COUNTRY
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017 VOL. 34 NO. 23 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
COUNTY LIBRARIES: Architects chosen for rebuilding. PAGE 2
Scandia-Marine Lions launch disaster relief challenge
SUZANNE LINDGREN | COUNTRY MESSENGER
Representative Bob Dettmer cuts the ribbon across the bridge as Veterans Campground board members, staff and project donors watch.
Veterans Campground grows with help of volunteers, donations BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
The Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake celebrated two new bridges and other major improvements with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony last Saturday, Sept. 30. The renovations, expansions and additions have been installed
over the last eight years, according to Lori Ahlness, who sits on the camp’s board of directors. The bridges, which give disabled veterans better access between trails, were the latest addition. They were built with the help of volunteers and donations from more than 20 construction companies and trade unions includ-
ing the IronWorkers Local 512, worth more than $250,000. The camp was also awarded a $56,000 grant for materials. In addition to the bridges, 12 cabins have been built and another dozen reconstructed, the camp has been landscaped
tor-friendly programs to support sustainability and stewardship by using innovative programs, such as evalNEWS 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
uating pesticides used to minimize impact to pollinators, developing and implementing an Integrated Pest ManADVERTISING 651-433-3845 sales@osceolasun.com
New director appointed at Watershed Research Station
agement Program, and improving pollinator habitat in park natural areas. Washington County is the only county to develop the Integrated Pest Management program. MacSwain is a member of the Governor’s Pollinator Protection Committee, in which he advocates for pollinators and best practices. Schneider noted that Washington County has become a model in the state for other communities and continues to go far beyond the usual efforts, with research and development of better ways to be good stewards. Laurie Schneider, a bee keeper and SEE POLLINATORS, PAGE 2
SEE WATERSHED, PAGE 2
SEE CAMPGROUND, PAGE 7
DEBIVORT | CREATIVE COMMONS
An Andrena bee collects pollen among the stamens of a rose.
challenge will end on Oct 9, 2017. Make checks payable to; Scandia Marine Lion’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. Mail to: Scandia-Marine Lions Foundation P O Box 263 Scandia, MN, 55073 Or come to the organization’s free Community Breakfast at the Scandia Community Center on Oct. 8, 2017 from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
Dr. Jim Almendinger has been named the new director of the St. Croix Watershed Research Station, the field research station of the Science Museum of Minnesota, becoming the third leader of the scientific organization. Previous director Dr. Daniel Engstrom has stepped down to focus on research. Almendinger has SUBMITTED been a senior scientist Dr. Jim Almendinger at the station since 1995. He has spent nearly 20 years doing hydrological research to better understand human impacts on the environment at the watershed scale. He has been involved in numerous influential studies, from work on Lake St. Croix that led to its designation by the federal government as “impaired” for nutrients that feed algae, to Mongolia, where he and other Research Station staff surveyed small aquatic organisms in remote lakes. Much of Almendinger’s research has focused on groundwater connections with lakes, wetlands, and streams. Currently, he is using watershed and lake models to better understand the impacts of land-use and climate change on our aquatic resources. “The need for strong scientific understanding of the complex questions about water are more important than ever,” Almendinger said. “I’m looking forward to leading this station to more
County recognized for pollinator-friendly work Washington County employees Dan MacSwain, natural resources coordinator, and Wayne Sandberg, county engineer and public works deputy director, were recognized by the Pollinator Friendly Alliance for Washington County efforts to protect pollinators. The recognition was part of the Pollinator Hero Awards presented to advocates for their outstanding work to protect pollinators at Polli*NATION 2017, an event in northern Washington County Sept. 10 Sandberg and MacSwain were honored for their work in implementing a pollinator resolution at the County Board level, and implementing pollina-
The Scandia Marine Lion’s Foundation challenges the community to donate to the Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund. The foundation will match all donations up to $1,000. All donations are used to benefit victims of Hurricanes in Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico and will be distributed through Lion’s Club International Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. All donations are tax deductable and the
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