2nd Wright County Habitat House to be Dedicated Sunday
The Wright County Chapter of Habitat For Humanity and its community partners will be on hand on Sunday to dedicate the second "Habitat Home" built in our area. The home was constructed for the Rebecca Stute family of Annandale, and is located in the Purcell Ponds addition in that community. Habitat for Humanity provides an opportunity for home ownership for lower-income families who may not be able to afford to buy a home by traditional means. Local businesses, churches, community groups, families, and individuals volunteer to provide the money, materials, services, and labor to complete the home. The habitat family also works on the home prior to moving in to earn the down payment on a no-interest mortgage to purchase the home. An official ceremony will be held at 1:55 Sunday afternoon, with a public reception from 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Wright County Habitat For Humanity hopes to construct a 3rd home in the area in 2004. To find out more about being a part of the habitat process, contact the Wright County chair, Warren Myhre at (763) 682-1500. |
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Arctic Air Arrives!
Minnesotans are shivering through one of the coldest days of the winter today. An arctic front roared into the state around mid-morning on Wednesday, bringing the frigid temperatures and bitter wind chills. Morning lows were around -11 this morning, with wind chills in the -25 range. Wind chill advisories have been issued for most of the state. Anyone working outside, or needing to be out of doors for any length of time today needs to be properly dressed for the weather as frostbite can occur within minutes. Temperatures are expected to moderate by the weekend, with a possibility of some accumulating snow by Sunday. |
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Bomb Scare in Buffalo Only a Scare
The bomb scare in Downtown Buffalo that caused a partial shut down of Highway 25 along extra law enforcement and even evacuation of parts of Downtown Buffalo, was only a scare. The Buffalo Police Department, along with the Wright County Sheriff's department, had received intelligence that a 39 year-old man may have had a home made bomb or explosive device. After a search warrant for the subject and vehicle he was traveling in was received, the 39 year-old was detained along with the woman who drove him to the Police Department parking lot. A complete search of the subject, woman and car turned up nothing. Both subjects were released, and no formal charges are expected at this time. |
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Driver Who Plunged Car Over Bluff in Minneapolis Wanted in Sherburne County
An already strange incident in the Twin Cities early this week got even stranger Tuesday when it was learned that a man who drove his car over a cliff at Minnehaha Falls Park in Minneapolis Monday night was wanted in connection with a stabbing in Big Lake. The man is also said to be a Level 3 sex offender. Minneapolis police officers had to climb down more than 60 feet to where the man's car got hung up by trees in order to rescue him. When they reached the car, the man reportedly threatened to shoot any officer that attempted to help him. The man had to be subdued with Mace in order to be rescued. One Minneapolis police officer was slightly injured when a rock from the bluff struck him on the head during the precarious rescue. The man's name has not yet been released pending formal charges. |
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Funeral Services Saturday for Woody Lange
Many Wright County people were shocked this week to learn of the death of a well-known area resident. 59-year-old "Woody" Lange of Monticello died suddenly on Tuesday. Lange was best known for more than 30 years of work in the sales and installation of water softeners and water conditioners in the area. Lange was also an active volunteer in his church. Funeral services for "Woody" Lange are scheduled for Saturday at 11 AM at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Monticello. |
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Governor Proclaims Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Minnesota
Governor Tim Pawlenty has declared today "Martin Luther King, Jr. Day" in Minnesota. The slain civil rights leader fought segregation, war, and poverty. The country observes his birthday as a federal holiday today. Barbara Ronnigen of the Minnesota State Demographic Office says while there has been progress, Dr. King's dream of equality among all races is still a goal, at least in economic terms. Ronnigen says Minnesota's minority population grew from 1 percent in 1960 to 12 percent today. Most of that increase was from immigration. |
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Local Lawmaker Attends Pro-Life Rally on Roe vs. Wade Anniversary
State Representative Bruce Anderson of Buffalo was among local legislators who turned out for a pro-life rally at the state capitol on Thursday, marking the 31st anniversary of the supreme court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. Anderson said he was impressed to see more than 2 thousand people brave bitterly cold wind chills to participate in the annual march organized by Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. Several rallies were also held by pro-choice advocates throughout Minnesota on Thursday as well. |
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Maple Lake Youngster Dies From Sledding Accident Injuries
A 5-year-old boy from Maple Lake has died from injuries he suffered in a weekend sledding accident in Stearns County. Hunter Albers was taken off life support Sunday night according to Kerry Beckenbach, the deputy medical examiner in Stearns County. Hunter suffered severe head injuries when he slid down a hill at his father's home in Avon, and crashed into a parked ATV which adults were using to bring the youngsters back up the hill. Authorities say the boy was alone on his sled at the time of the accident. The boy is the son of Thomas Albers of Avon, and Cindy Mavencamp of Maple Lake. Funeral services have been scheduled for Thursday in Maple Lake. |
