Energy project proposed for Effie

The Effie City Council heard a proposal from Itasca Power Company for an energy project at a special meeting held on Oct. 15.

It would be a two-part project, a cogeneration wood fired electric plant coupled with a biobutanol plant. The electric plant would use forest residue as fuel, and the butanol facility would use primarily tree length aspen as feedstock. Butanol, a 1:1 substitute for petroleum gasoline, would be shipped as a value added product.

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From Northome to Carpenter Township, and from Effie to Deer River, North Itasca Cooperative members funded forty-four grants to help community organizations reach their goals.

It’s a program that counts pennies toward dollars, 11,404 of them during this half year granting cycle. Each month many cooperative members allow their bills to be rounded up to the next dollar, and contribute the difference to the RoundUp fund. Twice a year, in October and April, an independent board meets to consider applications and distribute the funds.

This October, 46 projects requested over $28,000 on local projects valued at almost $473,000. RoundUp granted $500 each to Washington D.C. school programs from Bigfork and Deer River, the White Oak Sled Dog Classic and the Edge Center piano acquisition drive. Grants were made for literacy programs, to combat hunger, toward fire equipment and trauma kits, for children’s events and child safety programs. A complete list of grants made can be found here.

The RoundUp board is made up of representatives from each of North Itasca Electric’s nine director districts. Board members include: District 1, Sue Salmonson; District 2, Linnette Davidson; District 3, Thomas Boland; District 4, Elizabeth Rahier; District 5, Bonnie Korte; District 6, Donald Lukenbill Jr.; District 7, David Gerdes; District 8, Pat Kremer; District 9, Heather Schjenken.

Friday, November 2nd, and Saturday, November 3rd, there will be Hunters' Suppers throughout the area. Follow the link below for details.

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Are you aware that dryer vents have a certain mechanical code that requires the clothes dryer exhaust must be ducted to the outdoors? This means that for most states dryer vents cannot terminate in the attic, garage or crawl space. Venting to these places wouldn’t be a smart choice anyway, since it can cause a moisture problem and possibly a mold problem.

There have been a lot of concerns about the safety of the chemicals used in many dryer fabric softener sheets. Because of this you will notice there are more environmentally friendly versions on the market now. But I was reading some interesting natural ways to reduce static cling and soften your clothes. I haven’t tried them yet, but I will share them and if you would like, you can try them too.

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Bigfork School has long enjoyed the benefits of low class size and having a neighborhood/community school – two of the major benefits that others in Independent School District 318 will experience if the proposed operating levy passes on Nov. 6.

That said, however, the school district does plan to use some of the levy money to provide educational benefit to Bigfork School at both the elementary and secondary levels.

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Individuals must choose to exercise, but communities can make that choice easier. Members of the Bimose Trail Planning Group in Squaw Lake are working to make walking and biking safe transportation options for area residents, and encourage healthy doses of physical activity. Chaired by Denny Schuemann, the group was formed to promote and secure funding for construction of a paved hiking and biking trail through town, and beyond to the Chippewa National Forest. Bimose (bi-moe-say) means walking in the Ojibwe language, and walking is exactly what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services encourages adults to do for at least 25 percent of the trips they make under one mile.

At the October planning group meeting, Mayor Toni Wilcox reported on the Transportation Enhancement Grant Workshop held by MNDOT in Duluth. “Unfortunately we are not far enough along in our planning process to apply for funding in the 2012 project year, but we are in good shape to apply for 2013 funding,” Wilcox said. City Council Member Jackie Schuemann is not discouraged by the long timeline. Schuemann explains, “I’m really eager to get kids and other walkers separated from the highway. People just need to understand that things like this take time.”

The next Bimose Trail Planning Group meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. at the Squaw Lake Community Center on Highway 46. All meetings are open to the public and the group welcomes new members. An Open Forum and Chili Feed will be held in January to gather public comments on proposed routes and funding options. To request meeting notices and updates via mail or e-mail, contact Squaw Lake City Clerk Julie Hemphill by email or mail a note to: Trail Planning, City of Squaw Lake, PO Box 382, Squaw Lake, MN 56681.