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| Back to: Home > Local News & Info > KRWC News Archives 2004 |
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| KRWC News 7/19/04 - 7/25/04 |
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Bob Hiivala Appointed County Auditor-Treasurer
The Wright County Board of Commissioners has appointed Deputy Auditor-Treasurer Bob Hiivala to the position of County Auditor-Treasurer. At their meeting this week, the Board ok'd Hiivala to fill out the remaining two years of the elected term of the late Auditor-Treasurer Doug Gruber, who died of cancer late last month. Hiivala has been the Deputy Auditor-Treasurer since 1995 when he joined the department. Much of the staff of the Auditor-Treasurer's office was on hand at this week's meeting, and heard thank-you's from Commissioners for their hard work during the difficult times of Auditor-Treasurer Gruber's long illness, and after his passing. The Board also authorized Hiivala to advertise to fill the Deputy Auditor position. |
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Buffalo Community Theater Presents
The Buffalo Community Theater's summer musical opens tonight for the first of six performances over the next two weeks. The beloved Broadway favorite "Hello, Dolly" is this year's production, complete with the familiar music and great acting, singing, dancing, costumes and sets. Performances this weekend are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30, and Sunday afternoon at 2. Next week, three evening performances will be held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, all at 7:30 PM. An art exhibit sponsored by the new Buffalo Area Arts Council will be open for viewing at this weekend's performances, along with the sale of gourmet coffees to benefit the organization. Tickets for "Hello, Dolly" are available at Renaissance West in downtown Buffalo, or by calling the BCT Hotline at (763) 682-9454. |
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Buffalo Merchants Go Crazy, St. Michael Celebrates Heritage Days
It's another busy summer weekend in the Wright County area as special activities are going on throughout the area. In Buffalo, local businesses are marking the annual ”Crazy Daze” events with markdowns both inside and outside the stores both downtown, and throughout the community. Check for some ”crazy” bargains around town through Saturday. In St. Michael, the annual “Heritage Days” unfolds this weekend, and runs through Sunday. Softball tournaments and other sporting events, a business expo, a classic car show, the KRWC Road Show, live music from “Thirsty Camel”, and fireworks are a part of the plans for the celebration. |
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Critical Habitat License Plate Sales Top $10 Million
Minnesota car owners who appreciate conservation efforts have pushed sales of Critical Habitat License Plates over the 10 million dollar mark. More than 100 thousand loon and deer license plates are now on the state's roads. Though the $30 per year fee may not seem like much, the Minnesota DNR says license plate dollars have so far purchased more than 31 hundred acres of critical nature lands. |
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Crow River Clean-Up Day September 18th
A river clean-up day for the Crow River has been scheduled for later this year. The Crow River Organization of Water, or “C.R.O.W.” has set Saturday, September 18th as the date for citizens of the entire Crow River watershed to take part in the clean-up of the river. In Wright County, the communities of Rockford, Delano, and Hanover have begun organizing groups to take part in the event. For more information on the River Clean-up, or for assistance in coordinating a clean-up effort in other area communities, contact Diane Sander at (763) 682-1933, extension 3. |
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Emergency Response Drill on Crow River Today
If you see emergency response personnel, vehicles and boats in the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve near St. Michael and Rogers today, don't be alarmed. Area emergency responders are participating in a drill today to simulate the response to a liquid petroleum pipeline incident. Other activity will also be seen downstream to the point where the Crow empties into the Mississippi River. The Rogers and St. Michael Fire Departments, the Three Rivers Park District, Kaneb Pipe Line Company, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and emergency management officials from Wright and Hennepin Counties are participating. The drill is expected to be completed by this evening. |
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Filing Deadline Today for Various Elected Positions
Today is the filing deadline for a number of elected offices in Wright County. Minnesota House seats, two County Commissioner district seats, and a handful of other offices up for election this fall are among the seats that have filing deadlines of 5 PM today. Contact the Wright County Auditor / Treasurer's Office for further information at (763) 682-7578. KRWC will have a rundown of candidates who have filed for open seats in Wednesday's local news. |
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Gravel Mining Permit Request Delayed
The Wright County Planning Commission has put a request for a permit for a new gravel pit in Southside Township on hold. At its most recent meeting, County planners postponed action on a proposal from Annandale Rock Products for a new mining area just east of Lake Sylvia, near Lake John and Goose Lake.