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Minnesota Unemployment up Slightly in December
Minnesota's jobless rate was up slightly last month, though there were significant job increases in specific areas. Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Kramer says the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, up a tenth of a percentage point from November. Employment in key categories such as manufacturing however were up last month. The national jobless rate in December dropped two-tenths of a point to 5.7 percent, compared to 6 percent a year ago. Wright County's unemployment statistics for December will be released next week. |
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Minnesota's U.S. Senators Angered Regarding Pentagon R&R Reimbursement
Minnesota's U.S. Senators find themselves in the same corner in their anger about a decision by the Pentagon regarding a new travel expense reimbursement policy enacted by Congress. Senators Coleman and Dayton sent strongly worded letters to U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld this week, detailing their disappointment that the Pentagon didn't make travel reimbursement retroactive from the date the new policy was enacted. The Minnesota Senators told Rumsfeld that they felt the intent of the legislative amendment was clear that all troops should be reimbursed for travel costs home for rest and recuperation from war theaters in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon currently is only paying full travel costs for R&R for troops from December 19th, 2003 and beyond. |
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New Federal Program Helps Jobseekers With Disabilities
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says a new federal program may be just the ticket for Minnesota jobseekers with disabilities. The new program from the Social Security Administration is called "Ticket To Work", and is designed to make it easier for eligible Social Security recipients with disabilities to go to work. Customers can make choices about vocational rehabilitation service providers that are best for them, and may begin a new job with few risks of losing other forms of assistance. The program manager, Marilyn McGuire with says about 103 thousand Minnesotans with disabilities would be eligible for the program. For more information on "Ticket To Work", log onto: www.yourtickettowork.com, or contact Marilyn McGuire at (651) 282-2672, or Rehabilitation Area Director Linda Lingen at (651) 642-0504. |
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Reaction to State of the Union Address Predictable
Response to the President's annual State of the Union message is flooding in today, and is predictably divided across party lines. Wright County's representative in congress, 6th District Congressman Mark Kennedy applauded President Bush for effectively summarizing what's at stake in the on-going war on terror. Kennedy also said he supports the President's stance on economic growth and job creation, and his focus on improving healthcare and education, including an endorsement of tax credits for the uninsured. Meanwhile, DFL Senator Mark Dayton says he disagrees with the President's course. Dayton says the number of millionaires and the number of unemployed are both at record numbers. He added that in Minnesota, 58 thousand fewer people are working than when President Bush took office. Republican Senator Norm Coleman said the President's message was right on target. He sided with President Bush on the war in Iraq, tax cuts, education funding provided that educators are held accountable for results, and he said that the country shouldn't allow pessimism or politics to divert the country from the good course it's on. |
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Sledding Accident Victim, Community Volunteer Remembered at Separate Services Today
Funeral services are scheduled today for a 5-year old boy who died earlier this week from injuries he sustained in a sledding accident at his father's home in neighboring Stearns County last weekend. Hunter Albers suffered severe head injuries when his sled hit an ATV at the bottom of a sledding hill last Saturday. The young boy died at St. Cloud Hospital on Monday. Funeral services for Hunter Albers are schedule for 2 o'clock today in Cokato. Memorial services are also scheduled for 2 o'clock today for a longtime Annandale community volunteer. Doris Spindler died at her home on Bass Lake on Sunday at the age of 76. Mrs. Spindler is remembered for her many years as a volunteer and former board member of Camp Friendship near Annandale, and also was a member and past president of the Annandale Improvement Club. |
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Wright County Community Action Offers Help With Heating Bills
Wright County residents who are finding it hard to keep up with winter heating bills are reminded that income eligible households may apply for help through the Energy Assistance Program, or E.A.P. Wright County Community Action is again operating the program which provides some relief for households struggling with winter heating costs, and other energy-related costs including emergency repairs. Applications will be accepted through May 31st. Contact Wright County Community Action for more information at (320) 963-6500. |
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Wright County Receives Six Figure Rebate
The Wright County Board of Commissioners got some good news during their January 6th Meeting. County Coordinator Dick Norman informed the board that the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust was sending Wright County a rebate check of nearly 300,000 dollars. This is the 13th year the county has received money back and will be applied to expenses that will be incurred this year. |
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