THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD MET LAST WEEK. THE BOARD APPROVED A TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT WITH THE ROUND LAKE-BREWSTER SCHOOL DISTRICT. A REPORT WAS PRESENTED AND APPROVED FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEGRATION PROGRAM. THE BOARD REVIEWED THE SUMMARY REPORT FOR THE WORLD’S BEST WORK-FORCE PROGRAM. JASON FISHER WAS HIRED AS A GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH. AN OLDER VEHICLE WAS DECLARED AS SURPLUS AND DESIGNATED FOR SALE OR DISPOSAL. THE BOARD APPROVED A FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE FOR A STAFF MEMBER. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE DISTRICT HAS A NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER THROUGH THE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH MET THIS WEEK. THE REPORT OF PATIENT ACTIVITY FOR OCTOBER SHOWED THAT ACTIVITY WAS ABOVE BUDGET FOR MOST AREAS. THE OCTOBER FINANCIAL REPORT SHOWED TOTAL PATIENT REVENUE OF MORE THAN $4.1-MILLION. AFTER EXPENSES, THE NET INCREASE FOR THE MONTH WAS AT ROUGHLY $553-THOUSAND. THROUGH THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WINDOM AREA HEALTH IS NOW SHOWING A NET INCREASE OF NEARLY $1.9-MILLION. THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE REMODELING PROJECT FOR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY “CHRISTMAS CHEER BOX” PROGRAM. THE CHEER BOX COLLECTS GIFTS OF TOYS, GAMES AND CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN IN NEED. IT IS SPONSORED BY THE WINDOM WOMEN OF TODAY AND THE MT LAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT. FAMILIES WHO WISH TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE CHEER BOX MUST APPLY BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH. APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL COTTONWOOD COUNTY CHURCHES. COLLECTION BOXES FOR DONATED GIFTS HAVE BEEN SET UP AT A NUMBER OF LOCAL BUSINESSES IN WINDOM, STORDEN, JEFFERS AND MT LAKE.
A THANKSGIVING DAY MEAL IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR IN WINDOM. THIS WILL BE A DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL. IT WILL BE SERVED ON THANKSGIVING DAY FROM 11:00AM UNTIL 12:30PM, OR AS LONG AS THE FOOD LASTS. PEOPLE SHOULD LINE UP IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT AND DRIVE THROUGH THE ‘CARPORT’ AREA TO RECEIVE THEIR FOOD. THE MEAL IS BEING OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE, BUT A FREE-WILL DONATION WILL BE ACCEPTED. AFTER COVERING EXPENSES, ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE WINDOM AREA SHARING CENTER. MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP PREPARE AND SERVE THE MEAL. CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE AT 831-3522 FOR INFORMATION.
THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK. FEDERATED R-E-A MADE A PRESENTATION ON POSSIBLE BROADBAND PROJECTS AND THE STATE ‘BORDER TO BORDER’ GRANT PROGRAM. THE BOARD REVIEWED A REQUEST TO RE-PURCHASE A PARCEL OF TAX-FORFEITED PROPERTY. THEY DISCUSSED THE RENEWAL OF A TOBACCO LICENSE FOR EXPRESSWAY IN JACKSON. THE COUNTY ENGINEER REVIEWED A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. THE COUNTY IS SEEKING FUNDING TO IMPROVE THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY HIGHWAYS 29 AND 34 NEAR ALPHA.