Rice County announced yesterday that the county landfill, which has been plagued by a fire since early last week, is now operating on a regular schedule. The area impacted by the fire has now been completely covered with dirt, and the danger has largely passed.
A statement issued by the county said that while some areas are still smoldering, the landfill staff is keeping an eye on things, and will continue to do so, as smoldering areas and flare ups could persist for some time.
The decision to suffocate the fire with dirt, which is a standard practice when fighting landfill fires, was made in consultation with the Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service, Faribault Fire Department officials, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The Environmental Protection Agency also weighed in and confirmed suffocation was the best way to proceed.
Over the last two weeks, the statement said, county officials have been in close contact with officials from the local fire departments, the MPCA, the office of the State Fire Marshal and the EPA. All concurred that Rice County was and is taking appropriate steps to fight the fire.
The cause has yet to be determined and officials might not be able to do so, because the size and the intense heat of the fire precluded fire personnel from getting close enough to examine things.
The statement said prevention of fires such as the one at the landfill requires everyone in the community to think about what they are throwing away, and question if they are using the best method to do so. Improperly disposed of materials like hot ash and embers, button batteries, lithium batteries, cell phones, and discarded matches are all common causes of landfill fires.
Seatbelts are first priority during the ‘100 most dangerous days’
It has been said that Minnesotans do not enjoy summer so much as they attack it. The summer recreation season is one of the most enjoyable times of the year for many, but according to the Minnesota office of traffic safety, it also accounts for the 100 most dangerous days of the year on Minnesota roads.
A statement issued by the OTS said more fatal crashes happen on Minnesota roads between Memorial Day and Labor Day than any other time of the year. Of the 444 traffic fatalities that occurred in Minnesota last year, 169 of those, a full 38%, occurred over that 100-day stretch.
Sheriff Jesse Thomas said the goal is always to have zero fatalities on Rice County roads, but that is a tough goal to meet, noting that there have been two driving fatalities this year, both in the Northfield area.
As a means to mitigate the danger between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the federal government sponsors the Click-it or Ticket initiative, which gives local law enforcement funds to put extra patrols on the roads specifically looking for people in vehicles that are not wearing a seatbelt.
It is Minnesota law that everyone in a vehicle has to be belted in or secured in a child restraint. A child seat is needed until kids are eight years old or they are at least 4’9″.
The Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety says the number of people dying in a crash without a seatbelt on is dropping statewide. Through May 14th, there were 18 unbelted deaths, down from 25 at this same time last year.
Thomas said the sheriff’s department has extra patrols out right now, and their main focus is to find drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts. He added, however, that they will handle other moving violations and criminal behavior as well.
Thomas said it is hard for most people to even imagine not wearing a seatbelt in this day and age, but there are indeed plenty of people who don’t. Usually, he said they are from an older generation. Millenials and Gen Z drivers, he said, are very good about wearing seatbelts.
“I think I think our young drivers these days do a great job of wearing their seat belts. I compare them to when I was their age, and I would say they’re probably more responsible as far as driving goes, because it’s just that’s the way they’re raised. They always had to put seat belt on. And our newer vehicles make it hard to even drive without having a seat belt on. Unless you like that dinging noise, I guess.”
A statement issued by the OTS said using a seatbelt absolutely helps to save lives. In 1987, over 4,100 people suffered severe injuries in a crash. Last year, the number was only 1,244.
The Click-It or Ticket initiative will run through Sunday.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas can be heard here
Dedication Ceremony, delayed from last fall, set for June 13th
The long delayed public dedication of the mosaic mural in the City Council Chambers in City Hall has now been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 13th. City officials and the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission will host the ceremony for the mural located in the Council Chambers. The ceremony will include remarks from Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell, artist Lori Greene, and Director of Library Services Natalie Draper.
Greene, a St. Paul-based artist, was commissioned by the city to create a site-specific mosaic mural for the Council Chambers in 2021. Along with artists Tara Nielson, Juliette Myers and Adrienne Sherman, she completed the painted mural and tile mosaic in April 2022. A statement issued by the city said the artwork depicts a “colorful celebration of the contributions of the ordinary people that make Northfield extraordinary.”
“We hope that by bringing art and people together,” Greene said in the statement, “and pushing that art and those people to say something and to be something, that we will all grow stronger as individuals and as communities.”
The mural was funded by the 1% for the Arts program, which calls for one percent of construction costs of a city capital improvement project to be dedicated to public art.
The ceremony, which had originally been scheduled for last October but had to be canceled, will begin at 5pm on the 13th, just prior to the City Council work session that evening.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
