Rep. Oberstar keynotes Grand Opening of Discovery Center 

We have much to show – and much to be proud of, said Congressman Oberstar as he delivered the keynote remarks at the Grand Opening for the Discovery Center on Sept. 3.

“Our roadways are how we get there.”

Rep. Oberstar summarized the history of the development of the National Scenic Byway system since the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 made funds available. Highway 38 was one of the early highways chosen as the system grew from 14 to today’s 98 National Scenic Byways. Now there are a variety of designated roads, he said, including All American roads and the scenic byways of 27 different agencies plus those of states.

Emerald Ash Borer 

So far, said Mike Schommer of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the news is good. In the last week of September about 40 percent of the 1800 purple insect traps placed around the state have been analyzed and no adult emerald ash borer beetles have been found outside of the St. Anthony area where the insect is confirmed.

But the prognosis is not as good. The larvae of the half inch beetle has killed millions of trees in Michigan and the upper Midwest. In August, 2008 it was found in eastern Wisconsin and by April 2009 it had leapfrogged to the western side of the state just across the river from Winona. It now is confirmed in over 60 trees in St. Paul near the intersection of 394 and 35W and three counties are under quarantine preventing the movement of ash wood and hardwood firewood: Hennepin and Ramsey counties surrounding the Twin Cities and Houston County in far southeast Minnesota.

The cause of rising costs 

Utilities across the country are seeing increases in the cost of generating and transmitting electricity. As you’ve likely noticed on your bills, Great River Energy, North Itasca Electric Cooperative’s wholesale electricity provider, is no exception.

Great River Energy is one of more than 50 generation and transmission cooperatives in the United States that provide power to more than 1,000 distribution cooperatives. Despite recent increases, Great River Energy’s rates remain the sixth lowest among the 20 largest generation and transmission cooperatives in the country, and the organization is taking major steps to slow the rise in power costs. Rising costs are an industry trend – and one that won’t be ending soon.

Roxanne’s Sales Talk 

Electric Range Recall

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission-released this article on 8/27/09.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Certain Frigidaire and Kenmore Elite Smoothtop Electric Ranges Units: About 200,000

October 2009 Calendar of Events