HBC TV 25 News

The Winona Area Public Schools Board will meet for a study session Thursday night. The board will take action on several agenda items including setting the school board meeting schedule for the summer and the remainder of the fisacal year. The board is also expected to approve a Monday-Thursday work week for district employees during the summer months. The 4-day work schedule would not be new for the district which has implemented the plan for the past three years. The plan is an effort to trim energy costs. The school board will meet at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers.

The Winona City Council voted unanimously to join a coalition of cities collectively known as "The U-S Highway 14 Partnership." The partnership is made up of several cities in western Minnesota dedicated to seeking improvements to Highway 14. The group has been looking for partners in the eastern part of the state to participate. Cost to join the group is $7500 annually. Council will revisit its membership in the group each year.

The Winona City Council voted to rewrite a city ordiance to allow chickens within the city limits. The decision to look into changing zoning ordinances came following a 6-1 vote with Councilman Tim Breza voting against. Breza said he thought the ordinance was fine as is. The current ordinance allows chickens and other fowl to be kept in parts of the city zoned as agricultural and rural residential. Some citizens have been keeping chickens in violation of current city code.

The National Eagle Center will be holding its annual "Soar With The Eagles" program March 7, 8 and 9. There will be several programs on eagles, their habitat and a chance to see hundreds of eagles as they begin their northward migration up the Mississippi River Valley. Other featured programs will focus on owls, birds of prey as well as eagle banding demonstrations. For a complete schedule of events and ticket information, log onto www.nationaleaglecenter.org.

Both the Cities of Winona and Goodview City Councils are scheduled to meet Monday evening. The Goodview City Council will meet at 5:00 at the Goodview Fire Station. They will discuss the building of two water treatment plants that will remove excess radium for the city's drinking water supply. Council will also be discussing a tentative agreement for the annexation of Rollingstone Township.

Saturday, March 1 kicks off "Food Share Month" in Minnesota. According to Winona Volunteer Services Executive Director, Sandra Burke, this is the only event of it's type in the nation. The annual campaign to restock the state's food shelves is the largest collection drive of the year. The goal for this year's state drive is to raise 9 million combined pounds of food and dollars which translates into 25 million pounds of food. The Winona Volunteer Services food shelf served over 16,300 persons last year.

It could be a busy night for Winona City Council members when they gather Monday night. Agenda items include a request from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical to sublease property in the Airport Industrial Park to PlastiComp. While the school owns the building at 110 Galewski Drive, the city owns the property on which it is built. Council members will also consider a resolution for architect plans to renovate Bambenek Ball Field #1. The city will also seek direction from the planning commission on the issue of allowing fowl in the city.

By a party line vote of 44-22, the Minnesota Senate voted to remove Carol Molnau as Transportation Commissioner. Governor Tim Pawlenty announced the appointment of Bob McFarlin, who served as Molnau's chief assistant, to be the acting commissioner of Minnesota's transportation department. Molnau retains her elected position as lieutenant governor. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman DFL Senator Steve Murphy of Red Wing said he hopes the governor will choose a new commissioner who is a real engineer and a true advocate for transportation.

Winona Police arrested two persons this morning after responding to a disturbance complaint at the U-S Army Reserve Recruiting Station located near the Winona Mall. According to reports, officers observed six persons protesting in front of the recruitment station. Four were seated in front of and blocking the entrance. After speaking with the protesters, four agreed to move to an appropriate public area. Two refused and were arrested by officers and held for trespassing. Arrested were 24-year-old Rebecca Murn Lambert of Winona and a male subject who refused to identify himself to police.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding Southern Minnesota anglers to get their fish houses off of area lakes. DNR officals said ice fishing shacks must be removed by midnight Friday from lakes in the southern two-thirds of the state. Conservation officers will be checking area lakes for compliance.