THE 2021 REDWOOD COUNTY FAIR IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK. WEDNESDAY IS AN OPEN-CLASS ENTRY DAY. THE MIDWAY OPENS ON THURSDAY. FRIDAY WILL BE KID’S DAY ON THE MIDWAY. SATURDAY EVENTS WILL INCLUDE THE 4-H AUCTION AND A CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM. ON SUNDAY, THERE WILL BE A PANCAKE BREAKFAST, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND A SILENT AUCTION. GRANDSTAND ENTERTAINMENT WILL INCLUDE THE BAND ‘4 PLAY’ ON THURSDAY, COUNTY MUSIC STAR CLAY WALKER ON FRIDAY, THE DEMO DERBY ON SATURDAY, AND STOCK-CAR RACING ON SUNDAY. DAILY ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE THE KENT FAMILY CIRCUS, FOOD VENDORS AND DUCK RACES.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK. THE BOARD APPROVED NEW 2-YEAR CONTRACTS WITH THE DISTRICT PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS. THE CONTRACTS CALL FOR AN INCREASE IN TOTAL COMPENSATION OF 3.1% IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 3.3% IN THE 2ND YEAR. CONTRACTS WERE RENEWED WITH THE DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF, SUPERVISORS AND NON-UNION STAFF MEMBERS. FOR OFFICE STAFF AND SUPERVISORS, THE CONTRACTS CALL FOR TOTAL INCREASES OF 2.8% IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 3.7% IN THE SECOND YEAR. FOR NON-UNION STAFF, CONTRACTS CALL FOR TOTAL INCREASES OF 2.4% IN THE 1ST YEAR AND 3.3% IN THE 2ND YEAR. PAY RATES WERE SET FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.
THE WINDOM E-D-A MET THIS WEEK. NEW MEMBER RYAN McNAMARA TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE. HE WAS ELECTED AS THE E-D-A VICE-PRESIDENT. THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON A POSSIBLE CHILD-CARE PROJECT. THE E-D-A IS WORKING WITH A PRIVATE CHILD-CARE PROVIDER ON A PROPOSAL TO CONVERT THE WEST WING OF THE ‘BARC’ BUILDING INTO A NEW CHILD-CARE CENTER. A REPORT WAS PRESENTED ON A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR A NEW REVOLVING LOAN FUND IN WINDOM. THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE E-D-A SPEC BUILDING. THE E-D-A IS WORKING WITH A NEW DEVELOPER ON THE POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW APARTMENT BUILDING ON NORTH REDDING AVENUE. INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED ON ANOTHER POSSIBLE OPTION FOR CREATING NEW HOUSING.
MT LAKE IS HOLDING “CRAZY DAYS” THIS WEEK. PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES WILL HAVE BARGAINS AND SPECIAL OFFERS ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE THEME IS “LIVE LOCAL – SHOP LOCAL.” THERE WILL BE DAILY SPECIALS. SOME BUSINESSES WILL BE SERVING FOOD OR TREATS, INCLUDING BRATS, HOT DOGS, SUNDAES AND ICE-CREAM CONES. CUSTOMERS MAY REGISTER AT PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES FOR A PRIZE DRAWING. WINNERS WILL RECEIVE CHAMBER BUCKS. THREE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE GIFT BASKETS FILLED WITH ITEMS PROVIDED BY THE BUSINESSES.
THE SONS OF NORWAY STAVANGER LODGE WILL MEET AT 7:00 THURSDAY EVENING AT THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN WINDOM. A PROGRAM WILL BE PRESENTED BY ILENE CLARK TITLED “DOWNSIZE AND DE-CLUTTER.” CLARK OWNS AN ANTIQUE BUSINESS AND HELPS PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING. SHE WILL PRESENT TIPS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO MAY BE THINKING ABOUT DOWN-SIZING OR MOVING OUT OF THEIR CURRENT HOME. CLARK SAID PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY REALLY NEED, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE MOVING INTO A SMALLER SPACE LIKE AN APARTMENT OR A SENIOR LIVING RESIDENCE. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND. LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.