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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Monday, May 26, 2014
The FCJ reaches over 13,000 household each week.
Houston Students look forward to Pearson science curriculum By Angie Rodenburg The Houston School Board held a meeting on May 20. At the meeting Gwen Rostad presented the FY2015 Proposed Budget to the board and answered board questions. The proposed budget must be reviewed and approved by the school board by June 30, 2014. Marsha Benson also took time to explain to the board that the school’s dental rates will be going up for the FY2015 dental insurance plan. Rates have not increased in the past 12 years that the school has been selfinsured through Simple Dental. Scott Dee of La Crosse Insurance
gave Houston Schools his recommendation in letter form. “My recommendation for Houston Public Schools is to continue to self-fund the dental plan through Simple but increase the monthly premium amounts by 5 percent and add the Premier Dental Network in a passive position,” wrote Dee. The school board will need to make a decision by the end of June. Krin Abraham also presented the new proposed science curriculum to the board. After a long process of deciding which curriculum would suit the Houston School District best, Pearson Publishers was chosen. Abra-
Important 2014 deadlines for livestock disaster aid ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota livestock producers can submit notices of animal loss and apply for payment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA)
disaster programs, which were reinstated with the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill. Funding is retroactive and covers some losses back to October, 2011. Claims from past years must
Farm related • antique • HouseHold
A u saturday, c tmay 31, i 2014o- 9:00n
Lunch by Gleasons
am
Sale to be conducted at the
spring Valley sales auction Building 412 east Park street, spring Valley, mn
eugene F simon, owner AUCTIONEER NOTE: As Eugene has sold his acreage and moved to an apartment he will sell his farm related items, large assortment of tools, antiques and collectibles and household items at public auction. Don’t Miss This Sale!
Selling 2 RingS - All DAy 12-14 Hayracks of Smalls
1950 Ford 8N w/loader, IHC Farmall C w/ Belta belly mower. Huska 16.5 lawnmower w/42” deck, 1931 Town Sedan deluxe (needs work). 1946 Jeep runs, Jeep frame w/motor, Ford 3 pt. cultivator, Ford 2x14” 3 pt plow, 3 pt blade, 5’ trail mower, buzz saw for Ford Forge and may large tools.
For more info contact auction company www.springvalleysales.com or auctionsgo.com
sale arranged and conducted By sPring Valley sales comPany auctioneers: Dick Schwade Lic. 23-10018, 507-346-2183 or 7834, Cell 507-251-7313; Tom Jasper 50-113, 507-251-7654; Kevin Grabau 23-91, 507-951-1478 ringman: Bob Root, Roger Becker clerk: Spring Valley Sales - Fax 507-346-2163.
announcements day oF take Precedence oVer any adVertised or Pre-Printed material all oF tHe aBoVe mercHandise is selling as is, wHere is, witH no warranty. terms: casH or good cHeck day oF sale. notHing to Be remoVed until settled For. not resPonsiBle For accidents or mercHandise aFter sold. Please Bring ProPer identiFication.
accePting major credit cards. • sales tax cHarged wHere aPPlicaBle.
dARR ONLINE AUCTION MINI VAN • CUB LO-BOY • LAWN EQUIP • COLLECTABLES FURNITURE • 4 ATV'S . . . ANd MUCh MORE!
www.darrauctions.com 5 bidding days!
bidding starts ending on sUnday, June 1 at 5:30pm Only a Partial List: 94’ Plymouth Mini Van ; Cub Lo-Boy 185 w/mower; Sport Club trailer w/ramp 5’6”x14’; Chevy brush guard; Polaris Ranger lock & ride bed wall extender; LAWN EQUIPMENT Gravely lawn mower, Stihl power broom, garden tillers, brush trimmer, branch chipper, lawn sweeper, chainsaw; SPORTING GOODS ATV's (4), duck decoys, traps, new snorkeling gear, motorcycle helmets ; COLLECTIBLES antique wood block planes, plates, cookie jars, cast iron Aunt Jamima, canning jars, Boyd bears, Beanie Babies, beer steins, costume jewelry, Davis baskets, liquor decanters, Campbell Soup, Barbies, antique baby buggy, enamelware, crocks, Martha Washington sewing cabinet; Linder mantel clock; FURNITURE recliners, sofas, dining room tables/chairs, dressers, dry sink, country cupboard, glider, full size metal lockers; TOOLS power tools, hand tools, 1.5 ton chain hoist, gas/diesel fuel barrel w/stand. Terms: MN sales tax & 10% buyer prem. added to all purchases. All items sold “as is”. Buyer confirming validity & condition. All buyer’s must pick up & pay for items on pickup day. If you’re not able to make pickup day, please don’t bid. Viewing Days: WED May 28th 3pm-7pm; SUN June 1st 11am-3pm Pickup Day: MON June 2nd 8am-7pm Location:Darr Auctions Warehouse 909 Larson Lane, Rushford, MN Look for directional signs.
