The local farmers market is located in the parking lot of the historic St. John the Baptist Catholic School, near the intersection of highways 21 and 282 in Jordan. 

Erik Johnson sells wine jelly at the farmers market. He is the brother of Jordanite Emily Coleman, who makes the jellies using Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz, Sauvignon, Blanc, and White Zinfandel.

During the next two weeks, Jordan Public Schools will be hiring a new kindergarten teacher.

With intentions of keeping class sizes down, the Jordan School Board unanimously voted tonight to add a sixth classroom to those already headed up by Shannon Aukes, Mary Clawson, Stephanie Olstad, Bill Rutz, and Kathy Schussler. The board made its decision in spite of its dwindling budget, a generally poor economy, and roughly $50,000 of budget cuts it might need to make next year to pay the new teacher's salary.

"It may be short lived," Superintendent Kirk Nelson warned.

School starts Sept. 2 for students in Independent School District No. 717 and at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jordan.

Jordan Public Schools' open houses are scheduled to take place: Aug. 25 for Jordan High School's 10- to 12-grade students; Aug. 26 for middle school students; Aug. 27 for ninth-grade students; and Aug. 27 for elementary school students. 

St. John's open house is set for Aug. 28.

Here's what's been going on in and around Belle Plaine lately, according to the Belle Plaine Herald:

- Anticipating future commercial growth, the Belle Plaine City Council this month voted to add an assistant city planner. Also, city officials "desire to woo new businesses" to town, according to the Herald.

- The Minnesota Department of Transportation would not allow traffic to cross Highway 169 at County Road 3 in Belle Plaine if it completes its plan this fall. 

Ruth Anne Maddox of the Shakopee Valley News reports:

The long-awaited arrival of the bronze sculpture to be placed at Shakopee High School is near and the public is asked to “Save the date” for the unveiling and dedication at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.

The life-size sculpture of city founders Samuel W. Pond, educator and missionary, and Chief Shakopee, leader of the Mdewakanton Tribe of the Dakota Sioux, meeting at the Mill Pond in Shakopee, will be placed just inside the entry at the high school.