Local News Headlines – Wednesday, September 22

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY “COATS FOR KIDS” PROGRAM WILL HOLD A CLOTHING DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM THIS WEEK.  THE CLOTHING DISTRIBUTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY FROM 9:00AM TO 2:00PM AT ‘BARC’ IN WINDOM.  YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE TO RECEIVE CLOTHING.  FOR AN APPOINTMENT, CALL LUKE EWALD AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE AT 847-6930 OR CALL (612) 597-0455.  SEND AN E-MAIL TO luke.ewald@dvhhs.org.  THE COATS FOR KIDS PROGRAM COLLECTS GOOD-QUALITY USED CLOTHING TO BENEFIT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED.  CLOTHING ITEMS BEING ACCEPTED INCLUDE COATS, GLOVES, MITTENS, SNOW PANTS AND BOOTS.  ALL ITEMS SHOULD BE CLEAN WITH MINIMAL WEAR AND TEAR. 

 

THE 16TH ANNUAL “HEROES BEHIND THE BADGES” BLOOD DRIVE WAS HELD MONDAY AT WINDOM AREA HEALTH.  A TOTAL OF 40 PEOPLE MADE BLOOD DONATIONS DURING THE DAY.  THE FINAL TOTALS HAD 15 PEOPLE DONATING ON BEHALF OF THE WINDOM POLICE DEPARTMENT, 14 PEOPLE DONATING ON BEHALF OF THE WINDOM AMBULANCE SQUAD, AND 11 PEOPLE DONATING BLOOD ON BEHALF OF THE WINDOM FIRE DEPARTMENT.  ALL BLOOD COLLECTED DURING THE DAY WILL BE SCREENED BY THE COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK IN SIOUX FALLS AND RETURNED TO WINDOM AREA HEALTH TO BENEFIT LOCAL PATIENTS.  THE BLOOD BANK IS THE SOLE SUPPLIER OF BLOOD AND BLOOD PRODUCTS TO WINDOM AREA HEALTH AND OVER 30 OTHER MEDICAL FACILITIES INCLUDING IN JACKSON, LUVERNE, PIPESTONE, WESTBROOK AND WORTHINGTON.  

 

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL MET LAST WEEK.   THE COUNCIL REVIEWED AND APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH COTTONWOOD COUNTY FOR WINTER ROAD MAINTENANCE.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE PROPOSED 2022 CITY BUDGET AND A PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT.  THERE WERE SOME BUDGET CHANGES.  SALARIES FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE INCREASED SLIGHTLY.  THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED AS AMENDED.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO SET THE PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT AT JUST OVER $202-THOUSAND – AN INCREASE OF 2%.  IN OTHER BUSINESS, APPROVAL WAS GIVEN TO PURCHASE 10 NEW PAGERS FOR USE BY THE AMBULANCE DEPARTMENT.   

 

THE FALL HUNTING SEASONS ARE UNDERWAY IN MINNESOTA.  THE REGULAR WATERFOWL SEASON FOR DUCKS AND GEESE BEGINS THIS SATURDAY.  IN THE SOUTH ZONE OF MINNESOTA, THERE WILL BE A SPLIT SEASON FOR DUCKS AND GEES.  THE FIRST SEASON RUNS FROM SEPTEMBER 25TH THROUGH OCTOBER 3RD.  A SECOND SEASON RUNS FROM OCTOBER 9TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 28TH FOR DUCKS AND CONTINUES THROUGH DECEMBER 29TH FOR GEESE.  THE WILD TURKEY HUNTING SEASON OPENS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2ND.  THE PHEASANT SEASON WILL OPEN ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16TH AND RUN THROUGH JANUARY 2ND.  THE FIREARMS DEER SEASON IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA WILL OPEN ON NOVEMBER 6TH.   

 

THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD VOTED TO SET THE PRELIMINARY 2022 PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT AT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED UNDER STATE GUIDELINES.  THE FINAL LEVY WILL BE CERTIFIED IN DECEMBER.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE UPCOMING BUILDING REFERENDUM.  THE DISTRICT RECEIVED A “FAVORABLE” REVIEW AND COMMENT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.  THAT MEANS THE REFERENDUM NEEDS A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE TO PASS WITH 50% OR MORE VOTING IN FAVOR.  ALL VOTING WILL BE DONE BY MAIL-IN BALLOT.  THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD ALSO VOTED TO APPLY TO “FEMA” FOR UP TO $1.9-MILLION TO FUND THE CREATION OF A NEW STORM SHELTER.