No surplus either-sex deer permits available for 2013

For the first time since surplus permits were offered in 2007, no leftover either-sex deer permits are available for purchase after the lottery deadline, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

The DNR offered 38,850 either-sex permits in 58 deer permit areas this year. Every permit area received applications for at least 100 percent of the permits available.

In lottery deer areas, firearm and muzzleloader license holders who intend to take an antlerless deer must have an either-sex permit; otherwise, they are restricted to hunting bucks. The total bag limit for deer in lottery areas is one deer per year.

Availability of leftover permits has declined since the development of the hunter choice management designation, which was first used in 2011. Similar to lottery areas, hunter choice-designated areas have a bag limit of one deer; however, no limit is placed on the number of available either-sex permits and lottery applications are not required.

Bicycle Trail at Itasca State Park Closed For Reconstruction

The six-mile paved bicycle trail that goes from Douglas Lodge to the Mississippi headwaters area at Itasca State Park in Park Rapids is about to undergo major reconstruction, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

All of the existing asphalt will be removed this fall. The trail will be regraded and, in the spring, it will be given a new coat of blacktop. The work is scheduled to be completed by mid-June.

“Once this project is done, the trail will be smoother and safer for bicyclists,” said Jeff Karels, assistant park manager.

The majority of the $1.5 million project will be paid for with state bonding dollars. The rest will come from a federal recreational trail program grant and from the parks and trails fund, created after Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008.

While the bicycle trail is closed, Wilderness Drive will remain open for bicyclists who don’t mind sharing the road with motor vehicles. The 10-mile, one-way scenic drive heads west from the headwaters and ends near Douglas Lodge. There are many spectacular sights along the way, including a couple of Minnesota’s tallest pine trees.

For a map and other information about the park, including details about renting bicycles, visit www.mndnr.gov (www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca) or contact the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157, toll-free 888-646-6367, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or at info.dnr@state.mn.us.

Temporary OHV trail closures begin in November

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will restrict recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in some areas during the upcoming firearms deer hunting season. Vehicles affected by the restrictions include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and registered off-road vehicles (ORVs) such as four-wheel drive trucks that are not being used in conjunction with deer hunting by a licensed deer hunter.

The restrictions, which apply to state forest trails and access routes but not to state forest roads, aim to protect recreational riders from potentially unsafe riding conditions and to minimize conflicts between deer hunters and recreational riders who may inadvertently disturb them.

Licensed deer hunters may still use these routes in conjunction with their hunting activity:

• Before legal shooting time.
• From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• After legal shooting hours.

Effective dates of the recreational riding restrictions will be:

• Nov. 9 – 24 for the northeastern Minnesota 100 Series deer season.
• Nov. 9 – 17 for the Minnesota 200 Series deer season.

Because recreational OHV trails located in southeastern Minnesota close Nov. 1 each year, no additional OHV riding restrictions are necessary in that part of the state.

While many recreational OHV riders have voluntarily opted not to ride forest trails during deer hunting and small game seasons, recreational OHV riding has become a year-round sport for many. DNR officials remind everyone who visits Minnesota’s state forests this fall to put safety first.

For more information, see the 2013 deer season map online at www.mndnr.gov (http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/hunting/2013/deermap.pdf) or contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us or 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Artisan cheesemakers urged to take food safety workshop

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is co-sponsoring a food safety workshop specifically designed for artisan and farmstead cheesemakers. The workshop is set for Tuesday, October 29, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Country Inn and Suites in Northwood, Iowa.

Artisan cheesemakers will learn best practices to maintain, monitor, and control cheesemaking operations to effectively manage food safety concerns. Case studies will highlight specific practices important for artisan cheese manufacturing operations and participants will review key aspects of micro-organisms most relevant to cheese production.

MDA Dairy and Food Inspection Division Director Dr. Heidi Kassenborg says interest in artisan cheese has increased in recent years, prompting the need for food safety workshops.

“We want to provide producers with the tools and information to produce a safe product,” says Kassenborg.  “This will not only protect consumers but will help protect the health of the business.  We have seen how product recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks can be devastating to a food business.”

Instruction will be provided by Dennis D’Amico, formerly of the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese, whose research and outreach efforts focus on improving the safety of artisan cheeses through risk assessment and reduction.

Cost for the one-day workshop is $49.00. The deadline to register is October 15. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Midwest Dairy Association are co-sponsors with assistance from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. For more information, contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Elaine Santi at 218-744-3335 or the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s David Brown at 515-281-3545.

Complainants say PerfectTix.com has Spotty Record of Customer Service

Burnsville, Minnesota – October 3, 2013 – The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is issuing an alert about PerfectTix.com, an online ticket broker based in downtown Minneapolis. The BBB has given the company an “F” rating due to a pattern of complaints involving customer service and seven complaints being closed as unanswered.

“People turn to this company – and others like it – when they’re desperate to see a game, a theater production or a performer in concert,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. “However, the secondary ticket market generally always involves increased costs and, sometimes, increased risk.”

