Reap what you sow – Downed boulevard trees has resident lamenting planting practices
Traveling down Jefferson Pkwy near the NCRC last week after the storms one would think straight line winds packed a powerful punch to snap off 6 Linden trees in a row. A little further examination of the trees, found a couple of additional reasons why those seemingly healthy trees snapped off at their base. Dr. Peggy Anne Hawkins is a resident, a veterinarian at the Cannon Valley Vet Clinic, and just someone who likes to protec the trees. She was there checking the damage. She explained that, while not a tree expert, “one thing is they were girdled when they were young. So they were weed whacked, they were mowed to close to”. She added that people, in order to keep the lawn mowers from hitting the trees,”put plastic rings around them and then their roots go in a circle”.
And so, as soon as we had those high winds, “these things just snapped off”. She’s already replaced two trees previously. Hawkins said, at that time she went to City Hall and said, “all I want to know is, are people being trained? And so now we are reaping the problems that had been going on here before I moved here 8 years ago”. The Streets and Parks department continues cleanup. Streets and Parks Manager Jasper Kruggel commented that planting practices have changed considerably since those tree were planted some 15 years ago. When asked about boulevard replacements, he said in an email: The City currently does not replace boulevard trees damaged during storm events. Trees like the six Little Leaf Lindens that were damaged on Jefferson Parkway are typically replaced using donations.
Mayor calls for community involvement in Northfield Promise
From Cradle to Career, Northfield Promise is a community wide collaboration to ensure that each child reaches their potential. Following nearly 18 months of research on collective impact, in-depth conversations with over 50 community groups and 500 stakeholders, the Healthy Community Initiative Board voted to support this initiative for the next decade. Many in the community from businesses, to the school district to city staff, elected officials and residents are active in the support of programs. On a new Minute with the Mayor video, however, Mayor Graham said, “it’s not going to work unless we get your help”. He said he’d like residents to learn about Northfield Promise, to participate. Go to northfieldpromise.org. Graham said of students in grades 5 through 12, “60{b5761be34e80a16b6d0e4dabc1869c131a263f96a745c82bebdd3b8a4330bfa9} of girls and 81{b5761be34e80a16b6d0e4dabc1869c131a263f96a745c82bebdd3b8a4330bfa9} of boys say they feel good about themselves often or always”. He said while that may be okay in some places, “for kids that young that’s not even close to where we want to be”. For more information or to get involved go to northfieldpromise.org
Rice County Sheriff’s office puts on ATV class
The Rice County Sheriff’s Department will host an ATV class for youth ages 11 to 15 on August 6th. Sheriff Troy Dunn said, “we go over the laws and rules for ATV usage and then we have them go through an obstacle course and teach them how to properly operate an ATV”. Once completed, they’ll receive a certificate allowing them to legally drive ATV’s in designated areas. Deputies, along with a DNR officer are the instructors and the class is held at the Rice County Fairgrounds. Dunn says the class helps the kids learn the power of the machines, giving them scenarios and teaching them to be in control of the ATV. That’s August 6th from 9 to 3. To sign up, call the Sheriff’s office at 507-334-4391 and ask for Sgt. Yetzer.
Click below to listen to the 7-11-16 NEWS podcast:
Listen for news updates on-air at 6, 7, 8, Noon, 3 and 5
