By Yvonne Nyenhuis
Our ancestors came across dangerous waters in small wooden boats to face an unknown wilderness. They challenged the domination of England and started a new nation. In the eighteen-hundreds they left behind the comfort of the E
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"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Saturday, May 25th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 11:44:26, May 21st 2013 - airmaxs52274 - Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your a ... [Read More]
- 5:56:33, May 18th 2013 - modgudur - I guess the child is anti-gun control since Obama went to all that trouble ... [Read More]
- 9:27:41, May 16th 2013 - caal girl - Nice outfit on you. I loved some of the dresses but am holding my breath ... [Read More]
- 2:03:34, May 14th 2013 - - Thanks for sharing the trip with us! ... [Read More]
- 4:12:01, May 9th 2013 - Amanda Ziebell - Wow! Thanks to the Fillmore County Journal for this kind story. For a ... [Read More]
- 11:47:30, May 7th 2013 - EW - ramble.....ramble.....ramble..... ... [Read More]
- 10:25:25, May 7th 2013 - Thunder6 - Great article! I love to see the Youth of Fillmore County receiveing acco ... [Read More]
- 6:52:10, May 6th 2013 - Jason Sethre, Publisher of Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal - Maryh, ... [Read More]
- 7:29:56, May 5th 2013 - maryh - Where are OCJ's available for pickup...other than at the new office? ... [Read More]
- 2:41:47, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, I just looked up Senate File 796 and in it there are said p ... [Read More]
Guest Commentary: Frac Sand Gold Rush Will Hurt Our Economy and Environment
Fri, Mar 29th, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
Comments
By Councilor Lynn Schoen, City of Wabasha
As a city of Wabasha Council member I am very concerned about the negative impact the frac sand industry will have on my community. This type of large scale intensive strip mining and the truck traffic and transportation issues that come with it are entirely new to southeast Minnesota.
So far this issue has been left primarily to local governments to deal with and towns like Wabasha are struggling. It is critical that our state legislature act this year to establish some regional standards for this industry to protect the area’s water, air, roads and quality of life. Senator Matt Schmit is moving legislation that does this in Senate File 786. Sen. Schmit’s bill contains what we need to protect southeast Minnesotans a process to create state level pollution standards; an in-depth environmental study that will help us look at the cumulative effects on a larger scale and most importantly a moratorium while that is being done.
This is a common sense approach that protects our community from the outside investors wanting to force this industry into our community. Wabasha now has a frac sand transfer facility setting up in our town. Semi’s coming across the Mississippi River from Wisconsin will dump frac sand to be stored and transferred to rail. Silica dust, truck traffic and diesel fumes are a few of the negative impacts that our town will suffer. This company was not welcome but pushed its way in through threats of lawsuits and claims that Federal law pre-empted the project from environmental review because of its connection to the railroad.
This project will generate 600 truck trips a day through our small town. We have a second company wanting to push in which would mean 900 truck trips through our town.
The fact is that the frac sand industry is at odds with the economy of Wabasha. We are a historic Mississippi River town and proud home of the National Eagle Center which attracts up to 100,000 people a year. Tourism related businesses in Wabasha County generated over 1.5 million dollars in taxes. We have over 700 jobs in the tourism industry in Wabasha County.
We are part of the Great River Road. Thousands of bikers, antique cars and bicyclists drive the loop around Lake Pepin starting with the 100+ mile garage sale in May and ending with Octoberfest activities. We are known as a peaceful, quiet, safe place to experience .....
[Read the Rest]
As a city of Wabasha Council member I am very concerned about the negative impact the frac sand industry will have on my community. This type of large scale intensive strip mining and the truck traffic and transportation issues that come with it are entirely new to southeast Minnesota.
So far this issue has been left primarily to local governments to deal with and towns like Wabasha are struggling. It is critical that our state legislature act this year to establish some regional standards for this industry to protect the area’s water, air, roads and quality of life. Senator Matt Schmit is moving legislation that does this in Senate File 786. Sen. Schmit’s bill contains what we need to protect southeast Minnesotans a process to create state level pollution standards; an in-depth environmental study that will help us look at the cumulative effects on a larger scale and most importantly a moratorium while that is being done.
This is a common sense approach that protects our community from the outside investors wanting to force this industry into our community. Wabasha now has a frac sand transfer facility setting up in our town. Semi’s coming across the Mississippi River from Wisconsin will dump frac sand to be stored and transferred to rail. Silica dust, truck traffic and diesel fumes are a few of the negative impacts that our town will suffer. This company was not welcome but pushed its way in through threats of lawsuits and claims that Federal law pre-empted the project from environmental review because of its connection to the railroad.
This project will generate 600 truck trips a day through our small town. We have a second company wanting to push in which would mean 900 truck trips through our town.
The fact is that the frac sand industry is at odds with the economy of Wabasha. We are a historic Mississippi River town and proud home of the National Eagle Center which attracts up to 100,000 people a year. Tourism related businesses in Wabasha County generated over 1.5 million dollars in taxes. We have over 700 jobs in the tourism industry in Wabasha County.
We are part of the Great River Road. Thousands of bikers, antique cars and bicyclists drive the loop around Lake Pepin starting with the 100+ mile garage sale in May and ending with Octoberfest activities. We are known as a peaceful, quiet, safe place to experience .....
[Read the Rest]
How did the President of “Yes we can!” wind up with a Congress of “No we can’t!”
Fri, Mar 22nd, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
Comment(1)
Guest Commentary: Medical insurance
Fri, Mar 22nd, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
By Robert and Monica Hatch, Lanesboro
Recently we read an on-line article that said a senior retiring at age 65 and living to a typical age of 85 should expect to spend $250,000 on medical expenses, including various premiums, for an annual bill of
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Congress falls short on national security
Fri, Mar 22nd, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
By Lee H. Hamilton
Wherever you stood on Sen. Rand Paul’s 13-hour filibuster to delay John Brennan’s confirmation as CIA director, or on the Senate’s confirmation hearings for Brennan and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, they all serve as a rem
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Guest Commentary: Liquor store, new city building, or money pit
Fri, Mar 22nd, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
By Brett Kues
I recently watched a speech given at the Fellowship Foundation National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. by Dr Benjamin Carson. He told a story about a friend who loved to buy his mom expensive and extravagant Christmas gifts. On
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Guest Commentary: Legislature must pass Senate File 786 to protect rural communities from frac sand rush
Fri, Mar 15th, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
By Vince Ready
For the first time in my life, I travelled to the State Capitol from my home in Saratoga Township in Winona County. I was there with many of my neighbors and concerned citizens to let the Legislature know that they must act to protec
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Me like hockey
Fri, Mar 15th, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
In a classic case of “Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” I find myself paying more attention to the professional hockey season this year than I ever really have before. I have to admit, when the negotiations broke down, I thought to
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What’s ahead in Congress this year
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
Earlier this year, it seemed there might be some hope for Capitol Hill when Congress dealt easily with raising the debt ceiling. But don’t let that single episode fool you. As President Obama and House Republicans circle each other over the forthc
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Stupid is as stupid does
Fri, Mar 8th, 2013
Posted in All Commentary
Posted in All Commentary
This well known quote from Forrest Gump seems to mean a person is tagged with the label of stupid when he or she does stupid things, regardless of that person’s intelligence. Our national political leaders have once again earned this designation.
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