MnDOT commissioner to host town hall event in Thief River Falls

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle invites the public to attend a town hall event to discuss transportation issues on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Thief River Falls.

The town hall will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Digi-Key Corporation, 701 Brooks Avenue South, Thief River Falls. Please RSVP to Cathy Fynboh, cathy.fynboh@digikey.com or 218-681-6674, ext. 1408 by Tuesday, Oct. 22. Refreshments will be provided courtesy of Digi-Key Corporation.

Commissioner Zelle will lead a discussion about transportation, how it affects quality of life, its strong ties to Minnesota’s economy and the importance of continuing to invest in this significant asset.

The event is open to the public, and includes an “open microphone” question and answer session where the commissioner will take feedback and answer questions about Minnesota’s transportation system.

In addition to Commissioner Zelle, MnDOT District 2 Engineer Craig Collison and other local transportation officials will be available to answer questions.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, call 651-366-4720 or 1-800-657-3774 (Greater Minnesota), 711 or 1-800-627-3529 (Minnesota Relay). You may also send an email to ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us.

Two-day detour on Highway 32 north of Fertile begins Oct. 15

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Motorists on Highway 32 north of Fertile will encounter a detour and possible delays when a railroad crossing project begins Tuesday, Oct. 15. The Highway 32 railroad crossing is located about four miles south of Highway 2.

Crews from BNSF will replace the current railroad crossing and motorists will detour onto Highway 2 using Polk County Road 45 and County Road 12.

The detour is expected to be removed on Wednesday, Oct. 16 weather permitting. The project will result in a smoother and safer railroad crossing.

Motorists should use caution near construction zones, MnDOT urges drivers to:

• Watch for construction crews and equipment in the work zone. 
• Follow posted speed limits; fines double in work zones.
• Plan ahead and expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Stay alert; expect the unexpected.

For more updates on this, and other projects in the region follow us on Twitter @mndotnorthwest, or log on to www.511mn.org for real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota.

Many public lands remain open during federal government shutdown

Now that hunting season is underway, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants people to know which public lands remain open during the federal government shutdown.

Minnesota’s wildlife management areas, Walk-In Access areas and state forests are open during the shutdown. State fish and game licenses as well as federal duck stamps can be purchased at any DNR license agent, online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense and via telephone at 888-665-4236.

Minnesota’s 76 state parks and recreation areas and state trails remain open. To check if a particular park is a state park, refer to the map online www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/map.html or contact the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157, toll-free 888-646-6367 or info.dnr@state.mn.us.

The Superior and Chippewa national forests remain accessible and available for hunting and fishing. U.S. Forest Service offices and visitor centers, including those in Superior and Chippewa, are closed.

National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages, are closed during the shutdown, according to the federal agency.

Find more information about the status of federal lands and waters impacted by the shutdown at www.doi.gov/shutdown/index.cfm.

BBB to Sponsor Cyber Security Summit 2013

Burnsville, MN – October 10, 2013 – The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is sponsoring Cyber Security Summit 2013 on October 22-23 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The focus of the Summit is to educate attendees on cyber threats and provide actionable solutions. More than 500 leaders from academia, business and government are expected to attend.

“Cyber Security Summit 2013 has something for every business and organization,” said Lisa Jemtrud, Director of the BBB Institute for Marketplace Ethics. “Keeping your data and the data of your customers and vendors secure is becoming more of a challenge and an issue that businesses, non-profits, government agencies and schools need to address.”

This year’s two-day Summit will showcase prominent keynote speakers and engaging panel discussions, a VIP reception, networking opportunities, and an exhibit area featuring leading industry organizations. Topics addressed at the Summit will include risk management, security intelligence, the privacy debate, the executive response, data breach, and the consequences of inaction. Summit participants will take part in a lively discussion with fellow leaders and learn about the security strategies which are working today, the strategies that aren't, as well as the latest trends in cyber security.

Online registration for this year's Summit is now open and available at cybersecuritysummit.org

Grants available for development and maintenance of OHV trails

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Division has scheduled a series of meetings to provide information about the off-highway vehicle (OHV) grant-in-aid (GIA) program, a cost-share program to facilitate development and maintenance of trails.

These meetings are intended for groups with an active interest in all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs), such as sport utility vehicles and modified trucks. The meetings will not be for snowmobile trails.

Groups currently receiving GIA funds are encouraged to attend. These meetings will also be helpful to local units of government that sponsor GIA contracts and clubs that want to expand public OHV trails in Minnesota.

