OCTOBER 7, 2015
THE SUN
5
www.osceolasun.com
Writing for a new future
I
was struck last week with a simultaneous feeling of relief and distress as I read news of a recently-released analysis showing that the planet’s temperature is set to rise more than six degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. It’s enough to cause widespread extinction and food shortages – and that’s if evEditor ery country follows Suzanne Lindgren through on current commitments to reduce emissions.
I felt relief because the impending climate crisis is finally mainstream news and the discussion has turned away from debate and toward solutions. Distress, due to the stark predictions for the future of our planet and that it’s taken this long to limit emissions on a large scale. The earth is a complex place with many interconnected parts. But it’s not incomprehensible. Thanks to the work of scientists and programmers, computer simulators can forecast the effects of climate
change given variable inputs, such as different levels of emissions. The analysis comes from Climate Interactive (climateinteractive.org), a research group whose simulator-based calculations are used internationally by governments, businesses and other agencies to plan for and mitigate climate change. To put that six degrees into perspective, average global temperatures at the end of the last ice age – when the northeastern U.S. was under 3,000-plus feet of ice – were between five and nine degrees cooler than today, according to NASA. Every degree counts, and Climate Interactive’s analysis had some good news to report. If every nation on the planet reaches its emissions-reducing goals by 2030 and then continues to reduce emissions by 4 percent a year, we could keep the rise in temperature to 2 degrees. We’d still see effects – we already are. A recent report from the World Wildlife Fund estimated that animal life on earth has declined 52 percent since 1970. In California, years of drought have challenged
the agriculture industry and fueled this year’s wildfires. Though consequences have been less stunning in the Midwest, they are still observable, says the U.S. Global Change Research Program (globalchange.gov). Effects include extreme heat, heavy downpours and flooding, and have already begun disrupting agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, transportation and air and water quality. Water supplies have started to decline across much of the nation, kindling rivalries over fresh water. As global temps rise, the Great Lakes will become more vulnerable to invasive species and algae blooms, as will the St. Croix River. Local reporter Greg Seitz elaborated on the river’s vulnerabilities on St. Croix 360 (stcroix360.com), saying hot, wet springs and dry summers will create ideal conditions for immense algal blooms. Somewhat surprisingly, the prognosis for the Midwest has a silver lining: In the next few decades, a longer growing season and higher ratio of carbon dioxide SEE LINDGREN, PAGE 6
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Jarchow attempts damage control It has been interesting reading accounts of Representative Adam Jarchow’s attempts at damage control in our county newspapers (“Jarchow defends shoreland zoning changes,” 9/29/15). It’s got to sting when your own county board votes unanimously for the repeal of a piece of legislation that has your name on it. It was refreshing to see that, by the time he got to Osceola, Jarchow was willing to admit that inserting his shoreland zoning rules into the state budget bill might not have been the best approach, though he stopped short of admitting it was a mistake. Idealogues often subscribe to an “ends justify the means” philosophy of governing; that seems to be Jarchow’s approach to legislating. What really caught my attention in the Sun’s article was the part where Jarchow talked about campaign finance laws. If I’m understanding him correctly, Jarchow supports the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, which essentially declared that corporations are people and that campaign cash is the equivalent of free speech. When he talks about “… First Amendment rights to participate in the elec-
toral process through third party groups” it sounds like he wants to make it even easier for wealthy people to buy politicians by way of anonymous donations. Our elections are already awash in money; does Jarchow really think injecting more money into the process will advance democracy? Jeff Peterson Town of Georgetown
One size doesn’t fit all Last week in this paper Representative Jarchow continued trying to defend his behind-ourbacks legislative move that weakened our shoreland and clean water protections. Contrary to what he claims, the majority of his constituents do not agree with what he did or how he did it. During the 2014 Polk County board elections
