Minnesotans continue to test positive for COVID-19 at an average of more than 4,000 a day, and deaths have increased in the past week's update from the Minnesota Department of Health. Case numbers and deaths have continued to rise in west central Minnesota, too.
There were seven newly reported deaths in the region in the past week, including four in Kandiyohi County. The state on Friday reported 3,378 new cases, which may include reinfections.
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Photo by Mike Lamb
Bert Raney Elementary physical education teacher Mary Grey encourages students to keep active.
Physical education teacher Mary Grey stood in the middle of the third graders standing in front of the Bert Raney Elementary playground.
We are going to learn about obstacle courses. They are fun,” Grey told her students, all dressed up in coats on a crisp southwest Minnesota March morning.
One-by-one her students climbed the steps to the playground set that included multiple walkways and slides.
“Only one at a time,” Grey yells out. “I don’t want to see two or three people (together). I know we are outside and we have talked about this all winter. We still need to be apart from each other to keep each other safe. Patience, patience, patience. You will get your turn.”
Granite Falls Advocate Tribune
The students at Bert Raney Elementary in Granite Falls will have a new winter activity to look forward to thanks to generous donations of cross-country skis from the Friends for Upper Sioux Agency, the Granite Falls Kiwanis Club, and the Granite Falls Lions Club. Although many have never skied before, the donors hope that the new equipment will give students the opportunity to develop a new life-long outdoor passion.
According to Friends member Dave Smiglewski, the skis will be available to 5th graders during their winter Physical Education class to start with. In total, the combined donations were able to purchase 28 sets of skis, ski boots, and poles for teachers to use. “The skis and poles are made by Nordic Rocks and have adjustable bindings that will accommodate each kids’ normal winter boots,” Smiglewski noted.