The Christmas Cookie Bowl Little feet pattered about the wooden planks of the local hardware store gravitating towards the toy section. Mine, however, made their way to the kitchen isle.

Monday, December 13: Breakfast: Graham Bug Bites, Yogurt, Assorted Fruit and Fruit Juice, Milk. Lunch: Meatball Sub, Baked Beans, Chilled Fruit Cocktail, Assorted Fresh Fruits and Veggies.

The MCC Rebel Girls on Thursday played their second game of the season at home against the Lakeview Lakers. The Rebels were coming off a blowout loss to Jackson County Central on Tuesday and were hoping to pick up a win against an inexperienced Laker team who had lost to Heron Lake Okabena Fulda earlier in the week. The Rebels and the Lakers would go back and forth in a competitive game but in the end, the Rebels would be too much.

The Murray County Central Rebels opened week number two of the season at home Monday night against the Canby Lancers. The Lancers are expected to be one of the top teams in the Camden Conference this season led by their experienced roster filled with length four of the five starters are 5’8” or taller. The Rebels would see a more experienced version of themselves on Monday night and they would give everything they had in a tough defensive-minded game unfortunately the Rebels would come up short.

YOUTH BASKETBALL The winter season is off to an exciting start with 62 young players out for basketball at MCC in Grades 4-6. The youth basketball players began practice in November with Coach Luke Freeman and Coach Tim Cariveau at the skill sessions where they focused on the skill development and the fundamentals.

The Murray County Medical Center Board met in the monthly session on December 1st. Statistics in acute admissions, patient days and swing bed were all down slightly from the previous month. Surgical numbers were up or even with those of the previous month. All categories are showing an increase from last year. Gross Revenue for the year to date has risen $2426 over the previous year; however expenses have risen considerably especially for supplies. The Net Loss for the month was $32,673 with year to date income of $1.2M. This was has a result of the influx of Covid related grant monies. There are currently $3M in Covid monies being held in reserve. Hopefully the claims made for that amount will be allowed as expenses. Robyn Van Heuvelen along with Riley were thanked for all the effort they have put into the Covid financials. Another $380,000 is expected from Covid ARP program funding. The balance sheet shows $5M in restricted and funded depreciation cash.

The Murray County Board of Commissioners met on November 30. Board members will be attending the Association of Minnesota Counties meeting on their regular meeting date of December 7. This meeting was scheduled to handle any end of the month business and topics normally on the December 7 agenda.

Slayton City Council met on Monday, December 6th. All members were present for the evening meeting. The agenda was approved with additions. The minutes from the last meeting were reviewed and approved as were the claims.

The Murray County Board of Commissioners met in a short session on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Paul Kirchner was on hand to receive a plague and the Board’s wishes for a wonderful retirement. He has been working with the highway department.

Bob Hope entertained military troops for over 50 years. One of his last shows happened on the tiny island of Diego Garcia, in the middle of the Indian Ocean - Christmas 1972.