Local News Headlines – Tuesday, May 25

THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 8:30 THIS MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON.   A COUNTY EMPLOYEE WILL BE RECOGNIZED ON THEIR RETIREMENT.  THE BOARD MAY SET A DATE FOR THE SALE OF $4.7-MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION DRAINAGE BONDS.  A BID OPENING WILL BE HELD FOR A ROAD STRIPING PROJECT.  THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT A GRANT AGREEMENT INVOLVING FUNDING FOR AN UPCOMING PROJECT.  THE BOARD WILL HEAR THE ANNUAL REPORT FROM “ACE” OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE FROM THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE.  THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS SOME CHANGES INVOLVING PUBLIC ACCESS FOR THE COUNTY LICENSE CENTER. 

 

THE “DINNER TABLE” WILL BE SERVING A MEAL IN WINDOM TODAY.    THIS WILL BE A FREE DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL.  IT WILL BE SERVED FROM 5:30 TO 6:30 THIS EVENING IN THE ALLEY BEHIND THE 1ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN WINDOM, AT 336- 11TH STREET.  PEOPLE ARE INVITED TO DRIVE THROUGH AND RECEIVE A FREE CROISSANT BOXED MEAL FROM HY VEE.  THE DINNER TABLE IS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY LOCAL CHURCHES AND AREA ORGANIZATIONS.  MEALS ARE PROVIDED ON THE 4TH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH.  ORGANIZERS HOPE TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO SERVING INDOOR MEALS AFTER COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE 1ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN WINDOM AT 831-3284.  

 

AN AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE WAS HELD LAST WEEK AT THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER.  ACCORDING TO THE WINDOM WOMEN OF TODAY, 78 DONORS WERE SCREENED.  THERE WERE 8 DEFERRALS AND 1 INCOMPLETE DONATION.  10 DONORS GAVE A DOUBLE DONATION OF RED BLOOD CELLS.  THE FINAL TOTAL HAD 79 UNITS OF BLOOD COLLECTED – THREE MORE THAN THE GOAL FOR THE DAY.  AMONG PERSONAL MILESTONE, JOANNE KAISER REACHED THE 9-GALLON MARK FOR LIFETIME BLOOD DONATIONS.  THERE WERE NINE FIRST-TIME BLOOD DONORS.  A DRAWING WAS HELD FOR DOOR PRIZES; SHARON JENNIGES AND STEVE NICHOLS EACH WON A $25 HY VEE GIFT CARD.   THE NEXT AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE IN WINDOM WILL BE ON JULY 28TH.   

 

THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD MET LAST WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH GREATER MINNESOTA FAMILY SERVICES.  RESIGNATIONS WERE ACCEPTED FROM ART TEACHER TINA RICHARDS AND MATH TEACHER CHRISTY HEMP.  RACHEL ULSTAD WAS HIRED AS A NEW KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.  THE BOARD APPROVED A PLAN TO USE FEDERAL FUNDING TO PURCHASE A NEW SCHOOL BUS.  A MOTION WAS ADOPTED TO PLACE THE SUPPORT STAFF ON A LEAVE OF ABSENCE, STARTING JUNE 2ND.  DURING ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS, THE SUPERINTENDENT HAD UPDATES ON TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND STAFFING FOR NEXT YEAR.  

 

THE CITY OF WINDOM IS REMINDING CITY RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO KEEP THEIR LAWNS MOWED.  AT A RECENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE STREET SUPERINTENDENT REPORTED THAT HE HAD COUNTED OVER 100 LAWNS THAT NEEDED TO BE MOWED UNDER THE CITY’S LAWN AND WEED ORDINANCE.   THE ORDINANCE STATES THAT WEEDS AND GRASS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GROW TALLER THAN 6 INCHES.  IF A PROPERTY OWNER DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE, THE CITY WILL SEND A PUBLIC NOTICE.  IF THE LAWN IS STILL NOT MOWED, THE CITY MAY HIRE SOMEONE TO DO THE WORK AND SEND A BILL TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.  LAWN CARE BILLS THAT ARE NOT PAID MAY BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE OWNERS’ PROPERTY TAXES.