Local News Headlines – Thursday, October 28

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.  RESOLUTIONS WERE ADOPTED FOR TWO BOND SALES.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE SALE OF JUST OVER $7.3-MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION DRAINAGE BONDS AND APPROVED THE SALE OF JUST OVER $6-MILLION IN REFUNDING DRAINAGE BONDS.  THE BOARD HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM NEXT ERA ENERGY RESOURCES ON A POSSIBLE DRAIN-TILE PROJECT AT THE THREE WATERS WIND FARM.  THE BOARD APPROVED A CHANGE IN THE COUNTY POLICY INVOLVING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS.  A SNOW-REMOVAL AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED FOR THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.   

 

THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOLDING ANOTHER VOTE ON A BUILDING REFERENDUM.  THE MEASURE WOULD AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO ISSUE UP TO $41-MILLION IN BONDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING IN LAMBERTON.  THE NEW SCHOOL WOULD INCLUDE FACILITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SENIOR HIGH.  THE PROPOSAL RECEIVED A POSITIVE ‘REVIEW AND COMMENT’ FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.  THAT MEANS THE MEASURE NEEDS A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF 50% OR MORE IN ORDER TO PASS.  AMONG CHANGES TO THE PROPOSAL, THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING WAS REDUCED BY ABOUT 10-THOUSAND SQUARE FEET AND THE COST WAS REDUCED BY ROUGHLY $3-MILLION.   

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE A NEW STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ROBOTICS HONOR SOCIETY.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE DISTRICT BUDGET.  THE BOARD HEARD A REPORT ON COVID-19 CASES.  TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN 26 POSITIVE CASES AMONG STUDENTS, WITH ONE CASE CURRENTLY ACTIVE, AND 3 CASES AMONG STAFF MEMBERS WITH ONE CASE CURRENTLY ACTIVE.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED IDEAS TO PROMOTE RECRUITMENT OF NEW TEACHERS AND THE RETENTION OF THE CURRENT TEACHING STAFF.  THERE IS A NEW STATE GRANT PROGRAM THAT OFFERS HIRING BONUSES TO TEACHERS WHO ARE NATIVE AMERICAN OR PERSONS OF COLOR AND AGREE TO MOVE FROM ANOTHER STATE OR ANOTHER COUNTRY TO TEACH IN MINNESOTA.  

 

THE ANNUAL GUN AND KNIFE SHOW WILL BE HELD IN WINDOM THIS WEEKEND AT THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER.  HOURS ARE FROM 9:00 TO 5:00 ON SATURDAY AND 9:00 TO 2:00 ON SUNDAY.  ADMISSION IS $6 FOR A ONE-DAY PASS OR $10 FOR A TWO-DAY PASS.  CHILDREN UNDER 12 WILL BE ADMITTED FOR FREE, BUT ALL CHILDREN UNDER 18 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT.  THE SHOW WILL FEATURE A NUMBER OF DEALERS.  OVER 110 BOOTHS HAVE BEEN RESERVED – AT LEAST 20 MORE THAN LAST YEAR.  THE DEALERS WILL BE FEATURING A VARIETY OF HANDGUNS, RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS.  OTHER VENDORS WILL BE FEATURING KNIVES, OUTDOOR GEAR, AMMUNITION, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING, AND INFORMATION ON VARIOUS OUTDOOR AND HUNTING ORGANIZATIONS. 

 

THIS SUNDAY IS HALLOWEEN.  SEVERAL AREA CITIES HAVE ESTABLISHED OFFICIAL TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS.  IN WINDOM, OFFICIAL TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS ARE FROM 4:00 UNTIL 8:00PM.  IN STORDEN, TRICK-OR-TREATING SHOULD TAKE PLACE FROM 3:00 UNTIL 6:00PM.  IN MT LAKE AND JEFFERS, TRICK-OR-TREATING HOURS ARE FROM 4:00 UNTIL 7:00PM.  WESTBROOK WILL HAVE TRICK-OR-TREATING FROM 4:00 UNTIL 8:00PM.  THE WESTBROOK AREA VOLUNTEERS ARE HOLDING A FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL AT THE WESTBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 2:00 UNTIL 4:00PM.  THE WESTBROOK WOMEN’S CLUB WILL BE HOLDING A HALLOWEEN PARADE AT 4:30 AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.