News

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Swift County saw its number of COVID-19 cases increase by just two in the month of June. However, it has already added two more cases in the first six days of July bringing its total to 22.

The county’s first case of the deadly disease caused by the coronavirus was recorded April 6 and then it went 24 days before the second case was recorded May 1. During the month of May, the county added 17 cases of COVID-19.

Swift County recorded its first and only death so far attributed to the disease June 5. The person who died was reported to be over 90 years old...

For more on this story, and to keep up on all the latest in area sports, subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News print edition or our PDF internet edition. Call 320-843-4111 and you can get all the local news and sports delivered to you!

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Though the sign on the front door of the Swift County Courthouse says the doors are locked, the offices are now open to the public.

Swift County officially began seeing the public Monday in its buildings, however, it is still stressing that people should make an appointment if there is someone in particular they want to talk to while in the courthouse.

During the noon hour Monday when we stopped in for a photo, there was no one on the main floor of the courthouse and one person filling out paperwork on the second floor where the court offices are located...

For more on this story, and to keep up on all the latest in area sports, subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News print edition or our PDF internet edition. Call 320-843-4111 and you can get all the local news and sports delivered to you!

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Benson has received a $237,774 grant from the State of Minnesota as its share of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.

Based on a population of 9,374, Swift County is receiving $1,136,857 in CARES Act funding as its state allocation.

In all, eligible cities of Swift County are receiving $416,104, and the five eligible townships in the county are receiving $34,650.

Those funds are part of the $841.5 million in funding under the act Minnesota received for distribution to counties, cities and townships. The funding was part of the $1.9 billion the state received under the act to deal with the impact of COVID-19,
Aid to units of government with a population of 200 or more was based on giving $75.34 per capita.

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

By refinancing bonds used to build Scandi Haven Village and remodel Scofield place, Swift County-Benson Health Services will be saving $5 million in interest payments in the coming years. It will also be cutting five years off the term of the bonds. Rather than being paid off in 2049, they will be paid off in 2044.

Lowering its payments by more than $100,000 a year on bond payments will also provide additional cashflow for operations and improvements at SCBHS.

SCBHS had borrowed $648,000 from Bremer Bank in Willmar and with another $6,704,000 in debt with Bremer to be financed with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The two notes were carrying an interest rate of 5.77 percent...

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

With 3.2 inches of rain in the area Monday morning, June’s total rainfall is now at 6.5 inches – 2.15 inches above the average of 4.35 inches.

Monday’s rainfall broke a stretch of four straight months with below average precipitation. Despite June’s heavy rainfall, the area is still 2.3 inches below the January to June average with 10.85 inches of precipitation compared to the average of 13.15 inches.

The Chippewa River near Benson had fallen to 7.61 feet, the lowest level in a couple years. Tuesday morning it peaked at 9.14, up more than 1.5 feet.

Prior to Monday’s rainfall, drought conditions continued to spread through western Minnesota.

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

It appeared to be like any other home in DeGraff but this one was unique. Sitting on the north side of U.S. Highway 12 and just east of the Country Pet Store it spent the last few months sitting on blocks waiting to be transported to its new home in Tracy where its place in history would be preserved.

Last week, the 136-year-old railroad foreman’s house was moved from DeGraff to the  Wheels Across the Prairie Museum in the southwestern Minnesota community...

For more on this story, and to keep up on all the latest in area sports, subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News print edition or our PDF internet edition. Call 320-843-4111 and you can get all the local news and sports delivered to you!

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

As the Minnesota economy gradually opens up, Swift County-Benson Health Services is seeing an increase in patient traffic. At Monday night’s SCBHS meeting, Co-CEO and Chief Nursing Officer Melissa McGinty-Thompson said levels are returning to near 70 percent of normal.

Screening of people entering the facility continues as does the requirement to wear a mask. There are still limits on visiting patients in the facility. However, she added, SCBHS is considering easing its visitation policy if case numbers remain low.

Swift County has seen only two cases of COVID-19 in June, one June 1 and the other reported June 15. The county’s number of COVID-19 cases is 20 with 17 in May and one in April. There has been one death reported, a person in their 90s.

Elective surgeries are again being performed and outpatient services are gearing up, McGinty-Thompson said.

A long line of cars formed as people came to the Praire 5 site on east U.S 12 last Wednesday to pick up food given away as part of the COVID-19 Food Assistance Program. There were an estimated 450 food packages given away.

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

More help is on the way for businesses that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the business shutdowns and slowdowns it has caused in the form of $10,000 grants.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced late last week that the Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants Program would begin accepting applications as of Tuesday, June 23. The application process will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 2 to fulfill the 10-day period required by the law.

A randomized, computer-generated lottery process will be used to select eligible businesses that will receive awards.

The program was funded by $60 million from the federal CARES Act, and $2.5 million from DEED’s Emergency Loan Program.

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

With 2.5 to 3.5 inches of rain in the area Thursday through Sunday, farmers got exactly what they badly needed – a few days of soaking rains.

Thursday’s thunderstorms brought 2.5 to 3 inches of rain to the Benson area with additional rain falling Saturday and Sunday. Prior to this past week’s rainfall, drought conditions were spreading throughout western Minnesota.

When the U.S. Drought Monitor’s new map came out last Thursday morning, it showed all of Swift, Chippewa, Stevens and Pope counties in a moderate drought. It also stretched into Big Stone, Kandiyohi, Grant and Douglas counties and to the northeast across the state.

For more on this story, and to keep up on all the latest in area sports, subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News print edition or our PDF internet edition. Call 320-843-4111 and you can get all the local news and sports delivered to you!