The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold seven input open house meetings Thursday, Sept. 2, for citizens to learn about and comment on agency muskellunge stocking proposals.
Public comments will also be accepted from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 online at muskie.comments@state.mn.us, and by mail to Muskie Stocking Proposals, Minnesota DNR, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744. Wednesday, August 18, 2010
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., the state's first elected woman to serve in the Senate, will deliver the fourth annual Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, St. John's University, Collegeville.
Her speech, "Conscience and Courage in Public Life," is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement.
Klobuchar was a prominent figure in Minnesota even before she won election to the Senate in 2006. Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The St. Cloud VA Medical Center is pleased to announce that they have received a 2010 Ford E350 Super Duty XL 12-Passenger Club Van from the MN Department of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). The van, part of DAV's partnership with the Ford Motor Company, was purchased by the DAV using a combination of grant money from the DAV's Columbia Trust and funds generated by the Old Glory Run, held annually in Cold Spring. Sunday, August 08, 2010
Stearns County asks, what is your favorite thing about summer? Is it swimming in one of the many lakes? Is it spending time at a family cabin? Is it fishing, biking or maybe camping? Is it attending one of the many small town festivals or events? Maybe it's sitting in a favorite quiet place enjoying the beautiful trees or flowers? Monday, August 02, 2010
The St. Cloud VA Medical Center, in partnership with the Technical Assistance Collaborative, will be hosting a CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) and Technical Assistance meeting on Thursday, August 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.ÊÊ The CHALENG meeting brings together the VA, community service agencies and other federal, state, and local governments to raise awareness and provide services to meet the needs of homeless Veterans.Ê The Technical Assistance seminar will feature national grant writers who will provide participants with training on how to secure federal grant money for homeless Veteran programs and services. Friday, July 30, 2010
Not sure where you need to vote? It's easy to find out with Stearns County's latest interactive map.
Randy Schreifels, Stearns
County Auditor-Treasurer, an-nounced the release of an online map-based polling place finder.
This program assists voters in finding out which precinct they live in and directs them to their polling place. All residents need to do is fill out their address information and the polling place finder will direct them to their polling place utilizing both a map and written directions. Thursday, July 29, 2010
Location -Highway 23 at Stearns County Road 158 west of Cold Spring
Timeframe - Monday, July 26 and Tuesday, July 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting.>
Traffic Impacts - Expect lane closures, sudden stops with flaggers controlling traffic. Motorists are asked to slow down and watch for heavy moving trucks entering and exiting the area. Thursday, July 22, 2010
This announcement is for all farmers, ranchers, owners, operators, tenants, sharecroppers, and others that are eligible to vote in the upcoming Farm Service Agency County Committee election.
The 2010 Stearns County FSA election will be held in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 1, which includes the following townships: Brockway, Collegeville, Fairhaven, LeSauk, Luxemburg, Lynden, Maine Prairie, Rockville, St. Augusta, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, St. Wendel, and Wakefield.
All eligible voters in LAA #1 may nominate candidates of their choice by completing a nomination petition (FSA-669A) and returning it to the Stearns County FSA Office by Aug. 2, 2010. If you've ever thought about running for the county committee, the time to get moving is now. The FSA county committee makes important decisions that affect all area producersÐand the committee needs to represent each and every one of them. Thursday, July 22, 2010
Not sure where you need to vote? It's easy to find out with Stearns County's latest interactive map.
Randy Schreifels, Stearns
County Auditor-Treasurer, an-nounced the release of an online map-based polling place finder.
This program assists voters in finding out which precinct they live in and directs them to their polling place. All residents need to do is fill out their address information and the polling place finder will direct them to their polling place utilizing both a map and written directions.
Voters will also be able to preview a ballot they'll be using on Election Day. Thursday, July 22, 2010
Lane closures for Highway 23 in Waite Park begins July 19
Location: Highway 23 at the intersection of 28th Avenue in Waite Park.
Timeframe: Beginning Monday, July 19, through Friday, July 30, weather permitting.
Traffic impacts: Highway 23 will be restricted to a single lane during this work. Motorists are urged to slow down and pay attention for directional signing.
Roadwork: Work at this intersection includes signal revisions and the construction of turn lanes.
Lane closures on Highway 24 near Clearwater begins July 19.
Location: Highway 24 over the Mississippi River Bridge near Clearwater.
Timeframe: Beginning Monday, July 19, through Thursday, July 22, from approximately 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, weather permitting.
