SHERBURN — Congratulations to members of the Martin County West class of 2020, who will graduate this 2 p.m. Sunday.

The commencement ceremony will be unique and like no other in the history of our school district. The graduation will be a combination of a virtual ceremony with speeches and music, a virtual walk across the stage that was previously recorded and diploma distribution to the graduates in the parking lot of the high school.

The commencement will be broadcast on Extreme Country 105.7, with a livestream available for viewing through the Explore Okoboji website.

Good luck and all the best to the 2020 graduates.

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The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at the Regional Worship Center in Sherburn from 1-5 p.m. Monday. Please note the shortened hours.

There will be several other changes from blood drives in the past. You must have an appointment; no walk-ins will be allowed.

To make an appointment, call Dorothy Janssen at (507) 236-5764. You may also make an appointment through the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call the Red Cross at (800) 733-2767.

Only donors will be allowed in the building. After check-in, donors will be asked to wait in a designated area (or in their car). They will be notified when it is their turn to donate.

It is perfectly safe to give blood, as all precautions are being made and social distancing rules will be followed.

The need for blood is more critical now than ever, so please consider giving if you are able.

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Martin County West will conduct a public hearing regarding the necessity and practicality of closing the Welcome school building. The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 8.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hearing must be conducted by electronic means. The hearing will be presented live, utilizing the Zoom video conference system, and will be livestreamed via YouTube.

The public may monitor the hearing from a remote location by accessing a link that will be available beginning 6:20 p.m. June 8 on the homepage of the school district’s website at www.martin.k12.mn.us

Members of the public who wish to express their opinion for or against the proposed school closing will have the opportunity to do so prior to the school board’s final decision. Individual or groups of individuals from the community who wish to provide an opinion/statement must do so in writing and they must be signed. They should be sent to: Allison Schmidt, Superintendent, Martin County West School District, 105 E. Fifth St., Sherburn, MN 56171 or e-mailed to mcwcentraloffice@mcwmavericks.org. Comments by telephone will not be accepted.

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Sadly, it has been announced there will be no Holiday Festival in Sherburn this June. The Lions Club is looking at other options later in the summer, but nothing definite has been planned at this time. The festival is always something we look forward to each summer. Just one more thing we will appreciate more next summer.

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Several area churches may be opening soon. See church websites or watch for news on opening dates, times of services, as well as new safety guidelines that will need to be followed.

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A big thank you to the Sherburn Fire and Rescue Squad for making the birthdays of so many of our local kids just a little more special this year. Their 2020 birthday will be one they remember for sure.