West Central Area girls basketball finishes the December schedule 7-2 overall

On Wednesday this week, the West Central Area girls basketball team pounded the host Osakis Silverstreaks 77-44 in a matchup between Sub-Section 6AA-West teams. They have now won six games in a row after beginning the season 1-2. Osakis falls to 2-5 overall and is 2-1 in the Prairie Conference.

The Knights, who led 41-24 at halftime, shot 48.7 percent from the field, making 37-of-76 shots. They also held a 36-22 edge on the boards. The lady Knights were led by Liza Torgerson's 25 points and 8 rebounds. Tanika Nguyen added 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Alyssa Blair posted a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds). Nguyen and Blair combined for eight steals in the game. Caitlin Peterson and Hollie Lien each distributed 4 assists.

"We found our groove the last ten minutes of the first half and had a strong finish which gave us a 41-24 lead heading into the locker room," stated WCA head coach Pat Anderson. "We were able to carry that momentum over into the second half. Our inside game was unstoppable tonight."

West Central Area will host a Heart O' Lakes Conference game Tuesday night in Barrett, taking on the Breckenridge Cowgirls. WCA is 4-2 in the HOL, good for a third-place tie with Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton. The Cowgirls are 2-4 overall and in the HOL, sitting in 7th place in the 10-team league.

Governor Pawlenty is cut off at the knees on his "unallotment strategy"

Minnesota judge overrules Pawlenty on budget cuts

(Associated Press)

A Minnesota judge ruled Wednesday that Gov. Tim Pawlenty "crossed the line" when he cut billions from the state budget on his own, ordering his administration to restore money to a food program for the poor.

The ruling from Ramsey County District Judge Kathleen Gearin only deals directly with a small slice of $2.7 billion in cuts the Republican governor announced this summer. But her accompanying explanation criticizes his strategy to slice the budget without input from the Legislature. Pawlenty was using an executive authority known as unallotment.

Gearin wrote that Pawlenty "crossed the line between legitimate exercise of his authority to unallot and interference with the legislative power to make laws."

The judge added that the power is reserved for an unforeseen budget crisis and "is not meant to be used as a weapon by the executive branch to break a stalemate in budget negotiations with the legislature."

Pawlenty's administration was ordered to reinstate funding for the Minnesota Supplemental Aid Special Diet program going back to Nov. 1 and continue it until further court notice. Another hearing is scheduled for March 1.

The program supplies cash grants to elderly and disabled people on fixed incomes to help them with special dietary needs stemming from other health concerns. It was estimated to cost the state $5.3 million, according to court documents.

An attorney from Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance, which handled the case, had no immediate comment.

Pawlenty issued a one-paragraph statement after the ruling.

"We are disappointed in the judge's decision," Pawlenty said. "We are weighing all of our options including appeal, re-establishing unallotments under the current forecast, potential legislative action, and other options."

Minnesota faces a $1.2 billion budget deficit for the current two-year cycle and a much larger one down the road.

The case grew out of cuts Pawlenty made after he and the Democratic-controlled Legislature failed to agree on a budget.

An attorney for Pawlenty had argued that the state would have trouble paying its bills if the administration lost because others hit by cuts would see it as an invitation to file similar lawsuits.

Gearin said in her ruling that she wasn't swayed by the assistance program at the heart of the case, but the process by which Pawlenty cut it.

"The court's decision was based on the way he unalloted, not what he unalloted," Gearin wrote, stressing she would rather the courts stay out of budget and policy decisions.

Pawlenty's unallotment authority had survived a court challenge early in his first term. What differed in this case is that Pawlenty made the cuts at the start of a budget period instead of doing them as a reaction to an economic report showing a deficit and little time left to solve it.

Dr. Gayle Chamberlin ready to open Chiropractic Office at Hoffman's Healthcare Mall on January 5

Here's Dr. Chamberlin in his new office in Hoffman, which he is in the process of preparing for his first day of business, next week Tuesday.

Scenes of Winter around Farwell, Kensington, Hoffman after the big Christmas storm of 2009 (click to enlarge)

The view in the top photo is from the south side of Farwell.

Photos that go with December 24th Jim's Journal in the Hoffman Tribune

Eye opening figure - 72 pre-school age children in the Osakis school district

Osakis school enrollment up
By Greta Petrich, Osakis Review

The Osakis School Board reviewed its annual census report at its regular meeting December 14.

The report looks at trends in enrollment from the first day of school. In 2009, Osakis Public School tallied 780 students September 8 – only 32 shy of its 1973 high of 812.

Osakis Superintendent Gregg Allen pointed out what may be an all-time high of 400 students in K-6.

The high school numbers dropped after bringing in a small 7th grade compared to a large graduating class last year.

A total of 234 students came into Osakis School District through open enrollment from the following areas: Minnewaska (78), Alexandria (67), Long Prairie (56), Sauk Centre (23), Eagle Valley (4), Parkers Prairie (2), Browerville (1), Minneapolis (1), Cedar Mountain (1) and Morris (1).

But some students also left Osakis to attend other schools. Sixty-one students who live in District 213 sought other options for their education, compared to 73 last year. Of these, 18 are home schooled and 11 attend Lakes Area Charter School. Other districts attended are: Alexandria (17), Sauk Centre (13) and Long Prairie (2).

The home school numbers only include ages 7-16 and do not include any Amish families living in the district.

Although Osakis loses some students, open enrollment for the 2009-10 school year gave Osakis an additional 173 students on the first day of school.

Allen commended the staff, teachers and administration for keeping kids in the district.

“Competition for students is tough,” he said. “School districts are doing interesting things to get kids to choose their schools. Our staff is doing a wonderful job keeping kids in our district.”

The report also showed 49 students enrolled at St. Agnes School in Osakis, most of whom will come to the Osakis High School in 7th grade.

The census showed that Osakis Public School’s total enrollment was up with 790 students signed up to attend Osakis Public School on the first day. That’s 25 more than last year and an increase of 58 students in the past two years.

Allen highlighted census data for 0- to 4-year-olds – an age group they watch closely. According to the report, there are 72 4-year-old children.

What isn’t on the report, Allen explained, is 4-year-olds outside the district.

“If we’re at 25 percent or more open enrollment, can you imagine what that kindergarten number could be?” he said.

He added that the parents of 4 year olds in the district will receive calls in January to determine if those children will attend school next year since some parents opt to wait an extra year for kindergarten.

Grant County Salvation Army provided refreshments during the 2009 Holiday Train

The Grant County Salvation Army members braved the cold and provided coffee and hot chocolate during the Holiday Train in Elbow Lake on December 16th. They served approximately 75 cups of hot chocolate and 40 cups of coffee. It was so much fun to see the Holiday Train and to watch the people enjoying the entertainment.

We would like to thank Culligan for allowing us to park by their building and use their electricity, the Chamber of Commerce, and Luverne Sik of the Elbow Lake Police Dept. Thank you to everyone for their donations. The Salvation Army red kettle donations will be used locally to help Grant County residents.

Thank you from the Grant County Salvation Army!