Local News Headlines – Friday, October 22

THE RIVER BEND LIQUOR STORE IN WINDOM IS HOLDING A FOOD DRIVE.   RIVER BEND LIQUOR IS COLLECTING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS.  ALL ITEMS COLLECTED WILL BE DONATED TO THE WINDOM AREA SHARING CENTER.  CASH DONATIONS WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTED.  THIS IS A PROMOTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE MUNICIPAL BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION AND MILLER LITE.  THE LIQUOR STORE IN MINNESOTA THAT COLLECTS THE MOST FOOD – MEASURED BY WEIGHT – WILL RECEIVE A DONATION OF $1,000 ON BEHALF OF THEIR LOCAL FOOD SHELF.  ALL LIQUOR STORES TAKING PART IN THE FOOD DRIVE WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING.  TEN STORES WILL EACH RECEIVE A DONATION OF $100 ON BEHALF OF THEIR LOCAL FOOD SHELF. 

 

THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.   THE WALNUT GROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.  THE E-D-A IS INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING SOME LAND OWNED BY THE SCHOOL DISTR5ICT FOR A POSSIBLE HOUSING PROJECT.  THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE MATTER AT A FUTURE MEETING.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFTER-SCHOOL DAY-CARE PROGRAM.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF NEW TABLES FOR THE LUNCHROOMS AND NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE KITCHEN AT THE WESTBROOK BUILDING.  THE BOARD APPROVED A FUND-RAISING PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE THEATRE SYSTEM AT THE WALNUT GROVE BUILDING.  

 

A TRAFFIC STUDY IS CONTINUING ON THE HIGHWAY 60-71 CORRIDOR THROUGH WINDOM.    AN UPDATE WAS PROVIDED AT THIS WEEK’S MEETING OF THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL.   A NUMBER OF CONCEPTS ARE STILL BEING EVALUATED.  ON SOUTH HIGHWAY 60, CONCEPTS INCLUDE TWO-LANE OR FOUR-LANE OPTIONS, WITH A ROUNDABOUT AT THE SOUTH JUNCTION OF 60 & 71.  FOR THE SEGMENT THAT RUNS THROUGH WINDOM, POSSIBLE CONCEPTS INCLUDE THE USE OF A MEDIAN OR A TWO-WAY LEFT TURN LANE IN THE CENTER OF THE HIGHWAY.  FOR THE NORTH SECTION OF 60, OPTIONS INCLUDE TWO-LANE OR FOUR-LANE CONCEPTS WITH A CENTER MEDIAN OR A TWO-WAY LEFT TURN LANE.  A PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE WILL BE HELD AT THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 4:00 TO 6:00PM.   

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED THE DISTRICT’S PLAN FOR THE “WORLD’S BEST WORK-FORCE” PROGRAM.  THE PLAN INCLUDES DETAILS ON READING PROFICIENCY, KINDERGARTEN READINESS AND ACHIEVEMENT TEST SCORES.  THE BOARD APPROVED A NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES.  SEVERAL ITEMS OF FURNITURE WERE DECLARED AS SURPLUS AND DESIGNATED FOR SALE OR DISPOSAL.  THE BOARD HEARD A NUMBER OF REPORTS.  TOPICS INCLUDED PLANS FOR THE VETERAN’S DAY PROGRAM; THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER; REPORTS ON FALL AND WINTER SPORTS; AN ENROLLMENT REPORT; AND SOME BUILDING REPAIR ISSUES.  THE DISTRICT IS SEEKING BIDS FOR SOME PARKING LOT REPAIRS.    

 

HERE’S AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.  IN THE STATE-WIDE TOTALS, 69.7% OF MINNESOTA RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED – MEANING THAT 58.9% OF ALL MINNESOTA RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, 58.7% OF RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  VACCINATION RATES FOR OTHER AREA COUNTIES, FOR RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER:  NOBLES COUNTY 62.5%; WATONWAN COUNTY 58.8%; MURRAY COUNTY 58.2%; MARTIN COUNTY 56.3%; JACKSON COUNTY 54.1%; REDWOOD COUNTY 52.7%.   

 

THE WINDOM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS’ BUREAU ARE TAKING REGISTRATIONS FOR A HOLIDAY LIGHTING CONTEST.   THE CONTEST WILL TAKE PLACE IN DECEMBER.  WINDOM RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHOW OFF THEIR HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES INCLUDING CHAMBER BUCKS.  THIS IS OPEN TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES AND BUSINESSES.  TO PARTICIPATE, YOU NEED TO REGISTER WITH THE CHAMBER OFFICE FROM NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 19TH.  REGISTER BY E-MAIL AT office@windomchamber.com OR VISIT THE OFFICE IN PERSON FROM 9:00 TO 4:00 ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.  MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE HOLIDAY LIGHT DISPLAYS, WITH VOTING FROM DECEMBER 6TH THROUGH THE 16TH.