Local News Headlines – Thursday, March 11

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING IN THE CAFETERIA ATTHE GOVERNMENT CENTER EAST BUILDING IN JACKSON.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 ISSUES INCLUDING VACCINATIONS.  THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL DISCUSS LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE AGENCY.  A REPORT WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE USE OF OVERTIME AND COMPENSATORY TIME.  THE FISCAL DEPARTMENT WILL REPORT ON COVID-19 VACCINE GRANTS.  THE AGENCY BUDGET WILL BE REVISED TO INCLUDE NEW COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS.  DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE BOARD WILL DECLARE SOME PIECES OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AS SURPLUS AND DESIGNATE THEM FOR SALE OR DISPOSAL. 

 

A REGIONAL SENIOR-HIGH KNOWLEDGE BOWL MEET WAS HELD ON MONDAY.  THERE WERE 18 TEAMS IN THE MEET.  THE TOP 3 TEAMS WILL ADVANCE TO THE STATE MEET.  1ST PLACE WENT TO A TEAM FROM MURRAY COUNTY CENTRAL.  2ND PLACE WENT TO A TEAM FROM ADRIAN, AND THE JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL ‘NAVY’ TEAM FINISHED IN 3RD PLACE.  AMONG AREA TEAMS, THE MT LAKE ‘MAROON’ TEAM FINISHED IN A TIE FOR 8TH PLACE.  SPRINGFIELD FINISHED IN 11TH PLACE.  THE JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL ‘SILVER’ TEAM FINISHED IN 12TH PLACE. WINDOM’S TEAM FINISHED IN 14TH PLACE.  THE MT LAKE ‘SILVER’ TEAM FINISHED IN 15TH PLACE. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD APPROVED GUIDELINES AND AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR REMODELING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS.  THE BOARD REVIEWED APPLICATIONS AND SET PUBLIC HEARINGS ON 4 APPLICATIONS FOR TAX ABATEMENTS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES, AND ONE APPLICATION FOR A REMODELING PROJECT.  THE BOARD APPROVED A DISTRICT CALENDAR FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR.  THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 7TH.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED MEMBERSHIP FEES BEING PAID TO THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE.  THE LEAGUE HAS REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FEES.  THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS OFFERED TO PAY A SMALLER AMOUNT THAN WHAT THE LEAGUE IS ASKING FOR. 

 

ANOTHER MAN IS FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES STEMMING FROM THE 2020 BURGLARY AT THE HERON LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.   21-YEAR-OLD THAI RISK WAS ARRESTED ON A CRIMINAL WARRANT.  RISK REPORTEDLY USED A CREDIT CARD AT A STORE IN WORTHINGTON.  THE CARD HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM THE HERON LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DURING THE BURGLARY.  VIDEO FROM SECURITY CAMERAS REPORTED SHOWED RISK USING THE CARD TO MAKE CHARGES OF MORE THAN $1,900.  THAI RISK IS FACING FOUR FELONY CHARGES INCLUDING CREDIT CARD FRAUD AND THEFT.  EACH COUNT HAS A POSSIBLE SENTENCE OF UP TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON OR A FINE OF UP TO $10-THOUSAND.  RISK WAS REPORTEDLY RELEASED ON BAIL.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.   THE COMMISSION REVIEWED AN AMENDED DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE “GOVE ACRES” HOUSING PROJECT ON 19TH STREET.  THE STREETS, SEWER AND WATER FOR THE PROJECT WILL NOW BE OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF WINDOM.  THE COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE AMENDED PLAN.  A FINAL PLAT FOR THE GOVE ACRES PROJECT WAS REVIEWED.  THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALSO REVIEWED A PRELIMINARY PLAT FOR THE KWIK TRIP PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVES A NEW GAS STATION, CONVENIENCE STORE AND CAR WASH.  A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PRELIMINARY PLAT WAS SCHEDULED AS PART OF A SPECIAL MEETING ON MARCH 30TH.