I don’t want to see our area children suffer from a lack of knowledge today with no school and am hoping parents or day care workers send them outside for cold weather experiments and share them on PDD. But be careful.

The Duluth City Council recently approved spending $75,000 on a PR campaign to show people that the city is open for business post flood. I think it’s a dubious expense, though there are still people asking us how we are holding up and how we are getting around the city. But in reading a rather disjointed and breathless story in the Star Tribune today, I get the feeling that getting FEMA money will keep our city leaders from talking about rebuilding for a while:

From the Strib:

Said Duluth Fire Chief John Strongitharm, “When they see the scope of the storm, it would be difficult to think they would not be providing individual assistance. It’s had a major impact not only on the public infrastructure, but on people’s lives and homes.”

In Duluth, 10 inches of rain created the worst flash flooding in more than a century and hundreds of people were forced from homes by rising water. Roads buckled and washed out, sewers overflowed. Damage to public infrastructure has been estimated at $55 million.

“Any place there was a creek or culvert was destroyed,” Strongitharm said.

I know we all tend to be DIYers when it comes to the yard, but I am in need of some vision and major revision. Tile, dirt, no-grass front lawn, shoring up the fence. Any suggestions on a good all-around scaper in the area? Thanks.

Sunday:

The mayor was late at Tycoons but, given his pre-proclamation speech involving the real/made-up story of Homegrown, which may or may not involve a story of fire-ring elves, makes sense and is forgiven.

Mr. Ness went on to win the Homegrown Pub Quiz at Carmody, leading to a who’s-who of wearing the chicken hat. Devon yelled well, and everyone got a prize.

For this old slag, the Repo Man-style back at Tycoons was worth an open-eyed listen after so many hemp-inspired ales.

There was much talk of slipping over to Luce, or back to Carmody. I’m sure readers can fill in.

Safe to say, it was a rowdy first night, leaving one to wonder if we all can hold out. I save my strength, it looks like Monday is here.

2011 Homegrown Kickball Game, Part 1

No change in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, except that it now includes more of Betrami County.

Speaking of the city’s infrastructure (Sunday DNT), does anyone know exactly what this is? By lower Chester.

Wool: 1911 > Debt ceiling:2011

News Release
Cravaack introduces bill to eliminate federal sign brightness mandate

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Congressman Chip Cravaack (MN-8) introduced H.R. 2442, the Rural County Mandate Relief Act. The bill would eliminate the federal mandate that states and local municipalities must keep their road and street signs bright enough to meet federal government brightness standards, allowing them to decide when signs are replaced.

“State and local governments are still struggling under the weight of lower revenues brought on by the recent recession,” said Cravaack. “Any mandate from Washington forcing municipalities to unnecessarily replace perfectly adequate street signs hurts their ability to affectively spend scarce taxpayer dollars elsewhere. State and local governments are perfectly capable of deciding when their signs need to be replaced and how best to pay for any new signs.”

The bill has the support of numerous mayors and council members across the 8th District. One such legislator, Steve Biondich, an Aurora City Councilman said H.R. 2442 “is exactly what we need … getting rid of silly unfunded mandates.” Based on a conservative estimate, state and local municipalities will be forced to spend at least $37.5 million over the next ten years to meet the current federal mandate on sign brightness.

Congressman Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – where he is vice chair of the Aviation Subcommittee – the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in Northeast Minnesota.

I am thoroughly enjoying the throng of dragonflies that have appeared over the last week or so (tho seems to be waning) but also cringing as I drive through swarms of them on the road. Delighted because I am under the impression that they are voracious bug eaters and don’t bother people too much. If anyone has special insight on the life of dragonflies in the area, I’m all ears and wings.

If you can find a place to park other than the side of 61, this would would be an ideal weekend to explore North Shore state parks without all the crowds. Boldly enter at the gates or use the trails (SHT) running into them. And the lupines up the Shore are stunning right now.

100 years ago, from the front page of the Duluth News Tribune, June 10, 1911.

Wild times on the train to Two Harbors, with a 90 minute delay on the return that is sure to become legend in Dylan Fest annals. The Fontanelles rocked the back car and probably offered most of the residents of TH a dose of their medicine. Pictured here is Rich Mattson and then Dirty Horse on the way up.

See the winning moment.

” target=”blank”>Also posted on Facebook.

From our U.S. Rep’s office:

Cravaack: A Shutdown Should Not Affect Our Troops

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Congressman Chip Cravaack (MN-8) made the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a one-week continuing resolution that funds the Department of Defense for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 and the rest of the federal government until April 15:

“I supported this latest continuing resolution because it will fund the Department of Defense through the end of the fiscal year. That means our war fighters – especially those in conflict zones – will not see their pay interrupted. I cannot in good conscience allow that to happen.

“Having served for 24 years in the United States Navy, I know firsthand the sacrifices our service members and their families make to ensure we can live peacefully and in a free society. A government shutdown should never negatively affect them.”

The bill also makes a further $12 billion in cuts to discretionary spending, bringing the total for the last six weeks to $22 billion.

Read about the region’s first commercial non-Duluth beer being brewed for taps at your local bar and growlers for sale.

Castle Danger Brewery

Pastures of Plenty: Echoes of Peace Choir Concert