Count Down to Christmas has started!!! ONLY 3 Days till Santa!!!!
————————————————–
As we transition from 2021 to 2022- Next week we will be looking back over a few of the top news stories of 2021 month by month! So stay tuned for a twist of clicking our heels and going back in time to review what we witnessed!
—————————————————
Windom Police Department responded to the 600 block of Redding Ave on Monday, December 20th for a report of suspicious people looking into vehicles. Officers inspected the area and perused the neighborhood but did not find anyone.
———————————————————
Cottonwood County Sheriffs office reported a Semi Accident on December 17th. A white 2013 Mack Truck was traveling northbound on County Road 29 and didn’t realize he was approaching the stop sign. Driver slammed on his brakes and slid through the T intersection. The semi came to rest in a jack-knifed position in the field to the North of the intersection.
——————————————————-
There is absolutely no looking back now. We are only a week and a half away from the closing of one year and moving toward another trip around the sun. According to Lindsey Englar, Wellness Center Coordinator at Windom Area Health, the end of the year almost always has people thinking about improving their lifestyle, whether that is eating better, exercising more or losing weight. The New Year sparks a new beginning and a new way of thinking. BUT studies show although people have good intentions falling off the bandwagon within a few weeks is more common than not. Englar said, “There are a variety of barriers to exercise but some of the most common barriers are time constraints, lack of self-confidence, and financial limitations.” With these barriers in mind, Englar stated that success starts with addressing these barriers early in your planning to develop strategies to successfully overcome them. She went onto say, If you recognize that it isn’t realistic to make it to the gym on certain days, you can try to incorporate more walking into your day, take stairs, park farther away, or use your breaks to take a short walk around the office. Anyone can be healthier if they put their minds to it, and by that it isn’t just trying to talk yourself, Engler stated that starting an exercise plan or going to the gym with a friend, is a great system not only for addressing insecurity but also building accountability. If the gym isn’t your thing Englar encourages people to check out the many resources that help you work out at home like- Apps, videos or streaming for example. Everyone has to start somewhere and it is important that everyone remembers that comparing yourself to others is a major fail factor. Englar summed up getting in a healthy lifestyle this way. “While beginning to make changes can seem overwhelming, just remember that small healthy changes are STILL changes.” Find yourself a mentor there are many options within our community. In Person or Online or with a friend taking that first step in the New Year to a healthier you will have you feeling so much better this time next year!!!
————————————————
The Red Kettle Bell Campaign is coming to an end, tomorrow- Thursday December 23rd in Windom. Please shake your pockets, clean your couches and clean out your car and drop your spare change in the Red Kettles located at Maynards Food Center in Mountain Lake, and in Windom at Schwalbachs Ace Hardware, HyVee, Runnings, Krick Insurance Agency or at the KDOM Radio Stations. If you would like to write a check please make your check payable to the Salvation Army. Every little bit helps and we appreciate everyone that has taken the time to fill our buckets this year.
————————————————–
Tis the Season of giving, and according to Executive Director of Compliance and Foundation/Auxiliary Kim Armstrong this years Giving Tree is no exception! 463 gifts were collected and distributed to 143 children in need in Cottonwood and Jackson Counties this year.
Armstrong stated that Windom Area Health has coordinated the Giving Tree program since 2018. It takes so many different people and organizations to make this project successful. Armstrong said, “We couldn’t do this project without the Auxiliary Volunteers and our community partners which include- Windom Kiwanis Club, City of Windom, Windom Fire Department, Windom EMS, Windom Police, Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Department, Sanford Clinics in Windom and Mountain Lake, Windom Family Medical Clinic and Medina Martial Arts. This year Armstrong said they worked with school counselors at Windom Area, Mountain Lake Public, and Red Rock Central. Each year we have seen an increase in participation, Armstrong said, “When we started in 2018, we helped 59 kids with 158 gifts distributed and in 2019 we helped 71 children with 226 gifts distributed, in 2020 even with the pandemic in full force we reached 126 children distributing 360 gifts and this year distributing 463 gifts we have increased our giving power by 66%. “