Local News Headlines – Friday, July 23

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD VOTED TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER ON A SCHOOL BUILDING REFERENDUM.  THIS IS CONTINGENT ON THE DISTRICT RECEIVING A FAVORABLE ‘REVIEW AND COMMENT’ FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.  IT WOULD BE A MAIL-IN ELECTION.  THE BOARD APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE M-L-A ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO WORK ON THE BUILDING PROJECT.  THE BOARD ACCEPTED BIDS FROM PROVIDERS OF MILK AND BREAD PRODUCTS.  ADMISSION FEES WERE SET FOR EVENTS.  THE BOARD APPROVED A 10-YEAR PLAN AND BUDGET FOR LONG-TERM FACILITY MAINTENANCE.  SOME PERSONNEL BUSINESS WAS HANDLED. 

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   A 10-YEAR PLAN AND BUDGET WAS ADOPTED FOR LONG-TERM FACILITY MAINTENANCE.  THE BOARD SET WAGES FOR NON-CERTIFIED STAFF MEMBERS.  A NEW CONTRACT WAS APPROVED WITH THE DISTRICT BUSINESS MANAGER.  A RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED, CALLING FOR THE DISTRICT TO BORROW MONEY TO MEET CASH-FLOW NEEDS.  SOME OTHER FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS WERE APPROVED.  A DONATION OF $2,500 WAS ACCEPTED TO PURCHASE UNIFORMS FOR THE VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM.  A RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED FROM TRACK AND CROSS-COUNTRY COACH GARY HILDEBRANDT.  DOUG WHITE WAS HIRED AS THE NEW CROSS-COUNTRY COACH.    

 

A MEETING OF THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE A SPECIAL LAW EXTENDED THE LIFE OF A “TIF” DISTRICT.  THEY VOTED TO AMEND THE GUIDELINES FOR THE SMALL CITIES HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM, ALLOWING APPLICATIONS TO BE MAKE THROUGH NEXT YEAR.  CONTRACTOR’S BILLS WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT FOR A PROJECT ON RIVER ROAD BETWEEN 10TH AND 11TH STREET.  THE ENTIRE PROJECT IS BEING COVERED BY FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH ‘FEMA.’  A NUMBER OF LICENSE APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED.  JORDAN BUSSA WAS PROMOTED TO FILL AN OPENING IN THE TELE-COMM DEPARTMENT.  IT WAS NOTED THAT KAYAKS AND PADDLEBOARDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR USE AT COTTONWOOD LAKE.  

 

THE 2021 JACKSON COUNTY FAIR WILL BE TAKING PLACE NEXT WEEK.   THIS SATURDAY IS A 4-H GENERAL PROJECT DAY.  ON SUNDAY, A SADDLE CLUB HORSE SHOW WILL BE HELD IN THE HORSE ARENA.  OPEN CLASS ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.  ON MONDAY, MORE OPEN CLASS ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AND A HORSE SHOW WILL BE HELD AT THE ARENA.  THE MAJOR FAIR EVENTS WILL BE TAKING PLACE STARTING ON TUESDAY.  SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JACKSON COUNTY FAIR – NEXT WEDNESDAY, THERE WILL BE BULL RIDING IN THE GRANDSTAND.  ON THURSDAY, THE 4-H PORK-CHOP SUPPER WILL BE HELD. NEXT FRIDAY, THERE WILL BE SPRINT-CAR RACING AT THE JACKSON MOTORPLEX.    

 

THE ANNUAL SANBORN “WATERMELON DAYS” CELEBRATION IS BEING HELD.   ON SUNDAY, EVENTS WILL INCLUDE A 5-K RUN, A CAR SHOW AT THE BALL FIELD, A BEAN-BAG TOURNAMENT ON THE LAWN OF THE ZION SCHOOL, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE HOLDING ‘KIDDIE WATER FIGHTS’ AT THE FIRE HALL.  WATERMELON DAYS WILL CONTINUE WITH ACTIVITIES ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.  MONDAY’S EVENTS WILL INCLUDE THE KIDDIE PARADE, THE WATERMELON QUEEN PAGEANT AND FOOD STANDS.  ON TUESDAY, THERE WILL BE A CARNIVAL.  THE GRANDE PARADE WILL BE HELD, WITH FREE WATERMELON FOR EVERYONE AFTER THE PARADE AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.  SEVERAL GROUPS WILL BE SERVING FOOD.  

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD RECENTLY HELD AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING.  SALARIES AND PER-DIEM RATES WERE SET FOR SCHOOL BOARD OFFICERS.  CARLA OLSEM WAS APPOINTED AS THE DISTRICT CENSUS TAKER.  A NUMBER OF OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS AND DESIGNATIONS WERE APPROVED, INCLUDING THE OFFICIAL DISTRICT NEWSPAPER AND OFFICIAL BANKS.  SCHOOL OFFICIALS WERE DESIGNATED TO HANDLE FINANCIAL BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT.  ADMISSION FEES AND SEASON TICKET PRICES WERE SET FOR ACTIVITIES.  THE BOARD SET STUDENT ACTIVITY FEES, CLASS FEES AND CLASS DUES.  PAY RATES WERE SET FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.  THE BOARD SET SCHOOL LUNCH FEES FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.