April 19, 2001 - Minnesota's American Indian tribes have won a 200-thousand-dollar award for promoting preventive health for the elderly. The University of Pennsylvania's Institute on Aging recognized the state's eleven tribal communities along with the Minnesota Board on Aging for developing the Wisdom Steps program which provides education and healthy-living activities. Minnesota was one of three recipients this year of the university's SHARE award. Mary Snobl, an Indian elder specialist with the Minnesota Board on Aging says it's important that her community focus on healthy practices because on average, American Indians live 8 to 10 years less than many Americans.
April 19, 2001 -
April 18, 2001 - Flooding on the Minnesota River near Shakopee has engulfed a popular rollercoaster at Valleyfair. An aerial view of the partially submerged ride made the front page of the Star Tribune today. Amy Maikkula (MIKE-ul-uh) is marketing manager for Valleyfair. I asked her what she thought of the photo.
April 18, 2001 - U-S Senator Mark Dayton has spent much of his spring recess touring flood-stricken areas of the state. Today on Minnesota Public Radio's Midday program the freshman DFLer said he'd use his congressional influence to try to restore federal emergency aid President Bush has proposed cutting.
April 17, 2001 - The Mississippi River is expected to crest tomorrow in Fountain City -- a tiny Wisconsin town located across the river from Winona. For the past two days, volunteers have been shoring up a weak spot in the dike that is threatening downtown. Fountain City Mayor, Carl Brommerich (Brum RICK) says the round-the-clock effort has paid off and so far the dike IS holding. He says, however, there's still a lot of water seeping into the town.
April 17, 2001 - The snow and wind that suddenly kicked up yesterday had members of the Army Corps of Engineers vigorously working to repair an eroding dike along lock number eight on the Mississippi in Genoa, (Jeh-NOAH) Wisconsin. The long hours of working against the elements are taking their toll. But, Terry Jessessky, the central area lock master, says, so far the dikes are holding.
April 16, 2001 - As of today, the state law that prevents winter utility shut-offs stops protecting customers who have been unable to pay their bills. Heat and electric companies report a significant increase in unpaid bills, due in large part to the tripling of gas prices this season. And more customers are appealing to the state for help in paying their energy bills. John Harvanko is director of the Office of Energy Programs for the Minnesota Department of Economic Security. His office distributes federal grant money for heating assistance. He says it's possible that shut-offs will take place but he doesn't know of any:
April 16, 2001 - A bitter cold front pouring out of Canada is bringing more wintery weather to the region. High temperatures today hovered in the 20s and 30s across much of the state. Rich Naistat is a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. He says it IS cold for the season, but we have had even colder readings.
April 13, 2001 - The rising Mississippi River has prompted the Army Corps of Engineers to close the locks from upper St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis to Alma, Wisconsin. Pleasure crafts and commercial traffic are clearing out of the main channel, and most barges are tied down along the river. Tugboat captain Eric Hudson is still on the water... traveling near La Crosse. He will continuing heading north in his boat the Barbara B. until he gets to the first closed lock. Hudson says he can usually make about seven miles an hour, but the rushing water has slowed him to a crawl:
April 12, 2001 - A lowered flood forecast for Granite Falls today was overshawdowed when a watermain burst. Doug Smiglewski (Smi-GLOO-skee) is the Mayor of Granite Falls. He says the town will have to find a temporary fix: