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

Another from our Rep.’s crack staff:

Cravaack Statement on Anniversary of Obamacare

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Congressman Chip Cravaack (MN-8) released the following statement on the one year anniversary of Obamacare being signed into law:

“Today marks the one year anniversary of Obamacare being signed into law. Obamacare puts government between doctors and patients; is harmful to our job creating entrepreneurs and small business owners; and has been ruled unconstitutional in federal court. Despite broad opposition from the American people, the Obama Administration and their allies on Capitol Hill used every procedural trick in the book to ram through their nearly 3,000 page partisan health care takeover.

“Since then, report after report has shown Obamacare will cost significantly more than we were told, kill jobs, raise taxes, expand government control, and increase the cost of health care for northeast Minnesotans. In response, my colleagues and I in the House passed a simple, two-page bill to repeal this legislation and begin the process of replacing it with true reforms that will expand coverage while at the same time cutting costs to consumers. I will continue to fight against the folly of Obamacare and for common sense solutions to issues within our health care system.”

From the Rep’s D.C. office:

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Congressman Chip Cravaack (MN-8) announced the hiring of Sheldon Anderson as his new District Director. The District Director position manages all staff and activities in the Congressman’s district offices.

“Sheldon Anderson is a great addition to my staff and I am pleased he’ll be assisting me as I strive to provide excellent constituent services to the people of the Eighth District,” said Cravaack. “Sheldon knows northeastern Minnesota well. His father worked as a pipe-fitter in mines on the Iron Range, and he has served as Mayor of Wyoming and as a private sector appointee to Governor Pawlenty’s ‘Corrections Strategic Management Operations Advisory Task Force.’ Sheldon has also been a small business owner for the past 20 years so he understands how important they are to the economic health of Minnesota.”

Currently, Mr. Anderson is President of Capital Investigations, a company that provides security and investigative services. He will be based out of Congressman Cravaack’s North Branch office, serving as the Congressman’s chief representative in the Eighth District.

Here’s what they were doing Sunday off Stony Point, just south of Knife River. 50 mph wind gusts, 21 degrees.

I’ve seen President’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and Presidents Day. (watch the ads on TV or in print) Which is it? I’m with the plural possessive, since we celebrate Lincoln and Washington specifically. Or do we celebrate all presidents? Then it should be like Veterans Day. Chime in.

I’ve been doing this in St. Cloud for a looong time and finally it will be simulcasted in Duluth. If you have a group of friends with an array of arcane interests and an arsenal of reference books and computers, you have to sign up and play from here. Oh, and you have to stay awake for 51 hours. Or just get a taste simply by listening in Feb. 11-13.

kumd.org | kvsc.org

Installing a typical home TiSP system is a quick, easy and largely sanitary process — provided you follow these step-by-step instructions very, very carefully.

TiSP: Going with the Flow

Who will be our shining light at WDIO?

Station press release:

Eyewitness News at Five anchor
Sandy Drag is making a change

Duluth, MN — Eyewitness News Anchor Sandy Drag has decided the time is right to step away from the anchor desk and the newsroom. The announcement was made today by News Director Steve Goodspeed.
(more…)

Anyone been out there today? What’s the story on the road conditions? We may venture out for a bit tonight if we can make the ice-filled walk to the car and then navigate the inch of ice on the driveway.

Here’s an afternoon killer: Take a look at the challenged ballots in the Minnesota governor’s race recount.

(The three above are from Aitkin County.)

In my email today:

Dear Loyal Customers,

Sometime in the near future the Duluth News Tribune will be running a story about Northern Lights Books & Gifts being for sale. It is true. Since August I have been contacting our top customers and local book colleagues to let them know I was looking for a buyer. Our lease will be up the end of February and I do not plan to renew.

I have decided to scale back my professional responsibilities so I can be available to travel in order to care for elderly parents in northern Illinois. Over the past year I have been gone nine weeks. I am very grateful to my staff for their professionalism and for their loyal efforts on behalf of the bookstore.

There have also been significant changes in traditional bookselling. I believe we are at a “Guttenberg” moment in publishing with the impact of electronic media. A new fresh approach is required for continued success in bookselling at the brick and mortar level. My heart and head are distracted with other priorities and I do not have the energy to figure out what comes next for profitible bookselling.

It has truly been an honor and a dream come true to serve the community of book lovers who have shopped with us for the past seventeen years. In the meantime we are operating full steam ahead through the holiday season.

Gratefully,
Anita Zager
Northern Lights Books & Gifts

Chip Cravaack news release:

NORTH BRANCH – The week after edging out Minnesota’s longest-serving Congressperson in state history, Congressman-elect Chip Cravaack has named Senator Rod Grams as his interim chief of staff.

“Senator Grams brings a wealth of knowledge expertise on Washington D.C. and the 8th District to our team,” Cravaack said. “His previous experience serving the state of Minnesota will be invaluable as we prepare to hit the ground running on behalf of all the residents of our district.”

Senator Rod Grams was elected to Congress in 1992 and then to the Senate in 1994.

Cravaack also announced that campaign consultant Tony Post will oversee the transition. Campaign communications director Kyler Nerison will continue in that position during the transition.

Actually, I was kind of serious. We got no cable, and the American League games, all of them, are on TBS. Totally bites. Even the ALCS isn’t available for us Luddites. And, no, there are no options for friends with cable. So, if I am forced to go public with my Twins devotion, my bandwagon hopping on, where do PDDers suggest I go without feeling like I have to buy a beer every inning — though that may be fun on a Friday. Looking for low-key, non-sports bar setting. Possible?

Dog: Direct hit in the face with skunk in back yard.

Human: Let her in not knowing this had happened.

Dog: Foaming at mouth like Old Yeller, getting slobber all over the floor.

Human: Out you go.

We got the dog cleaning part down. Just wondering how we might ever get this smell out of the house. Please advise. And don’t tell me the spray eventually breaks down, yada, yada. This is horrid.

From a June 1915 Fitger’s newspaper ad.

This circulated in my FB stream, asking if it was the Duluth or Minneapolis ABC station. No, it’s Rochester. A flatter, warmer, duller (save for this!) Duluth.

Hugh Mongous

I don’t know what he did, but it sounds like a nice gig.

How do we get ahold of this agent?

Ad from a local newspaper, June 1910.