One of our fondest childhood memories is of ice skating with our cousins at the outdoor public rink in Madelia. One icy day, we decided that the streets were slick enough to skate back to Avis and Mac's place. We carried our boots back as we raced through the small town streets.
A story in today's Caledonia Argus, Ice skating brings back memories, inspires effort to renew interest, made us recall this instance. Seems others share fond memory of the old town rinks--and in Caledonia, have worked to bring back the healthy pasttime. Used skates are available in the warming house for those without their own to use. The paper also reports that snowmobiling is giving the local economy a boost.
The paper notes that Houston County [is] ‘sitting good’ to have highway complex project funded by federal stimulus program:
While millions of persons around the globe listened intently to
President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech last Tuesday, Houston County
officials had a keen interest in economic stimulus packages being
proposed. One stimulus package in particular could be of major
importance to all Houston County taxpayers.
That package is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Economic Development
Administration, called Fast Start Projects. Fast Start Projects is a
national economic stimulus program the Obama administration is
proposing, designed to put people back to work.
Houston County Financial Director Casey Bradley informed the county
board in mid-December he learned of the proposed program that could
fund up to 100 percent of the construction costs of the new county
highway complex.
Bradley and County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski put together the
preliminary application and had it ready for submission Dec. 16 to the
Arrowhead Regional Development Commission in Duluth.
The U.S. EDA has asked the Duluth-based commission to submit a list of
projects eligible for federal funding under the EDA’s Investment
Programs that could be started by July 1, 2009.
“If the President gets the stimulus programs going, I feel we are
sitting very good as far as getting approved for Fast Start Projects,”
Bradley told the county board Jan. 20. “The county has met all the
criteria for the program and should be able to meet the deadlines.”
Secretary of State Ritchie reflects on Senate recount, according to the Fairmont Sentinel. Ritchie was in town as the guest of the local AAUW chapter in the evening. Earlier in the day, he was in Blue Earth County to listen to Area election officials vent about recount, the Mankato Free press reports.
eQualityGiving put together the Same Sex Marriage Quiz. Go read the answers from representatives from across the country, including Walz. Who knew a clueless press release from Ron Carey could summon such pride?
The Winona Daily News' Mark Sommerhauser reports in Region’s mayors lobby Walz for high-speed rail:
Winona leaders are pressing U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., to support
upgrading a rail line along the Mississippi River to run high-speed
trains from St. Paul through Winona en route to Chicago.
But a
spokeswoman said Monday that Walz isn’t rushing to take a position on
the high-speed rail plan, which recently gained endorsements from St.
Paul-area leaders, including Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL-Minn. Leaders in
Rochester are urging consideration of a different line that would
include their city, possibly running along Highway 52 to Minneapolis or
St. Paul. . . .
. . .Spokeswoman Meredith Salsbery said Walz likely won’t endorse a high-speed route until the Minnesota Department of Transportation completes a statewide rail plan. MnDOT officials are drafting that plan now, and will accept public comment on it at a public hearing on Feb. 13 in Rochester. . .
The PB's Political Party blog says that Walz will be in town on Thursday:
First District Congressman Tim Walz is expected to come to Rochester on Thursday to discuss the stimulus package.
The Waseca County News reports that State Senator Dick Day, State Rep. Kory Kath, a millipede, a possum and a falcon were classroom guests in Kindergartners get a visit from the Minnesota Zoo. Write your own joke.
And now, a lovely old Tull tune for the skaters:
Photo: Ice skaters in Fulda, ca 1908. MSHS.
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