You may remember that the County Board voted to require the company to prepare an Environmental Assessment Worksheet, after some very vocal opposition to the gravel mining operation from area residents and property owners. The Planning Commission set October 28th as the date they would take up the request, thereby giving the company ample time to complete the EAW. County Planning and Zoning Administrator Tom Salkowski says however that County Commissioners will decide whether or not to require an Environmental Impact Statement, a much more comprehensive environmental review. Meanwhile, County planners will review a recently closed site also operated by Annandale Rock Products before deciding on a request by the company to move into a second phase gravel mining operation just north of Highway 55, off County Road 136, and could vote on that proposal July 29th. |
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Monticello Arts Council Receives $20,000 Grant From Wells Fargo
The Monticello Arts Council recently received a generous grant to fund on-going programs for the arts. The Wells Fargo Foundation recently granted the Monticello organization 20 thousand dollars after a grant proposal was submitted by Wells Fargo Community Banking President Tom Lindquist. The grant funds will be used to finance musical events, as well as to support the development of other annual events, theater productions, and other arts and educational projects. The Monticello Arts Council was recently developed to support and encourage the arts as a way of enhancing cultural life for the community. |
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More Retail Proposals in Buffalo
The Buffalo Planning Commission heard preliminary proposals for more possible retail development in the city at their meeting this week.
A group called Net Lease Development, LLC presented a concept plan to city planners proposing construction of a new Walgreen's store. The store is proposed for an area along Highway 55 at 3rd Avenue Northeast, the corner directly north of the McDonald's restaurant in Buffalo. A building of close to 15 thousand square feet is proposed. Though a complete proposal is still being worked on, the group says it has been talking to homeowners in the neighborhood, and plans to hold a work session with city staff on the project proposal. |
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More West Nile Warnings
The Minnesota Department of Health is again reminding us that the peak season for mosquitoes also means the peak time for possible infections with the West Nile Virus. Health officials say mosquito traps in western Minnesota have seen a tenfold increase in the species of mosquito that primarily carries the virus. That increase is expected to quickly spread into central Minnesota as well. While no human cases of West Nile have been reported yet this year, there were nearly 150 confirmed cases last year, and 4 of those people died. Often, people bitten by infected mosquitoes feel no effect at all. Others can develop headaches, high fever, muscle weakness, and several other symptoms within 3 days to 2 weeks after being infected. Youngsters and the elderly are most at risk for becoming very ill if infected, but everyone is at some level of risk. Health officials recommend using insect repellent with DEET, avoiding outdoor activity at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, wearing long clothing when possible, and eliminating possible mosquito breeding grounds such as old tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters, or any other containers that may contain standing water. The Department of Health lists Wright County in the “high risk” category for potential cases of West Nile Virus in humans. |
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New Home For Old Wright County Church
The oldest existing Methodist church building in Minnesota will soon settle into a new location in Wright County. The original Community United Methodist Church of Monticello building, constructed in 1857, a year before Minnesota became a state, is being moved about 1 thousand feet from its original location to a site just west of the Monticello Community Center. The building, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places, will become a Montessori school which should open in 2005. The congregation of the Community United Methodist Church sold the building after moving into a new facility about 5 years ago. Stubbs Building Movers, the company that is moving the 90 ton church building is the same company that successfully moved the Schubert Theater in the Twin Cities several years ago. |
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Pedestrian Killed Friday on I-94 Identified
The State Patrol has identified the pedestrian who died when he was struck by a semi truck on I-94 near Albertville Friday afternoon. Authorities say 23-year-old Joseph Norman of St. Cloud had parked his car along the freeway on westbound I-94 around 1 PM, possibly because of a flat tire or other mechanical problems. Officials say the young man was struck and killed after he had apparently stepped into the traffic lanes on the freeway. The driver of the semi was a 48-year-old man from Montana. No other injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were involved in the accident, but traffic on the freeway was backed up nearly 13 miles for several hours Friday afternoon before both westbound lanes were able to be re-opened around 4:30. |
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South Haven, Watertown Keep the Summer Celebrations Rolling
The summer festivals roll along this weekend in two area communities. In South Haven, the annual South Haven Days celebration will feature music, sports, great food, a parade and more. The celebration opens with a youth and teen dance at the city hall tonight from 7 to 10 PM. South Haven Days continues through Sunday. Meanwhile in Watertown, the 12th annual "Rails to Trails" Festival opens today for three days of fun. The "Taste of Watertown" event along with kids games, a tractor show, bingo, and live music open the festival this evening, with many of the events beginning at 5 PM. Many Saturday and Sunday events are also scheduled in Watertown. KRWC will have details through the weekend. |