all but one of the candidates that supported weakening shoreland protections were soundly defeated. He is well aware of this because he wrote the infamous Brown Amendments and was directly involved with the Operation Prosperity group that spent thousands of dollars of out of state money trying to impose its ideology upon us. Independent of the non-democratic way in which he weakened these protections, his arguments for doing it are themselves weak. As pointed out in the article, the “huge problem” of not letting lakeside property owners maintain their property does not exist; Polk County has always allowed this via permit and rarely were they denied. He also failed to acknowledge that Polk County already has over 20 lakes listed as “impaired waters.” Do we want more? These wa-
ters belong to everyone, not just to those who live on them. And if the statewide rules were adequate why weren’t all the counties using just those? One size does not fit all. Now that local control has been taken away on this we can expect further weakening of these protections by the current governor and legislative majority, including Representative Jarchow. With Representative Jarchow it’s so long local control, so long democratic government and so long to listening to your constituents. Bob Wright Dresser
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listed for service. • The Osceola and St. Croix Falls volleyball teams squared off in a conference battle last week. The Saints took the victory, 15-8, 15-9 and 15-8. • The Osceola football team picked up a 41-12 win over Barron Friday keeping their playoff hopes alive. • Mike Colaizy, Dave Demulling, Rachel Fehlen and Kristi Mally all ran the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday. • Osceola Middle School students of the month were Meghan Francis, Joey Cook, Chelsea Muckenhirn, Joel Klawitter, Kysa Peterson, Tom Gross, Trish Neumann and Andrew Johnson. • Osceola High School Junior Class top magazine sellers were Karrie Demulling, Renee Barron, Dianna Sparby, Becca Dunham, Alex Larson, Jessica Viebrock, Micah Johnson, Peggy Mork, Kathy Taylor and Jamie Everson. 30 years ago Oct. 8, 1985 • Future Business Leaders of America officers installed at Osceola High School were Cammie Greene, president; Kevin Tomfohrde, parliamentarian; Brad Radinzel, historian; Kim Johnson, reporter; Marcia Zehm, secretary; Andrea Greene, treasurer and Kelly Flattum, vice president. • The Osceola Women’s Club planned to celebrate their 75th anniversary on Oct. 15 with a special dinner and program. • Top sellers in the Osceola High School Junior Class magazine sales were Bruce Swenson, Shawn Ward, Alan Puterbaugh, LoAnne Murphy, Angie French, Jeff Maypark, Lois Steffen, Kris Wichelman and Kathy Knutson. The class raised aabout $2900 to be used for the prom, senior year books and senior trip. • Jill Cotch and Larry Carlson were married Aug. 10, 1985, at Peace Lutheran Church. • Renae Ekstrand of Osceola, a senior majoring in elementary education, is currently teaching at St. Croix Falls Elementary through Bemidji State University.
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10 years ago Oct. 5, 2005 • On Sunday Trollhaugen hosted its annual open house. Events included a snowboard rail competition, chairlift rides, wagon rides, vendors, games and a magician. • Zion Lutheran & Trinity Lutheran raised $3304.30 during the Osceola Community Fair. The money was donated to the County Line First Responders. • To celebrate their barn’s 100th anniversary, the St. Croix ArtBarn hosted a dinner and Art of the Barn tour on Saturday. • Randy Jones, a country western vocalist and Elvis impesonator, performed a private concert for the residents at Royal Oaks in Osceola. • Tonic Sol-Fa performed at the Osceola High School Sunday and raised more than $3000 for the Osceola Community Health Fund. • The St. Croix Falls girls golf team were named Regional champions. • Super Valu presented a check for $912.22 to the County Line First Responders. The donation represented a percentage of store receipts. • Ben Vinar and Meghan Rediske were named St. Croix Falls Homecoming King and Queen. • Osceola volleyball returned to its perfect conference record defeating Amery in three consecutive games. • Osceola’s Lindsay Danielson won top honors at the girls golf regional Sept. 28. 20 years ago Oct.11, 1995 • Osceola High School student Deanna Anderson spent 10 days in Mexico with an organization called Youth With a Mission. • Osceola High School students of the month were Terry Neumann, Jared McDonald, Erin Hanson and Shauna Petersen. • Kelli Rydeen of Osceola recently showed her heifer calf at the World Dairy Expo in Madison. • Krystal Urman has joined the Air Force Reserve and reen-
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