2010 Year in Review: June

June 1: As the candlelight softly illuminated the faces of those gathered in a semi-circle around the Rock County Veterans Memorial on Sunday, all was still as members of several Army National Guard units read the names of the area’s veterans.

The candlelight vigil in memory of Rock County’s fallen sons and daughters came after the grand opening of the World War I addition to the Herreid Military Museum in Luverne.

June 2: The U.S. Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a $779,886 grant to the city of Worthington to help build a bioscience testing and training center and business incubator, which is expected to create 150 jobs and generate $20 million in private investments, according to grant estimates.

June 2: The downpour outside didn’t dampen spirits at the groundbreaking of the Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center project Tuesday afternoon.

City leaders and auditorium supporters attended to mark the beginning of the project, which includes renovations to the existing auditorium and the addition of a 4,400-square-foot lobby and reception area that will include new restrooms and a new ticket booth.

June 2: While most kids spent their final days of the school year sitting behind a desk and watching the beautiful blue skies outside, students in Mike Earll’s FFA program at Sibley-Ocheyedan High School were putting their skills to use on a community project that will soon result in campground facilities at Iowa’s high point.

June 3: Worthington District 518 will add 12 full-time employees in response to the closure of Worthington Area Language Academy.

June 3: A Hills man who has faced alcohol-related driving charges several times in the past 12 years and is currently on probation for driving while impaired is now accused of drunk driving, fleeing a peace officer and the use of deadly force against a peace officer.

June 4: After a lengthy hiatus, Worthington’s Peace Avenue of Flags is being resurrected in time for Flag Day on June 14.

More than 70 flags representing the nationalities of Nobles County’s diverse ethnic makeup will be flown through Turkey Day weekend this year, and from Memorial Day through Turkey Day in the years to come.

June 4: Pipestone Area educator Nate Henry learned last week he had been named a recipient of the 2010 WEM Outstanding Educator Award for Academic Coach of the Year.

June 5: Former State Rep. Ted Winter has filed as a candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives, District 22A. He was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1986 and served through 2002.

June 9: A request from a truck driver wanting to haul 90,000-pound loads of soybeans to the Minnesota Soybean Processors facility near Brewster was denied by Nobles County Commissioners during their board meeting on Tuesday.

June 10: The plane is booked, the itinerary has been tweaked, and more than 60 World War II veterans are already on the list for the second Honor Flight Southwest Minnesota (HFSM). The next flight date is Oct. 1-2.

June 10: School districts in Dickinson, Lyon and Osceola counties are among 150 Iowa districts that will be served by the final installment of Gov. Chet Culver’s preschool grant program.

June 11: It was the students in Deb Marquardt’s thirdgrade class and the seventhgraders in Rebecca McGaughey’s advisory class who came up with the idea to raise money for those affected by Haiti’s mid-January earthquake.

The students raised a total of $542 for the American Red Cross national headquarters. June 12: Charges were filed Friday against a Jackson man accused of stabbing his brother Thursday.

The Jackson County Attorney’s Office charged Tyron Louis Collins, 38, with seconddegree murder with intent. He is now being held at the Jackson County Jail on a $2 million bail with conditions, or $1 million without conditions.

June 12: On a warm and muggy — and dry evening on Sailboard Beach, one of the onstage musical acts at the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival offered some sage advice: “Please stay hydrated. That is your public service announcement from the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra.”

The words of wisdom were presented to many, as throngs of folks had made their way down to the shoreline by early Friday evening to take in the 11th annual Regatta.

June 12: The state’s budget deficit, immigration and welfare dominated the discussion at Friday’s legislative breakfast, as area lawmakers met with city and county leaders at the Worthington Country Club.

Rep. Doug Magnus (R-Slayton), Rep. Rod Hamilton (RMountain Lake) and outgoing Sen. Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy) weighed in on the legislative session that ended in May.

June 14: The sun didn’t make an appearance either Saturday or Sunday, but the dreary weather conditions couldn’t dampen the spirits of organizers and participants at the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival.

June 15: The Worthington City Council accepted a Federal Economic Development Administration Grant for construction of the Bioscience Testing and Training Center at its Monday meeting.

The grant will provide $779,886 toward the project; the city’s share is about $220,000. Council also authorized project architect Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. to proceed with the construction documentation and construction phases of the project.

June 16: After considerable discussion on how to cut nearly $750,000 from the 2011 budget as a result of lost state aid, Nobles County Commissioners Tuesday night ultimately decided to direct department heads to get creative.

Board members decided to hold off on filling the vacant finance director position in the county and, at the same time, implement a hiring freeze for all but essential employees for the remainder of 2010.

June 16: The District 518 Board of Education approved next year’s preliminary budget and this year’s revised budget at its Tuesday meeting, also debating the board’s role in budget development.

Total expected revenue for the 2010-2011 school year is $32 million, with total expenditures topping $40.5 million — a number that includes about $8 million for district construction projects being funded through bonds.

June 17: As long as farmers continue to pay high prices for land, property values are going to continue to climb — and they did again this year.

Nobles County Assessor Byron Swart said owners of agricultural land will see another 10 percent increase in their valuations after recorded land sales from Oct. 1, 2008 through Sept. 30, 2009, showed demand for farm ground has not waned.

Tags: year in review, news