News from the week of May 2, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Tracy Area Medical Services is cooking up a week of special activities commemorating National Hospital Week, May 6-12.
A community picnic, set Wednesday, May 9, is the headlight event. The “community barbeque and get-together” begins at 5 p.m. near Tracy Hospital's outreach parking lot. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, baked beans, cookies, and lemonade will be served until 7 p.m. The nominal charge is $2.00 a person.
Free face-painting for children and popcorn adds to the festivities.
The theme for National Hospital Week is “Caring People...People Caring.”
A poster contest and tours for elementary school children and a crossword puzzle contest are among the special events planned. People who correctly fill out a crossword puzzle—published elsewhere in this newspaper—become eligible to win door prizes. The health-care related puzzle was created by Casey Schmidt.
TAMS is also drawing attention to National Nurses Week. “Nurses are the true spirit of caring” is the theme for National Nurses Week, which is also celebrated May 6-12.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of Tracy Hospital.
Sump pump inspections show improved compliance
Compliance with Tracy sump pump rules has improved dramatically over the past week.
A citywide inspection Monday and Tuesday showed that most homeowners now have their sump pump water directed outside to storm sewer drains, rather than indoors into the sanitary sewer.
“A lot of hoses have come out within the last week,” reported Don Polzine, Tracy public works director. “People have been pretty good during the past week.”
On April 23, Polzine told city council members that residential sump pumps were a major contributor to an overloaded sanitary sewer system in the city. The sanitary sewer was so overloaded for several days that effluent from the sanitary sewer had to be pumped onto the ground in northeast Tracy to prevent sewers from backing up in some basements. At that time, Polzine said he'd observed relatively few sump pump hoses directed outdoors.
The sanitary sewer system became overloaded after about 5” of rain fell in the Tracy area the weekend of April 20-22. Flow in the sanitary sewer is now “about half of what it was,” Polzine said.
Bid opening set next week for Eastview Addition spec house
The Tracy Economic Development Authority (EDA) will open bids next week for the construction of a new “spec” house in the Eastview Addition.
Plans call for the construction of a 1,112 square-foot split-level house with a 24x24 attached double garage on Sunrise Drive.
The Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership is working with the EDA on the project. Several programs are available to make the house more attractive to prospective buyers.
“Our role is to maximize affordability,” explains Ali Nelson, a finance specialist with the housing partnership. The programs include a low-interest construction loan, assistance with closing costs, and “gap financing” of up to $15,000. The gap loan could be used to cover a shortfall between the house's purchase price and the buyer's downpayment and mortgage. The gap loan would carry no interest charges, and would not have to be repaid until the owner transferred title, no longer lived in the dwelling or paid off a primary mortgage.
Tracy Lions planning for Special Olympics May 19
The Tracy Lions Club is finalizing plans for the Special Olympics Track and Field event for Area 8 participants on May 19, 2001 at Tracy High School.
Area 8 consists of a large block of counties in Southwestern Minnesota.
Activities will include a torch run, track and field events and opening, closing and awards ceremonies. Over 100 athletes are anticipated. The public is invited to attend; there is no admission charge. The torch run will begin in downtown Tracy at approximately 8 a.m. with the run ending at the high school.
For further information contact: LeRoy Johnson (629-3341) or Darrel Christian (629-3862).
Tracy nurses have special week
National Nurses' Week--May 6-12-- is of more than passing interest in Tracy.
Over 60 nurses and nurses' assistants are employed within the community.
Tracy Area Medical Services leads the way with about 40 nurses and nurses' assistants working at the hospital, clinic and in its home health-care agency. Some nurses have been employed at the hospital for 30 years or more.
"We have a very dedicated staff here,' said Director of Patient Care Services Jeri Schons of the nursing staff.
Tracy Nursing Home employs 11 licensed nurses and 24 nurses' assistants. "We have a very good nursing staff," commented Director of Nursing Pam Baumann.
Prairie View Healthcare Center employs 11 licensed nurses and 28 nurses' assistants. "Our nurses are a very talented, caring group of people," said Prairie View Director of Nursing Liz Jacobson. "They work very hard for the welfare of the residents."
Winners in the 2001 “Spelltacular” spelling bee at Tracy Elementary School Thursday were:
Ashley Daniels, first grade, Zach Campbell, second grade; Aric Carpenter, third grade; Will Johnston, fourth grade; Brittnee Michael, fifth grade; Julia Olson, Jackie Bruss (tie), sixth grade.
Five contestants in each grade participated in the spelling bee. The spelling bee finalists were selected from earlier written and oral competition. The finalists were:
First grade—Daniels, Taylor Hoffbeck, Kate Johnston, Mac Tiegs, Anna Johnson. Alternate: Erin Story.
Second grade—Campbell, Shawn Zwach, Rachel Wilking, Brittany Hanson, Jeremy Hoflock. Alternate: Jared Towne.
Third grade—Carpenter, M'Hesi Haugen, Ashley Hedges, Jesse Miller, Melissa Clapp. Brittany Larson, the alternate, took part because Haugen was ill.
Fourth grade—Johnston, Jordan Rolling, Alexander Jones, Spencer Anderson, Cheepheng Her. Alternate: Trent Edwards.
Fifth grade—Michael, Taylor Hagberg, Fong Moua, Maria Schmidt, Becki Towne. Alternate: Aaron Nelson.
Sixth grade—Bruss, Olson, Taylor Rignell, Jamie Sieverding, Robert Brooks. Alternate: Shawn Stefanick.