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News from the week of October 25, 2000 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

National Honor Society inductions held Monday

Twenty-one Tracy Area High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society Monday night.

The inductees, honored at a Monday night banquet, are:

Seniors: Kim Bornitz, Kevin Fultz, Jennifer Laleman, Neil Pommier.

Juniors: Kristina Anderson, Brady Averill, Rhonda Bitker, Joe Brockway, Lisa Buysse, Stephanie Carter, Mark Freeburg, Andrea Gervais, Mary Gervais, Katherine Lanoue, Scott LaVoy, Rebecca Lessman, Elizabeth Malmberg, Leah Malone, Kristen Rokke, Megan Schons.

Fourteen seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society last year as juniors. They are: Co-President Andrew Fraser, Co-President Kelly Warner, Vice President Ben Gervais, Secretary Nicole Wilking, Treasurer Dan Vogel, Historian Brady Schmidt, Activities Coordinator Carin Gervais, Katherine Hayes, Kayla Hosier, Amanda Labat, Abby Miller, Sarah Pamp, Leah Schmidt, Lisa Soupir, Alison Tanghe.

The students were selected on the basis of scholarship, service, leadership, and character, the ideals of the National Honor Society. An essay written by the students was also considered.


Tracy school board is asked for pool support

Tracy Public School District 417 has been asked to help financially support the proposed new swimming pool being studied for Sebastian park in Tracy.

Mayor Claire Hannasch asked Tracy board of Education members to consider a joint powers agreement committing District 417 toward a $20,000 annual contribution to the pool.

The school district, through Tracy Community Education, is now spending about $8,000 on pool operations. The $8,000 represents 50% of the pool's operating loss. The City of Tracy now funds the other half of the deficit, plus all pool repairs and improvements at the municipally-owned pool.

School board members agreed to seek more information before making a decision. Supt. Rick Clark encouraged board members to attend a presentation on the new pool on Tuesday. Board members also discussed the possibility of a joint meeting with the city council prior to making a decision.


9 FFA members to receive prestigious national award

Nine Tracy FFA members will be awarded the highest degree possible in the National FFA Organization, the American FFA Degree. The degrees will be presented on the main stage of the National FFA Convention, held this year in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday.

The nine are: Brian Buysse, Mike Erbes, Trevor Humphrey, Jared Johnson, John Lanoue, Paul Lanoue, Justin Lessman, Mandi Skoglund and Layne Arnold.

"In the 71 year history of the Tracy FFA Chapter, only 13 members have ever been awarded the highest degree," said paul Skoglund, local FFA advisor. "To have 9 in one year is extraordinary, and is a credit to how outstanding this group of young people really are."


Veterans' memorial arrives at museum

A veterans' memorial has been erected at the Tracy Wheels Across the Prairie Museum. The polished granite and stone monument arrived from Watertown, S.D. Thursday. Sponsored by the Tracy American Legion Earle Ray Post 173 and Auxiliary, the memorial is in honor of all American servicemen.

The monument includes insignias of all branches of the U.S. military service and is flanked by two viewing benches. A flag pole was erected behind the monument, where the Stars & Stripes will be flown 24 hours a day. A November 11 dedication ceremony is planned.


Changes proposed for city winter parking rules

A Nov. 13 public hearing will consider proposed changes in the City of Tracy's winter parking ordinance.

The city's current ordinance prohibits parking on city streets from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Dec. 1 through March 1. Vehicles must also be moved off streets anytime two or more inches of snow falls.

The proposed change eliminates the blanket overnight parking ban. The amendment would allow parking on city streets anytime, except when snow needs to be removed from streets.

The city's present winter parking ordinance is designed to keep streets clear of vehicles early in the morning when street department crews traditionally have done most of the city's snow plowing. However, the overnight winter parking ban has been a frequent source of complaints from residents who don't have adequate off-street parking space, especially during periods of little snow.


TAMS finances continue stable trend

Board members briefed on future needs, ideas

Despite posting a small loss for September, Tracy Area Medical Services finances continue to look much improved compared with a year ago.

Financial statements presented to TAMS advisory board members last week showed a combined loss of $5,872 for the month. Hospital operations lost $17,767, but the Tracy Medical Clinic was in the black by $11,894.

The September loss reduced TAMS' year-to-date profit to $78,930 through the first five months of its 2000-01 fiscal year. During the same time period in 1999, TAMS sustained a $25,311 loss.

The $78,930 profit is better than Sioux Valley had projected for this year. The budget 1999-2000 budget forecast a $4,512 May through September loss.