Governor Tim Pawlenty wants the federal government to declare six northern Minnesota counties, including Koochiching County, Agricultural disaster areas.
He says farmers in those counties have suffered serious losses due to heavy rain and flooding over the past two years.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Foul Air Over Voyageurs National Park
Several conservation groups in Minnesota are calling on the federal government to force the state to reduce haze over Minnesota's national parks and wilderness areas.
They've petitioned the U-S government to include some tough clean-up measures in a plan being developed by the state's Pollution Control Agency.
Chuck Laszewski of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy says they want that plan to reduce the emissions and haze and improve the region's air quality.
"The air over some of our most pristine areas, particularly the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park, suffers from haze many days of the year," says Laszewski. "It shouldn't. When people go to those places, they should have crystal-clear skies to look at."
Laszewski says much of the haze can be attributed to coal-fired plants and taconite processing plants in Minnesota.
They've petitioned the U-S government to include some tough clean-up measures in a plan being developed by the state's Pollution Control Agency.
Chuck Laszewski of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy says they want that plan to reduce the emissions and haze and improve the region's air quality.
"The air over some of our most pristine areas, particularly the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park, suffers from haze many days of the year," says Laszewski. "It shouldn't. When people go to those places, they should have crystal-clear skies to look at."
Laszewski says much of the haze can be attributed to coal-fired plants and taconite processing plants in Minnesota.
MNR Firefighters Returning Home
Ontario's forest fire fighters are ending their deployment in British Columbia.
The last remaining Ministry of Natural Resources fireRangers and support staff are expected back home today.
One hundred MNR personnel returned yesterday.
Ontario had been providing assistance to B.C. with its forest fire suppression efforts since late June.
The last remaining Ministry of Natural Resources fireRangers and support staff are expected back home today.
One hundred MNR personnel returned yesterday.
Ontario had been providing assistance to B.C. with its forest fire suppression efforts since late June.
Natural Gas Prices Down Again
Union Gas Customers in northwestern Ontario, including Fort Frances, can expect to see yet another decrease on their natural gas bills next month.
Spokesperson Andrea Stass says the Ontario Energy Board has approved an almost 11 per cent decrease in the cost of natural gas effective October 1st.
"We're seeing additional supplies of natural gas that have been discovered," says Stass, "as well as a bit of reduction in demand related to the recent recession. That's caused some market price of gas to go down and we're adjusting our rates to reflect those reductions."
Stass says its the fourth decrease this year which have cut bills almost in half since January.
Spokesperson Andrea Stass says the Ontario Energy Board has approved an almost 11 per cent decrease in the cost of natural gas effective October 1st.
"We're seeing additional supplies of natural gas that have been discovered," says Stass, "as well as a bit of reduction in demand related to the recent recession. That's caused some market price of gas to go down and we're adjusting our rates to reflect those reductions."
Stass says its the fourth decrease this year which have cut bills almost in half since January.
OPP Incidents Dropping
Ontario Provincial Police continue to take a big bite out of crime in the Fort Frances area.
Police have responded to more than 32-hundred incidents this year which is a 12 per cent decrease over last year and a 5 per cent drop from 2007.
Inspector John Kendrick says attempts to reduce property crime is one of the focuses for the local detachment.
"We're continuing our 'Lock it or Lose it' campaign in an attempt to curb opportunistic crimes," says Kendrick. "A vast majority of these incident would not have occurred if some attempt had been made to secure the property."
Kendrick says 15 per cent of all property crimes so far are related to stolen bicycles.
Police have responded to more than 32-hundred incidents this year which is a 12 per cent decrease over last year and a 5 per cent drop from 2007.
Inspector John Kendrick says attempts to reduce property crime is one of the focuses for the local detachment.
"We're continuing our 'Lock it or Lose it' campaign in an attempt to curb opportunistic crimes," says Kendrick. "A vast majority of these incident would not have occurred if some attempt had been made to secure the property."
Kendrick says 15 per cent of all property crimes so far are related to stolen bicycles.
Scott Street Closure Planned
Another closure of Scott Street at Portage Avenue is planned for next week.
Operations and Facilities Manager for the town of Fort Frances Doug Brown says the intersection will be shutdown for one day next week to allow for paving of the area.
An exact date for the closure has yet to be determined.
Operations and Facilities Manager for the town of Fort Frances Doug Brown says the intersection will be shutdown for one day next week to allow for paving of the area.
An exact date for the closure has yet to be determined.
Tower Installation Proceeding
The installation of a former fire tower at the Fort Frances waterfront is moving along.
Community Services Manager George Bell says four sections of the tower have already been moved from Pither's Point Park with the base now in place at its new resting spot.
"The iron workers will be here next week install the stairs and the 25 foot deck and railings," says Bell, "and the landscaping at the tower site is proceeding ahead of schedule."
Bell expects the relocation project to be completed by mid-October
Community Services Manager George Bell says four sections of the tower have already been moved from Pither's Point Park with the base now in place at its new resting spot.
"The iron workers will be here next week install the stairs and the 25 foot deck and railings," says Bell, "and the landscaping at the tower site is proceeding ahead of schedule."
Bell expects the relocation project to be completed by mid-October
H1N1 Preps
The town of Fort Frances is preparing for the potential of an H1N1 flu outbreak.
An infectious control policy is currently being drafted as part of its emergency response plan.
Human Resources Manager Christine Ruppenstein says in the meantime they're implementing some education and preventive measures.
"You'll see the hand sanitizers going up at all the facilities at the entrances," says Ruppenstein. "We're hoping trying catch everyone as soon they go through the doors at the airport, civic centre, sports centre, children's complex, museum, library, public works as well as the parks and cemeteries."
Ruppentein says there will also be posters and hand-outs to staff promoting awareness in preventing the spread of disease.
An infectious control policy is currently being drafted as part of its emergency response plan.
Human Resources Manager Christine Ruppenstein says in the meantime they're implementing some education and preventive measures.
"You'll see the hand sanitizers going up at all the facilities at the entrances," says Ruppenstein. "We're hoping trying catch everyone as soon they go through the doors at the airport, civic centre, sports centre, children's complex, museum, library, public works as well as the parks and cemeteries."
Ruppentein says there will also be posters and hand-outs to staff promoting awareness in preventing the spread of disease.
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