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News from the week of January 3, 2001Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Catholic church group pitches in to feed hungry in Sioux Falls

Holiday-giving took on extra meaning for a local church group last week.

Nearly 40 people from St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tracy and St. Paul's in Walnut Grove did a service project at “The Banquet” in Sioux Falls. The Banquet is a feeding ministry serving hungry people of Sioux Falls. It's mission statement says: "In the spirit of Jesus Christ, our mission is to equip volunteer ministers to provide food and fellowship to those served through the ministry of The Banquet."

Those traveling to Sioux Falls Wednesday afternoon from Tracy and Walnut Grove included families with children, confirmation candidates, and couples. Participants ranged from elementary age children to adults.


Pool forum offered over cable TV

Tracy citizens can learn more about plans for a new Tracy Aquatic Center Thursday.

A presentation about the proposed new pool facility is planned in Tracy City Council Chambers Thursday, Jan. 4, at 7pm. Engineers from USAquatics, the firm that designed the pool, will give the presentation.

The presentation will be aired over the Tracy Cable Television access channel. A question and answer period will follow. Citizens will be able to call in the questions.

Tracy citizens will vote on a $1.5 million bond referendum February 6. Passage of the referendum would grant the Tracy City Council the authority to borrow up to $1.5 million in bonds. Money would finance a new family aquatic center at Sebastian Park. The bond would be paid back over a 20-year period.


Instead of drought, 2000 moisture is above average

26.62” recorded at SW Research Center

For the first time in four years, precipitation was above the historic 39-year average at the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton (SWROC).

During the year 2000, 26.62 inches of precipitation was recorded at SWROC. The 39-year historical is 26.19 inches.

In 1999, precipitation fell considerably short of that average with only 20.67 inches of moisture. 1998 was closer to the average, with 25.81 inches. Precipitation in 1997 totaled 23.53 inches.

A relatively dry winter gave over to a wet spring, with 6.51 inches of rain falling in May. May was the wettest month of 2000. January was the driest, with only .37 inches of precipitation. July was another wet month, with 4.70 inches of rain reported.


New honor pass system working well at TAHS

The new honor pass system at Tracy Area High School is working well, according to Principal John Rokke.

The pass system was launched this fall. Eligible students must show their passes before being allowed to leave the school campus over the school lunch period.

To qualify for a pass, students must have a signed permission slip from the parents and be passing all of their classes. Rokke said that about two-thirds of TAHS students, grades 10-12, have signed permission slips.

Rokke said there are three ways for students to lose their open lunch hour privileges . The first way is as a result of discipline, either at school or at home. Rokke said this has resulted in the loss of privileges at least five times.


Tracy Area Medical Services continues to be hub activity

• Admissions, patient days are up for year

Tracy Area Medical Services finances stayed in the black during November.

Combined hospital and clinic operations showed a net income of $405 for the month. Clinic operations generated a net income of $7,488 that was largely offset by a $7,082 loss on the hospital side.

Through the first seven months of the fiscal year that began May 1, TAMS has a year-to-date profit of $116,178. During the same period a year ago, TAMS showed a $121,963 operating loss.

Patient activity at the hospital is significantly higher from a year ago.


Winter named to tax transportation panels

Rep. Ted Winter will serve on the House Tax and Transportation Policy committees for the 2001 legislative session, which gets under way Wednesday, Jan. 3.

“These are two critically important areas for my district and all of Rural Minnesota,” Winter (DFL-Fulda) said after receiving the appointments from House Speaker Steve Sviggum. “The Tax Committee will not only be working on tax cut and rebate legislation this year, but it will also consider Gov. Jesse Ventura's proposals to reform school finance and eliminate the school portion of property taxes. The Transportation Policy Committee will likely continue efforts to find cost-effective ways to improve and expand rural highways and mass transit.”

Winter, a family farmer from Fulda, expressed disappointment that he was not reappointed to the House Agriculture Committee, where he served for past 14 years. Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum reduced the number of members on each committee, which Winter said was a partisan attempt to shut out Democrats from the process.