News from the week of February 7, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Voters give Tracy the go ahead on new aquatic center
Planning will start in earnest on new pool
City of Tracy voters overwhelmingly supported a $1.5 million swimming pool bond referendum Tuesday.
By more than a three to one margin, city voters gave the Tracy City Council the authority to borrow up to $1.5 million in bonds to finance an outdoor family aquatic center in Sebastian Park.
The referendum results mean that planning for the new aquatic center will intensify in coming months. After final plans are drafted, bids could be sought early this summer, with contracts awarded in July. Construction could begin in late August, with completion targeted for May of 2001.
The new multi-use aquatic center will replace a 50-year-old swimming pool that is now in poor condition.
No business like Chamber business
Small-town malaise?
Gloom and doom outlook?
No vision for the future?
Not at the Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet Saturday, where optimism and good spirits were contagious themes.
“These next five years are going to see some good things happening in Tracy,” said George Hebig, newly-elected Chamber Board of Directors chairman. “I know we can do it and I know it's going to happen.”
Nicole Larson, out-going Chamber chair, said Tracy's people continually impress her. She recalled the message at last year's banquet by keynote speaker Jack Laimer: that it's not the location, or the size or the attractions that make or break a community: it's the people.
“We really do have a great community.”
Special Olympics coming to Tracy
* Lions plan February 18 pancake fund-raiser
A pancake breakfast sponsored by the Tracy Lions club aims to raise money for a Special Olympics competition.
The pancake benefit is set Sunday, February 18, from 9am-1pm at the Tracy Area High School cafeteria. Pancakes, sausages, milk and coffee will be served. A donation is requested for the Special Olympics.
The event has extra meaning for the Lions, since Tracy is hosting the regional Special Olympics competition this spring. The Special Olympics, featuring participants from throughout the region, will be held at the high school track complex May 18-20.
Lamb quints all survive
Mary's little lamb followed her to school one day, but rural Tracy resident June Booth has an even better story to tell. A true story at that.
One of Booth's ewes gave birth last week to quintuplets. All healthy, the five lambs were born in a sturdy building that once served as a country schoolhouse, on a night when the temperature dipped to 20 degrees below zero.
The birth was the ewe's fifth lambing. The first season she had a single, then triplets, then quadruplets, all live births. Last year, the ewe also had quintuplets, but only two survived.
“She would have lost these, too, if we hadn't been here to help,” Booth said.
Who says getting older means slowing down?
RSVP of Lyon County offers opportunities for people 55 and older to give their time and talents to local organizations.
RSVP, which stands for Retired Senior Volunteer Program, has an office in Marshall and a newly opened office in Tracy. Coordinator Sheila Leonard connects interested volunteers to non-profit organizations or "sites" throughout the county.
Sites include schools, nursing homes, libraries, museums, hospitals, senior centers, parks, and other organizations. Volunteers help out by reading to students, having one-on-one visits with nursing home residents, doing group mailings, and checking on shut-ins, to name a few.
There are 37 sites in Lyon County. Tracy Elementary School, Prairie View nursing home in Tracy, and the Colonial Manor in Balaton are all current sites.
Ambulance garage proposal gets planning commission's blessing
A new ambulance garage proposed for the Tracy Ambulance Service moved a stop closer to reality Monday night.
The Tracy Planning Commission recommended that a special use permit be granted to allow the construction of the ambulance garage at the corner of South and Center Streets in Tracy. The special use permit is needed for the proposal because the location is zoned R-1 residential.
The Tracy City Council will now consider the planning commission's recommendation.
Charlie DeSchepper, ambulance service president, explained the proposal at a public hearing conducted by the planning commission. He indicated that the construction is contingent upon the ambulance service receiving grant funding.