On their website, PerfectTix.com states they “specialize in hard to get concert tickets for “Sold Out” shows and sporting events.” Complaints against the company allege that the cost of tickets purchased were higher than expected due to service fees and undisclosed taxes – which some customers state weren’t assessed until after the original credit card transaction had closed. In some cases, customers state they were quoted a ‘per ticket’ price and then discovered later that the quoted costs did not include service fees. Some complainants allege their calls and emails to the company were not returned. Others allege they were treated rudely by company personnel.

PerfectTix.com has responded to and resolved three of the ten complaints filed against them. In their responses, the company stated that in some cases they’re acting as a broker and any service fees assessed were assessed by the third party entity the tickets were actually purchased from. They also cited a policy they say all customers agree to wherein all sales are final.

When searching for tickets at a given venue online, consumers should make sure they’re visiting the official website for that venue. Sometimes general Internet searches will bring you to secondary ticket websites which may sell tickets to games or performances at that particular venue, but are not directly associated with them. These tickets will generally always cost more.

Consumers should also be aware that prices for tickets purchased on the secondary market can be significantly higher than the ticket's actual face value. The BBB recommends that potential customers thoroughly review and understand the policies on pricing, cancellation, refunds and service fees before making a commitment to purchase.

Other tips for consumers searching online for event tickets include:

Research the company at bbb.org

Before buying from an online ticket broker, look for the BBB logo on the website and click on it to make sure it is real. The BBB’s dynamic seal should take you directly to the BBB Business Review. Shoppers should always look in the address box for the “s” in https:// and in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying. 

If you buy tickets through an online auction site, choose a seller with a long history of satisfied customers. Scammers can hijack old accounts, so make sure the seller has recently sold other tickets. 

Ticket buyers also should be wary of sellers who try to lure buyers from a legitimate site to another site for a “private” transaction. Scammers often want to conduct their business on sites with names that mimic well-known companies but are actually fakes.

If you are buying tickets through an online classified ad site, never pay the seller by wire transfer. You will have no way to get your money back if the tickets do not arrive or are counterfeit.

North Dakotans invited to learn more about changes in health insurance

FARGO, N.D. (Oct. 2, 2013) — Knowing that changes in health care reform is generating many questions, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) is hosting a series of information sessions for individuals and families in October. BCBSND has made efforts to educate a variety of groups, including employers, agents, brokers and consumers for the past two years through seminars, forums and other avenues; these sessions are an extension of those educational efforts. The statewide information sessions will explain the changes and the impact of the law, commonly referred to as “Obamacare,” on health insurance coverage, choices and costs.

BCBSND will host sessions in eight different cities across the state of North Dakota.  All meetings are free and open to both BCBSND members and non-members. The sessions are generally geared toward those who buy their own health insurance, are uninsured or are not offered coverage by their employer. Interested individuals can choose from two sessions each day. Morning sessions are scheduled from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. and the afternoon sessions are scheduled from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. at these cities and locations:

Oct.8 – Grand Forks, Canad Inn Destination Center

Oct. 9 – Minot, Grand Hotel

Oct. 10 – Dickinson, Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge

Oct. 15 – Bismarck, Kelly Inn

Oct. 17 – Jamestown, Gladstone Inn & Suites

Oct. 21 – Fargo, Ramada Plaza Fargo Hotel and Conference Center

Oct. 22 – Williston, Hampton Inn & Suites

Oct. 23 – Valley City, AmericInn Lodge & Suites

Each session will feature frequently asked questions noted by individuals and families who are facing new choices. Topics covered will include:

·         The impact of the federal requirement that most Americans have health insurance

·         What “essential benefits” are included in every new health insurance plan

·         How to determine eligibility for the federal tax credit to help pay for your health insurance

·         Important factors that will affect your coverage plan choices

·         Critical dates for enrollment

·         Shopping for the right health plan for your individual or family situation.

Pre-registration is encouraged because of limited seating at each location. Interested individuals can submit specific questions in advance as well as register online at www.ItStartsWithBlueND.com or by calling 800-280-2583. Complete information, addresses and maps of each meeting location are also available on the website. The sessions are part of the member-owned company’s on-going commitment to keep North Dakotans informed about changes in the health care system and health insurance in North Dakota. 

MN's problem gambling website receives national award

GetGamblingHelp.com, a website sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to provide information and resources to people facing a compulsive gambling issue, received the National Council on Problem Gambling’s award for Best Problem Gambling-Related Website.

“We appreciate recognition for this website. It is a critical resource for connecting thousands of Minnesotans with the support and treatment they need when they or their loved ones begin to have problems because of gambling,” said Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson.

The site was developed in partnership with Russell Herder, a creative marketing firm, and was funded by DHS with proceeds from the Minnesota Lottery to increase awareness of problem gambling and available resources. Resources include problem gambling treatment available free of charge to qualified Minnesota residents. DHS also sponsors the problem gambling helpline, 1-800-333-HOPE.

The National Council on Problem Gambling is the national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. Its mission is to increase public awareness of pathological gambling, ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and to encourage research and programs for prevention and education. The award was presented at the organization’s 27th annual national conference.