According to a press release from Cottonwood County Sheriff Jason Purrington, early afternoon on Friday, emergency responders were called to a garage fire in Westbrook earlier last week. On Monday, January 5th, at approximately 10:23 a.m., Cottonwood County dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from a person who reported an explosion while working in a garage at a residence in Westbrook. The caller stated the garage was on fire and that they had been burned. The Westbrook Fire Department and Westbrook Ambulance Service were dispatched to the scene. When responders arrived, the garage was fully engulfed in flames. Mutual aid was requested from the Storden and Dovray Fire Departments. The victim, identified as 58-year-old Frank Wood of Westbrook, was transported to Sanford Westbrook Medical Center and later transferred to the Hennepin Healthcare Burn Center in Minneapolis. His current condition has not been released. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Agencies assisting at the scene included the Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office, Westbrook Fire Department, Storden Fire Department, Dovray Fire Department, Westbrook Ambulance Service, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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The Windom Police Department has released information on several recent incidents. On January 3rd, at approximately 5:36 p.m., an officer on patrol on Highway 60 observed a vehicle near Hy-Vee with a headlight out. After conducting a traffic stop and investigation, a 33-year-old Windom man was arrested for giving a false name to a peace officer, driving after revocation, and operating a vehicle with expired registration. The individual was also arrested on a Mower County warrant for disorderly conduct. The case remains pending review by the prosecuting attorney’s office. On January 5th, at approximately 6:54 a.m., an officer responded to the Frito-Lay shipping garage in Windom to take a theft report. A woman from Ceylon reported that her work cell phone had been stolen. She stated the phone was last seen in her personal vehicle on January 3rd while parked near the shipping garage in a city lot on Fourth Avenue. The phone was valued between six and eight hundred dollars. The reporting party indicated the theft may have occurred outside of Windom while she was traveling over the weekend. Later that morning, at approximately 10:30 a.m., an officer responded to D and L Mini Storage to take another theft report. A Windom resident reported that items were stolen from his storage unit after discovering the lock was missing. Stolen items included fishing gear, a set of fine china silverware, and a deer mount. The total value of the missing items was estimated at five hundred fifty dollars. All incidents remain under investigation.
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The Windom Economic Development Authority met Monday at noon at Windom City Hall. During the meeting, the EDA welcomed a new commissioner, Heidi Hill officially joined the EDA Board and took the oath of office. The EDA held its annual election of officers for the coming year New officers are: Stacie Sanow- President, Nancy Wepplo- Vice President, and Heidi Hill-Secretary-Treasurer. In other business, staff provided updates on current economic development activities and the EDA reviewed the monthly financial report for River Bluff Townhomes and discussed the proposed schedule of regular EDA meetings for 2026.
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The Windom School Board will hold its regular meeting tonight at 6:30 in the Windom City Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting will also be streamed live on YouTube. The board will begin with approval of the consent agenda and will also consider several personnel items, including retirements, resignations, new hires, and position changes.The board will then elect officers for the coming year, including chairperson, vice-chairperson, clerk, and treasurer. Members will also consider setting regular board meeting dates, times, and locations for 2026, along with approval of committee assignments. Other action items include setting board salaries for 2026, designating the official district newspaper, legal counsel, bond counsel, and naming Superintendent Jamie Frank as the district’s Identified Official with Authority for state reporting systems. The board will also consider resolutions related to signatory authority and authorization of payments between meetings. Administrators will present building reports, followed by the superintendent and board reports. Additional business includes approval of the district’s 2026 pay equity report, transportation specifications for a request for proposals for student transportation services beginning July 1st, 2026, and a routine annual resolution directing administration to make recommendations for potential budget reductions or revenue enhancements if needed.
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Jeffers City Council will meet on Monday January 12th, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.
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Windom Library Board will be meeting on Tuesday January 13th at 5:05pm at the Library.
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CITY OF WINDOM Planning Commission meets at 7pm on Tuesday January 13th.
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Windom Area Health has welcomed its first baby of 2026. Baby Garver was born on January 5th at 10:49 p.m., weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces. He is welcomed by his parents, Mackenzie and Zach, along with big sister. As the first baby of the year, Baby Garver and his family also received a year’s supply of diapers and other gifts, thanks to donations from local businesses including A&W of Mountain Lake, Frank’s Shoe Repair, and Culligan Water.
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