Local News Headlines – Thursday, April 20

THE WINDOM CITY PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MET LAST WEEK.  THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED A PROPOSAL TO CREATE A VETERANS’ MEMORIAL IN LOMEN PARK.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON ISSUES WITH SCHEDULING THE USE OF BALL FIELDS AT THE RECREATIONAL AREA.  THERE WERE UPDATES ON REPAIR PROJECTS TAKING PLACE AT THE CITY ARENA AND THE SWIMMING POOL.  THE FIRST HORSE SHOW AT THE ARENA IS SCHEDULED FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.  THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED THE CONDITION OF THE KASTLE KINGDOM PLAYGROUND.  A REPORT WAS PROVIDED ON PARKS MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.  FURTHER DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON OPTIONS FOR REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE ISLAND PARK SHELTER HOUSE.   

 

THE LOCAL SONS OF NORWAY STAVANGER LODGE WILL HOLD A MEETING AT 7:00 THURSDAY EVENING AT THE COUNCIL HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN WINDOM.   THE PROGRAM WILL BE PRESENTED BY LAWRENCE MOE, A PROFESSOR AT METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN ST. PAUL.  MOE WILL DISCUSS THE LIFE AND WORK OF “COLORADO PETE.”  COLORADO PETE WAS THE PEN NAME OF ARTHUR PETERSON, A MINNESOTA NATIVE AND WORLD WAR ONE VETERAN.  PETERSON WROTE POETRY THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.  PROFESSOR MOE HAS WRITTEN A NEW BOOK, “THE POETRY OF COLORADO PETE.”  REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.  THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND.  GUESTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.    THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A NEW AMBULANCE UNIT.  THE LOW BID CAME IN AT JUST OVER $156-THOUSAND.  AN AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED FOR THE FUTURE PURCHASE OF WIND-GENERATED ENERGY.  AGREEMENTS WERE APPROVED ALLOWING ELECTRICAL LINES TO BE RUN UNDERNEATH RAILROAD TRACKS.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN AMENDED AGREEMENT WITH D-G-R ENGINEERING TO WORK ON A NEW CITY STREET OFF EAST HIGHWAY 60.  THE E-D-A WAS AUTHORIZED TO APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE SMALL CITIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.  GRANT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REHAB PROJECTS ON HOMES ON THE EAST HILL.  THE COUNCIL ACCEPTED A STATE REDEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR THE CEMSTONE AREA. 

 

THE CITY OF WINDOM IS HAVING A “SUMMER KICKOFF” EVENT.    WEATHER PERMITTING, IT WILL BE HELD AT ISLAND PARK THIS FRIDAY FROM 5:00 TO 7:00PM.  THIS IS A COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE WINDOM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WINDOM COMMUNITY EDUCATION, THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.  INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ABOUT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE THIS SUMMER, INCLUDING SUMMER REC PROGRAMS, SWIMMING LESSIONS, CAMPS, CLINICS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE KAYAK RENTAL PROGRAM AT COTTONWOOD LAKE.  FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE.  THE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM WILL BE PLAYING A HOME GAME.   

 

HERE’S AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.   AS OF LAST SATURDAY, FOR ALL MINNESOTA RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER, 53.1% ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, 52% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN JACKSON COUNTY, 44% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN NOBLES COUNTY, 54% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN REDWOOD COUNTY, 46% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN WATONWAN COUNTY, 50% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN MURRAY COUNTY, 48% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  OVER 4.8-MILLION DOSES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED IN MINNESOTA.  

 

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL MET LAST WEEK.   THE JEFFERS LIONS CLUB DISCUSSED IDEAS FOR REPLACING THE ‘WELCOME TO JEFFERS’ SIGN, AND AGREED TO MAKE A DONATION TOWARD THE COST OF THE PROJECT.  THE COUNCIL AGREED TO LOOK INTO OPTIONS FOR A NEW SIGN.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE A PROJECT TO HAVE A NUMBER OF FILES TRANSFERRED TO USE WITH NEW COMPUTER SOFTWARE.  THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT REPORTED ON THE ESTIMATED COST OF RESURFACING THE TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS IN THE CITY PARK.  THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT ALSO DISCUSSED THE COST OF A CAMERA SYSTEM FOR TELEVISING WATER AND SEWER LINES.