ham raved about the benefits of the Pearson curriculum that is primarily online, which allows resources to be easily updated. Abraham also told the board that both the teachers and students preferred the Pearson curriculum and found it much easier to use than other programs. “The kids loved it. The kids got excited about science using that curriculum.” Abraham also believed that using Pearson’s online curriculum would improve test scores since the students will be learning the same way they will be tested. Abraham suggested that the district make an inclusive purchase for seven years, which will save
the district money.The total cost of the science purchase would be $41,084.32, which would cover everything from lab equipment and training to curriculum. There is an additional request for the purchase of 85 new computers which would cost $39,000. The total cost to implement the new science curriculum would be $80,084.32. The school board will vote on the proposal at a future meeting. After all presentations were made the school board looked to old business that required action. The board approved Houston High School’s request to produce a musical for the 2014-2015 school
year. The board also approved the Junior/Senior trip to Washington D.C. set for November 29-December 5, 2014. Hiring a Robotics coach and a team budget of $1,000 was also approved. Lastly, the board approved the architect fees for work to be done on upgrades to the boys’ and girls’ shower areas at the high school and other accessible upgrades. These upgrades need to be done in order to be compliant with the MDE Civil Rights Review Voluntary Compliance Plan. The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 3 at the Houston High School Library..
have proper documentation to receive funding, which may include photos, ownership records or purchase and transportation receipts. “With funding restored, now is the time to act. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has been encouraging producers over the last few years to document all losses pending this return in funding of livestock assistance programs. We encourage producers to connect with their local Minnesota FSA to seek reimbursement,” said MDA livestock development supervisor, Curt Zimmerman. The reimbursements cover several areas of livestock and are broken down into three categories: •Livestock Indemnity Program:
pays producer for livestock deaths dating back to October, 2011 caused by adverse weather or attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government. Deadline to submit a notice of loss and application for payment is January 30, 2015. •Livestock Forage Program: pays producer for livestock losses due to drought or fire on pastureland planted specifically for grazing, dating back to October, 2011. Deadline to submit a notice of loss and application for payment is January 30, 2015. •Emergency Assistance for Livestock,
Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program: provides producer assistance for eligible losses due to disease and weather conditions not covered in the Forage or Indemnity Programs. These losses are covered dating back to 2012 and deadline to submit a notice of loss and application for payment is August 1, 2014. Questions and specific qualifications and deadlines to file for losses can be directed to the Minnesota FSA office: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffa pp?mystate=mn&area=home&subject= landing&topic=landing.
Semcac Head Start announces new services in Fillmore County FILLMORE COUNTY, Minn - Semcac Head Start is excited to announce a new service in Fillmore County. The program will offer a home-based option to reach families expecting a baby and/or with children who are ages birth-three years. A trained educator comes to the family’s home, weekly, to work with children and parents. Then, every two weeks, a socialization event is offered at the local Head Start Center to provide parents and children time for connecting with others. Services will begin in September 2014, at no-cost to families. The new option is consistent with Semcac Head Start’s responsive and flexible programming. Being a rural county, the home-based option brings services directly to each home. The home-based option is in addition to our pre-school centers in Preston and LeRoy. Both options are high quality, focused on the entire well-being of children towards school readiness. For more information, or for an application for Head Start, visit the Semcac Contact Center in Preston or call 507/765-2761. Our focus is to serve families with limited income based on federal guidelines. All interested families, including those with special needs, are encouraged to apply. Staff will work with each family to determine eligibility.