 |
|
|
| Back to: Home > Local News & Info > KRWC News Archives 2004 |
 |
|
 |
|
| KRWC News 5/24/04 - 5/30/04 |
|
Abandoned Meth Lab Waste is a Possible Danger to Those Enjoying Outdoors.
With many people getting outdoors this Memorial Day weekend to fish, camp, or otherwise enjoy the best of Minnesota, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, cautions the public to be on the lookout for the remains of methamphetamine labs, and their dangerous wastes. Across the nation, wastes from illegal meth labs are being found increasingly in rural and natural areas including cabins, farm buildings, highway rest stops, parks, campgrounds and recreational lands. According to Kate Gaynor, a methamphetamine lab researcher for the MPCA, illegal meth production is often done in isolated areas due to solvent odors and other indicators of the lab. Meth lab operators then may dump wastes from the labs in unpopulated or sparsely populated areas far from their labs to separate themselves from the evidence that could lead to successful prosecution.
Some of the substances that should not be touched if encountered include:
Acid and other corrosive materials, shredded lithium batteries, iodine, red phosphorus, and ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Gaynor says those substances as well as other meth lab trash and manufacturing equipment may present hazardous exposures to people and the environment. The propane cylinders, tanks or fire extinguishers that have been used to hold anhydrous ammonia are especially dangerous and should not be handled by anyone except clean up professionals. Finally dismantling and disposing of a meth lab and cleaning the site is dangerous and expensive. If you come across and active or deserted meth lab, or meth lab wastes, do not handle anything, leave the area and call local police, the sheriff's department, or the Minnesota Duty Officer at 651-649-5451 or toll free at 1-800-422-0798. |
| |
Community Leaders Discuss Harsh Truths About Methamphetamine
Wright County residents turned out in person at the Buffalo City Center, watched on local cable television, or listened on KRWC Radio Tuesday evening as community experts presented information at a special meeting on the dangers and impact of methamphetamine. Meth is a homemade stimulant drug made from common, easily accessible materials. The proliferation of methamphetamine has been so rapid, and its effects so devastating, that a group calling itself ”MEADA”, or Methamphetamine Education and Drug Awareness Coalition of Wright County was organized to inform the public on the drug's dangers, not only to those who use it, but also to those who are victims of the drug in other ways, both directly and indirectly. KRWC will present excerpts from Tuesday's community meeting on methamphetamine in our local news today, and throughout the week. In the meantime, you can find out more by calling (763) 682-7713, or log onto the MEADA website at www.meada.org. |
| |
Federal Grant Secured For Buffalo Airport
U.S. Senator Norm Coleman has announced that the City of Buffalo will receive a federal grant of just under 290 thousand dollars from the Federal Aviation Administration for improvements at the Buffalo Municipal Airport. Coleman said in a statement on Tuesday that transportation safety is a top concern, and that he was pleased to see a Minnesota community receive the funds needed to help with transportation improvements. The funds will be used for a runway rehabilitation project currently underway. The runway at the airfield is 12 years old, and the upgrades that are underway are the first major improvements made during that time. |
| |
Funeral Services Today for Clear Lake Crash Victim
Funeral services are scheduled for today in Wright County for a young woman from Clear Lake who died last week in a two-vehicle traffic crash. Authorities say 19-year-old Justine Barthel was traveling west on Sherburne County Road 48 around 6:45 Thursday evening when she failed to stop at the intersection of County Road 23. Barthel's car was struck in the driver's door by a light truck driven by a 50-year-old Clear Lake man. Both vehicles reportedly ran off the road, with the young woman's car apparently rolling over. Barthel was ejected from the car, and was later pronounced dead at the scene. The services for Justine Barthel are scheduled for today at 1 o'clock at the Peterson-Grimsmo Chapel in Monticello. |
| |
Gas Prices Continue to Soar
Gasoline prices continue to make drivers a little woozy. Gas prices across the state took another jump of around a dime or more late last week. Here in Wright County, the price at many stations went up by 13 to 14 cents per gallon, with the price for a gallon of regular unleaded now commonly over $2.10. Some Wright County service stations are showing prices close to $2.20 per gallon. Though there has been some optimism that increased oil production promised by Saudi Arabia may help to level off gas prices, most analysts don't expect any big drops in fuel costs in the near future. It remains to be seen what, if any effect the higher price at the pump will do to summer travel plans, with Memorial Day, the first big holiday of the summer. |
| |
Heavy Holiday Air Traffic Expected
Federal officials estimate some 200 million air passengers will fly this summer, and the Memorial Day weekend is expected to be a busy time at airports throughout the country. Jim Welna of the Transportation Security Administration says lines could be long at airports. Welna says the Minneapolis / St. Paul International airport isn't expected to see major delays, but air customers can help move things along by using some common sense at the security checkpoints.The T-S-A officials says the Twin Cities airport is also changing shifts and adding part time workers to be ready for the summer travel crush. |
| |
Lane Expansion on 55 in Buffalo Now in Progress
Work on a 10.4 Million Dollar Four Lane expansion project for Highway 55 in Buffalo is underway. The St. Cloud office of the Minnesota Department of Transportation says motorists should be alert for intermittent daytime lane closures as crews begin widening the south side of Highway 55. Once crews widen the south side of the highway, reconstruction on the westbound lanes will begin, and in addition, the project includes the installation of sanitary sewer and a new water main on the north side of Highway 55 in Buffalo. The project limits will extend between the junction of Highway 25 and Highway 55 to about 1600 feet west of Wright County Highway 134. Motorists are urged to slow down, use caution, and be alert for workers in the construction zone. Weather permitting the entire project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2005. For more information on weather, road conditions, or traffic incidents, travelers can contact Mn/Dot by calling 511 or by logging onto www.511mn.org. |
| |
Peak Time For Lyme Disease
This is peak time for deer ticks to spread Lyme disease in Minnesota, and the holiday weekend means that for many, it will be the first lengthy period of time in the outdoors for the summer season. Dave Neitzel with the Minnesota Department of Health says the potential for Lyme disease isn't a major problem all over the state, since most cases occur in central Minnesota between the Twin Cities and Duluth. However, Federal health officials are reporting record levels of Lyme disease this year. To be on the safe side, health officials advise Minnesotans to use proper insect repellents when they're outdoors, even in areas of the state where Lyme disease occurrences are less likely. |
| |
Special Session?
