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Twin Cities seeing record-low precipitation as drought continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

The Twin Cities have seen record-low precipitation over the last few weeks.In the 31 days ending Wednesday, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport recorded just 0.26 inches of rain. That’s the lowest amount for that time frame in records going back to 1871, according to the National Weather Service.The second lowest rain total over those 31 days was in 1988, when 0.62 was recorded.June so far has seen just 0.09 inches of rain at the airport — nearly 2 inches below what is considered normal for this point in the month.May saw 1.62 inches at the airport, the official weather observation point for the Twin Cities. That was 2.29 inches below what is considered normal.(U.S. Drought Monitor)The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map doesn’t show many changes for drought in the state since last week, although some counties in central Minnesota are now in a severe drought.Much of the northern half of the Twin Cities metro remains in a moderate drought, while much of the s...

Longtime St. Paul restaurants Alary’s and Fasika to close by the end of the week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

Two longtime St. Paul restaurants are closing before the end of the month.Fasika, which has been serving Ethiopian favorites for the past 22 years out of a storefront on Snelling Avenue, will close up shop after service on Saturday, June 17.The restaurant, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, posted simply on its social media pages that it would close and thanked customers.Ethiopian immigrants Atnafu Yeshidagne and Menderen Gebretsadik opened the restaurant in 2001, serving spongy injera bread and stewed vegetables and meats along with other East African favorites.And Alary’s, which has been operating in downtown St. Paul since 1949, will close after service on Sunday, June 18.Current owner Nick Peterson has sold the building, and the new owners will close Alary’s and rebrand it. The new owners are hoping to be up and running before the next Wild season starts.Stay tuned for information on who the next owners are and what the concept will be.Related ArticlesRe...

Village of Barons elects new councillor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

Southern Alberta NewspapersThe Village of Barons has elected Clinton Bishop as a councillor for the Village of Barons. The by-election was held on June 5, and saw 89 of 200 eligible village voters show up to cast their ballot. Clinton received 64 out of the 89 votes cast. The by-election came after former Mayor Ed Weistra resigned as Mayor in March 2023. While the recent by-election was for the position of Village Councillor, council will hold an organizational meeting to determine who will take the position as mayor and deputy mayor on June 13.

Stand up for what you believe in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

Fellow Citizens:During the tragedy of Hitler’s war 1939-1945, a concerned leading citizen, Mr. Niemoller, (whose) Christian moral principles were opposed to what was happening in his country, landed in a concentration camp. He made a famous confessional statement, “First they came for the Jews, I was silent, I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists, I was silent, I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, I was silent, I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me (and) there was no one left to speak for me,” so said Niemoller.In today’s world, “first they came to abort this child, I was silent, I was not that child. Then they came for the disturbed 14-year-old child, and offer this child a sex change using hormones and surgeries, I was silent it was not my son or daughter. Then they came and tried to take my freedom of speech away, on publicly speaking my opinion on these issues.” But thankfully, I know I don’t stand alone, we still have many Niemo...

Lethbridge College joins the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsFollowing the launch of the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network (PCSFN) in 2021, Lethbridge College is the latest institution to join the network which is a collaborative network working together to enhance efficiencies, sustainability, and tech solutions in the agriculture industry across Canada.The network, led by Olds College, currently has representation for three provinces, but is working toward securing members from every geographic area in the country. Members also include University of Saskatchewan, Lakeland College, Discovery Farm Langham, Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence, Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Inc., and  Enterprise Machine Intelligence & Learning Initiative.Dr. Joy Agnew, the-Vice President of Research at Olds College, welcomed Lethbridge College into the PCSFN last week. In a June 7 press release, Agnew praised Lethbridge College for its, “expertise in irrigated crop production, grain storage management, and hortic...

