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| Back to: Home > Local News & Info > KRWC News Archives 2004 |
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| KRWC News 5/17/04 - 5/23/04 |
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Farmers Market in Downtown Buffalo
A new Saturday morning Farmers Market has been ok'd for downtown Buffalo. This week, Buffalo City Council members heard a request from Phil Hannay, who represented an association of local vendors who asked to run a Farmers Market in the city parking lot across from Buffalo Cinema. Hannay said the vendors must be from a 50 mile radius of Buffalo, have only locally grown or handmade products for sale, and pay a $30 association fee in order to be a part of the group. Hannay said his group had talked with businesses in the area and did not run into any opposition to the idea. In fact, he said, his group believed that the weekly Farmers Market would draw people downtown. The Council approved the request for operation of the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings between the hours of 8:30 and 11:30 AM from May through October. If the group can organize the event quickly enough, it's expected that this Saturday morning will be the first day for the weekly market. |
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Legislative Session Ends With Long 'Undone' List
After an all-night session Saturday night into early Sunday morning, the Minnesota Legislature called it quits for 2004. Many Minnesotans, and lawmakers themselves feel the session ended with many things left unaccomplished. Still up in the air is a 160 million dollar budget gap, the bonding bill, stricter sentencing for sex-offenders, and the proposals for stadiums. The roadblocks that separated the Republican-controlled House, and the DFL-led Senate continued right through the end of the session, and halted many bills in their tracks. The legislature did agree on a new .08 drunk-driving standard, and new education standards for social studies and science. It's still unclear whether or not Governor Tim Pawlenty will call the lawmakers back for a special session. That decision could come as early as today, or sometime later this week. |
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Let The Roundup Begin!
The first of 50 colorful bison statues are starting to appear at various sponsor locations around the community of Buffalo. The statues are a part of the Buffalo Rodeo Committee' s “Buffalo RoundUp” in honor of this summer's 50th anniversary of the Buffalo Rodeo. The various bison statues, which range from cityscapes to a Buffalo fish, to outer space designs and everything in between will be displayed along with a plaque listing the sponsor, artist, and name given to the bison statue by the artist. Sponsors from throughout the community made a sponsorship donation in order to be a bison statue location through the end of the summer. Then, the bison statues will be collected for the Grand Western Finale Auction in September. Proceeds from the summer campaign will be used to make improvements to the rodeo grounds and arena which are used for many events throughout the year. The 20 life-size bison statues, and 30 table-top sized statues should be in place by the end of the month, and maps will be available at many locations directing explorers to all of the “Buffalo RoundUp” statue sites. |
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Local Lake Association Best in State
A Wright County area Lake Association has been named the best in the state by the Minnesota Lakes Association. The Lake Ann Improvement Association was given the honor earlier this year at the MLA's annual meeting in Deerwood, Minnesota. The Lake Ann group has been working closely with the Soil and Water Conservation District to help improve the lake. So far, 32 acres of buffer strips have been installed in the Lake Ann watershed. |
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Longtime Maple Lake Businessman, Former County Treasurer Ernie Pribyl Dies
A well-known Wright County area businessman, and former County Treasurer died earlier this week. Ernest “Ernie” Pribyl of Maple Lake, died at a long-term care facility in Rogers on Wednesday at the age of 85. Pribyl was known in this area from a number of occupations. He was a grain elevator manager in both Maple Lake and Buffalo, a business manager for Corron Construction in Buffalo, and served as a Deputy Registrar for the State of Minnesota. He owned and operated the Maple Lake Laundromat, but Pribyl might best be remembered for his service as Wright County's Treasurer from 1975 until his retirement in 1984. Funeral services for ”Ernie” Pribyl will be held Saturday morning at 10:30 at St. Timothy's Catholic Church of Maple Lake. |
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Magnet Arts Program Coming to Buffalo High School
A new magnet program focusing on an arts curriculum is coming to Buffalo High School in about a year. The school is introducing the program as a part of fulfilling a requirement placed on the district by the Northwest Suburban Integration School District, a consortium that was formed as a direct result of a desegregation lawsuit in the metro area several years ago. District 877 Superintendent Tom Nelson says the hope is that students from surrounding areas who have a specific interest in the arts will have the option to choose Buffalo High School. The Superintendent says that funding for the program comes directly from the state, and will not effect the district's budget. The program will be offered to any freshman or sophomore student beginning in the fall of 2005. |
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Memorial Day Weekend Seat Belt, Speed Enforcement Wave Planned
Law enforcement officers from local police departments, the Wright County Sheriff's office, and the State Patrol will be out in force through the Memorial Day holiday period for the next "Safe & Sober" campaign wave. The next sweep of saturation patrols will run from May 24th through June 6th. Sheriff Gary Miller says squads will be looking for speeders and those who don't use their safety belts. Most major highways and freeways through Wright County will be a part of the saturation patrols in an effort to educate motorists, and save lives. Statistics from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety show that in 2002, of the 196 people who died as occupants of cars involved in rollover crashes, 78 percent were unbelted. Officials say that they believe 116 of those deaths could have been prevented with proper seatbelt of child safety seat use. |
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New State Troopers Start Patrols Memorial Day Weekend
New Minnesota State Troopers will be deployed across several regions of the state, including the Wright County area starting later this month. New troopers will be deployed to Buffalo, Elk River, and St. Cloud as a part of the 15 communities across the state that will get the additional patrols. The troopers are among 41 new officers that will eventually be deployed throughout the state, representing the largest one-time increase in the history of the State Patrol. The trooper additions were approved last year as a part of the state legislation that allows bars to stay open until 2 AM. The new troopers in our region will be starting their first patrols on Memorial Day weekend. |
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Senate Rejects Yecke, Confirms Molnau
The Minnesota Senate has blocked Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke's confirmation on a 35-31 vote. Yecke has been a controversial figure since taking the role of the state's top school official last February. Senate Democrats said Yecke is too divisive and blocked information from getting to them. Defenders however, say she's smart, well-qualified, and a leader who has come under fire for challenging the status quo. The Senate did however, confirm the rest of Governor Pawlenty's appointments including Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau as Transportation Commissioner. |
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Walk & Roll This Weekend in Monticello
Wheels and sneakers of all kinds will be hitting the pathway in Monticello this weekend for the 9th annual Walk & Roll. Susie Wojchouski of the Monticello Chamber of Commerce says the event was originally started as a way to mark the opening of the recreational trail system through the community of Monticello. Wojchouski says today, the Walk & Roll serves as a way to celebrate the ever-expanding pathway. Walk & Rollers can win some nice prizes for participating on Saturday by getting their "pathports" stamped at vendors along the pathway. The Monticello Walk & Roll begins at 9 AM Saturday with the Bike Rodeo and Bike Helmet sale at the Monticello-Big Lake Hospital, and will continue through 12:30 PM with the prize drawings at West Bridge Park. |
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Wright County Educator Named Regional Assistant Principal of Year
A Wright County area educator was recently named the Central Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals Assistant Principal of the Year. Dale Carlson of Cokato is the assistant principal at St. Michael-Albertville High School. Carlson was selected by fellow educators on his service to education. Carlson helped to establish a school-wide climate based on courtesy and respect, which led to a special awards program now used at St. Michael-Albertville High School. Carlson will now be considered for the state and national Assistant Principal of the Year award. |
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