Thursday, December 27, 2012
How can these tragedies be avoided? Simple: follow the law, says Pete Orput.
- OPINION
-
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The month of December has been devastating for at least two families in the Twin Cities. Both families had a child find a gun in the home and shoot his sibling. One of those cases ended with a 4-year-old shooting his 2-year-old brother to death; the other involved a 2-year-old shot by his 9-year-old brother while the parents were away. Unfortunately, these cases are neither rare nor confined to our communities. In fact, a cursory Google search for toddler gunshot deaths just this month shows kids accidentally killing their siblings in Texas, Tennessee, Colorado and California. How can these tragedies be avoided? Simple: follow the law! In Minnesota it is a gross misdemeanor to negligently store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where…
Friday, March 2, 2012
It is critical that Minnesota pass Racino legislation this year.
- OPINION
-
Friday, March 2, 2012
As someone who has been a part of Minnesota’s equine industry for decades as a horse owner, breeder and trainer, I have seen the landscape change in my own backyard. Additionally, I’ve witnessed the state’s horse industry peak, plateau and decline. Today, what was once a plentiful and profitable industry has shrunk dramatically because Minnesota can no longer compete with states like Iowa, Indiana and Oklahoma. Only 131 Minnesota-bred Thoroughbred foals—just one of many breeds—were registered in 2011, the lowest number since before Canterbury Park was built. Now, consider that every horse farm in Minnesota requires services from veterinarians, horseshoers, transportation companies, wood chip and feed suppliers, and many more in order to …
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Jan. 16-20 is Paraprofessional Recognition Week in Minnesota.
Thank you for this opportunity to talk about our unsung heroes. These people work very hard with our special education students, English language learners and media center. We have a self contained Communication and Interactional Disorders program that requires these paraprofessionals to be with these students in all of their classes. They basically help the students, but in the process they help our regular education teacher as well, as they work with their students. Our special ed paraprofessionals work in the classroom with students. They help them understand the information and may work one on one with them if needed. Teachers love these people because they help students right away when the teacher can't get to them right away. Our …
44.96499
-92.945942
Skyview Middle School
1100 Heron Ave N, Saint Paul, MN
/articles/letter-paraprofessionals-are-unsung-heroes
1752123
/locations/6203137
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The CEO of the group that owns Oakdale's Hilton Garden Inn says a new hotel in the area will 'cannibalize' existing hotels' business.
As a result of your story of Dec. 14, 2011, we were made aware of a meeting that was held by the Oakdale City Council regarding the proposed Oak Marsh hotel. In the minutes to the Dec. 13, 2011, meeting, a copy of which we were able to obtain, it was indicated that there has been no negative feedback on this project. We find this grossly disingenuous, as we, on three separate occasions, have communicated in writing to the mayor and the council our opposition to this project. From a basic economic perspective, we find this project totally out of line and not in concert with economic development sought by the city. Twice, the promoter of this project has projected a total of 3-4000 “incremental” rounds of golf. At an average of $30 per …
Monday, December 5, 2011
Runner asks drivers to watch out.
As an avid runner in the area, I try to make myself seen by other people on the sidewalk and drivers too. This would include a reflective jacket, blinking lights on my back and the front of my jacket as well as a reflective ankle strap. The problem is that drivers aren't looking for pedestrians when they're on the sidewalks. I've almost been hit multiple times when cars are turning right and don't bother to look right to see if someone is coming down the sidewalk. They only want to see if traffic is coming from the left so they can pull out. I've also had people attempt to run stop signs because there is no traffic from either direction. PLEASE STOP at the stop sign regardless of the traffic. The last thing anyone wants is to hit a person …
Mark Wackerfuss
9:42 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Harvey, I agree with you and support farmers, MOHA, and the equine industry, as well. We have noticed the population of participants at events in the Hippodrome, Washington County fairgrounds, etc...drop over the years. (Enclosed is a picture of my wife in American Saddlebred at the Hippodrome.) We see 3 or 4 participants per event where we used to see 10-12. It would be great to hear your … more ›