Traffic impacts: Highway 24 will be restricted to a single lane over the bridge, directed by flaggers.
Roadwork: Routine maintenance on bridge; deck patching.
For updated statewide traffic, construction, weather and travel information visit www.511mn.org.
Work zones. Pay attention or pay the price.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
If you own shoreline in Minnesota, there are some simple and relatively inexpensive steps you can take to strengthen your shore and help improve the water quality of your lake, river or stream. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advises land owners to create buffer zones and restore shorelines with natural vegetation. Tuesday, July 20, 2010
July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. The ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities, but we have yet to reach its full promise. Join in celebrating progress under the ADA and rededicating ourselves to the fight for full ADA compliance. The celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, July 26, at Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power Steet in Minneapolis.
Speakers and entertainers for the event are comedian Josh Blue, former U.S. Senator David Durenberger, local and national politicians, ASL storyteller Nic Zapko, ADA expert Peter Berg, and more. Monday, July 19, 2010
Anglers who fish for walleye on Lake Mille Lacs will be able to keep larger walleye, effective July 15, when a new mid-season regulation takes effect, according to the Minnesota Department of the Natural Resources (DNR).
The new regulation will require anglers to immediately release all walleye 20-28 inches in length. Currently, anglers must immediately release all walleye 18-28 inches in length.
Mille Lacs' four-walleye limit remains in place. Only one of the four walleye an angler may keep can be longer than 28 inches Thursday, July 15, 2010
Interested individuals are invited to attend public open-house meetings in July to obtain information on the Highway 15 Corridor Study between I-90 and I-94. The primary objective of the study is to review safety, mobility, and access issues along the Highway 15 Corridor.
Mn/DOT and Bonestroo consultant staff will be available to answer questions about the study and take comments regarding the Highway 15 Corridor. There will be short presentations at 6:30 p.m.
The meeting at Kimball will be at Kimball City Hall, 1 North Main Street, from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 15. Thursday, July 08, 2010
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials are increasing enforcement efforts against invasive species statewide. A new law that took effect July 1 requires drain plug removal and draining of water from boats before leaving any lake or river in Minnesota. Thursday, July 08, 2010
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking volunteers for its Citizen Stream and Citizen Lake Monitoring programs. Volunteers will take to the water this summer to measure the health of Minnesota's rivers and lakes.
Monitoring the 105,000 miles of rivers and more than 12,000 lakes is a massive undertaking that requires the help of Minnesota citizens who care about water quality. Volunteers in the Citizen Stream and Citizen Lake Monitoring programs play a critical role in collecting long-term water quality data. Collecting this data is the first step in protecting or improving water quality throughout Minnesota. Sunday, July 04, 2010
Motorists will encounter periodic lane closures on Highway 15 from Highway 23/Division Street in St. Cloud to Stearns County Highway 47/136 in St. Augusta beginning Tuesday, July 6, when a resurfacing project begins.
Traffic impacts include:
¥ Day work begins week of July 6. Highway 15 south of the intersection of Highway 23/2nd Street South in St. Cloud to St. Augusta (six miles):
¥ Daytime lane closures, reduced speeds, flaggers and a pilot car directing traffic in rural portions. Thursday, July 01, 2010
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on a water quality improvement report for the Clearwater River Watershed in parts of Meeker, Stearns and Wright counties. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), focuses on pollution caused by excess nutrients in five lakes within the watershed. A public comment period begins June 21, and continues through July 21.
The watershed is located in northern Meeker, southern Stearns, and northwestern Wright counties, including the cities of Watkins, Kimball, South Haven, Annandale, and Clearwater. The entire watershed drains into the Mississippi River. Monday, June 28, 2010
The Stearns County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously against a moratorium on large wind energy systems.
Commissioners instead voted to appoint a committee to re-evaluate the county's regulations and policies when it comes to wind farms. That committee will be appointed at the next board meeting Tuesday, June 15. It will consist of members on both sides of the issue, as well as Board and Planning Commission members. Monday, June 21, 2010
Each year at this time, female turtles move from lakes, ponds, wetlands, rivers and streams to nesting areas, where they deposit their eggs in self-excavated nests. Unfortunately, many nesting areas are separated from the turtles' wintering areas by roads. Turtles are often observed crossing roads as they make their way to nesting areas.
"Many turtles and other species are killed on Minnesota roads each year, especially during the nesting season," said Carol Hall, herpetologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Thursday, June 17, 2010
