The Windom Police Department reported 89 calls in the week of August 17th to August 23rd. Officers responded to 4 Animal Calls, 3 Concerns for Welfare, made 2 Motorist Assist. conducted 2 Predatory Offender Checks, looked into 2 Suspicious Activities, investigated 2 Theft calls and conducted 40 Traffic Stops. For a full listing of all calls in the Windom Police Department’s Weekly Citizens Report, is available by clicking link below.
Windom Police Weekly CItizen Report
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According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 61-year-old from Lake Havasu City AZ was driving a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport westbound on Interstate 90 when the vehicle left the roadway and crashed. The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. Saturday near mile marker 10 in Luverne Township. The driver was taken to Sanford Luverne Hospital with what was thought to be non-life-threatening injuries. The State Patrol says he was wearing a seatbelt and alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Assisting at the scene was Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Rock County Fire Department, and Sanford Luverne EMS.
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Last week, Windom firefighters were called out for a natural gas leak on Lakeview Avenue. Fire Chief Ben Derickson says the call came in just before nine o’clock on the 19th from someone walking by who smelled gas. Fire crews checked the area and found the leak coming out of the ground at 961 Lakeview Avenue. Minnesota Energy was contacted to repair the line, and the fire department cleared the scene about an hour and a half later. Gas leaks can happen for a variety of reasons: storm damage, digging into underground lines, aging infrastructure, or even faulty appliances. Chief Derickson says the public should always be alert and if you are out and about and you smell natural gas, to please call it in to dispatch so they can check it out. Chief Derickson went onto say, “As far as proactive measures, have your furnace and appliances checked annually to keep everything running at peak performance.” While gas leaks aren’t uncommon, Derickson says Windom averages just three to five calls a year. The last one involved a tree blowing down on Redding Avenue, pulling a line out of the ground. Natural gas itself is odorless, but utility companies add a chemical that gives it a strong sulfur or rotten-egg smell. If you catch a whiff of something like this, take it as a warning sign and as Fire Chief Derickson stated, when in doubt, don’t take chances, report it.
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Windom Area Schools have several important dates coming up as students head back this fall. Parent-teacher conferences for Windom Area Elementary will be held September 2nd and 3rd. Those dates also mark the first days of classes for Windom Middle High School students. Elementary classes officially begin September 4th. Looking ahead, MEA break is set for October 16th and 17th. MEA stands for Minnesota Education Association. The two-day break allows teachers across the state to attend professional development workshops, while students enjoy some extra time off. The full 2025–26 school calendar is available on the District’s website. Windom Area Schools are also offering free Adult Basic Education classes this year. The program helps participants prepare for a GED test, study English as a second language, improve literacy and basic skills, or get ready for the U.S. Citizenship test. Orientation sessions are taking place this week, and classes begin September 2nd. Sessions will be held Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. in Room 171 of the Elementary School building. For more information, contact Kristi at 507-830-1207.
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Planning for the 2026 Riverfest celebration in Windom will soon get underway. A community meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 15th at 5 p.m. at Jack Slade’s Steakhouse. The session will focus on brainstorming activities, organizing tasks, and laying the groundwork for next year’s event. All volunteers are welcome to attend. Riverfest, like many community celebrations, takes a great deal of time, effort, and volunteer power to make possible. This year’s festival faced some controversy and ended about $7,000 in the red. Organizers say it’s important that those with strong opinions about the event step up and get involved in the planning process. Instead of just being critics, community members are encouraged to become involved and help shape the celebration into a fun, entertaining and well organized and supported event for everyone!