News

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Dew points in the tropical Amazon Rain Forest can be lower than what the Benson area experienced this past weekend.

With the high reaching 91 last Friday, and dew point at a steamy 77 degrees, the combination of moisture in the atmosphere and hot temperatures made it feel like it was 104 degrees outside. There was no relief from the sweltering heat Saturday.

Dew points stayed in the 70s throughout the night last Friday into Saturday morning, and began rising as the day heated up.

Excessive heat advisories were issued for both Friday and Saturday, warning people of the dangerous conditions created by high heat and tropical dew points...

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Swift County is committing $250,000 of its $1,136,857 federal CARES Act funds toward countywide economic development assistances for businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has also voted to set aside $120,000 for public health funding and $100,000 for county expenses related to coping with the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

It took action at its Tuesday, July 21 meeting, to approve the funding for the Swift County Rural Development Authority (RDA) to oversee the disbursement of $250,000 in economic assistance funding for businesses...

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

These funds can only be used for very specific purposes tied to addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the community and must be spent by Nov. 15.

At the Benson City Council meeting Monday night City Manager Rob Wolfington presented the council with a list of proposed uses for the funds. Except for one of the proposals, the list was approved unanimously by the council...

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’s Economic Development Authority unanimously recommended the Benson City Council consider funding the hiring of a full-time economic development director.

EDA Member Pat Hawley made the recommendation at Monday afternoon’s meeting with a second from EDA Member Stephanie Heinzig. The subject was not on Monday night’s Benson council agenda and was not discussed.

Benson needs an economic development director for the city, Hawley said. “I would like the council to investigate that to find out if it is feasible? Is it affordable to do that? Does it make sense to do that? But at least check into the possibility.”

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Swift County has $1,136,857 from the federal CARES Act and until Dec. 31 to spend it or lose it. However, those funds must be spent on expenses tied to the fight against the COVID-19 virus.

Some Swift County cities and townships have also received funding, but they must spend their funds by Nov. 15. 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...

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Administrators for Benson Public Schools are planning for three different scenarios for teaching students when classes resume in early September, Supt. Dennis Laumeyer told the board of education Monday night.

During the week of July 27, Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota Department of Education, and the Minnesota Department of Health will determine under what scenario schools will open in the fall, he said. Whether that is distance learning, in-person learning in the classroom, or a hybrid model that combines distance learning and in-class teaching will be decided at that time. The local school board has no say in how classes will be conducted at this stage.

Administrators favor getting students back in the classroom.

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...