Local News Headlines – Thursday, June 17

A NEW PROGRAM IN MT LAKE IS OFFERING FREE PRODUCE TO OLDER ADULTS THIS SUMMER.   THE MT LAKE FARMERS MARKET IS WORKING WITH THE CARE AND SHARE SHOP AND THE “POWER OF PRODUCE” PROGRAM OFFERED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION SERVICE.  ANY ADULT 60-OR-OLDER MAY RECEIVE UP TO $40 WORTH OF COUPONS THAT CAN BE USED TO PURCHASE PRODUCE FROM PARTICIPATING VENDORS AT THE MT LAKE FARMERS MARKET.  REGULAR HOURS FOR THE MARKET ARE SATURDAY MORNINGS FROM 8:30 UNTIL NOON AND WEDNESDAY FROM 4:00 TO 6:30PM.  SIGN UP AT THE CARE AND SHARE SHOP BY PROVIDING YOUR NAME AND AGE.  THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FARMERS MARKET MAY BE HELD THIS SATURDAY.   

 

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY HOLDS A BOARD MEETING AT 1:30 THURSDAY AFTERNOON.  THE BOARD WILL MEET IN THE CAFETERIA AT THE JACKSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT EAST BUILDING.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE TEMPORARY PART-TIME POSITIONS FOR COVID COORDINATORS ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 CASES AND VACCINATIONS.  THE AGENCY WILL REVIEW AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL ALLOW THE AGENCY TO SERVE AS A FINGERPRINT LOCATION UNDER A STATE PARTNERSHIP.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW AN EVALUATION FOR AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAS COMPLETED THEIR PROBATIONARY PERIOD. 

 

THE 2021 MT LAKE POW-WOW CELEBRATION IS TAKING PLACE FROM FRIDAY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY.  ON FRIDAY, THERE WILL BE A BEER GARDEN AT THE DEN WITH LIVE MUSIC.  SATURDAY EVENTS WILL INCLUDE THE MAYOR’S BIKE RIDE, GUIDED TOURS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, ALUMNI BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL AND KARAOKE AT THE BEER GARDEN.  SUNDAY EVENTS WILL INCLUDE A PANCAKE BREAKFAST, A BUFFET AT THE DEN, A COMMUNITY WORSHIP SERVICE, FOOD STANDS IN THE PARK, A 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, THE ANNUAL MT LAKE ROAD ACE, AND AN EVENT SPONSORED BY THE MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION.  THE GRANDE PARADE WILL BE HELD MONDAY EVENING.  THERE WILL BE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PARK ON TUESDAY.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  LISA FARAG WAS APPOINTED TO FILL A VACANCY FOR A COUNCIL SEAT IN WARD II. THE COUNCIL HELD A PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTED TO APPROVE AN APPLICATION FOR A RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT.  A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AND THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE A BODY-CAMERA PROGRAM FOR THE WINDOM POLICE DEPARTMENT.  THE CAMERAS WILL GO INTO USE IMMEDIATELY.  WADE PFEIFFER WAS APPOINTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD.  PRESTON ROSSOW WAS HIRED AS THE NEW ELECTRIC LINE-CREW FOREMAN.  THREE MORE LIFEGUARDS WERE HIRED FOR THE SWIMMING POOL.  A CONTRACTOR’S BILL WAS APPROVED FOR PAYMENT FOR WORK ON THE CITY ARENA ROOFING PROJECT. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.   A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL MATTERS WERE HANDLED.  RESIGNATIONS WERE ACCEPTED FROM A NUMBER OF TEACHERS, INCLUDING A RETIREMENT NOTICE FROM CHOIR DIRECTOR RACHEL AXFORD.  COACHING RESIGNATIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM HEAD BASEBALL COACH BRAD SCHLOMANN AND CO-HEAD WRESTLING COACH TRAVIS ELG.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF NEW TEACHERS INCLUDING A PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER, A 4TH-GRADE TEACHER, A PHYS ED AND HEALTH TEACHER, AND A SECONDARY INTERVENTION TEACHER.  THE BOARD CALLED FOR BIDS FROM PROVIDERS OF MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS.  DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE ACCEPTED.  THE SUPERINTENDENT REVIEWED THE STATUS OF FEDERAL FUNDING RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT.   

 

THE 2021 LAKEFIELD SUMMERFEST CELEBRATION IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK.  AMONG TODAY’S EVENTS, THE PRAIRIE ECOLOGY BUS CENTER WILL BE OFFERING A PROGRAM ON ‘STRANGE CREATURES.’  THE LIONS CLUB WILL HAVE BINGO AT THE NORTH CITY PARK AT 6:00PM.  SNACKS WILL BE AVAILABLE.  THE LAKEFIELD SWIMMING POOL WILL HAVE A LATE OPEN SWIM AT 9:00 TONIGHT.