Celebrating Child Care Provider Appreciation Day: May 10, 2019
The Murray County Economic Development Authority (EDA) would like to thank all the Child Care Providers who devote their time and energy to young children in our area. They allow parents in our communities to go to work worry-free, knowing their children are well cared for. And they a build a solid foundation for the education and social development of our future workforce.
The 2017 Minnesota Legislature passed legislation that allowed local units of government with revolving loan funds (RLFs) seeded by State-funded Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) loan repayments to use 80% of the uncommitted balances for any lawful purpose if 20% of the balances were returned to the State of Minnesota. Upon learning of this legislation in early 2018, the Murray County Economic Development Authority (EDA) recommended to the Murray County Board of Commissioners that the balance of Murray County’s state-funded MIF RLF be used to provide grants to new and incumbent day care providers in the County. The grants could be used for start-up costs, making required building improvements, and for purchasing new equipment, educational materials, and toys.
The County Board approved that proposal. After returning 20% of the fund balance to the state, the County was left with $16,611.09. The EDA developed grant guidelines and an application and launched the program in July 2018. A 2-member subcommittee of the EDA was appointed to review the grant applications.
To date, $9,901 has been disbursed based on $20,437 of receipts submitted. That 2:1 provider expense to grant funds ratio shows that providers were willing to spend their own money in addition to grant dollars to make the purchases and improvements they needed even though we did not require a cash match.
We are pleased that we were able to help our incumbent providers and a few new providers, and we look forward to helping more new providers. We are grateful that we were given the opportunity to use our state-funded MIF RLF in a way that worked best for our community and residents.
While the child care profession is one of the most underpaid occupations, we know that providers’ contributions to the development of our youth are invaluable. We thank Murray County Child Care Providers for their service to our communities.
Murray County Historical Society to see “Glensheen: The Musical!”
Join the Murray County Historical Society for a trip to see “Glensheen: The Musical!” at the Minnesota History Theater in St. Paul, on Sunday July 14th. The cost is $100.00 per person and includes bus ride, tickets, noon lunch, and snacks on the bus!
Sign up and pre-pay by Friday June 5th at the Murray County Museum. Call 507-836-6533 or e-mail jtimmerman@co.murray.mn.us for more information.
The bus leaves Slayton at 8 AM and will return by approximately 7 PM. There may be a stop or two along the route for other pick-ups. That is to be determined yet.
This 2015 blockbuster hit sold out three seasons at the History Theater. The plot? It is 1977 and an heiress, kind and generous, is found dead in her bed. Her night nurse, lying lifeless on the staircase. The murder weapons: a silk pillow and a candlestick. A robbery? A clumsy break-in? A conspiracy? A scandal! The Congdon family tragedy splashed across the headlines of every newspaper in Minnesota. But what really happened on that fateful night at the Glensheen Mansion? Whodunit?
Witness this dark musical that tackles the tale with snappy dialogue and evocative music by composer/librettist, Chan Poling, and author, Jeffrey Hatcher. The original 2015 cast is back with Jen Maren as Marjorie Caldwell, the would-be heiress caught up in the notorious Congdon murders.
Critics call it “Wicked fun!” This is a piece of Minnesota’s crime history so bazaar you shake your head and say, “Really, you can’t make this stuff up.”
Farmers Market Season Opens May 4 In Former Callaway’s Lot
The freshest plants and foods this year are available at Callaway’s Farmers Market, opening for the season Saturday May 4. The fun continues every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the growing season in the former Callaway’s parking lot near 69th Street and Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls.
Area gardeners will find a dazzling selection of gorgeous hanging baskets, colorful planters and garden plants ready to put in the ground or containers from Iott’s Greenhouse & Gardens, one of the big attractions at the Farmers Market.
Among the newest Proven Winners plants this year is a new Euphorbia. A larger version of Diamond Frost, Diamond Mountain will make a good plant to pair with the Vista Supertunia Bubblegum. Diamond Mountain will grow to 24 to 36 inches in height and likes a sunny spot.
Heuchera Lemon Love is another newcomer, growing 10 to 14 inches with flower spikes to 20 inches. Slightly ruffled, chartreuse leaves resist burning. Lemon Love is a vigorous grower, with creamy flowers and lime green coloring in deeper shade. Over time, this plant will spread to about 3 feet wide if given the space. And Superbells Holy Cow!, a Calibrachoa hybrid from Proven Winners, will catch your eye with its pink, white and yellow blooms trailing up to 22 inches.
The Farmers Market at Callaway’s also spotlights a wide selection of specialty meats, vegetables and eggs from Hanisch Farms, and Mark VanTol, offering fresh pies and seasonal vegetables.
“From beautiful baskets to brighten patios to delicious fresh foods, it’s all available at The Farmers Market at Callaway’s,” said Chris Iott. “We’re looking forward to seeing our many friends again this year at our Farmer’s Market, starting on May 4.”
The Farmers Market at Callaway’s is two blocks east of the intersection of 69th Street and Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls. For more information, go to www.iottsgreenhouseandgardens.com.
