April 2022

Senior LinkAge Line virtual presentation

The Senior LinkAge Line is a resource that provides expert advice on Medicare, prescription drug expense assistance, forms assistance, community-based resources, finding resources in the community, caregiver planning and support and more. This presentation will help individuals learn about the Senior LinkAge Line and how it supports older adults and their families with decision making.

55+ Driver Discount Program offered

The Minnesota Highway Safety Center will be offering 55+ Driver Discount Courses on the following days: 4 Hour Refresher Courses: Course # 50134 May 26th, 2022 1 pm to 5 pm Montevideo Community Center 550 S 1st S Montevideo, MN Courses are also available online at www. driverdiscountprogram.com This class will save participants up to 10 percent on their auto insurance.

Comments sought on proposed transportation projects in area

The Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission will hold a virtual open house public meeting on Wednesday, March 30, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom at https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/87324382910. Public comment is requested on the draft Area Transportation Partnership Improvement Program (ATIP) for 2023-2026 regarding projects occurring in Big Stone, Swift, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine Counties. This meeting will include a formal presentation by MnDOT staff on transportation projects at 2 p.m.

SBA deadline approaching for working capital loans in Minnesota for 2021 drought

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations that April 27 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans in Minnesota due to drought that began on July 6, 2021.

University of Minnesota Dean’s list announced

Brielle Meisch, granddaughter of Marvin and Loretta Garbe has been named to the “Dean’s List” at the University of Minnesota. She is currently in her third year at the University and is majoring in “MLS, Medical Laboratory Sciences”. She will intern at Mayo Clinic in Rochester this summer.

Minnesota West Community and Technical College to offer two new courses this fall

With the rising demand for healthcare workers throughout the nation, Minnesota West Community & Technical College has been collaborating with our local healthcare partners to expand some of our Allied Health programs to the Granite Falls campus to meet those needs. “We started looking at expanding a couple programs to our Granite Falls location because of the shortage in our northern service area. With the local support from Avera Granite Falls, we can make this happen as soon as fall 2022,” says Dean of Allied Health Jackie Otkin. “Once the college determined which programs to offer first, we submitted our request to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for approval to replicate a program including exploring the accreditation requirements. For this to happen so quickly, the college leaned heavily on our local partners to assist in providing equipment, supplies, and hopefully provide some adjunct faculty.”

Fiesta Board looks for new members, volunteers

Finding volunteers in the community to help ensure annual events can continue to take place hasn’t always been easy, and the Fiesta Board of Directors is facing the same struggle that many of the committees have. Not only is the Fiesta Board looking for more volunteers, but they’re looking for members to help with the planning and coordination of the annual community celebration that has been held now for 75 years. They are hoping that community members will step up to take positions on the Board so that long-time board members can pass the torch to a new generation. “We’re looking for people with new, fresh ideas to take on the event and shape it to what it might be for the next 75 years,” says Fiesta Board member Carman Mills.

Montevideo Police notify public of risk level three release

On March 30th, the Montevideo Police Department notified the public of a Risk Level Three release in the Montevideo community. The notification was pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 244.052 and 253D, which authorizes law enforcement agencies in the state to inform the public of a public registrant’s release from either prison or a secure treatment facility when the police department believes the release of that information will enhance public safety.

Former Montevideo author publishes works in new anthology

Kara Jorges, originally from Montevideo, recently published work in an anthology of authors titled Bookriders and will be hosting an author’s book signing at the Chippewa County Public Library on Saturday, April 16th, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The anthology features five different fiction works centering on the topic of horseback librarians in Kentucky in the 1930s. “They were a real thing. It was part of the WPA program to put people to work,” explains Jorges. “These were in the rural areas of Kentucky. There were very few roads, so they got the idea to put librarians on horseback to deliver books to the remote areas.”