The Windom Area School Board Meeting will be held on January 10th at 6:30pm at the Windom City Council Chambers. Windom School Board Meetings are streamed LIVE at MEDIA SB22 on You Tube. You can also find previously recorded meetings at the same location.
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Springfield will be hopping this weekend as they celebrate the kickoff of utilizing the NEW Community Outdoor Ice Rink!!! Saturday January 8th at the Rink located at 14 Ray Ave, Immediately south of the water tower, at 5:30pm. The Public is invited to participate in a Ribbon Cutting sponsored by The City of Springfield. The community is encouraged to join various three on three pond hockey games and enjoy cups of hot cocoa. According to City Representatives, the rink was made possible by donations from Springfield American Legion Post #257, Paul and Sharon Pieschel, Redwood Area Hockey Association, Springfield Rotary Club, Pieschel Family Foundation and the Carlson Family Foundation. Patrons are reminded that this rink is a public resource and a place for fun and personal development for ALL Ages and Abilities. It will be open from 7am-10pm Weather permitting and patrons using this outdoor rink do so at their own risk and voluntarily assume all risk associated. If you want more information you can go to https://www.springfieldmn.org/recreation/pages/springfield-outdoor-rink
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It is COLD and you are staying in doors and trying to keep yourself warmer with blankets, heaters and more access to heat. While it is important to keep yourself warm DON”T forget to think of your PIPES in your house. According to Windom Fire Chief Ben Derickson, there are a few really easy steps to take to protect our homes especially older homes during these really cold spells. In older homes, pipes may not be as insulated as they need to be when the temperatures drop, by running a fan to keep the air circulating can help. Also, at night open cupboard doors, especially around kitchen sinks. According to Chief Derickson, this allows airflow. If the doors are shut, air can’t flow around pipes which will cause freezing and unfortunately busted pipes in some cases. IF your pipes do become frozen, the most common way to warm a pipe is to leave the pipe exposed to warm interior air most often by locating pipes within interior walls- where the temperature on both sides of the wall is usually well above freezing.
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Opportunities to connect with a student from across the world are right here in front of us. Did you know that Nacel Open Door is currently seeking HOST FAMILIES for 4 high school aged boys? Do you have room in your heart and home to extend a learning experience for a lifetime to not only the student but to your family? Nacel Open Door (NOD) is a worldwide organization with representatives working to deliver culturally immersive education around the globe. According to Julienne Antes, NOD coordinator, there are three different types of VISA’s these exchange students come on. At this time Antes stated they are looking for Host Families for a five month stay for the 2nd Semester starting in January till June. There are four boys one each from Italy, Cech Republic, Argentina, and Germany. According to Antes, “It’s not all about spending a lot of money, each Exchange student comes with their own medical insurance, English Language proficiency, Spending Money, and new culture to share with you. The program is looking for room and board and good parental skills and welcoming these boys and treating them as if they were your own. If you think you might be interested and want to learn more, please contact Antes at 507-304-2143. The application process is confidential and easy. Antes asks that you consider opening your heart and your home for the experience of a lifetime.
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ICE FISHING, POND Skating, Riding, or walking on ice it is all apart of the charm of WINTER FUN. Especially now that temperatures are dropping, and we are living in the frozen tundra’s of Minnesota. THIS is what Minnesota is made for!!! It’s all fun and games until the ice cracks and you fall through. According to Windom Fire Chief Ben Derickson ice safety should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind,
“It is imperative that you sound the ice and make sure that depths are thick enough for walking, taking your vehicle or ATV out for a spin, or placing Ice Fishing Huts and supplies out.” For new Clear Ice if it is under 4 inches STAY OFF. At least 4 inches for ice fishing and other activities on foot. 5-7 inches thick to drive a snowmobile or ATV on, 8-12 inches for a car or small pickup to hold up and 12-15 inches for a medium sized truck to travel on. Also remember to double the above thickness guidelines when traveling on WHITE ICE. White ice or “snow ice” is only about half as strong as new clear ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe. Always keep in mind the 1-10-1 rule, it could save your life or that of your companions. The 1-10-1 rule is 1 minute to control your breathing and think through how you will get out. 10 minutes of meaningful movement. This is the time you must get out of the water. 1 hour before hypothermia sets in. The harsh reality is most people who fall through the ice drown long before they ever become hypothermic. REMEMBER: Float coats, life jackets and ice picks increase your chances of surviving a fall through the ice. Chief Derickson also wanted to remind people that if you are taking your pets out on the ice, keep them close. Keep a close eye on them because there may be thinner ice farther out on a lake or pond, or an ice fishing hole that would cause your beloved pet to fall through and not be able to reach for rescue. Plain and simple, Chief Derickson said, have fun BUT use common sense and make a plan BEFORE you go out on the ice.
For more safety tips on ice: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html
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The Springfield Area Chamber Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 19th at 12:10 pm at the Springfield Area Community Center.
It is free to all Chamber members – please RSVP by Monday, January 10th to the Chamber Office at (507) 723-3508 or spfdchamber@newulmtel.net if you will be attending in person. You can also attend by Zoom – no RSVP necessary. For Zoom information please contact Chamber office.
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The winner of the 2021 Festival of Trees is the Mountain Lake Christian School with their colorfully decorated tree featuring handmade Christmas ornaments made with paper, paint and Play-doh by students from Pre-K and Kindergarten. Coming in second is the Windom Cotton Quilters with ornaments handmade by their members and titled “Gingerbread Dreams”. The third place winner went to the First United Methodist Church whose tree was decorated with handmade wooden crosses as ornaments and was entitled “The Gift of Giving”. Thank you to all who designed trees this year! It was a great year with 13 trees in all. Thank you also to those who visited and voted for their favorite tree. The top three winners were given Windom Chamber Bucks. The remaining proceeds benefit the Cottonwood County Historical Society.
The museum is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and is located at 812 Fourth Avenue in Windom. For additional information, please call 831-1134.