RECIPIENTS OF THE 2009 ZACH KAFKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP are shown above being presented their scholarships by Zach’s father, Dan Kafka. Pictured from left to right are Paul Adelman of Bellingham- attending the University of Minnesota-Crookston for Sports Management, Dan Kafka, and Casey Arndt of Ortonville-attending the University of Minnesota-Crookston for Equine Science. Each received a $500 scholarship paid to their school on their behalf. This scholarship is possible due to the support of the Big Stone Lake Area particularly for the Zach Kafka Memorial Hockey Game held each year in Zach’s Memory.
Council fires Lang, appoints Grossman interium city clerk
Following a special closed meeting Monday, Jan. 25, the Ortonville City Council terminated David Lang from his position as City Clerk/Administrator.
The council voted 6-1 to relieve Lang of his duties effective immediately, with Councilman Craig Randleman casting the no vote.
At Monday’s meeting, the council hired former City Clerk/Administrator Char Grossman as Interium City Clerk/Administrator on a part time basis.
Judy Roberts will remain as fulltime deputy clerk and Susan Lundell will stay on as part time deputy clerk. Deb Hicks will continue as part time accounts payable clerk and Deb Ellingson will remain on a part time basis as a clerk assistant.
The council indicated it will try this office staff with the part time scheduling and adjust accordingly if more hours are needed.
According to terms of the City’s contract with Lang, he will be paid six months salary in one cash payment and the city will continue to pay his benefits package monthly for six months.
New grants to bring Arts to southwest MN communities
The Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council (SMAHC) is pleased to announce new Arts Legacy Grants available through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. SMAHC Executive Director Greta Murray will conduct information sessions on the new SMAHC Arts Legacy Grant programs at several locations throughout southwest Minnesota.
Grants of up to $25,000 are available to nonprofit organizations or government agencies in the 18 counties of the SMAHC service area for projects that will instill the arts into the community. Grants of up to $7,000 are available to individual career artists for art projects that involve the community.
Murray will explain the types of projects that are eligible, review the grant application process and answer questions. Since this is a new grant program you are strongly encouraged to attend an information session prior to submitting a grant application.
The following Information sessions are scheduled:
• Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Commons, Ortonville High School in Ortonville.
• Thursday, Feb. 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the basement meeting room at Peace Lutheran in Hutchinson. People will enter from the large Franklin Street parking lot, one block west of Main St, between 4th Ave SW and 5th Ave SW..
• Friday, Feb. 5, at noon and 5:00 p.m. in the SMAHC office, 1210 E College Drive, Suite 600, Marshall.
• Monday, Feb. 8, at 3:30 p.m. for schools and 7 p.m. for the general public at the Media Center at Worthington High School, 1211 Clary Street in Worthington.
• Thursday, Feb. 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rock County Veteran’s Memorial Building, 213 E Luverne Street, Luverne.
These information sessions are free but registration is required. You may register by emailing your name and contact information to smahcinfo@iw.net or by calling the SMAHC office at 1-800-622-5284 or (507) 537-1471
Additional sessions may be scheduled. Check the SMAHC website for the latest information available: www.smahc.org. If you wish to schedule an information session in your community, contact the SMAHC office.
Deadlines for Arts Legacy Grants for Organizations are Mar. 1 and May 1. Deadline for Arts Legacy Grants for Individual Artists is Apr. 1.
Police Chief Jason Mork alerts residents to possible scam
The Ortonville Police Department would like to remind area residents that SCAM’s are out there, and real and can happen to anyone.
Just recently an Ortonville resident received a call from someone who they thought was their grandson. The grandson said that he needed to have just over $3,000 wired to him because he was currently in jail in Canada and he needed this money to get out. The SCAMMER provided all of the right information in regards to family information to convince the Ortonville resident this was truly their grandson. The next day another call was received saying they needed more money in order to pay for an attorney.
Chief of Police Jason Mork would like to recommend to anyone needing to send money to a loved one, for any reason, to do some follow up with other family members to confirm the information is true and real.
Chief Mork also stated that if there seems to be red flags this might be a very good indication that this is a SCAM and to check out the information before becoming a victim of a SCAM.
If you are in doubt contact the Ortonville Police Department at 839-6161.
Ortonville School prepares for State Spelling Bee
The classroom was quiet, the tension mounting, not even a buzz of the bee was heard. The annual Spelling Bee was in progress.
On Thursday, Feb. 4, approximately 32 students will advance from the classroom Spelling Bee to the Ortonville School District Spelling Bee. Sandy Helgeson, Sue Spors and Kerry Klepel will act as judges and Liz Ketz will serve as the district pronouncer for the bee.
Trophies for the winners will be provided for by the Big Stone Lake Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 3964. The bee will be held in the High School Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. The bee usually takes about an hour to complete.
The District Champion will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee on Feb. 16 in Redwood Falls, MN, hosted by the SW/WC Service Cooperatives. The top 5 regional winners will advance to the Multi Regional State Spelling Bee on Mar. 9 in Fergus Fall, with the winner advancing to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC.
