January 2022

January is Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month, National Stalking Awareness month

January is Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month as well as National Stalking Awareness Month. WoMen’s Rural Advocacy Programs, Inc. (WRAP) has been and continues to serve victims of trafficking since 2020 as well as victims of domestic violence since 1994 in Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood and Yellow Medicine Counties. The goal of this article is to bring awareness and education of human trafficking and stalking to our communities. It is important to understand the basics of these subjects and start the conversation regarding these crimes. Human trafficking and stalking happen even in our rural communities, even though it is hard for most to believe, and we want to believe where we live is safe for everyone.

Great White band to perform at Prairie’s Edge in February

As a part of the Ole & Lena Days Mid-Winter Festival, Prairie’s Edge Casino & Resort is hosting a benefit concert/Firemen’s Dance with the bands Great White and Molly Hatchet on Saturday, Feb. 5 . Great White is a band most known for their mid-to-late 1980s hits including “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”. The Los Angeles-based band is comprised of members Mark Kendall, Audie Desbrow, Michael Lardie, Scott Snyder, and Mitch Malloy. They’ve sold around eight million records worldwide.

Memory Care Corner

Grieving and Dementia When we think about someone grieving, we often associate that when a death has occurred. In talking to my caregivers, however, many express that they are already grieving even though their loved one is still alive.

Early Childhood Screening to be held in February

Early Childhood Screening will be happening on February 9th and 10th at Salem Lutheran Church. In Minnesota, Early Childhood Screening is required before a student starts kindergarten, and provides a snapshot of how a preschooler is growing, developing, and learning. The free screenings can detect possible health or learning concerns, to allow caregivers the opportunity to find assistance for the children before they start kindergarten. If a child is identified as having areas that they need extra support in, the Early Childhood Screening program will work with families to secure the proper support such as speech services, or early learning programming to practice social skills. “The learning and growth in children from birth to age five is such an important time when they first learn how to interact with others, including peers, teachers, and families, and also begin to develop interests that will stay with them throughout their lives,” says Early Childhood Screening Coordinator Kris Christopherson.

“Steering into the Skid” coming by Zoom to Montevideo

On Thursday, February 17th at 1:00 p.m., the Granite Falls Living at Home Block Nurse Program (GF-LAH/BNP)) in conjunction with the Montevideo Area Memory Loss Network (MAMLN) is presenting a free virtual Remember Project event featuring “Steering into the Skid.” This special program helps family members, caregivers, local businesses, and the broader community engage in conversation around dementia and the most well-known form of memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease.

Mock Trial program in Montevideo

Throughout Minnesota, High Schools have provided a Moot Court/ Mock Trial program that allows students to learn about and experience the various aspects of the legal system. Montevideo High School has not had such a program, historically, but will be introducing one very soon. Katherine Lee reached out to the Community Education program about the possibility of starting Moot Court/Mock Trial as a Community Ed program, and work began on setting it up. “I am pretty excited to offer the program and I appreciate the support I have received from Community Ed,” says Moot Court/Mock Trial Instructor Lee. “It is important that rural students have knowledge of the possibility of being lawyers, and that you can have a successful law practice or successful legal career in rural areas.”

Gottfried hired as new Community Development Coordinator

The Montevideo City Council recently made the decision to end their contract with CEDA, an organization that provided the City with a Community Development Coordinator, instead, deciding to hire the position inhouse for the first time in years. At last week’s City Council meeting, the council announced the hiring of Jack Gottfried as the new Montevideo Community Development Coordinator. Gottfried officially started with the City on January 10th.

West Branch Vineyard opening in rural Dawson

Trig Viessman grew up in the trucking industry, his grandfather Cliff Viessman having started Viessman Trucking which is still owned and operated by family. Having been in that business his whole life, Trig perhaps never imagined years ago that one day he would be the owner, along with wife Sara, of a Vineyard and Bar. Gardening was always a hobby of theirs. “I’ve been really successful in growing, and a buddy of mine from high school that was in winemaking in New York said that I should put in grapevines, so I put in 100 of them and they just grew like wildfire,” Trig says.