Local News Headlines – Tuesday, August 24

THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 8:30 MONDAY MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON.   THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER A PROPOSAL TO HIRE A TEMPORARY INTERN FOR THE COUNTY ASSESSOR’S OFFICE.  THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO HIRE TWO PEOPLE TO SERVE ON A WEEKEND BOAT AND WATER PATROL.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER UPDATING COUNTY POLICIES ON THE USE OF HOLIDAY AND PERSONAL LEAVE.  A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON A REVISED COUNTY GOLF-CART ORDINANCE.  THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE HIRING OF A FIRM TO PROVIDE STAFF TRAINING.  DITCH REPAIR BILLS WILL BE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT.  

 

THE DINNER TABLE WILL BE OFFERING A FREE MEAL IN WINDOM TODAY.   THE DINNER TABLE IS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM.  A FREE DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL WILL BE PROVIDED FROM 5:30 TO 6:30 THIS EVENING IN THE ALLEY BEHIND THE 1ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT 336 11TH STREET IN WINDOM.  THE MEAL WILL INCLUDE FREE GODFATHER’S PIZZA, CHICKEN AND A COOKIE.  IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CALL THE 1ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN WINDOM AT 831-3284.  THE PROGRAM HOPES TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO SERVING INDOOR MEALS IN THE FUTURE.  MEALS ARE SERVED ON THE 4TH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETS AT 7:00 TONIGHT AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  THE COMMISSION WILL DISCUSS THE CITY’S SHORELAND ORDINANCE, INCLUDING THE SECTION ON SIDE-YARD SETBACKS.  FURTHER DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON A PROPOSED REVIEW OF THE CITY’S LAND-USE CODES.  THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL REVIEW THE PROCESS THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED AND DISCUSS POSSIBLE REVISIONS.   

 

INFORMATION IS BEING RELEASED FROM THE NEW FEDERAL CENSUS.  CHECKING THE POPULATION TOTALS FOR COUNTIES IN SW MN.  NOBLES COUNTY SHOWED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN POPULATION, GROWING BY 4.3% FROM THE 2010 FEDERAL CENSUS TO 2020.  TWO OTHER AREA COUNTIES HAD SMALL INCREASES IN POPULATION.  WATONWAN COUNTY SHOWED AN INCREASE OF .4% AND ROCK COUNTY HAD AN INCREASE OF .2%.  OTHER COUNTIES SAW DECLINES IN POPULATION.  COTTONWOOD COUNTY’S NEW POPULATION WAS REPORTED AT 11,517 – A DROP OF 1.5% IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.  JACKSON COUNTY HAD A DECLINE OF 2.7%; REDWOOD COUNTY’S POPULATION FELL BY 3.9% AND MURRAY COUNTY FELL BY 6.3% OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.  

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.    NEW TEACHER WORKSHOP DAYS WILL BE HELD THIS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.  NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION FOR STUDENTS IN THE 6TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY FROM 1:00 TO 3:00PM IN THE MIDDLE-SCHOOL COMMONS.  THIS IS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NEW TO THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT.  ORIENTATION FOR RETURNING MIDDLE AND HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE HELD IN A DIGITAL FORMAT.  INFORMATION WILL BE SENT OUT THROUGH THE “SKYLERT” SYSTEM BY SEPTEMBER 1ST.  I-PADS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.   

 

THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE IS REDUCING THE FEES IT CHARGES TO SCHOOLS FOR ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION.  THE HS LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECENTLY APPROVED A CREDIT TO MEMBER SCHOOLS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.  THE CREDITS TOTAL JUST OVER $1-MILLION.  60% OF THE CREDIT WILL BE USED TO REDUCE ACTIVITY REGISTRATION FEES PAID FOR EACH SCHOOL, FROM $225 TO $160 FOR EACH REGISTERED ACTIVITY.  THE REST OF THE CREDIT WILL BE USED TO REDUCE THE ENROLLMENT FEE PAID FOR EACH STUDENT-ATHLETE FROM $6.35 TO $4.60 PER STUDENT.  THE HS LEAGUE VOTED TO PROVIDE THE CREDIT AFTER IT DETERMINED THAT IT ENDED THE LAST YEAR WITH MORE REVENUE THAN EXPECTED.