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St. Michael Heritage Days Successful
Another local community festival is in the books. Some lovely weather helped St. Michael throw a great summer festival over the weekend for their “Heritage Days.” The majority of the events were moved this year to the parking lot behind the St. Michael Catholic School for better visibility, and the potential for better attendance. A flea market, business expo, jazz music, classic car show, KRWC Road Show, traditional Bierstube dinner, live music, fireworks, and the traditional sports tournaments were a part of the festival. This weekend, Watertown celebrates its "Rails To Trails" festival, and South Haven will host "South Haven Days." |
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Study Shows Reading Declining
A new study finds that reading is in a steep decline among Americans, especially youth, and that has many educators worried. Rod Haenke, the Director of Curriculum of the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools says reading is the main way that children learn to think critically, as they analyze things that they read. Researchers say the loss of interest is partly because of other forms of information and entertainment such as video games, movies, and the internet. |
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Wetterling to Visit Annandale as Campaign Heats Up
Patty Wetterling will be in Wright County tonight in the first of what may be many visits to the area in her campaign against incumbent Mark Kennedy for the 6th District U.S. Congressional seat. Wetterling will give the main speech at a DFL gathering in Annandale. A chili dinner along with live music, and a speech from Wetterling around 7:30 are planned as a part of the rally at Reichel's Event Center. Wetterling became nationally known as a missing-children's advocate after the abduction of her 11-year-old son, Jacob in 1989. She decided to run, and won the endorsement of the DFL to challenge Kennedy earlier this year. Wright County is seen as a very important part of the campaign for the 6th District seat. Representative Kennedy was very visible in the area during the 4th of July weekend, and says he plans to spend a lot of time in Wright County in the coming months. |
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Wright County Area Candidate Filings
The filing window for several elected offices representing Wright County closed Tuesday afternoon, setting the field for the November elections. In one of the most closely watched filings, former Wright County Commissioner Ken Jude presented his paperwork just before the end of the filing window Tuesday to challenge 1st District Wright County Commissioner Karla Heeter. Heeter unseated Jude for that seat two years ago. Longtime Commissioner Jack Russek will run unchallenged for another term representing District 3.
Many races were already common knowledge, such as for the 6th U.S. Congressional District, where DFL'er Patty Wetterling is challenging incumbent Republican Mark Kennedy. Other races shaping up include several Minnesota House races involving Wright County precincts. In District 18 B, Representative Dean Urdahl, Republican from Grove City has filed for a 2nd term. DFL'er David Detert of Litchfield will challenge Urdahl for the seat which includes portions of western and central Wright County. Longtime District 19 A Representative Bruce Anderson, Republican from Buffalo has filed for another term. It will be a re-match of the 2002 race, as DFL'er Geoff Tenney of Buffalo has filed to once again challenge Anderson for the seat. District 19 B is wide open, as incumbent Dick Borrell of Waverly decided not to seek re-election. Republican Tom Emmer of Delano, and Lori Schmidt, DFL'er from Otsego filed for the seat. Schmidt lost to Borrell in a very close race in 2002.
It's a 3-way race for District 32 A, where incumbent Arlon Lindner of Corcoran has filed for re-election as an Independent candidate after losing the Republican endorsement to Joyce Peppin of Rogers. Caroll Holmstrom of Hassan is the DFL endorsed candidate for the District seat. Mark McNamara, Chris Uecker, and Duane Dahlman have each filed for separate seats on the Wright Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. A complete listing of candidate filings can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State's web site at www.sos.state.mn.us. |
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Wright County Unemployment Slides Upward in June
Wright County's jobless rate rose slightly in June.
The new seasonally non-adjusted figures from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development shows that Wright County's unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, an increase of 8/10ths of a percent from May. The June 2004 rate was nearly equal to the 5 percent jobless rate in June 2003. The slight jump in unemployment corresponds to an increase of nearly 700 people in the labor force, as the number of available workers in Wright County swelled to nearly 56 thousand.
Governor Pawlenty said earlier this month that the state has added some 26 thousand jobs in the last quarter, showing promise that the economy is moving forward.
Nevertheless, state unemployment was up a tenth of a percent in June, with the seasonally adjusted rate coming in at 4.4 percent, up from the 4.3 percent in May, but down significantly from the 5 percent rate a year ago. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was stable at 5.6 percent last month, also down sharply from 6.3 percent in May of 2003. |
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