COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2018
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
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NOKOTA HORSE: Preserving a dwindling breed. PAGE 6
Wasp watchers wanted
Scandia hacker honored for security research
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Elijah Rehberg of Scandia at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington.
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
Elijah Rehberg’s first Xbox hack wasn’t easy. Nor was it legal, exactly. The security breech was achieved after countless hours of investigation and effort — or what Rehberg might call fun. Once inside, the Scandia teen had access to information Microsoft had done its best to protect.
But he stole nothing. Instead, he contacted the tech company, told them he’d hacked the console and explained how. In response, Microsoft programmers reinforced the Xbox’s security, making it even more difficult to break in. But Rehberg did it again. And again. And again. “Finding even one is a big deal,” said Rehberg’s
mother, Krista Schaaf. “They thought the Xbox was iron clad.” To date, Rehberg has found more than 30 security exploits for Microsoft, sharing the information with the company each time. Call it white hat hacking. Call it security research. Either way, Rehberg’s efforts have turned heads at Microsoft. This year the company honored the
17-year-old with a Most Valuable Professional Award, flying him and Schaaf to their headquarters in Redmond, Washington. There, Rehberg toured the company’s campus, met staff and attended the March MVP Summit. MVPs vary widely in their interests and skills, Schaaf reported. Rehberg was the sole
Get ready to grab a net, study native wasps and hunt for non-native emerald ash borers. The emerald ash borer is an invasive insect that has infiltrated and destroyed millions of ash trees in more than 20 states. Join the St. Croix River Association and Friends of Scandia Parks & Trails for a free lesson in finding and identifying native wasps. Learn to determine whether the wasps are consuming and feeding emerald ash borers to their larvae. Through this educational event you will become an important part in overcoming this critical environmental issue in our area. Jennifer Schultz, Wasp Watchers program coordinator at the University of Minnesota Extension, will teach participants about emerald ash borers and citizen scientists’ role in helping stop their spread. “As we mark the 50th anniversary of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, we want to make sure we are doing what we can to preserve the beautiful river and the trees which surround it,” said Deb Ryun, executive director of the St. Croix River Association. “Tracking emerald ash borer is an important step in stopping the further FORESTRY ARCHIVE | PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF infestation of this CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES harmful non-native The emerald ash borer has despecies.” 2018 marks the 50th stroyed millions of ash trees in more than 20 states. Univeranniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers sity of Minnesota Extension scientists are coordinating a Act. From this Act, citizen effort to learn whether the St. Croix and the native wasps are feeding the Namekagon rivers became the country’s invasive insect to their larva first wild and scenic river national park—the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The St. Croix River Association (SCRA) is the official partner for the Riverway.
SEE HACKER, PAGE 2
Wasp Watcher event details
DNR sets sights on accessible adventure at William O’Brien Park Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr has a big vision for capital investment this year: to create a whole weekend of accessible infrastructure at one of Minnesota’s most visited state’s parks. The target of his ambition is William O’Brien State Park, which is split between Scandia and Marine on St. Croix. For Twin Cities residents, the park is known for its close-tohome camping, paddle-sports and bird-watching in the summer, and for its hiking and cross country ski trails in the winter. “We want to create a whole weekend of outdoor fun that can be accessed seamlessly by
all Minnesotans regardless of their physical abilities,” said Landwehr, who has advocated strongly during his administration for improving access for veterans and children, in particular. “We can start by providing a comprehensive, accessible outdoor recreation experience at one state park to demonstrate how it could look at other state parks and public lands.” As the DNR upgrades its facilities through renovation and new construction projects to meet federal and state accessibility standards, this often results in stand-alone accessible features within a park. For example, at William O’Brien State Park, a
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newer ranger station near the park entrance, which was built after the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is accessible by visitors with wheelchairs. Other areas of the park, such as the older visitor center and facilities at the picnic and river access areas are not. “The rehabilitation approach to accessibility has resulted in a patchwork of accessible buildings and recreation features throughout Minnesota’s outdoor recreation system,” Landwehr said. “Here, we’d like to create a seamless experience for people with varying physical abilities.
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SEE WILLIAM O'BRIEN, PAGE 2
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Join a citizen science effort to find out whether native wasps are consuming and feeding emerald ash borers to their larvae. WHEN: Thursday, May 17, 6 to 8 p.m. WHERE: Scandia Community Center (14727 209th St. N., Scandia)
Millstream Day set for May 20 Celebrate spring as it blooms in the St. Croix Valley. Marine on St. Croix’s Millstream Day is set for Sunday, May 20, at the millpond at Burris Park near the Village Center. Fresh brook trout layered with dill, lemon and butter will be served, as will bratwurst. The ev-
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er-popular lunch brings back trout enthusiasts year after year so come early. The event boasts an ice cream social, bake sale and yard games. Educational exhibitions from local organizations include Warner Nature Center, River SEE MILLSTREAM DAY, PAGE 9
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