Local News Headlines – Friday, August 20

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.    THE BOARD APPROVED A NOTICE FOR THE FALL SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION.  THREE SEATS ON THE BOARD ARE UP FOR ELECTION; TWO INCUMBENTS HAVE FILED TO RUN FOR ANOTHER TERM.  THE THIRD SEAT WILL BE FILLED BY A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.  ADULT MEAL PRICES WERE SET FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.  DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE ACCEPTED.  THE BOARD REVIEWED THE DISTRICT’S ‘RETURN TO SCHOOL’ PLAN FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.  FACE COVERINGS AND VACCINATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED.  SEVERAL PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED INCLUDING HIRING TRAVIS SMITH AS THE FALL PLAY DIRECTOR.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD VOTED TO RENEW ITS INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR PROPERTY, LIABILITY AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE.  AN UPDATED ‘RETURN TO SCHOOL’ PLAN WAS APPROVED FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.  A REVISED POLICY WAS ADOPTED INVOLVING THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS.  A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED, INCLUDING THE HIRING OF AN ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON BUILDING MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.  IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS MORE BUS DRIVERS.  ANYONE INTERESTED IN DRIVING BUS SHOULD CONTACT THE DISTRICT OFFICE. 

 

THE 2021 BUTTERFIELD THRESHING BEE WILL TAKE PLACE THIS WEEKEND.   THE 54TH ANNUAL STEAM AND GAS ENGINE SHOW WILL BE HELD AT VOSS PARK IN BUTTERFIELD.  AN ANTIQUE AND OUT-OF-FIELD TRACTOR PULL WILL BE HELD AT 5:30 FRIDAY AFTERNOON.  THE THRESHING BEE FEATURES ANTIQUE STEAM ENGINES AND TRACTORS.  THERE WILL BE OVER 300 RESTORED ANTIQUE TRACTORS ON THE GROUNDS.  THE GROVE HOLDS HUNDREDS OF RESTORED GAS ENGINES.  LARGER STATIONARY STEAM AND GAS ENGINES ARE DISPLAYED IN BUILDINGS.  THE PIONEER VILLAGE HAS DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS IN A SCHOOL, CHURCH, GENERAL STORE, BLACKSMITH SHOP, PRINT SHOP AND MORE.  CRAFTS AND ANTIQUES WILL BE ON DISPLAY WITH DEMONSTRATIONS.  THERE WILL BE LIVE BLUEGRASS, COUNTRY AND GOSPEL MUSIC ON STAGE. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.   THE WINDOM E-D-A PRESENTED AN UPDATE ON THE CEMSTONE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.  CEMSTONE HAS MADE AN OFFER TO SELL 34 ACRES OF PROPERTY TO THE E-D-A.  A SPECIAL E-D-A MEETING WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION OF A FINANCING PLAN FOR THE PROJECT.  THE PLAN CALLS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HOUSING AT THE SITE INCLUDING SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, DUPLEXES AND APARTMENTS.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH “LIVE BARN” TO ALLOW LIVE-STREAMING OF HOCKEY GAMES PLAYED AT THE CITY ARENA.  THE COUNCIL SCHEDULED BUDGET WORKSHOPS FOR OCTOBER 4TH AND 6TH.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A TEMPORARY LIQUOR LICENSE AND TWO EXEMPT GAMBLING PERMITS. 

 

THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, THE BOARD VOTED TO HIRE CHRIS JOHNSON AS AN ELEMENTARY MUSIC TEACHER ON A 60% CONTRACT.  THE ANNUAL TRUTH-IN-TAXATION HEARING WAS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 20TH.  THE SCHOOL BOARD HELD ITS SECOND SESSION WITH A CONSULTANT FROM THE MINNESOTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION.  THE BOARD IS WORKING ON A PLANNING PROJECT TO HELP DRAFT A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.  THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD ALSO HEAR ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. 

 

A FORMER WINDOM BUSINESS OWNER HAS REPORTEDLY REACHED A PLEA AGREEMENT IN HER CRIMINAL CASE.  JODIE CROWELL OPERATED A MONUMENT BUSINESS IN WINDOM.  SHE WAS FACING CHARGES OF THEFT BY SWINDLE.  CROWELL ALLEGEDLY ACCEPTED PAYMENT FROM CUSTOMERS WHO WERE ORDERING HEADSTONES OR VAULTS, BUT SHE NEVER DELIVERED THE ITEMS.  THE CHARGES DATE BACK TO 2015 AND REPORTEDLY INVOLVE MORE THAN $80-THOUSAND.  UNDER THE REPORTED TERMS OF THE PLEA AGREEMENT, CROWELL WILL SERVE 90 DAYS IN JAIL AND WILL AGREE TO PAY RESTITUTION OF $400 PER MONTH.  THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF RESTITUTION TO BE PAID WILL BE DETERMINED DURING A FORMAL SENTENCING HEARING IN OCTOBER. 

 

SOME INFORMATION FROM THE NEW FEDERAL CENSUS IS BEING RELEASED.   FOR THE CITY OF WINDOM, THE NEW POPULATION IS BEING REPORTED AT 4,798.  THE CENSUS FOUND THAT ROUGHLY 15% OF WINDOM’S RESIDENTS IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC.  WINDOM HAD HOPED TO BE OVER 5,000 RESIDENTS UNDER THE NEW CENSUS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR MORE STATE TRANSPORTATION AID.   CHECKING RESULTS FOR AREA CITIES:  NEW ULM IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE AREA WITH A POPULATION OF 14,120.  WORTHINGTON IS AT 13,947 AND MARSHALL AT 13,628.  AMONG OTHER CITIES:  ST. JAMES 4,793; JACKSON 3,323; MT LAKE 1,999; LAKEFIELD 1,735; FULDA 1,371; LAMBERTON 792; HERON LAKE 602; AND BINGHAM LAKE 137.