Gabe

One man died and one man was able to swim to shore after being washed into the Mississippi river while exploring a storm sewer Sunday morning when a thunderstorm broke.
The two were taking pictures in a tunnel on the east side of the river near the lake street bridge, police said.
Nick Breid, 29, made it to shore on his own and call 911. Two University of Saint Thomas students practicing rowing heard cries from Ian Talty, 30, as he was swept down the river. They and a police officer on shore jumped into a ptivat motorboat and located him floating face down in the river one mile downstream. he was immediately given CPR and rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center where he died.
Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/43744557.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=651134

Posted by knap0164 at 4:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many area lakes showed significant improvement in water clarity last year, but it was likely due to the dry summer and less runoff the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District said.
Two-thirds of metro area lakes showed improvement on an A-F scale.
Algae growth is what causes lakes to have poor clarity. Algae are largely fed by phosphorus that is carried into lakes by runoff.
In 2007, lawn fertilizer that contains phosphorous was banned in Minnesota.
Metro lakes have been showing improvement over the past decade.

Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/43494422.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBDia_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
http://www.minnehahacreek.org/

Posted by knap0164 at 4:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A local bartender at the shout house—dueling piano—bar in Minneapolis shattered a world record by pouring 662 drinks in one hour. The previous official Guinness world record was 389 held by a German man. Only a few of the cocktails made were actually consumed. The glasses were needed for more drinks. The record breaking 390th drink was auctioned off for $225 with the proceeds going to charity.
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/43143772.html?elr=KArks:DCiUocOaL_nDaycUiacyKUnciaec8O7EyUr
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/04/shout_house_bar_1.php

Posted by knap0164 at 5:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A man acting like he was going to fall off a bridge to joking with a friend, actually then fell off. The man’s friend said he had been drinking when he fell 30 feet into a marsh. The incident happened on the highway 77 bridge crossing the Minnesota River in Bloomington.
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/43253267.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr

Posted by knap0164 at 5:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Home sales were up 21 percent in Minneapolis during the month of March compared to last year’s average. Is public fear and a stagnant economy beginning to turn? Interest rates are at all-time lows, and home buyers this year will qualify for $8,000 in tax credits. This is the tenth straight month in a row home sales have increased.
Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/homes/42802952.html?elr=KArksUUUU
http://www.twincities.com/minnesota/ci_12123431

Posted by knap0164 at 5:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Prior Lake is the first metropolitan area lake to be infected with the exotic species.
Zebra mussels were first found in Minnesota at Duluth harbor in 1989 and have since taken a strong hold in the Mississippi and St. Criox rivers. They are native to Europe and can decimate native fish and mussel populations besides being a nuance and a mess on a beach. The mussels were discovered in Mille Lacs Lake in 2005, and were feared to soon spread to Lake Minnetonka, the state’s most heavily used lake. Zebra Mussels are carried from one lake to another by clinging to boats and trailers.
Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/42807872.html?elr=KArksUUUU
http://www.twincities.com/minnesota/ci_12123610

Posted by knap0164 at 5:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Some of the federal stimulus dollars are being used to make area high schools, libraries and other public buildings more energy efficient. Money is also available through zero interest loans. At Henry Sibley High School administrators hope saved money will help counter budget cuts. One area of improvement is lighting. Motion detectors are being installed as well as new, efficient fixtures. The upgrades the district has made are saving $100 per pupil.
http://www.twincities.com/minnesota/ci_12077811

Posted by knap0164 at 5:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Early Saturday morning the red river began to recede in Fargo and Moorhead. It rose to 40.82 feet, the highest level ever recorded there. Residents and volunteers prepared for a level as high as 43 feet. The National Weather Service said the river could start to rise again. But an article update was posted as wrote the previous sentence: The National Weather Service said the river appears to be cresting, but will likely stay within a foot of its current level for the next week.
More than 35 miles of temporary dikes have been constructed. Residents will be battling to leaks and backed up sewers for some time.
Many small towns along the river have been lost.
A pilotless drone aircraft has aided efforts to predict what the river will do.
In Grand Forks, the location from where I am writing this blog, current predictions estimate a crest at 51 feet, which is nine feet lower than new dikes built following the 1997 flood.
http://www.startribune.com/local/42048957.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/29webflood.html?_r=1&hp

Posted by knap0164 at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Despite a significant decline in home values this year, most local homeowners will only see a minimal decrease of their home’s value on their property tax assessment.
Since September of 2007, the median price of metropolitan area homes has fallen by 33 percent.
But it may take a few years for property taxes to be adjusted.
County property assessors say taxable values are a year behind schedule. This year’s estimate is for 2010.
Local governments are expecting record numbers of grievances against taxable home values this year.
Location is the biggest influence on home value.
source

