Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Lake Country Power Wind Tour

11/28/2006

Lake Country Power Wind Tour
By
Jennie K. Hanson
November 28, 2006

Have you seen them?  Have you wondered what they are?  What may you ask am I talking about?

Well, over the past few months there have been huge trucks traveling on Highways 210 and 73 that are over 100 to 150 feet long with 30 wheels on each of them escorted and by police cars with flashing lights!  These trucks are hauling the propeller blades for the wind turbines that are popping up in Minnesota, Iowa, and Canada.  These wind turbines are made in Germany, shipped into the Duluth Harbor, unloaded and reloaded onto huge semi trucks and then transported to their final destinations.  One of these destinations was the TriMont Area Wind Farm located in Jackson and Martin Counties in Southwest Minnesota.

In September, my husband Bob and I and a group of over 40 folks from our area went on the Lake County Power Company’s Wind Tour in South - Western Minnesota.  We started out by going to Elk River and toured the energy plant there.  The garbage from the 7 county surrounding area fuels this plant. Then we took the bus to Mankato where we stayed for the night.  The next day we went to TriMont, MN and toured the wind towers.  (In 1959, the communities of Triumph and Monterey formed the community of TriMont.)  There were over 600 people at this tour.  We were served a meal and then listened to several speakers about the wind towers.  The busses took us out to the farm fields where we were actually given the chance to go into the base of a wind tower.  There are 69 towers in the TriMont area and they cost over one million dollars each.  The towers are 328 feet high; the rotor diameter of each wind turbine is 231 feet, 10 % longer than the wingspan of a Boeing 747 - 400 Jumbo Jet.  They used more than 348 cubic yards of concrete to complete each of the plants’ wind turbine foundations.  These towers can supply electric energy to 29,000 area homes.  The farmers still own the land that the turbines are located on and still do their entire regular farming on these fields.  The fields looked great and were ready to have their corn crops harvested soon.  The farmers also earn a substantial amount of money for having the turbines on their fields.

Standing right under one of these giant wind towers is an awesome experience.  They really make a person or even the Greyhound Bus seem small in comparison.

This tour may be offered again next September, so watch for the notices in your electric bill and try to sign up.  It is well worth the trip and was fun getting to know some of our members in our area electric cooperatives.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Wright News

11/27/2006

Wright News by November 27, 2006

       Today, November 27th is a special day in our family.  That’s because it’s our son Garrie’s 32nd Birthday.  We will celebrate with him later today.

       I’ve heard about it, but not seen it yet, but for those of you who get the National Geographic; Brian Saaristo is in it on pages 90 - 91.  They are featuring a story on the wounded soldiers in Iraq.

       I would like to personally Thank all the area businesses and civic groups for all the advertising they did for the Cromwell-Wright Football Team.  It takes a lot of money to promote our area teams and bring us the games on radio, and it is the area businesses that foot the bill.  When you go to these businesses, please thank them as they are really appreciated!

        Lake Country Power is now able to read our electric meters automatically. New meters were installed over the summer and are now working.  We will have to pay our bill at a different time than the end of the month, but it should make paying the bill easier as we don’t have to go out and actually read the meter.  If you have questions call 1-800-421-9959.

       Please remember to vote on the EXCESS DEBT SERVICE LEVY REFERENDUM on December 19, from 1 - 8 PM at the school.  We already have this Excess Levy in place, so we just need to renew it.  More information was mailed to every resident already.

       Todd Johnson, Shari Hutar and Greg Eliason were elected to the school board at the November election.

       Are you in need of a Christmas Tree?  You can get one at the school on the morning of December 2nd or 16th.  All proceeds will go to the boys and girls basketball teams.

       The PTA Cookie Walk will be held at the school on December 12th from 6 - 9 PM during the Boys Basketball game.

       The YOT Pot Luck will be held on Tuesday, December 12 at noon in the Cromwell Pavilion, Bring a pot luck dish to share.  They will be serving the ham and a little fun.  See you there!

       At the November Meeting of the YOT, they had a wonderful turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  They also had election of officers for the new year which will be the same as this year.  President is Carolyn Krogh, Vice President is Aurelia Hemmila, Secretary is Jeanne Hansen and Treasurer is Tyyne Bertelsen.

       There will be a Bake Sale at the Hometown Family Food Store on Saturday, December 2.  The Forrest Hill Cemetery Association will be offering holiday cookies and goodies for sale.  This year they are also collecting manes for paper bag luminaries for the Community Memorial Service December 16.  If you would like to have a special luminary on display with your loved ones name/s on it please let them know.  Orders can be taken by Sheryl Smith at 644-3927, Sam Clark at 390-2974, or Carolyn Krogh at 644-3670.  Each bag will be personalized and prepared for $1.

       The Cromwell - Wright American Legion Auxiliary will hold their Annual Holiday Party on Monday, December 11th at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.  The Pot Luck Dinner will begin at 6 PM.  Bring a dish to share and a gift for the gift exchange.

       The Hanging of the Greens service will be held at the Cromwell United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 17 at 10:30 AM.  Come and learn about the decorations of the season and help them celebrate in song and meaning of Christmas.

       There are many of our local folks now living at the Villa Vista.  With this in mind, I was thinking that you could drop off a gift for a resident for Christmas.  Many of the residents don’t have any family left and a gift at Christmas would be appreciated.  Just label the gift Lady’s or Man’s and the staff will be sure that everyone gets a gift this year.  Some ideas would be stationary, stamps, knick knacks, slippers, books or magazines, jewelry, jig saw puzzles, handkerchiefs, boxes of cards such as Christmas or all occasion, pencils or pens, note books, pillows, stuffed animals, candy for the non diabetic, scarves, etc.

       Household Hint: End drawer tangles by storing appliance cords and extension cords, in cardboard rolls, such as are found inside waxed paper, and wrapping paper rolls.

This week’s Bible Verse: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

       That’s all the news from Lake Lookingforwardtochristmas and Hello to all the holiday visitors in the area.

Additions -

There will be a Customer Appreciation Day at the Area Clothing Depot on December 9th from 10 AM to 3 PM.   There will be an opportunity to sign up for drawings, lunch will be served, and it will also be $1.50 Bag Day. Thanks to all our dedicated staff of volunteers, Manager: Beanie Randa and especially all our customers for their support over all the past years. There is also big news at the Depot.  We are moving!  Downstairs that is, but not until later on in the spring.

Our sympathy to the family  and friends of Herb Anderson, 57 who died on Saturday, November 25, 2006 at the St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, MN. A Gathering of Family and Friends was held at Northland Funeral Home on November 29th.