A decision could come this week on a possible special session for state lawmakers. Governor Tim Pawlenty says he continues to discuss the possibility of a special session on specific issues with legislative leaders. In his weekly radio program late last week, the Governor emphasized his disappointment with how the 2004 legislative session ended.
If lawmakers are called back into session, the Governor says he'd like to see them revisit the stadium issue. The issue is still a sore spot for many legislators, and the Governor admits that in a perfect world, the state probably shouldn't have to help professional sports teams. The Governor says however, that the reality is that today, virtually all new stadiums that have been constructed have some form of help from the states that host them. Other issues that would likely come up in a special session include the bonding bill and sentencing for sexual predators. |
| |
Summer Water Safety
There's probably not a lot of swimming going on in area lakes as temperatures over this holiday weekend will be pretty cool, but that doesn't necessarily mean that kids are completely safe from swimming accidents, including accidental drowning. Angela Mickalide with the Minnesota SAFE KIDS Campaign says that children can drown in as little as an inch of water. Mickalide says a new survey showed that parents of children who drowned often didn't pay close enough attention. Mickalide says with summer nearing, parents need to remember safety tips around the water, including active supervision and the use of life jackets. Nearly 420 children and adults have drowned in Minnesota over the past 10 years. |
| |
Two Alcohol-Related Incidents Lead to Arrests in Sherburne County
Alcohol was a contributing factor in two separate motor vehicle crashes that happened nearly simultaneously Saturday night in neighboring Sherburne County. Sheriff's Department officials say the first incident happened just before 11 o'clock, when a deputy stopped to investigate two ATV's which were parked along Highway 25 near 97th Street. Two men reportedly appeared to be searching for something in the grass. A deputy determined that one of the ATV riders, 31-year-old Christopher Cook of Becker had crashed his vehicle, and had lost his glasses. Both Cook, and the other rider, 42-year-old Richard Wallen, also of Becker, submitted to field sobriety tests, then were taken to the Sherburne County Jail for further tests. Their ATV's were confiscated, and the men may have to forfeit the vehicles. Charges of 2nd Degree DWI are expected against both men, as well as additional charges against Cook. Moments later in Big Lake Township, a single vehicle crash injured three men when a pickup truck missed a curve, ran off the road, and crashed mid-air into a pine tree, then hit a driveway embankment, and a utility box. Authorities say the crash happened near the 400 block of 196 Drive. The driver, 25-year-old Anthony Lachner of Monticello was injured in the crash. The two passengers in the truck left the scene, and went back to a residence they had just left a short distance away. All three men were taken to the Monticello-Big Lake Hospital, where Anthony Lachner was held overnight for observation. Alcohol was suspected in the incident, and because he had a previous DWI conviction within 10 years, the driver, Anthony Lachner is expected to be charged with criminal vehicular operation with substantial bodily harm.
The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation in both incidents. |
| |
Two Area High Schools Hold Commencement Exercises This Weekend
Two Wright County area high schools will host their annual graduation ceremonies this weekend, as the first of 9 commencements to be held in our area. Friday, Annandale High School's 148 graduates in the Class of 2004 were the first of more than 15 hundred seniors to receive diplomas in Wright County over the next two weeks.
Annandale's commencement exercises were scheduled for 8 pm in the high school gym. Sunday, the 57 seniors at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School will graduate at ceremonies scheduled for 2 pm at the high school gym. Next week, the remaining high schools in Wright County will hold their annual graduation ceremonies. Rockford and St. Michael-Albertville will hold their commencements on Thursday, June 3rd. Buffalo, Maple Lake, and Monticello High Schools will hold graduation ceremonies on Friday, June 4th, while Dassel-Cokato and Delano High Schools round out the final graduations for the year in Wright County with afternoon ceremonies on Sunday, June 6th. |
| |
Virus Outbreak at Montrose Elementary School Leaves Many Students Sick
Minnesota Department of Health officials are continuing to investigate an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness at the Montrose Elementary School this week. Health officials say they believe a norovirus caused the illness, which apparently passed by student to student contact. Health Department spokesman Doug Schultz says the illness was not foodborne. Montrose Elementary Principal Gary Theis said 54 students were absent on Wednesday. That number reportedly dropped to 25 on Friday. Theis said none of the students needed to be hospitalized. Cleaning crews worked to disinfect the school, and a notice to parents was sent home with children warning that children should wash their hands thoroughly and often, and not share food. Noroviruses can strike 12 to 48 hours after contact, and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps for up to two days. State Health workers are reportedly testing stool samples to confirm the cause of the outbreak. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
