COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 36 NO. 43 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
MARINE: City joins young environmentalist's project. PAGE 2
Snowplows spread beet product on roads County highway department uses biodegradable brine to reduce salt use that threatens lakes, rivers, vehicles, roads BY GREG SEITZ ST. CROIX 360
SUBMITTED
More than 90 attendees enjoyed their time at the annual Marine Oscar Night in Marine on St. Croix Saturday, February 8.
Marine Oscar Night attendees again pick short film winner contributed If you want to win your Oscar party pool, you’d be well served to be part of the Marine on St. Croix Oscar Night party. For the seventh consecutive year, those attending this event on the eve of the actual Oscar ceremony chose a
short film nominee that ultimately won an Oscar the following night. 90+ attendees viewed the five nominees in the Live Action Short Category at the Marine event on Saturday, February 8. The fundraiser supports Marine Documentary
Night, a collaboration between the Marine Community Library and Marine Film Society. While the voting was competitive with five quality films in this year’s lineup, a plurality of attendees at Saturday night’s event
in the Marine Village Hall chose an American-made entry, THE NEIGHBOR’S WINDOW, as their favorite. On Sunday night in Hollywood, that film was named the Oscar winner, keeping the Marine Oscar Party night record intact.
Scandia's internet action committee moves ahead The Scandia City Council created a new committee called the Internet Action Committee (the “IAC”) in November, 2019. The IAC is tasked with facilitating the expansion of fast, reliable and affordable Internet service to all of Scandia. The award of the DEED grant by the State is an important first step in achieving our goal of providing
dramatically expanded Internet service to all our residents. We are grateful to councilmember Patti Ray for her leadership and to the mayor and the council for their support of this important first step. Listed below is the breakdown of the DEED Grant Program funds: DEED Grant - $510,358 Midco - $350,274
NEWS 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
ADVERTISING 651-433-3845 ads@osceolasun.com
Scandia’s Capital Improvement Fund - $160,085 Total Project - $1,020,717 Working with our partner MidCo, the DEED funds will allow 219 underserved non-Midco homes to be wired for the Internet in Phase One. Please see Map #1 for the DEED project areas. We will post
Washington County in Minnesota recently shared that its snowplows use a derivative of sugar beets to help manage ice on the county’s roads. The county points to benefits such as a 79 percent reduction in corrosion compared to other materials, long-lasting de-icing effects which slows down the refreeze rate, and environmental benefits due to the fact it is “99% biodegradable in 28 days.” “Did you know that our plows are environmentally friendly? They have been spreading a beet derivative on county roads since 2018,” the county recently said on social media. “It’s an organic based, corrosion inhibited, liquid deicer and is made locally in St. Paul. It’s not beet
COURTESY WASHINGTON COUNTY
Plow trucks in Washington County are trying a new beet derivative product for de-icing roads .
juice, but is made up of processed beet molasses and a lot of sugar.” The material is an alternative to salt, which has been found in recent years to pollute nearby lakes and rivers when it runs off roads. Beet molasses is also less corrosive, meaning it can extend the life of road surfaces and cause less rust on vehicles that drive on the roads. The beet material is usually mixed with a liquid salt brine, making the salt last longer and reducing the amount needed. The sticky sugars not only break down ice, but the substance clings to road surfaces, allowing less salt to be applied.
Salt water worries The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has raised concerns about road salt and its effects on the state’s water for the past several years.
SEE COMMITTEE, PAGE 2
PUBLIC NOTICES 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
SEE BRINE, PAGE 2
SUBSCRIPTIONS 651-433-3845 office@osceolasun.com
BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone