Local News Headlines – Wednesday, March 17th

THE WINDOM E-D-A MET LAST WEEK.   NEW BOARD MEMBER NANCY WEPPLO TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS WAS HELD.  THE E-D-A APPROVED THE CREATION OF A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE LOAN PROGRAM.   THEY APPROVED A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR A PARCEL OF PROPERTY THAT WILL BE SOLD TO THE NEW OWNERS OF THE GUARDIAN INN SITE.  THE E-D-A REVIEWED THE VARIOUS TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY.  THE BOARD REVIEWED A CONTRACT FOR DEED WITH SCOTT VEENKER FOR THE PURCHASE OF 40 ACRES OF PROPERTY.  THE E-D-A APPROVED A REQUEST FOR FUNDING THROUGH ITS FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR A NEW STORE IN DOWNTOWN WINDOM. 

 

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.   THE MAYOR WILL CONSULT WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO ANSWER A QUESTION ON THE LAWS REGULATING THE USE OF MOTORIZED TOYS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.  THE CITY CLERK REPORTED THAT THE AUDITORS WERE AT CITY HALL ON MARCH 4TH TO COLLECT INFORMATION FOR THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT.  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT A 1985 TRUCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.  THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE.  THE FINANCIAL REPORT WAS PRESENTED.  REGULAR BILLS WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT.  

 

THE WINDOM CITY PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETS AT 5:30 THIS AFTERNOON AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE DOG PARK.  THE WINDOM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DIRECTOR WILL BE DISCUSSING SOME PLANS FOR SUMMER PROJECTS.  THE WINDOM LION’S CLUB WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION ON ITS PLANS FOR COTTONWOOD LAKE PARK.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE FROM THE RIVERFEST COMMITTEE.  THE RECREATION DIRECTOR WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE END OF THE ICE SEASON.  THE PARK SUPERINTENDENT WILL DISCUSS A TIMETABLE FOR POTENTIAL SUMMER PROJECTS.  THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER ADVERTISING FOR SUMMER HELP.   

 

THE WINDOM POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ALERTING PEOPLE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF COUNTERFEIT MONEY BEING PASSED IN THE AREA.  SEVERAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS OF COUNTERFEIT $20 BILLS BEING FOUND IN THE AREA.  LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOW THEY CAN DETECT A COUNTERFEIT BILL.  MANY BUSINESSES USE U-V DETECTION LAMPS OR COLORED PENS TO HELP DETECT COUNTERFEIT BILLS.  GENUINE BILLS HAVE SEVERAL SECURITY FEATURES THAT WILL NOT BE FOUND IN A COUNTERFEIT BILL, INCLUDING COLOR-SHIFTING INK, WATERMARKS, RAISED PRINTING, A SECURITY THREAD, AND RED OR BLUE THREADS WOVEN INTO THE PAPER.  A COUNTERFEIT BILL WILL OFTEN HAVE BLURRY BORDERS, PRINT OR TEXT.  IF YOU THINK A BILL MIGHT BE COUNTERFEIT, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. 

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED A NEW MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTHWEST-WEST CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE.  THE BOARD REVIEWED A LIST OF POTENTIAL SUMMER BUILDING AND REPAIR PROJECTS.  THE BOARD APPROVED A LIST OF COACHING ASSIGNMENTS AND ADVISORS FOR EXTRA-CIRRICULAR ACTIVITIES.  OPENINGS WILL BE POSTED FOR PART-TIME SUMMER EMPLOYEES.  A PRELIMINARY 2022 BUDGET WAS APPROVED FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEGRATION PROGRAM.  IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, THE BOARD ACCEPTED RESIGNATIONS FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER LAURA HARDER AND PARA-PROFESSIONAL EMILY EMMONS.  

 

MARIA SCHNEIDER RECEIVED TWO GRAMMY AWARDS ON SUNDAY.   SCHNEIDER – A WINDOM HIGH SCHOOL GRAUDATE – IS A WORLD-RENOWED JAZZ COMPOSER AND ORCHESTRA LEADER.   AT THIS YEAR’S GRAMMY AWARDS, SCHNEIDER WON IN THE CATEGORIES OF BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION FOR THE SONG “Sputnik,” AND BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM FOR “Data Lords,” HER MOST RECENT ALBUM WITH THE MARIA SCHNEIDER JAZZ ORCHESTRA.  THE AWARDS WERE PRESENTED REMOTELY; SCHNEIDER ACCEPTED THE AWARDS FROM HER HOME NEAR NEW YORK CITY.  MARIA SCHNEIDER HAS NOW WON SEVEN GRAMMY AWARDS. THAT TIES HER WITH BOB DYLAN AND PRINCE FOR THE MOST GRAMMYS WON BY A MUSICIAN BORN IN MINNESOTA.