The Rice County Solid Waste facility has reopened to the public after being closed for the majority of last week due to a fire at the landfill, even as employees work to minimize the effects of the fire.
A statement issued yesterday by Rice County said, as of yesterday, more than 80% of the burning area has been covered with dirt. The remaining 20% is on the slope of a hill in the active landfill cell. Workers had anticipated covering that area with more dirt yesterday, conditions permitting. Given yesterday’s rain, there has been no word if they were able to do so.
The statement asked that, while the landfill has been re-opened, anyone who can wait until later in the week to bring their trash to the landfill should do so. Self-haulers with dump trailers and others that need to go out to the landfill portion of the facility should note that this area is also used by licensed haulers. Only one truck at a time will be allowed to dump in the area that is completely segregated from the areas where there was fire activity.
The statement also thanked the community for their patience as order and normal operating procedures are restored.
The fire began on the evening of Monday, May 22. Its cause has yet to be determined.
Rice County has created a page on its website at ricecountymn.gov/694/Landfill-fire-updates where the latest information on the situation, all press releases and other relevant information can be found.
Pride is now a stand-alone organization
Northfield’s Pride in the Park is set for Saturday in Central Park, and organizer Emily Lloyd of the Northfield Pride Committee said all the final preparations have been made and the celebration is ready to go.
While this is the third year of the celebration, it is the first year that it has not been a library sponsored event. Lloyd, who is a Youth Librarian with the Northfield Public Library, said the event was always meant to be spun out of the library’s purview.
“So, we were always working towards making this a community event, and at that point the library’s support of pride will be in what we do at the at the book bike, what we do for pride. So, we want to have heavy participation and heavy support of pride, but not be in charge of pride. This belongs to the community, and it should be the community’s.”
As a standalone event, Lloyd said there have been many changes, and more expenses, in the festival’s inner workings. For example, she said, the event now had to buy insurance, and pay the community event application fee, but they have received tremendous community support. A fundraiser held at Imminent Brewing last month had a goal to raise $5,000, but Lloyd said the event generated $11,000. That kind of success allowed the committee to establish a $1,000 scholarship for an LGBTQ Northfield youth to use in furthering their education. The awardee will be announced during the festivities on Saturday.
As with all Pride celebrations, organizers are expecting some people to set up near the park and voice their opposition to the celebration. However, this year, the protesters seem to have an agenda. Lloyd said other celebrations around Southern Minnesota have seen protestors attempting to incite specific reactions from the festival goers, particularly the younger attendees, so they can sue the celebration and eliminate it. Lloyd said the best thing to do with that situation might also be the most difficult for some people.
“It’s so hard when people are yelling horrible things at you, but my advice to all is don’t engage. Don’t give them your joy. Don’t let them take away your energy and don’t let them take away your pride. They are very skilled at knowing exactly what they can and can’t say, and I know they’re upsetting, but the best response is to give them nothing to yell at.”
The day’s program will be hosted by Northfield’s own drag queen Mrs. Moxie, and Lexi D. The schedule includes a Drag Story Time, Pride Cardio with trainers from the YMCA, a self-defense clinic with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor Will Wiedenhoeft of Misfit BJJ studio, and a runway dance party. Remarks will be given by State Representative Kristi Pursell and Northfield City Councilor Davin Sokup, who is the first trans man elected to public office in Greater Minnesota.
Lloyd said now that they are a stand-alone organization, her hope is that the Pride Committee can do more to create and foster LGBTQ Community in Northfield by sponsoring more events and bringing people together more often.
“We have the opportunity now to really create LGBTQ community in the city and do events throughout the year. Pride is a beautiful day, but we’re here all year long.”
The celebration will run from noon until 4pm. KYMN will broadcast live from Pride in the Park on Saturday from noon until 1pm.
Planning ahead a vital part of aging in place
Aging in place, the practice of an elderly person living in their own home rather than moving on to assisted living or a retirement home, has become not just a desire among people who are getting older, but with the problems long term care facilities are having right now, for many it is a necessity.
Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service Chief Tom Nelson and Northfield Emergency Medical Services Chief Brian Edwards said last week that they are getting more and more calls to help an elderly person who is aging in place, and there is a need for that person and their support team to have a plan in those situations. And, in fact, Chief Edwards believes the issue is only going to become more prevalent.
“I think this is becoming the next thing we’re just going to see [more of]. You know, we’re an aging population in the US, nursing homes are having a hard time getting patients in, you know, hopefully this funding that just passed the legislature will help. But I think this is what we’re going to be seeing more in the future.”
The most important thing for a person who stays in their home is to have a person, or a group of people, who can check in everyday and offer help when needed. Edwards said the people who do not have that support are the ones who have the most difficulties. Be it a relative, a friend or a neighbor, he said, everyone needs some help.
Edwards said the majority of calls his department receives, by a wide margin, is to help a person who has fallen and become injured or cannot get back up, and it can happen for a multitude of reasons. Nelson said it is important to talk with elderly parents, or just those who have mobility problems, and remind them to use the equipment they have for help.
“I’ve said this to my mom, these aren’t things that people want to think about. Like I need to be thinking about making sure I actually use my Walker or my cane in the house [even if] I’m just going into the kitchen. Those are things where – it’s sort of like most crashes happen within 20 miles of your house. There’s some comfort there, and you don’t think about it.”
Having a plan in place for how fire or EMS can reach someone in trouble, be it a lockbox at the door, or access to a garage door code has become more and more important, they said.
Edwards also endorsed the Vial of Life Program, which informs first responders of everything a medical team would need to know in treating someone. He said a form that can be downloaded from the internet and filled out will tell them medical history, advanced directives the person might have, allergies, where they wish to be treated, and notably, medications.
“As we age, we generally require more medications. A lot of patients, especially elderly ones, start getting some medication filled from this pharmacy and some from this pharmacy and they don’t finish taking this one and they may have multiple medication bottles laying around their home and they’re not sure exactly what they’re supposed to be taking. We gather all of that up, bring all that information. Back at the hospital and they start the process of that medication reconciliation.”
The form, which Edwards called “immeasurably beneficial,” is put into a pink envelope and hung on a refrigerator, or somewhere that is obvious and visible.
For more information on the Vial of Life program, visit vialoflife.com, or call Northfield Emergency Medical Services at 507-646-1444.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
