Newsletter: Friday, September 22nd, 2023
NEWS
--Over the next several weeks Camp Ripley's Environmental Team along with key support assets will be conducting risk mitigation and controlled burns throughout the training area. If you are in the area, you may see or smell smoke from these burns at Camp Ripley.
--The Minnesota National Guard and Camp Ripley also earlier this week was honored to have the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, and Norwegian Ambassador to the United States, Anniken Krutnes, visit the installation back on Monday. They were given tours of training, maintenance, and historical facilities on post and spoke with Minnesota Soldiers and Airmen who've participated in previous Norwegian Troop Exchanges. This year marked the 50th Anniversary of the NOREX or Norwegian Exchange Program from soldiers from Camp Ripley and the Norwegian Home Guard. They were also given information on the work being done at the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum on their groundbreaking that was done Sunday.
--The bicyclist struck by a motor vehicle and severely injured in Crosslake last week was identified as 24-year-old, Patricia Rohde of Crosslake. Crosslake police said in a news release Wednesday that Rohde remains hospitalized in St. Cloud in critical condition. Police identified the driver of the vehicle as 80-year-old, Dianne Engstrom of Crosslake. The accident occurred at 12:55pm on September 12th on the 34000 block of County Road 3. Rohde was flown to CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital Emergency Trauma Center with life-threatening injuries. First Responders and ambulance crew administered life-saving measures on Rohde. Engstrom remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation.
--A line from Northern Cass County, Crow Wing County, Morrison, the St. Cloud metro area down to the Twin Cities and near Rochester is now in what the DNR states is Extreme Drought. This week's update from the U.S. Drought Monitor says the Exceptional Drought area has expanded from one percent up to three percent in eastern and southeastern Minnesota. The Severe Drought is now impacting 64 percent of the state, up from 62 percent. As of Thursday, the state as a whole is currently seeing the second driest September on record. There is changes of moisture this weekend for the entire state. Some areas in southwestern Minnesota were the drought conditions are not has extreme could see severe weather Saturday and Sunday.
--St. Cloud will take public comment on a plan to change the driving lanes on a main drag in East St. Cloud. Public Works said that East St. Germain Street will get attention. It was reported that the old-style four-lane configuration, which allows no public parking located within the roadway itself will be totally reconfiguring from East St. Germain Street from Veterans Bridge to the railroad tracks. And the change you’re going to see is we’ll go to a newer style three-lane roadway with dedicated left turn lanes. The left turn lane will run down the middle of the road with the outside lanes for traffic and right-hand turns. The cost of the project is around $75,000. That covers traffic signal modifications, grinding and installing pavement markings, and putting up parking limit signs. The move would create 37 on-street parking spots between the bridge and Iron Street Distillery. If approved, work could be started and completed this fall or next spring. Residents and business owners can give hear and ask questions on the projects during the next St. Cloud City Council Meeting which is on Monday at 6pm.
--Upsala High School announces its homecoming queen and king candidates. They are Brenna Graves, Aden Warga, Daniel Kokett, McKenna Graves, Hunter Boeckermann, Kaylea Loscheider, Noah Boeckermann, Isabelle Leners, Bryce Binek and Kaylee Kremers. Coronation will be next Sunday, October 1st at 1pm in the Upsala Auditorium. The USA football homecoming game against Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg in on October 6th at 2pm at Upsala field.
--Minnesota’s duck and goose hunting season starts a half hour before sunrise on Saturday, and low water levels will be a reality for some. Waterfowl hunters have the same regulations as last year. Minnesota’s three hunting zones, north, central and south, share the same season opener but have different end dates. Dry conditions across the state will likely lead to shallow water levels and dry ponds. Scouting ahead of the season can help identify any changes hunters need to make to access their favorite hunting spots. For a complete list of rules and regulations go to the DNR website.
--A concrete truck rollover Thursday morning sent the driver to the hospital. The Minnesota State Patrol says a Peterbilt concrete mixer was westbound on Highway 12 in Cokato when the driver, 46-year-old Kenneth Schlangen, lost control near Pittman Avenue and the truck rolled. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Schlangen was taken to Buffalo Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--Tonight is the White Sidewalls Concert at the Falls Ballroom with proceeds going to help the St. Gabriel's Hospital Advocates. Tickets can be prepurchased this morning at the St. Gabriel's Hospital gift shop or can also be purchased tonight at the door. Concert will start tonight at 7:30pm and there will be cash bar and food. Also a silent auction and spin the wheel. For more details call Linda at 630-4921.
--There will be free potatoes distributed tomorrow from 8am-1pm at the St. Francis Convent, bring your own bag and all are welcome.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny start, PM clouds, showers develop late, high 76.
TONIGHT= showers at times, cloudy, low 56.
SATURDAY= showers & t-storms possible, windy, high 70, low 51.
SUNDAY= showers & t-storms likely, windy, high 63, low near 50.
MONDAY= isolated showers possible, partial sun, high 68, low 48.