Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin applying for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup starting February 27 through April 7, 2023. CRP is a cornerstone voluntary conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to address climate change and help agricultural communities invest in the longterm well-being of their land and natural resources.

USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for very lowand low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area. The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to qualified very-low and low-income applicants that are unable to qualify for traditional financing.

Monogram Foods’ Monogram Loves Kids Foundation will award $60,000 to charitable organizations that sponsor programs benefiting children and their families in the Chandler community. Local 501(c)3 organizations within 100 miles of our plant at 521 N 5th Street, Chandler, MN 56122 are now invited to complete an application by visiting our website: https://monogramfoods.com/ what-we-value/community-outreach/ Through the annual grants program, Monogram Foods Loves Kids will donate more than $650,000 total to charitable organizations in the communities in which Monogram Foods (Monogram) has production facilities. A committee of Monogram team members in each city will select recipients of the grants ranging from $500 to $10,000.

The following students graduated after the summer and fall 2022 semesters at South Dakota State University. Nearly 1,000 students completed all requirements for a degree and/or certificate program, and those requirements have been verified by the appropriate college.

Students honored for academic success during the 2022 fall semester The following students have been named to the 2022 fall semester Dean’s List at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the university announced today.

Murray County 4-H was awarded a Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation Grant to host multi-generational community events. The last Community Night event was hosted this last Friday night at the Murray County 4-H Building.

SCHOOL MENU Monday, March 13: Breakfast: BeneFit Breakfast Bar, Assorted Fresh Fruits and Juices, Milk. Lunch: Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Steamed Corn, Buttered Bread, Chilled Pears, Assorted Fresh Fruits and Veggies.

Sealed bids will be received by the Board of County Commissioners of Murray County, Minnesota, at the Murray County Government Center, County Auditor, 2500 28th Street, Slayton, Minnesota 56172 until 9:00 AM, April 4, 2023, to be opened at 9:00 AM for the following project: SP 051-070-005 CSAH 2 - from CSAH 34 to West City Limits Fulda CSAH 3 - from CSAH 39 to CSAH 44 CSAH 6 - from CSAH 42 to East County Line CSAH 8 - from CSAH 32 in Slayton to CSAH 38 CSAH 10 - from West County Line to TH 91 CSAH 13 - from TH 59 to County Road 102 CSAH 18 - from West County Line to TH 91 CSAH 20 - from TH 91 to CSAH 29 CSAH 40 - from TH 62 to CSAH 3 CSAH 42 - from TH 30 to CSAH 17 CSAH 48 - from CSAH 29 to TH 59 Major quantities of work include: 4” Solid Line Epoxy GR IN (WR) 152,139 Lin Ft 6” Solid Line Epoxy GR IN (WR) 531,542 Lin Ft 4” Broken Line Epoxy GR IN (WR) 47,700 Lin Ft All bids shall be made on forms included in proposal and shall be accompanied by bid security in the form of a bid bond, made payable to Murray County Treasurer in the amount of five percent (5%) of the bid, which security becomes the property of the County in the event the successful bidder fails to enter into a contract and post satisfactory bond. The proposed contract is subject to minimum wage rates set forth by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and incorporated into the Specifications. The County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technicalities and irregularities. Minimum wage rates to be paid by the Contractors have been predetermined and are subject to the Work Hours Act of 1962, P.L. 87-581 and implementing regulations. READ CAREFULLY THE WAGE SCALES AND DIVISION A OF THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS THEY AFFECT THIS/THESE PROJECT/PROJECTS The Minnesota Department of Transportation hereby notifies all bidders: in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Act), as amended and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Subtitle A Part 21, Non-discrimination in Federallyassisted programs of the Department of Transportation, it will affirmatively assure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded maximum opportunity to participate and/or to submit bids in response to this invitation, and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, disability, age, sex or national origin in consideration for an award; in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, and Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 230 Subpart A-Equal Employment Opportunity on Federal and Federal-Aid Construction Contracts (including supportive services), it will affirmatively assure increased participation of minority groups and disadvantaged persons and women in all phases of the highway construction industry, and that on any project constructed pursuant to this advertisement equal employment opportunity will be provided to all persons without regard to their race, color, disability, age, religion, sex or national origin; in accordance with the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota Statute 363A.08 Unfair discriminatory Practices, it will affirmatively assure that on any project constructed pursuant to this advertisement equal employment opportunity will be offered to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age; in accordance with the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota Statute 363A.36 Certificates of Compliance for Public Contracts, and 363A.37 Rules for Certificates of Compliance, it will assure that appropriate parties to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement possess valid Certificates of Compliance. If you have employed more than 40 full-time employees in any state, on any single working day during the previous 12 months, you must have a compliance certificate issued by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to bid on any job in this advertisement. Please contact the Department of Human Rights immediately if you need assistance in obtaining a certificate. The following notice from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights applies to all contractors: “It is hereby agreed between the parties that Minnesota Statute, section 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules, parts 5000.3400 to 5000.3600 are incorporated into any contract between these parties based on this specification or any modification of it. A copy of Minnesota Statute 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules, parts 5000.3400 to 5000.3600 is available upon request from the contracting agency.” “It is hereby agreed between the parties that this agency will require affirmative action requirements be met by contractors in relation to Minnesota Statute 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules 5000.3600. Failure by a contractor to implement an affirmative action plan or make a good faith effort shall result in revocation of its certificate or revocation of the contract (Minnesota Statute 363A.36, Subd. 2 and 3).” Proposals and plans may be secured from Murray County Highway Department, 3051 20th St, Slayton, MN 56172 PHONE 507-836-6327, OR the County’s website www.murraycountymn.com Plan/Proposal $100.00 (postage/tax included) Free on website www.murraycountymn.com Heidi Winter 3/6-3/20/23c County Auditor/Treasurer _________________________________ 6-20c

The MN standards for early education are called the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards (ECIPs). The areas of learning covered by the ECIPs include physical and movement development; language, literacy and communications; cognitive; mathematics; science; social systems; approaches to learning; the arts; and social and emotional development.

The Slayton Area Farm & Home Show/Family Fair is coming up on Saturday, March 18 at the MCC gym. Sponsored by the Slayton Area Chamber of Commerce and Murray County Early Childhood Initiative, the event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.