Youth entering firefighting through Coaldale academy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsKate Andrews Fire and Emergency Services Academy (KAFESA) class of 2023 graduates were recognized and celebrated during a ceremony at the Coaldale Fire Hall on Friday.In attendance were graduates and guests, Coaldale and District Emergency Services (CDES) staff, board members and staff from Palliser School Division, Fire Chief of Coaldale, Clayton Rutberg, and former Chief of Coaldale, Kevin McKeown.This year, 12 students walked across the concrete equipment bay at the Coaldale Fire Hall and officially graduated from the academy. The program has been in operation for four years. Fire Chief Clayton Rutberg said, “There is a lot of resources that go into this program,” from instructors, staff, the Town of Coaldale, and the Palliser School Division adding the students in the program, “put a lot of time and effort into this. They work hard at it,” spending anywhere from four to five hours every Friday afternoon practicing various skills and learning diffe...

New Coalhurst PDCC policy approved, amended

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsCoalhurst councillors have a new policy on participating in continuing education and professional development opportunities.During their regular June 6 meeting, Coalhurst town council discussed a new policy on professional development, conference and convention attendance.Council had previously passed a motion to defer their Professional Development Policy to the Policy, Bylaw, Risk Review Committee to amend the policy at their regular April 18 meeting.The Professional Development, Conference, and Convention Policy includes revisions to sections 2, 3.2 and 4. The amendments are:• Removing the sentence “This policy does not apply to mandatory Council training or onboarding sessions related to Council Orientation or the Organizational Meeting of Council” from section 2, Scope.• Amending section 3.2, Conferences and Conventions, to include: “Council recognizes that conference and convention attendance can include both professional development and networ...

Coalhurst mill rates passed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsCoalhurst council has set their mill rates for 2023.During their regular June 6 meeting, Coalhurst town council passed their Mill Rate Bylaw for 2023.Bylaw 444-23 – or the 2023 Mill Rate bylaw – allows the town to set the rates of taxation against assessable properties within Coalhurst’s boundaries for the 2023 tax year.First reading of the bylaw was passed during council’s May 16 meeting but it could not be finalized as the town has some recently annexed land, and as Lethbridge County had not finalized their mill rates, it could effect the annexed land. Since that time, Lethbridge County council has passed their mill rate bylaw, allowing for Coalhurst to finalize their mill rates.According to the bylaw, the requisition amounts set by the province,for Coalhurst are as follows:• Alberta School Foundation Fund (ASFF)• Residential/Farmland: $708,905• Non-residential: $53,946• Green Acres Foundation: $44,337The mill rates are, as follows:Tax Levy Assessm...

Tourism expert says Coaldale has work to do to become premier destination, but is on its way

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsCoaldale stakeholders, businesses, and municipal officials heard from one of North America’s leading “destination” experts with ideas and feedback on how to propel Coaldale as the leading place to live, work, and play.Roger Brooks has helped transform over 2,500 ordinary places into extraordinary destinations and has extensive experience in guiding municipalities on how to brand and market their town or city and develop themselves as a destination.Brooks outlined that the specific wants of millennials are one of the greatest shifts that is taking place in Canadian history, and noted the demographic of people born between 1981 and 1996 are the largest generation in U.S. and Canadian history in addition to being the most diverse, civically-minded, and the most educated generation.In terms of strategic destination planning, Brooks stressed, “it is really important to give millennials a seat at the table,” and added attracting millennials is the key to at...

Tannersville's new Americana eatery sets opening date

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

TANNERSVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Nat’s Mountain House, located at 6589 Route 23A in Tannersville, is getting ready to open its doors. The restaurant is scheduled to officially open on Friday, June 23. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The 120-seat restaurant, bar, and lounge features an avant-garde design and serves American classic comfort food. The main dining room has large windows with views of the Northern Catskills. There is outdoor deck seating and an outdoor space with fire pits, Adirondack chairs, and porch swings.As well as a restaurant, Nat’s Mountain House will serve as a private event space and offer programming such as summer and fall activities for adults, movie nights, puppy meetups, petting zoos, and live music. Burnt Hills pizzeria permanently closes its doors The menu includes oysters, crab rangoon dip, salads, spaghetti, fish, chicken, fries, and cheese fondue. The drink menu includes a rotating selection ...