Posted by knap0164 at 2:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

High speed rail from Chicago to St. Paul could become reality with help from federal dollars. Planners are scrambling to put together a proposal. The idea was being considered for a future project many years out, but the possibility of securing a portion of the $8 million allocated for transportation from the economic stimulus package has prompted design. The project would cost about $1.2 billion, and could be entirely funded if the project is accepted by congress. Minneapolis wants the line extended to reach them, as does Rochester. Planners are skeptical of the cost benefit relationship of this idea. They want evidence. The train would travel at 110 miles-per-hour. The trip would take 5 1/2 hours
source

Posted by knap0164 at 5:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The star tribune reported that M-DOT snow plow drivers have a name for the act of blocking the end of your recently shoveled driveway with a pile of hardened snow. In fact, they do it to each other all the time too. But they have the right equipment and don’t mind getting “stuffed.”

Posted by knap0164 at 4:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Greenfield, a small city in western Hennepin County known for its political infighting, is being sued again.
Former Greenfield Mayor Larry Plack filed a lawsuit against the city, current Mayor Jill Krout, the State Bank of Hamel and Charter Commission Member Bruce Rawlings Thursday.
Plack seeks punitive damages of at least $50,000 from each the defendant s for allegations that include: slander, libel, harassment, disclosure of private financial data, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, malfeasance, civil rights violations and violation of oath of office.
In June of 2008, the city settled a lawsuit with the former City Administrator for a sum $425 thousand.
The mayor prior to these, Tom Swanson, faced criminal charges for land deals made with the city.

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Source4

Posted by knap0164 at 4:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Pioneer Press reported that a 33-year-old man was hit by a train around 11 p.m. Saturday on St. Paul’s East Side.
He was discovered by a worker aboard another train that drove by later, according to police commander Kevin Casper.

The Star Tribune’s article on the same incident cited KSTP-TV as its source.
They said the man fell asleep or passed out on the tracks near Palen Boulevard and Payne Avenue late Saturday night.
He was found by passersby.

Posted by knap0164 at 9:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

the Star Tribune reported:

MnDot hopes to have pieces of the old 35-W bridge, currently located on the Bohemian Flats of the Mississippi river in downtown Minneapolis, moved to a site in Afton by summer.
Also, key pieces of the bridge form its investigation of collapse have returned from Washington DC.
The state of Minnesota has vested interest in preserving these parts. Many lawsuits are still unresolved.
A building will be constructed near Oakdale, at a cost of $500,000, to store the components.
MnDot will find another use for the 100 by 50 foot building when these particular pieces of the bridge are no longer needed.

Posted by knap0164 at 6:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A 60-ton 1880’s vintage home that used to rest on Manitou Island made a successful 100-yard move across a frozen channel this week, the Star Tribune reported.
The house was originally the gatekeeper’s residence to the island, but was scheduled to be torn down.
Doug Kraemer purchased the home and hired engineers and movers to get it to its new location, about .35 miles away.
The ice in the channel was made thicker by spraying water over the surface prior to the move.
64 wheels displaced the home's weight on the floating sheet of ice.

http://www.startribune.com/local/38530692.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUxWoW_oD:EaDUiacyKUnciatkEP7DhU

Posted by knap0164 at 3:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The 123rd annual St. Paul Winter Carnival ice sculpture winners were released Wednesday. Scott, John, and Dick Morgan took the $1200 1st prize with their carving of “Hormel McSwine and Friends�?, the Star Tribune reported.

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/38303884.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr

Have a look at some photos. http://wcco.com/slideshows/snow.sculptures.ice.20.639076.html?rid=0

Also, Ice boat racing on Lake Phalen added to this year’s events.
http://www.winter-carnival.com/events/fire_on_ice_ice_racing_competition/

Posted by knap0164 at 1:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Star Tribune newspaper self-reported that it had filed chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 15, 2009, in effort to restructure debt and cut labor costs to stay in business.
Since 2000, the paper has seen a steady drop in income, largely blamed on declining advertisement sales.
The tribune is the 15th-largest newspapers in United States.
Over the past two years, under the new ownership of Avista Capital Partners, a family owned corporation, staff has been cut from 1,405 to 610 full-time employees. Avista stock has fallen 98 percent—about half what it was.
The assets of the star tribune are currently worth about two-thirds of its debt.

http://www.startribune.com/business/37685134.html?page=1&c=y

Posted by knap0164 at 5:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)