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.
THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH MET THIS WEEK. THE REPORT OF PATIENT ACTIVITY FOR SEPTEMBER SHOWED ACTIVITY WAS ABOVE BUDGETED LEVELS FOR ADMISSIONS, BIRTHS, OUT-PATIENT SERVICES, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS, LAB PROCEDURES, IMAGING PROCEDURES AND REHAB SERVICES. THE SEPTEMBER FINANCIAL REPORT SHOWED A NET INCREASE FOR THE MONTH OF JUST OVER $589-THOUSAND. THROUGH THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WINDOM AREA HEALTH IS SHOWING A NET INCREASE OF MORE THAN $1.3-MILLION. TOTAL PATIENT REVENUE IN SEPTEMBER SET A NEW ONE-MONTH RECORD AT JUST OVER $4-MILLION. PLANNING CONTINUES FOR A MAJOR REMODELING PROJECT FOR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
RESIDENTS OF THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE VOTING ON TWO BALLOT MEASURES ON TUESDAY. ONE OF THE BALLOT QUESTIONS CALLS FOR VOTERS TO APPROVE A RENEWAL OF THE DISTRICT’S OPERATING LEVY FOR ANOTHER 7-YEAR-PERIOD. WINDOM’S OPERATING LEVY IS AT $613 PER STUDENT. AT THAT AMOUNT, THE LEVY PROVIDES ROUGHLY $780-THOUSAND IN YEARLY REVENUE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. ROUGHLY $608-THOUSAND IS FROM LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES WHILE $171-THOUSAND IS PROVIDED BY MATCHING STATE AID. SINCE THE DISTRICT IS ASKING TO RENEW THE LEVY AT THE SAME AMOUNT, THIS WOULD NOT MEAN A TAX INCREASE. WINDOM’S LEVY IS ONE OF THE LOWER AMOUNTS IN THE AREA. AT LEAST FIVE DISTRICTS HAVE OPERATING LEVIES AT MORE THAN $1,000 PER STUDENT.
THE MT LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOLDING A SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION ON TUESDAY. VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE MT LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 4:00 UNTIL 8:00PM. THIS IS FOR ALL CITIES AND TOWNSHIPS LOCATED WITHIN THE MT LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THERE ARE THREE SEATS UP FOR ELECTION, EACH FOR A 4-YEAR-TERM. THERE ARE TWO CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT – INCUMBENTS AUDI NICKEL AND MATT GOHR WERE THE ONLY CANDIDATES WHO FILED BEFORE THE DEADLINE. THE THIRD SEAT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE FILLED BY THE LEADING WRITE-IN CANDIDATE, PROVIDING THAT THE PERSON AGREES TO ACCEPT THE POSITION. UNDER STATE LAW, PEOPLE MAY REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY.
HALLOWEEN IS THIS SUNDAY. HERE ARE A FEW SAFETY TIPS FOR HALLOWEEN. CHILDREN SHOULD ONLY VISIT HOUSES THAT HAVE THEIR FRONT PORCH LIGHTS ON. YOUNGER CHILDREN SHOULD BE SUPERVISED BY AN ADULT OR A RESPONSIBLE OLDER CHILD. CHILDREN SHOULD WALK ON SIDEWALKS. DO NOT CUT THROUGH YARDS OR BACK-YARDS. ONLY CROSS THE STREET AT INTERSECTIONS. DRIVERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR CHILDREN CROSSING THE STREET AND BE READY TO STOP. COSTUMES SHOULD NOT RESTRICT A CHILD’S MOVEMENT OR VISION. USE FACE PAINT INSTEAD OF MASKS THAT COVER THE FACE. USE REFLECTIVE TAPE ON COSTUMES OR HAVE CHILDREN CARRY A GLOW STICK OR FLASHLIGHT.
