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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2019 VOL. 36 NO. 08 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
WILDLIFE: Restoring habitat means learning to live with wildlife again. PAGE 6
Lieutenant Governor Flanagan visits William O’Brien Park BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
DNR urges boaters to ‘Own your wake, for everyone’s sake!’
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan visited William O’Brien State Park June 6 to celebrate Minnesota’s outdoor skill-building programs. Her visit kicked off the 10th anniversary of the Department of Natural Resources’ I Can! outdoor programs, which offer gear and guidance for activates like pitching a tent, building a fire and catching fish. “This park is important to all of us but has a special meaning to my family,” Flanagan said. “Last year was the first time we took our kiddo camping, right here. The most exciting part was when we saw a snake eat a frog, right over there. SEE VISIT, PAGE 2
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SUZANNE LINDGREN | COUNTRY MESSENGER
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan’s June 6 visit to William O’Brien State Park included a fire building demonstration followed by a marshmallow roasting session.
Music@Franconia line up released CONTRIBUTED FRANCONIA SCULPTURE PARK
Now in its 23rd year, Franconia Sculpture Park has perfected the ultimate summer music series. Visit Franconia’s Earthen Amphitheatre June 22 for headliner Jaedyn James and The Hunger, with opener Prairie Fire Lady Choir. This event promises to keep audiences moving and grooving during an afternoon of raw funk and aggressive soul. Bring a blanket, grab a bite to eat from either Yummies (Greek), Asase Yaa Global Foods, or Cotton Candy Ice Cream. Visit Mary Johnson’s famous Lizard Lounge for a Freezie Pop and a beverage. Enjoy an afternoon of song, dance, and sculpture. Concert admission is free - parking is $5 per vehicle. Concerts take place between 2 and 6 p.m. Free tours of the park exhibit between sets. In the event of rain, Franconia has a large tent set up to shelter guests. All events are family & dog friendly, please pick-up after your furry friends. Music@Franconia takes place among Franconia Sculpture Park’s interactive, cheerful, and dynamic sculpture exhibition with 120+ sculptures made on-
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June 22 Headliner Jaedyn James and The Hunger performing at Franconia Sculpture Park’s 2018 Art & Artists Celebration.
site by Franconia artists-in-residence. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the afternoon with friends, family, and community. 2 p.m. Prairie Fire Lady Choir Prairie Fire Lady Choir (www. prairiefireladychoir.org) is a Twin Cities-based, a cappella singing group of sixty members who raise their collective voices across the state in support of art, community, and creativity. Formed in 2010, PFLC offers a supportive, fun, and educational environment to explore musical
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passions. The current repertoire includes covers from local artists Aby Wolf, Prince, The Replacements, Matt Latterell, Chris Koza as well as original compositions from talented choir members. 4 p.m. Jaedyn James and The Hunger Jaedyn James (www.jjandthehunger.com) is the lead of the eight-piece ‘Raw Funk & Aggressive Soul’ band called The Hunger. Consumed by her passion
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SEE MUSIC, PAGE 2
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With the St. Croix River near Stillwater dropping for the first time this spring below the level where slow no-wake speeds are required, many people might be eager to throttle up and make some waves. Not so fast. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds boaters to be aware of the problems that can be caused by large wakes and to be responsible when operating near shorelines, docks and other recreationalists. Driven by a growing number of calls and complaints about excessive wakes, the DNR this week is launching an educational effort urging people to “Own Your Wake – for everyone’s sake.” The agency will be working with marinas, boat dealers, local water patrols and others to spread the word about the importance of minimizing wakes that might pose a nuisance or hazard to others. “In Minnesota, our waters belong to everyone, and everyone has equal rights to enjoy them – whether you run a speedboat, paddle a canoe, or own shoreline property,” said Adam Block, the DNR’s boating law administrator. “But shared resources require shared responsibility, everyone working to minimize the impact of their activities on others.” The proliferation of speedboats, large watercraft, and “wake boats” (boats that sit low in the water and produce big waves that someone being towed can surf on) has given rise to increasing concerns SUBSCRIPTIONS 651-433-3845 office@osceolasun.com
around large wakes and the problems they can cause. Block said hardly a week passes that someone doesn’t call him and ask for guidance addressing the issue somewhere around the state. Large wakes can cause shoreline erosion, which results in impaired water quality. They sometimes damage others’ property, such as docked boats. And they may pose hazards to swimmers, paddlers, bystanders on the shore, and cause disruption to other boaters. A growing number of states and jurisdictions around the country are imposing special surface water use restrictions to deal with excessive wakes. It is already against the law in Minnesota to operate a watercraft so that its wake endangers, harasses or interferes with any person or property. But the law can be challenging to enforce except in the most egregious cases, and many people may be unaware of the waves their boats kick up and the problems they cause. That’s leading some communities to seek localized no-wake speed limits on certain waters. About a year ago, the city of Stillwater asked the DNR to impose a no-wake speed limit on the St. Croix River near its downtown area. After consulting with other agencies and units of government, the DNR decided to hold off on further restrictions, preferring to pursue efforts aimed at increasing awareness and voluntary compliance. A similar proposal was put before the city of Oak Park Heights, but the SEE DNR, PAGE 2
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