The Windom School Board met on Monday June 13th Summer Hours for the School Office will be 8-Noon Monday through Thursday until August 16th when they will resume normal hours. Principal Bryan Joyce gave an update to the Board on the CEO program. The official name will be Cottonwood Jackson CEO. Windom and Jackson have committed to the program and Mountain Lake Public Schools meets later this month and will decide if they will participate. Mt Lake Christian Schools is also exploring their interest in the program. The Steering Committee met on Monday and is now in the process of creating a dynamic board to steer this new program to success.
Discussion was held on the Solar for Schools Project. It was pointed out that zero dollars have been spent thus far. The grant has been submitted but the board still has the option to agree to accept the grant or not. The only changes to the Crisis Management Policy were a name change from No Child Left Behind to Every Student Succeeds Act.
Devin Homer was hired as the new Career Technical Education Teacher and Adam Farag was hired as Physical Education/Health Teacher and the new Head Football Coach for the 2022-23 Year. Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt stated that there are quite a few of the positions to still fill, but that is not uncommon for this time for those positions are throughout the year. Before the conclusion of the meeting each board member expressed their gratitude for the 14 years that Superintendent Wormstadt has given. Chairman Dustin Stevens summed up by saying the work Wayne does reflects on the students and a lot that you have tried to do by bringing your vision help those students become what they can be and what they can realize they can be and not what they cannot be. Overall, Wayne you, have been a friend to many people ant will be a reflection of your moral compass and the guiding principles, and we have been blessed to have you for the past 14 years. Stevens went onto say the Board wishes Wayne God’s Blessings in his future endeavors and asked he stay in touch. With that the meeting came to adjourn and Superintendent Wormstadt attended his last official Board Meeting for the Windom Area Schools.
—————————————————————–
The top 5 finalists for the Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year Award have been selected. I.D.E.Ag Group, LLC., producers of Minnesota Farmfest, will announce the third annual Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year Award during the 2022 event. According to Niki Jones, IDEAg Event Marketing Director, Award judges selected the top five women, from all the applications received, whose nominations demonstrated a high level of commitment to the farm or ranch in terms of hours dedicated, positive impact on income, yield, diversification or challenges, community involvement and passion for her farm and the ag industry.
The finalists, in no particular order, are Dawn Breitkreutz of Redwood Falls, Nancy Hinricher of Pipestone, Karen Kasper of Owatonna, Emily Ponwith of Cleveland, and Kristin Reiman-Duden of Princeton. These five women will be recognized at the awards ceremony as part of the Women in Ag Event, the morning of Aug. 4.
Jones went onto say, “Year over year, we enjoy reading the nominees’ stories and are amazed by their dedication to the ag industry and on their farms. These five women are experienced, dedicated farmers and leaders and we are honored to name them as the top five finalists for this award.”
Attendees can get tickets and learn more about the finalists at Farmfest.com. The Farmfest 2022 Woman Farmer of the Year Award is sponsored by Ziegler Ag Equipment, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, CHS, Inc., Farm Bureau Financial Services and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program.
——————————————————————-
Jackson County Sheriff’s Department reported at 9:10 AM on June 14th, Deputies responded to a semi and trailer that overturned in the ditch on County Road 30 between US 71 and Bergen. The driver from Clear Lake, Iowa was travelling west on County Road 30 approaching US 71 in a semi hauling biodiesel when it slid into the north ditch and overturned. The driver was not injured. There was moderate damage to the semi-tractor and trailer. A minimal amount of biodiesel leaked into the ditch. County Road 30 was closed for about 7 hours while three tow trucks from Maloney’s Towing, Madelia worked to upright the semi back onto County Road 30. The Windom Fire Dept, Windom Ambulance, Jackson Fire Dept, and Jackson County Public Works all assisted at the scene. Jackson County Sheriff’s Department also reported at approximately 3:30 PM A deputy responded to a landlord/tenant issue.. at 3:50pm A deputy responded to a minor two vehicle accident in Jackson. At approximately 6:00pm A deputy conducted multiple probation checks on individuals around the county. At approximately
8:30 PM A deputy conducted a requested welfare check on an individual. A Jackson County Deputy conducted a traffic stop in Jackson on Ashley St. As a result, the driver was issued a citation for Possession of Small Amount Marijuana. And also on the 14th, A deputy assisted the Boca, Florida Police Department with an investigation.
——————————————————————–
Mt Lake Police reported seven points of contact last week. On the 10th Mt Lake Officers conducted a welfare check in which everything was ok. On the 9th around 2:30 am an officer handled a juvenile curfew violation. Three juveniles were found in Mt Lake City Park and sent home. At 4:45pm officers handled a dog at large around the Elementary School. On June 8th mid afternoon an officer handled a citizen complaint regarding an ordinance violation. And in the early evening, an Officer cited a 19-year-old male driver for no insurance at the intersection of 8th and 3rd Ave in Mt Lake. On June 7th at approximately 6pm an officer handled a minor parking lot accident at the fishing dock. A 2009 Toyota Rav4 hit an unoccupied 2014 Chevy Cruze. Both vehicles received light to moderate damage, no injuries were reported and at approximately 6pm an officer delt with a possible suicidal person.
————————————————–
Minnesota State Patrol reported on June 13th at approximately 7:45 am a 2018 Jeep Compass was heading Westbound on Highway 60 near County Road 44 at mile marker 46 Bingham Lake when it struck a safe that fell out of a 2017 GMC Sierra as it turned westbound on Highway 60 from County Road 44. Outside agencies assisting were Cottonwood County Sheriffs Office, Mountain Lake Police Department and Windom Ambulance. The 20-year-old female from Springfield MN driving the Jeep was transported to Windom Area Hospital with what is believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
———————————————-