVALUATION CONCLUDED THAT NASBY HAS EXCEEDED EXPECTIONS FOR ALL HIS RESPONSIBILITIES, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP. 

 

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD HELD A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEK.  A RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED FROM ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL KRISTIE ROLLING.  RESIGNATIONS WERE ALSO ACCEPTED FROM CUSTODIAN BOB BLOM, PARA-PROFESSIONAL PAULINE HARDER AND COUNSELOR JODY LEPP.  OPENINGS WERE POSTED FOR A NEW ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, FOR A FULL-TIME GROUNDSKEEPER AND CUSTODIAN, AND FOR A FULL-TIME COUNSELOR.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF A PART-TIME PARA-PROFESSIONAL. 

 

THE WINDOM TELE-COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSON MET THIS WEEK FOR DISCUSSION.   PROJECT UPDATES WERE PROVIDED.  STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING TO MOVE SUBSCRIBERS AT SEVERAL APARTMENT BUILDINGS ONTO NEW OPERATING SYSTEMS.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON RE-TRANSMISSION AGREEMENTS.  THE COMMISSION REVIEWED THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020.  THE DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED TO FINISH THE YEAR WITH A SMALL OPERATING SURPLUS.  SUBSCRIBER NUMBERS SHOWED ANOTHER INCREASE IN INTERNET CUSTOMERS, WITH A DROP IN VIDEO CUSTOMERS.  WORK CONTINUES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW STREAMING VIDEO SERVICE.  CHANNEL LINEUPS AND RATES ARE BEING FINALIZED.   

AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.    BRITTANY ROGERS TEACHERS 2ND GRADE AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  SHE WAS NOMINATED FOR ‘TEACHER OF THE YEAR’ BY MEMBERS OF HER LOCAL TEACHERS’ UNION.  ROGERS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THE STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD.  THERE ARE 75 TEACHERS FROM AROUND THE STATE WHO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED.  BRITTANY ROGERS GREW UP IN THE LAKEFIELD AREA.  SHE BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER IN CLEVELAND, AND HAS BEEN TEACHING IN THE JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL DISTRICT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.