Local News Headlines – Friday, August 13

HERE’S AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINATION IN SW MINNESOTA.  AS OF LAST SUNDAY, THE STATE-WIDE TOTALS FOR PEOPLE 12-AND-OLDER SHOWED THAT 64.3% OF MN RESIDENTS WERE FULLY VACCINATED.   LOCALLY, IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, 56% OF RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.   THE VACCINATION RATES IN OTHER AREA COUNTIES FOR RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER INCLUDE:  NOBLES COUNTY 57.7%; WATONWAN COUNTY 55.8%; MURRAY COUNTY 54.9%; JACKSON COUNTY 51.9%; AND REDWOOD COUNTY, 51% OF RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  VACCINATION RATES INCREASE AMONG OTHER RESIDENTS.  37% OF CHILDREN FROM 12-TO-15 YEARS OLD ARE FULLY VACCINATED, WHILE 89% OF PEOPLE 65-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.   A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED.  COURTNEY DIETER WAS HIRED AS A 5TH-GRADE TEACHER.  SHAWNA ROGOTZKE WAS HIRED AS A 4TH-GRADE TEACHER.  AN AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED WITH CINDY WALEN TO SERVE AS THE DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL COACH.  THE BOARD HEARD ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.  THE SUPERINTENDENT DISCUSSED SOME ISSUES WITH TRANSPORTATION FOR PRE-SCHOOL STUDENTS.  THE COMMUNITY TRANSIT BUS PROGRAM DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR PRE-SCHOOL OR HEAD-START STUDENTS; THE DISTRICT WILL EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS.  THE BOARD REVIEWED A PROPOSED ‘RETURN TO SCHOOL’ PLAN FOR THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, WITH CONTINGENCIES FOR DEALING WITH COVID-19 ISSUES. 

 

THE 2021 COTTONWOOD COUNTY FAIR IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK.   TODAY’S JUDGING EVENTS WILL INCLUDE THE 4-H AND F-F-A SWINE SHOWS; THE 4-H, F-F-A AND OPEN-CLASS DAIRY SHOWS; THE 4-H RABBIT SHOW; AND THE 4-H AND OPEN CLASS POULTRY SHOWS.  THE MINNESOTA EXTREME BULL RIDING SHOW WILL BE HELD IN THE ARENA AT 7:00 TONIGHT, INCLUDING MUTTON BUSTING.  OTHER ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE “HILLBILLY BOB” WITH HIS 1929 MODEL ‘A’ FORD; A CARICATURE ARTIST; LASER TAG IN THE SOUTH COMMERCIAL BUILDING; INFLATABLES BY “GAMES GALORE” FROM NOON UNTIL 9:00PM.   THE 4-H FOOD STAND IS SERVING THREE MEALS A DAY AND SHORT ORDERS.  THERE ARE OTHER FOOD BOOTHS ON THE GROUNDS.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WAS HELD LAST WEEK.   A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON THE PROPOSED 5-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.  THE LINCOLN-PIPESTONE RURAL WATER SYSTEM GAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE 2020 FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT.  THE BOARD REVIEWED AN APPLICATION TO AMEND A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.  E-W WIND HOLDINGS WAS SEEKING APPROVAL TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF ITS WIND TURBINES FROM 407-FEET TO 452-FEET.  NEXT ERA ENERGY GAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE ‘THREE WATERS’ WIND PROJECT.  THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD SPENT A PORTION OF THE MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER OFFERS FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE.   

 

THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.   IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, THE CENTER CURRENTLY HAS AN OPENING FOR AN OFFICE ASSISTANT AND RECEPTIONIST; APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED.  THE BOARD ALSO DISCUSSED A PROPOSAL TO HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO COULD SERVE AS A SUPERVISOR OR FILL-IN PERSON ON WEEKENDS WHEN MAJOR EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON SOME BUILDING PROJECTS.  RECENT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED TO THE ROOF AND PARKING LOT, AND A NEW AIR-HANDLING UNIT WAS INSTALLED.  A LIST OF SCHEDULED EVENTS WAS PRESENTED.  THERE ARE EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR EVERY WEEKEND FROM NOW THROUGH CHRISTMAS.  THE FINANCIAL REPORT SHOWED THAT REVENUES ARE ABOVE BUDGET.