Bobber Tower to be Relamped

A couple of years ago the decision was made to turn off the lights on Pequot Lakes Bobber Tower.  The old fixtures were 35 years old, and the bulbs had to be replaced too often at a cost of $500.  So, after dark the water tower went dark.

Now, the Chamber of Comerce wants to relamp the landmark.  To do so, they need $15 hundred.  The Pequot Lakes-Breezy Point Advisory Board of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber is asking for donations to pay for new, more efficient fixtures and future maintenance.

As part of the re-lighting cememony, Pequot Lakes 3rd through 5th graders will be asked how the bobber came to rest in Pequot Lakes.  Two winners will be chosen, and will help light the tower during a celebration November 10th.

High Lung Disease Rate Among Iron Rangers

(AP)  A rare form of lung disease has affected a disproportionate number of folks who live on Minnesota's Iron Range. 

The MN Dept of Health says 82 Iron Rangers have died from Mesothelioma, up from 63 last year.

The report comes from a University of Minnesota team leading the long-term Taconite Workers health Study.

Dr. Jeffry Mandel says the mesothelioma rate appears to be considerable higher than it should be, but further study is required.

Mesothelioma is a rare lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, and is almost always fatal.

Tuesday High School Scores

Volleyball:
3-0 Bertha-Hewitt def Pillager
3-0 Esko def McGregor
3-0 Long Prairie-Grey Eagle def Royalton
3-0 Onamia def Ogilvie
3-0 Pequot Lakes def Crosby-Ironton
3-0 Pierz def Holdingford
3-0 Pinceton def Milaca
3-0 Swanville def Browerville
3-0 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley def Pine River-Backus
3-1 Aitkin def Isle
3-1 Brainerd def Rocori
3-1 East Grand Forks def Park Rapids
3-1 New York Mills def Menahga
3-1 Verndale def Staples-Motley
3-1 Wadena-Deer Creek def Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
3-2 Little Falls def St. Cloud Cathedral
3-2 Sebeka def Henning

This May Be The Final Appeal For Rodriguez

Lawyers have filed what may be the final appeals in the case of Alfonso Rodriguez, Junior.  He's on death row for the kidnapping and killing of college student Dru Sjodin of Pequot Lakes.  Rodriguez lost earlier appeals and was denied a U.S. Supreme Court hearing. 

New Loan Opportunities for Leech Ojibwe

Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will sign the Joint Sovereign Filing Systems Joint Powers Agreement with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe on Friday, October 21 in the State Capitol Rotunda at 2 p.m.

This Uniform Commercial Code joint powers agreement will help reduce lending barriers American Indian tribes, tribal entities, tribal member-owned businesses, and American Indian consumers encounter when seeking financing by creating a legal infrastructure for securing transactions with off-reservation commercial lenders and businesses.

The joint powers agreement should allow members of the Leech Lake Community to more easily access capital and provide greater economic opportunities beneficial to the whole state.

Once signed, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe will have access to Minnesota’s Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filing system which will serve as the registry for tribal liens. By using the state’s UCC system lenders would be assured of stability and security within tribal loan practices and laws.

Secretary Ritchie says the agreement will encourage new business development and employment growth. oportunities

Hwy Survey

Crews will conduct traffic surveys on Wadena area roadways Tuesday, Oct. 25 through Thursday, Oct. 27 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Interviewers will randomly select a sample of motorists and direct them into designated survey stations at points along Highway 10, Highway 71, Highway 29 and Wadena County Road 4. They will ask motorists to participate in a 30- to 45-second interview regarding travel patterns and purposes.

The voluntary survey is part of the Wadena Area Transportation Study, a partnership between the city of Wadena, Otter Tail County, Wadena County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The collected data will help the study partners understand motorists’ behaviors in the Wadena area and develop the future transportation plan to accommodate the region as it continues to grow.

The study partners appreciate motorists taking the time to participate in the surveys and share their driving experiences.

For more information about the surveys or overall study, contact Craig Vaughn, SRF Consulting Group, at cvaughn@srfconsulting.com or 763-249-6774.

Monday High School Scores

Volleyball:

3-0  Bertha-Hewitt def Swanville
3-0  Bigfork def Northland
3-0  Browerville def Staples-Motley
3-0  Nevis def Sebeka
3-2  McGregor def Isle