DNR staff, including Parks and Trails area supervisors and OHV acquisition and development specialists, will explain the GIA application process, provide copies of the GIA manual and forms and answer questions.

Grant applications for maintenance of existing trails are due by Nov. 30. New trail proposals are accepted at any time.

The DNR asks anyone planning to attend one of these meetings to RSVP (see phone numbers below) so that adequate space and materials will be available:

Bemidji: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. - noon, Lake Bemidji State Park Visitor Center, 3401 State Park Road, NE, Bemidji, MN 56601; RSVP: 218-308-2367.

Tower: Thursday, Oct. 24, 6 - 8 p.m., Tower DNR office, 650 Highway 169, Tower, MN 55790; RSVP: 218-753-2580.

Rochester: Thursday, Oct. 24, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Rochester Community and Technical College (Heintz Center, Room #HA 122), 1926 College View Dr. SE, Rochester, MN 55904;
RSVP: 507-206-2847.

Sauk Rapids: Monday, Oct. 28, 7 - 9 p.m., Sauk Rapids DNR office, 940 Industrial Dr. South #103, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379; RSVP: 320-223-7878.

Fergus Falls: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Fergus Falls DNR office, 1509 First Ave. NE, Fergus Falls, MN 56537; RSVP: 218-739-7576.

Moose Lake area: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m., Rutledge Community Center, 7369 Highway 61, Rutledge, MN 55785; RSVP: 218-485-5410.

Windom: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Windom DNR office, 175 County Road 26, Windom, MN 56143; RSVP: 507-831-2900.

Metro area: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7 - 9 p.m., Gander Mountain, 10650 Baltimore St. NE, Blaine, MN 55449; RSVP: 651-259-5874.

Brainerd: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6 – 8 p.m., Brainerd DNR office, 1601 Minnesota Dr., Brainerd, MN 56401; RSVP: 218-833-8710.

As additional meetings are scheduled, details will be posted at www.mndnr.gov (www.dnr.state.mn.us/ohv/ontrack/index.html). 

For questions about the OHV GIA program or suggestions for topics to discuss at upcoming meetings, contact Mary Straka, OHV program coordinator, 218-833-8713 or mary.straka@state.mn.us.

Essentia Health-Ada Clinic Hosts Community Health Fair

We all want to lead healthier lives.  Essentia Health-Ada Clinic is helping community members reach that goal by offering its annual Health and Wellness Fair. The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the clinic, 201 Ninth St. W. in Ada.

Each year, the Health Fair provides education and awareness to residents of Norman County and the surrounding area. Participants can learn about diabetes, cancer, bone density and fitness. Residents can stroll through informational booths and get a $25 blood screening, with all proceeds benefiting Essentia Health’s Bridges Foundation.

Pre-registration is encouraged for the blood screening. Call (218) 784-2727. Fasting at least eight hours before the blood screening is recommended for the most accurate results. The screenings include a complete blood count, a blood sugar test, a test for thyroid-stimulating hormone, a comprehensive metabolic panel and a prostate-specific antigen test.

Healthy habits start when we’re kids. This year, the Health Fair will promote physical activity for kids by featuring a performance by Just for Kix.  The group will perform at 10 a.m. and will lead a mini dance camp at 10:30 a.m. The fun is open to kids ages 3-8.  Participants in the dance camp will perform at 11 a.m. at the health fair.

The walk-in care at the Essentia Health-Ada Clinic will be closed on Saturday, Oct. 26, because of the Health Fair. 

Anytime Fitness CEO and Co-founder Chuck Runyon to Speak at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. - Chuck Runyon, CEO and co-founder of Anytime Fitness will speak at the University of Minnesota Crookston on Tuesday, October 22, 2014. The event, which takes place in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center at noon, is free and the public is invited. The first 300 people in attendance will receive a complimentary copy of Chuck Runyon’s book, Working Out Sucks! (And why it doesn’t have to).Runyon will be available following the presentation to sign copies of his book.

The event is part of the speaker series sponsored by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies (CRES), based on the Crookston campus. For information on Runyon’s visit, contact Rachel Lundbohm, director of CRES at 218-281-8190 or call the CRES office at 218-281-8595.

Runyon will focus on the four phases of being an entrepreneur, Level 5 leadership, and Return on Emotional Investment (ROEI). Anytime Fitness is the fastest-growing fitness club franchise in the world. In just 11 years, the Minnesota-based chain has grown to more than 2,000 clubs in all 50 U.S. states and 14 countries and serves more than 1.5 million members.