Local News Headlines – Wednesday, December 23rd

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.  THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY WAS CERTIFIED WITH AN INCREASE OF 3%.  THE FINAL 2021 COUNTY BUDGET WAS ADOPTED.  THE BOARD VOTED TO DENY A PETITION THAT WAS SEEKING AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR A PROPOSED GRAVEL QUARRY IN AMBOY TOWNSHIP.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE SALE OF JUST OVER $1.3-MILLION IN BONDS FOR THE RED ROCK RURAL WATER SYSTEM.  A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED.  A RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED FROM THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.  2021 SALARIES WERE SET FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS.   

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HAS APPROVED A “RETURN TO SCHOOL” PLAN TO BRING STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES.  STUDENTS IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 9TH GRADE WILL RETURN TO IN-PERSON CLASSES ON MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH.  STUDENTS IN THE 10TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES WILL REMAIN ON DISTANCE LEARNING FOR ANOTHER WEEK; THOSE STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO IN-PERSON CLASSES ON MONDAY, JANUARY 11TH.  AT MONDAY’S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, IT WAS NOTED THAT WINDOM CURRENTLY HAS 18 STAFF MEMBERS ON QUARANTINE, BUT ALL OF THE STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD BE OFF QUARANTINE BY THE START OF JANUARY.   

 

THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR NOVEMBER SHOWED A NET LOSS OF JUST OVER $157-THOUSAND.   THROUGH SEVEN MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WINDOM AREA HEALTH IS NOW SHOWING A NET GAIN OF JUST OVER $1.3-MILLION.   THERE WAS A REPORT ON PLANS FOR COVID-19 VACCINATIONS.  WINDOM AREA HEALTH RECEIVED AN INITIAL ALLOTMENT OF 150 DOSES OF THE PFIZER VACCINE.  PRIORITIES WERE SET IN CONSULATION WITH PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.  THE INITIAL VACCINATIONS WILL GO TO FRONT-LINE HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS AT THE HOSPITAL AND CLINICS.  OTHER VACCINATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED TO E-M-S PERSONNEL, DENTISTS AND PHARMACISTS.   

 

A GROUP OF NATIVE AMERICANS ON HORSEBACK WENT THROUGH SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA THIS WEEK AS PART OF THE “DAKOTA EXILE” RIDE.  THE RIDE BEGAN ON DECEMBER 14TH AND COVERS A 275-MILE ROUTE, ENDING IN MANKATO ON DECEMBER 26TH.  THE ROUTE TOOK THE RIDERS THROUGH WORTHINGTON, BREWSTER AND WILDER.  MANY OF THE RIDERS STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT IN WORTHINGTON.  THE DAKOTA EXILE RIDE IS HELD IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS WHO WERE EXECUTED IN MANKATO ON DECEMBER 26TH, 1862 FOLLOWING THE 1862 DAKOTA INDIAN UPRISING.   

 

THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE WINDOM HOLIDAY LIGHTING CONTEST.   THE CONTEST WAS SPONSORED BY THE WINDOM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.  THERE WERE TWO CATEGORIES – RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND BUSINESSES.  IN THE RESIDENTIAL CATEGORY, 1ST PLACE WENT TO THE HOME OF JENNY QUADE.  2ND PLACE WENT TO WAYNE WORMSTADT.  3RD PLACE WAS A TIE BETWEEN THE HOMES OF BRENT MATTSON AND JIM GARRISON.   IN THE BUSINESS CATEGORY, 1ST PLACE WENT TO THE RIVER CITY EATERY.  2ND PLACE WENT TO STATE FARM INSURANCE.  THERE WAS A DRAWING FOR FIVE PEOPLE WHO WON $20 IN CHAMBER BUCKS.