Anderson Favors Personal Rapid Transit Study
A state lawmaker from our area says he believes that the new P.R.T., or personal rapid transit system could be a big plus for a number of locations in Minnesota. State Representative Bruce Anderson of Buffalo says above ground track with individual car system could be a viable option for people moving. The Minnesota House passed a capital investment bill recently which contains money for a study for a pilot project for P.R.T., possibly in Duluth, where city officials are said to be very interested in developing the first ever system of its kind in the state. |
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Buffalo Council Votes For City Ownership of Wild Marsh
The Buffalo City Council has voted to proceed with a city purchase of the Wild Marsh Golf Course. The vote came at the most recent meeting after discussions at previous meetings and workshops. The current owners of the course reportedly want to sell their interest to downscale their debt load. Current managers of the course say they feel it could be profitable in a few years with proper structure, and the help of city bonding. The majority of those on hand for the public hearing at a recent council meeting voiced their opinion that the golf course was a big asset for the community, and should be protected from development into building areas. The details of the bonding procedure for city purchase are expected to be hammered out at the next council meeting May 3rd. |
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Buffalo Spring Clean-Up Days This Weekend
The City of Buffalo will host its annual spring clean-up days April 30th and May 1st. Residents of the city may bring discardable items to the city maintenance facility on Lake Boulevard on the north side of Buffalo Lake. Hours for the clean-up days are 8 AM to 4 PM both Friday and Saturday. A flat fee will be charged based on volume and weight. Additional fees will be charged for disposal of items such as furniture, appliances, electronics, and mattresses. No hazardous materials will be accepted. The clean-up is restricted to Buffalo residents only. Proof-of-residency will be checked before items may be dropped off. |
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County Planners to Continue Public Hearing on Gravel Mining Proposal Tonight
Wright County planners will resume a public hearing tonight on a proposed gravel mining operation in Southside Township. Annandale Rock Products is proposing a gravel mining operation on 38 acres southwest of Lake John. The township board had ok'd the request, but downsized the overall operation, but some citizens oppose the plan altogether. Public comment on the proposal will resume during tonight's regular meeting of the County Planning Commission. The meeting is set for 8 PM at the Wright County Government Center in Buffalo. |
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Culvert Repair Begins on Wright County Roads Next Week
The first of 8 culvert repair projects is expected to get underway in Wright County on Monday, and will continue for the next two weeks. The work will force the temporary closure of portions of several area roads, though officials say the work should move along fairly quickly weather permitting. The first culvert work will be on County State Aid Highway 30, west of C.S.A.H. 5 in Stockholm Township. Two other culverts could also be repaired next week as well, with the final 5 projects slated for the week of May 10th weather permitting. Questions on the culvert repairs, or any related road closures may be directed to Wright County Highway Maintenance Superintendent Steve Meyer at (763) 682-7374. |
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District 877 State Academic Test Scores Up
Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose 8th and 10th grade students scored well in the most recent round of state academic testing. Superintendent Tom Nelson says 8th grade math and reading scores were up, as were the 10th grade writing scores. Students must pass the state academic standards in order to graduate. Nelson says that the district has never had a student fail to graduate because of inability to pass the curriculum standards. Nelson says it's particularly impressive that testing percentages continue to rise at a time when enrollment is also growing, meaning more students are taking the tests. |
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Funeral Services Today for Noted Area WWII Veteran
A decorated World War 2 veteran from Wright County will be remembered at funeral services today in Delano. 84-year-old Patrick Kennedy died at his home in Delano on Saturday. Kennedy was an airplane mechanic stationed at Hawaii's Hickam Army Air Field adjacent to Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7th, 1941. He survived the attack, and later became an officer serving as a bombardier on 30 bombing missions over Europe, including 4 runs over Berlin. His medals included the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart. After the war, Kennedy worked as a conservationist, working with the Hennepin Soil and Water Conservation District until his retirement in 1990. Funeral services for Patrick Kennedy are scheduled for 11 o'clock this morning at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Delano. |
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Kenneth Zimmerman, Longtime HL-W-W School Board Member and Community Leader Dies
A longtime Winsted area resident who was well known for his civic leadership and service on the area school board died earlier this week. Kenneth Zimmerman died Wednesday at his home at the age of 69. Zimmerman served for 16 years on the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted School Board. He also was a past Grand Knight and 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus Council 8253. Zimmerman was also a devoted member of the Winsted American Legion. Zimmerman will be remembered at funeral services Saturday at 11 AM at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Winsted. |
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Senate Squashes Food Seller Immunity Bill
The Minnesota Senate has rejected a bill recently introduced in the House that calls for protection for restaurants and food producers against lawsuits that suggest that a food seller or producer has a degree of liability in an individual's problems with obesity. The measure could come up again in the Senate as an individual item, though a timetable is not known. |
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Silver Creek Man Faces Murder Charges
A 20-year-old man from the Silver Creek area faces 2nd degree murder charges in connection with a fatal shooting at his home earlier this month. Sergio Guadalupe Garcia is charged in the April 13th shooting death of 42-year-old Juan Esquivel. Officials say Garcia himself called authorities telling them of the shooting, and gave up peacefully when authorities arrived at the home. While it's not completely clear what prompted the shooting, it was reported that Garcia had told authorities that there may have been a dispute between Esquivel, who also lived at the same residence, and Garcia's family. Wright County Attorney Tom Kelly has requested that a grand jury look into 1st degree murder charges against Garcia, who is being held at the Wright County Jail on 500 thousand dollars bail. |
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Weekend Luncheon to Benefit Family of Early Onset Alzheimer's Patient
A benefit luncheon on Sunday will help the family of a man who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease at the age of 46. Ron Smith, a husband and father of 3 can no longer work after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's despite his young age. A ham and scalloped potato luncheon has been scheduled for Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Annandale High School, with proceeds of the luncheon and a silent auction to benefit the family. Contributions may also be mailed to the Ron Smith Family Benefit, c/o Annandale State Bank, P.O. Box 310, Annandale, MN 55302. |
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Wright County Unemployment Unchanged in March
Wright County's jobless rate stayed stable in March at 7.7 percent. The non-seasonally adjusted figures for March were recently released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The available number of workers in Wright County was up for the 4th consecutive month, to a new record high of more than 56,100 persons. The seasonally-adjusted rate across the state dropped a tenth of a point last month to 5.3 percent, while the national rate remained at an even 6 percent, unchanged from February. |
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