News from the week of April 11, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Speech team is runner-up
Nicole Wilking, Shanna Lowe are state-bound
The Tracy High School speech team completed its most successful season in many years by earning the runner-up plaque in the Section 3A Speech Tournament held Saturday at Southwest State University.
Two Tracy performers—Nicole Wilking and Shanna Lowe—qualified for state competion.
The Panthers thespians, who finished tied for 21st place in 1999 and moved up to 8th place last year, leaped to the second place spot this year. Windom, the perennial Section 3A powerhouse, once again easily captured the team championship with 123 points. Tracy racked up 58 points, besting third-place Luverne by 12 points. Fulda finished fourth with 42 points. Jackson County Central and Montevideo tied for fifth with 40 points each. Twenty-three teams competed in Saturday's tournament.
Twenty Tracy students had earned their way into section competition through the Sub-Section 11 tournament. Eight Panthers brought home top-six medals from the section and earned team points for the Panthers.
Census shows 6-7% population loss for townships
Rural populations in Lyon and Murray counties showed significant declines in the 2000 Census figures.
The number of people living in Lyon County townships decreased from 6,197 in 1990 to 5,729 in 2000, a drop of 7.5%. The average township size decreased from 310 to 286 people.
Murray County showed a similar rural population drop.
The total number of people living in Murray County townships decreased from 4,901 in 1990 to 4,572 in 2000, a decline of 6.8%. The average township population shrank from 245 to 229.
Only three Lyon County townships experienced population growth between 1990 and 2000. Sodus Township gained 11 people, Lake Marshall Township gained six people, and Lynd Township gained three people.
Major highway construction projects are set this summer in the Milroy, Lake Benton and Slayton areas.
The roadwork is part of the $849.3 million highway construction program for 2001 announced last week by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Hwy. 68, between Milroy the junction of Hwy. 19, will received a $200,000 overlay and shoulder upgrade. Work will begin in late July.
A $7.1 million project on Hwy. 19. from Hwy. 68 to one mile west of Redwood Falls will result in a detour. Milling, an overlay and box culvert extensions are planned. Work begins in mid-May and continues until August.
The Lake Benton area involves an overlay on Hwy. 14 from Lake Benton to the South Dakota line. The $508,600 project is expected to begin in late June.
Milroy students hear farm safety lessons
Milroy students got a valuable lesson in farm safety recently.
Representatives from the Redwood County Extension Service and the Redwood Falls hospital presented farm safety information in six stations Friday afternoon. The stations focused on animal safety, large equipment safety, chemicals and grain safety, all-terrain vcehicle and lawn mower safety, first aid and sun safety.
The Milroy PTO donated money to purchase farm safety materials to be given to students. Books on farm safety were sent home for parents. At the end of the day, a drawing was held for 43 prizes.
Milroy teacher Heidi Louwagie coordinated the farm safety presentation. Louwagie got the idea for a farm safety day after she saw the story about a Minnesota boy who lost his arms in a farm accident. The news program also gave information about farm safety programs.
Ten Tracy Elementary School students won awards in two computer technology competitions sponsored by the Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative.
A graphic arts competition challenged children to create a new Disney character by using a computer drawing program. Time limit was 90 minutes. Competition classes were divided into grades K-3 and 4-6.
The second contest instructed children to research a given topic on the Internet and create a report within two hours. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade researched Hall-of-Fame baseball players Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield. The research topic for grades 5-8 was a Minnesota Vikings football player, past or present.
Volunteers lead Junior Achievement lessons at Tracy Elementary School
Tracy Elementary School students are getting down to business this week—literally.
With the help of 16 community volunteers, students are gaining new insights into the free-enterprise economic system through the Junior Achievement program.
“It's been very well received by staff and students,” said Principal Scott Loeslie. “I think some of the volunteers are finding it to be far more enjoyable than they had anticipated too.”
The Junior Achievement curriculum teaches students about free enterprise and how businesses use resources to produce goods and services. Junior Achievement is a not-for-profit organization financed by businesses, foundations, and individuals. The organization traces its roots to 1919.
The kindergarten through grade six curriculum has a different topic at each grade level.