Local News Headlines – Wednesday, December 9th

THE PRAIRIE ARTS CONTINUUM HAS RECEIVED A GRANT TO HELP SUPPORT AN UPCOMING PRODUCTION.   THE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA ARTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCED THAT ‘PAC’ WILL RECEIVE A GRANT OF $7-THOUSAND TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF “SHREK, THE MUSICAL.”  THE PRAIRIE ARTS CONTINUUM IS A LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO PROMOTE THE ARTS IN THE AREA.   “SHREK, THE MUSICAL” IS BASED ON THE POPULAR ANIMATED MOVIES ABOUT A GIANT GREEN OGRE AND HIS FRIENDS.  THE SHOW WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE PRESENTED IN MARCH, BUT IT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.  THE SHOW IS NOW TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO BE PERFORMED IN APRIL OF 2021 AT THE ‘BARC’ AUDITORIUM.  

 

AN INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO THE CAUSE OF THE AIRPLANE CRASH THAT KILLED SCOTT FREDIN OF WINDOM.   FREDIN DIED WHEN HIS SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE CRASHED NORTH OF THE WINDOM AIRPORT SUNDAY MORNING.  THE INVESTIGATION IS BEING LED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD.  IN A STATEMENT, THE BOARD INDICATED THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE GATHERING PRELIMINARY INFORMATION.  THEY EXPECT TO ISSUE A PRELIMINARY REPORT WITHIN TWO WEEKS.  THAT REPORT WILL BE POSTED ON THE SAFETY BOARD WEBSITE AT www.ntsb.gov.  BUT, THAT REPORT WILL NOT MAKE A DETERMINATION ON THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE CRASH.  THAT FINDING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE END OF THE INVESTIGATION, WHICH COULD TAKE ONE TO TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.   

 

THE MT LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD HELD A SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY.   THE BOARD HEARD UPDATES ON THE COVID-19 VIRUS AND THE DISTRICT’S LEARNING MODEL.  AT THIS TIME, MT LAKE HAS STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE 8TH GRADE ATTENDING SCHOOL IN PERSON, BUT STUDENTS IN THE 9TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES ARE ON DISTANCE LEARNING.  THE DISTRICT WILL DECIDE THIS WEEK WHETHER THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING ON MONDAY.  AT THE MEETING, IT WAS NOTED THAT 83 STUDENTS WERE ON QUARANTINE ON NOVEMBER 27TH.  BY DECEMBER 4TH, THAT NUMBER WAS DOWN TO 42 STUDENTS ON QUARANTINE.   

 

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED TWO CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, INCLUDING A PERMIT FOR A CAR DEALERSHIP IN SECTION 1 OF AMBOY TOWNSHIP.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED A PROPOSED QUARRY PROJECT IN AMBOY TOWNSHIP.  THE BOARD DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.   THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO PURCHASE WETLAND BANKING CREDITS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROJECT ON COUNTY HIGHWAY 7.  HOLIDAY HOURS WERE SET FOR COUNTY OFFICES.  THE ANNUAL TRUTH-IN-TAXATION HEARING WAS HELD.  A FINAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY WILL BE CERTIFIED AT THE DECEMBER 15TH BOARD MEETING. 

 

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING IN THE CAFETERIA AT THE JACKSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER EAST BUILDING.  A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON COVID-19.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF A COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR.  THEY WILL CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONSULTING SERVICES.  THE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO CONDUCT THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.