A court hearing has been scheduled in the case of a Windom man accused of murdering his mother this past summer. An omnibus hearing for 38-year-old Jamie Voelker is set for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25th in Cottonwood County District Court. Voelker is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, one with intent and one without intent while committing a felony, in the July shooting death of his mother, 70-year-old Kathryn Voelker. According to recent court filings, Voelker was found competent to stand trial, which allowed the court to move forward with the November hearing. The omnibus hearing will address evidence, motions, and scheduling for the case. No trial date has been announced. Voelker remains in custody at the Cottonwood County Jail.
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Windom Ambulance Director Kristen Porath spoke to the Windom City Council this week, sharing updates on new equipment and the department’s busy call volume. Porath said the ambulance service continues to use funding from an EMS grant awarded at the end of 2024 that money has helped purchase new radios now in use across the fleet. Remaining funds will go toward additional equipment. Looking ahead to 2026, Porath said the department plans to replace two cots from 2007 and 2008, along with defibrillators that are more than a decade old. Councilmember Scott Benson asked whether the old defibrillators could be placed around the city for public use. Porath explained that the units are too advanced and bulky for that purpose, since they’re designed for medical crews and perform multiple monitoring functions. Mayor Hilary Mathis noted that ambulance calls are already 110 ahead of last year’s total, with more than two months still left in the year. She thanked Porath and the ambulance team for their hard work and dedication to the community.
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The Windom Area Health Governing Board of Directors will meet TONIGHT at 5:30pm in the large conference room at Windom Area Health. Board members will listen to an educational update from Respiratory Therapy Director Rhonda Wahl. They’ll also review medical staff credentials, committee activities, and personnel changes. The board will look at recent resignations, new hires, and financial and statistical reports, along with patient safety updates, concern reports, and survey comments. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Blue will provide an organizational update, and the Senior Management Team will share executive summaries and committee reports. The agenda also includes updates from the City of Windom, the Sanford Health Network, the Windom Area Health Foundation, and the Auxiliary.
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The Windom Area School Board will hold a work session TONIGHT at 6:30pm in the Windom City Council Chambers. The meeting will also stream live on YouTube at Media SB22. Board members will consider approval of several school policies and vote on adding a new 6.5-hour paraprofessional position at the elementary school. The board will also approve the annual FFA fruit and product fundraiser, running through November 7th to raise money for contest fees, FFA jackets, and convention expenses. Other items include approval of updated coaching assignments and a resolution allowing Windom Area Schools to apply for a Minnesota State High School League grant to help cover activity fees for student athletes. Finance Director Holly Anderson will present the first budget-to-actual report for fiscal year 2026 and recommend renewing the district’s property, vehicle, and cybersecurity insurance coverage with Marsh and McLennan Agency.
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The Windom City Council will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday October 28th at 5:30pm at the Windom Community Center to review and discuss the Proposed Budget and Capital Improvement Projects. Meeting is open to the public but no public comment will be heard.
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The Windom Planning Commission will meet Tuesday, 7pm at City Hall in the Council Chambers. On the agenda is a public hearing for a variance request from DVK Diversified for a property in the Shoreland District at 7 Cottonwood Lake Boulevard. Commissioners will also review a variance request for a fence on a corner lot at 1605 Sixth Avenue. Then on Wednesday October 29th The Planning Commission will hold a Special Meeting. An onsite meeting will start at 5:30pm at 7 Cottonwood Lake Boulevard to view the site location for a variance application for elevation of lowest level structure. The meeting will then be recessed and reconvene at City Hall in Council Chambers for review discussion and recommendations. At 7pm the Planning Commission will open a public meeting on a conditional Use Permit Application at Impound Lot at 1271 Hale Place.
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