Enterprise Dispatch Blog

City of Darwin appeals unemployment claims

Kristen Miller — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:01:44 +0000

DARWIN, MN – City Clerk Paula Drahos informed the Darwin City Council Tuesday that she was writing a letter to Minnesota Unemployment Insurance to address the ongoing unemployment claim by former city clerk Carmen Kolar.
In September, the City was notified that it would be paying unemployment benefits to Kolar.
The City attempted to appeal the claim since Kolar had given her resignation last summer, but it was denied. The total amount the city is to pay in unemployment is $9,594.
Since the first appeal was made, the City found evidence that numerous liquor store deposits had not made it to the bank during Kolar’s time of employment.
This new evidence is now being used for another appeal to the unemployment agency.
An insurance claim was also made by the City to the League of Minnesota Cities for the missing liquor store deposits.
Drahos informed the council the City would be receiving a check from the insurance in the amount of $17,922.78, less a $250 deductible. This was to include both missing cash and check deposits.
Mayor Orlan Cervin noted this money would be deposited into the liquor store account when it is received.

Wright Co. dairy banquet set for Sat., March 27

Lynda Jensen, Editor — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:00:24 +0000

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – The Wright County Dairy Association will be hosting an ambassador gala Saturday March 27 at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo.

The public is welcome to partake in ice cream and cake at 1:30 p.m. and a program to follow to say farewell and thank you to 2009 royalty, as well as meet the new ambassadors for 2010. The current princesses are Kelsey Kolles, daughter of Mark and JoAnn Kolles of Otsego, Jillian Koch, daughter of Jeff and Janell Koch of Winsted, and Krista Nelson, daughter of Mike and Sue Nelson of Cokato. There are four younger ladies who will be promoting the dairy industry’s wholesome, nutritious, and delicious products this year, they are: Katie Davis of Cokato, Rebecca Groos of Howard Lake, Sabrina Kieser of Howard Lake, and Krista Lambert of Buffalo. Shown are Wright County dairy royalty Jillian Koch, Kelsey Kolles, and Krista Nelson are ready for the annual banquet Saturday, March 27.

FOCAL tea party is set for Saturday

Kristen Miller — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:48:45 +0000

COKATO, MN – The Friends of the Cokato Area Library is hosting its annual tea party fundraiser this Saturday (March 20) at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church. “A Garden Party” luncheon will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to bid on several silent auction items.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12 and are available at the Cokato Public Library or through a FOCAL member.

Kingston Legion and Lions Club to host fish fry Friday

Kristen Miller — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:44:27 +0000

KINGSTON, MN – The Kingston Legion along with the Kingston Lions Club will host their annual fish fry tomorrow (Friday, March 19) from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Kingston Community Center.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 10, and preschool age eats free. Take-outs will also be available for $9.

Daffodils for sale at Gary’s Friday

Kristen Miller — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:15:46 +0000

DASSEL, MN – Daffodils will be for sale at Gary’s Family Foods in Dassel as part of the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days fundraiser. Volunteers will be selling the flowers Friday, March 19 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Daffodils are for sale by the bunch, $10 for 10, or a potted “Dainty Daffodil” for a $15 donation to cancer research (while supplies last).
Daffodils are also be on sale at Econofoods in Litchfield through Friday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dassel Fire and Rescue to receive an estimated $53,000 for ARMER project

Kristen Miller — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:11:54 +0000

DASSEL, MN – During the Meeker County Board meeting, it was announced that Dassel would likely receive $53,874 toward its radio equipment for the ARMER project.
Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response, or ARMER as it is referred to, will allow for the change over to 800 megahertz throughout the county and eventually throughout the state.
Meeker County Sheriff Jeff Norlin announced earlier this week that the county was awarded a $162,540 grant from FEMA for city fire departments.
There were several factors that determined how much each department received. One of the reasons Dassel would be receiving the most of all the city fire departments in the county was the number of radios requested and the combination with the fire and rescue.
The amount the City of Dassel owed to the county for the total cost of the project ($72,044) would then change to $18,170. It was noted that the numbers were only preliminary.

School Happenings

Kristen Miller — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:38:00 +0000

Elementary conferences Thursday, March 18
Elementary conferences are set for Monday, March 15 and Thursday, March 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at both schools.
No school Friday, March 19 elementary only
There will be no school Friday, March 19 for elementary only due to teacher planning and afternoon conferences (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.).
Kindergarten round-up is set for Tuesday, March 23
Kindergarten round-up is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23 at 3:30 p.m. at Dassel Elementary, and 3:45 p.m. at Cokato Elementary.

Any child who is eligible to attend kindergarten next year (will be 5 years old on or before Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010) should attend.

No school Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 2 for spring break
There will be no school the week of Monday, March 29 for spring break. School resumes Monday, April 5.
Play-N-Learn preschool registration through Thursday, April 8
Preschool registration for the 2010-11 school year will continue through Thursday, April 8. Pick-up a registration form at the Early Childhood Center or download from www.dc.k12.mn.us/ecfe. All children must be 3 1/2 to 5 years of age by Aug. 31, 2010 to qualify for preschool for 2010-11.

Jack Adams, Billy Wallace appointed to P&Z in Dassel

Lynda Jensen, Editor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:24:52 +0000

DASSEL, MN – Two seats were appointed by the Dassel City Council Monday, Jack Adams, who was reappointed to his seat, and Billy Wallace, who was appointed to the seat previously served by Brad Nelson. The seats are both two-year terms.
Wallace is the pastor at the Church of Christ. Former council member Wayne Medcraft also applied for a position on the planning commission.

Dassel principal proposes for parents to use alternate street for pickup

Lynda Jensen, Editor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:51:08 +0000

DASSEL, MN — The Dassel council once again had discussed about parking congestion on the east side of Dassel Elementary, but this time with the input of Dassel Principal Rob Nudell.

The problem happens when parents pick up and drop off kids on Guy Street, with some parents stopping in the traffic lane to pick up their children. There isn’t room enough for a line of parked cars and two active lanes of traffic, Benzing said.

Nudell suggested sidewalks be installed in the area, and having parents park north of Breeds Park. This would cause students to use two crosswalks instead of being picked up directly by the school building; a crosswalk across Guy and then William Ave. Once the children crossed this area to reach the new pickup location, Nudell noted that sidewalks would be needed to allow children safe pickup north of the park.

The issue will be discussed, including the cost of sidewalks, at a future meeting, Mayor Mike Scanlon said.

Meeker County fire departments to receive FEMA money for ARMER

Kristen Miller — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:34:45 +0000

MEEKER COUNTY MN – Meeker County fire departments will now be receiving financial support for purchasing 800 MHz radio equipment for the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER). Sheriff Jeff Norlin announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant he applied for was awarded in the amount of $162,540.

Norlin is the director of Meeker County Emergency Management and sought funding in May, 2009 on behalf of all Meeker County fire departments through a FY 2009 Assistance to Firefighters grant.

“Grant awards are generally very competitive and any time we are successful in being awarded a grant, we are very happy,” Norlin said. “This award though is extra special,” he added, “as the dollar amount is significant; it is for essential mobile and portable radio equipment for volunteer fire departments, and comes at a time when local funds are stretched to the limit.”