Here’s a look at the top headlines from around west central Minnesota for Sept. 8, 2022.

WILLMAR — Three candidates have been named as finalists for the soon-to-be open Kandiyohi County administrator position.

The finalists are Kelsey Baker, the current county administrator of Swift County; Cassandra Harvey, the Healthy Aging & Caregiver Supports project manager for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in St. Paul; and Jennifer Lippert, who is currently the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services director.

The three finalists will be interviewed by the board on Sept. 27.

WILLMAR — The Willmar City Auditorium is in overall good condition, but there is more than $800,000 in repairs needed just to maintain it, according to a recently completed report.

In order to improve the building enough for reuse, the cost will be another $620,000 to $3.62 million to include developing a reuse plan and creating construction documents, as well as making the building accessible on all floors and installing a sprinkler system.

Repairs and reconstruction of the building could allow for its reuse as offices, a business incubator or other community uses.

MONTEVIDEO — Koreen Drexler Thompson opened the Wildwood Montessori School in her home in Montevideo more than six years ago in hopes of providing children with the education that can help them become thoughtful, committed citizens able to change the world.

Thanks to a whole lot of committed adults in Montevideo, that opportunity remains, but now exists in a much bigger way.

The Wildwood Montessori School in Montevideo celebrated its successful transition from a home-based to center-based educational facility on Aug. 31, 2022. The celebration — held on the birthdate of the late Maria Montessori — was only possible because the community had rallied to help the school raise $120,000 to secure its future.