Rebel Roundup
MCC K-Kids • “Young Leaders Helping Others”
MCC K-Kids is a community service group sponsored by the Slayton Kiwanis Club. We have had an active group this year with 30 students in grades 5 and 6 participating. K-Kids have had a busy year – holding a gift collection for the Murray County Christmas Project, making Teacher Appreciation Easter notes, helping with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and Soup & Dessert Lunch, selling cupcakes at Valentine’s Day as a fundraiser, having a fun Christmas party, and purchasing K-Kids t-shirts for all members have been club highlights.
Our Valentine Cupcake Sale earned a profit of $400. The K-Kids voted to donate $200 of this money to the MCC Coaches vs. Caner event. We also donated $200 to Ty Olson – a Worthington Middle School student who is battling cancer.
We recently took on our biggest project of the year by selling May Baskets for staff and students at West Elementary to exchange. The group members didn’t want anyone to feel left out, so they decided to make sure every student in grades 2-6 received a May Basket. Extra baskets were made for any students who had not received one from a friend. Imagine our surprise when we ended up making a total of 1,200 May Baskets! There was a lot of excitement in the West Elementary hallways on May 1st!
The goal of the May Basket sale was to raise funds to support local causes. The K-Kids have voted to donate dollars from this fundraiser to former MCC Paraprofessional Karla Mahon to help with her medical expenses, well as donating to the Backpack Program here at MCC Elementary. The Backpack Program sends food packages home with select students to help feed children over the weekend.
This project was a lot of work, but the kids all did a fantastic job! We were also blessed with many Kiwanis members and school staff who helped pitch in to help us accomplish our goal. The K-Kids would like to extend a special thanks to Marv Nysetvold from the Slayton Kiwanis for all of his help and support. The K-Kids will celebrate their accomplishments with a well-deserved bowling party on May 7th. Great job, kids!
Youth Loans
The Farm Service Agency makes loans to youth to establish and operate agricultural income-producing projects in connection with 4-H clubs, FFA and other agricultural groups. Projects must be planned and operated with the help of the organization advisor, produce sufficient income to repay the loan and provide the youth with practical business and educational experience. The maximum loan amount is $5000.
Youth Loan Eligibility Requirements:
• Be a citizen of the United States (which includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) or a legal resident alien
• Be 10 years to 20 years of age
• Comply with FSA’s general eligibility requirements
• Be unable to get a loan from other sources
• Conduct a modest income-producing project in a supervised program of work as outlined above
• Demonstrate capability of planning, managing and operating the project under guidance and assistance from a project advisor. The project supervisor must recommend the youth loan applicant, along with providing adequate supervision.
Stop by the county office for help preparing and processing the application forms.
USDA Extends Deadline to May 17 for Producers to Certify 2018 Crop Production for Market Facilitation Program Payments
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2019 – USDA extended the deadline to May 17 from May 1 for agricultural producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which helps producers who have been significantly affected by foreign tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional exports. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) extended the deadline because heavy rainfall and snowfall have delayed harvests in many parts of the country, preventing producers from certifying acres.
Payments will be issued only if eligible producers certify before the updated May 17 deadline.
The MFP provides payments to producers of corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, dairy, hogs, fresh sweet cherries and shelled almonds. FSA will issue payments based on the producer’s certified total production of the MFP commodity multiplied by the MFP rate for that specific commodity.
“Trade issues, coupled with low commodity prices and recovery from natural disasters, have definitely impacted the bottom line for many agricultural producers,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “The MFP payments provide short-term relief from retaliatory tariffs to supplement the traditional farm safety net, helping agricultural producers through these difficult times. Weather conditions this fall, winter and early spring have blocked many producers from completing harvest of their crops, and we want to make sure producers who want to finalize their MFP application have an opportunity.”
Producers can certify production by contacting their local FSA office or through farmers.gov.
About the Market Facilitation Program
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue launched the trade mitigation program to assist farmers suffering from damage because of unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. FSA implemented MFP in September 2018 as a relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the Administration works on free, fair and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets to help American farmers compete globally. To date, more than $8.3 billion has been paid to nearly 600,000 applicants.
The MFP is established under the statutory authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and is administered by FSA.
Good News
By: John Stenen
I once heard of a little German boy and his mother who read in God’s Word about the miraculous provision made for Elijah, by having ravens bring him food. It was a wintry night and the house was cold, also, their cupboards were bare. In a simple child-like trust he asked his widowed mother if he might set the door open to allow God’s ravens to come in. “I feel sure they must be on their way,” he said. His mother allowed him to do so. It just happened that a man of considerable wealth was walking past their humble dwelling. Seeing the open door and a light on in the house, he entered to find out why the door was open. When he learned why, he said, “I will be God’s raven!” He took care of all their needs then, and for a long time afterwards. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shall be fed.” (Psalm 37:3).
What a wonderful lesson on the importance of having child-like faith. God has given His children ‘exceedingly great and precious promises.” (2 Peter 1:3 & 4). These promises pertain to every area of our lives: spirit, soul, and body. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that, ”without faith it is impossible to please God….” It’s sad that many Christians fail to exercise faith in God’s promises when they have needs that only He can meet. God tells us that when we ask Him for something we are to believe that we have it before we see it. (Matthew 21:22). We so often want to see it first. It doesn’t work that way. Our greatest need is to be saved. If you have not been ‘born-again’ yet, read John 3:16, receive it, believe it, and act on it and God will receive you.
