Legalectric

Yes, it’s true, we’re in obedience school. It’s taught by Natalie Faas Gerber, of Faas Kennels & Pet Supply at All Creatures Veterinary Clinic in Lake City (also Red Wing and Goodhue).

Ken’s a rescue dog that my friend David in Wisconsin found for me at his German Shepherd rescue organization. Like all rescue dogs, she comes with some “issues.” She was a wuss, who would roll over on her back with any eye contact, and would barely wag her tail. Now she’s achieved her dogness, stands up to other dogs, and won’t stop talking, saying “Hey, pay attention to MEEEEE, I’m a dog!” wagging, but some people don’t see her grin. Hence doggie school.

School is good socialization for Kenya. Part of our homework is to go to many different locations and practice, though I don’t like to go out in public with a pocket full of hotdogs, it’s bad enough having to buy them and bring them in the house! In Duluth, we went to the Radisson, and the Aquarium. Today we went all over Red Wing, first to Memorial Park and checked out all the vistas, nicely, no barking, of course.

We toured the Treasure Island marina (Hastings Marina yesterday on the way home from Duluth), and my favorite, Lock & Dam #3 with a scenic view of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant. An eagle is nesting at the Treasure Island turnoff, there are new ducks and geese everywhere.

If you’re looking for a dog, try the Humane Society of Goodhue County in Red Wing — here are their dogs — look at Junior! (FYI – Junior now has a new home!) Or try Northfield Animal Shelter or the Rice County Humane Society. For sheps in Minnesota, contact German Shepherd Breed Rescue of Minnesota
They have the perfect dog, Libby, waiting for you!

Somebody’s a pooped pup now:

Greetings from Duluth!

Moorhead Thursday, Duluth Friday, if I were still driving that KW, I’d have made some real money this week!

I’m visiting Sadie, friend and roommate from ages ago, back from my prestigeous E. Phillips days. First and foremost, Sadie’s a writer, and has one book under her belt so far, and she has also been a union organizer and worked at the Riverside Cafe for a coon’s age. Anyone who did anything political back then knows her, and knew her dog Charisma, who successfully fled persecution and prosecution for not wearing her leash by ducking into North Country Hardware! Sadie and I first met when we worked at General Hospital, even further back, and other co-workers there, who’ve since morphed and resurfaced, included David Bly, Steve Miles and James Kravig.

Sadie’s a bus driver now, and I got a guided tour of scenic Superior’s Billings Park neighborhood.

And she and Laura and Sammy have a new house — moving up in the world. Back during the Minnesota Arrowhead hearing, they provided a home for my client, Linda Hanson, and I, and put up with us through two weeks of “officing” in the garage on a door and crates — now that’s a friend! Well, plus the dog has pointed ears…

And next, the Arrowhead line. As I flew down the hill into Duluth, there it was, and it is butt ugly. Sticks up WAY over the treeline, ugly brown rusty never-needs-painting Cor-Ten steel against the sky. Photos — get ready!

This first one was taken on a Midway Township road to show what it looks like to the local residents:

This one below was taken on another Midway Township road showing the view up the right of way:

This next one was taken on Midway Road, which runs parallel to the Willard Munger Trail, the trail is on the left, behind the row of trees and just under the “unobtrusive” transmission line. W.O.L.F. entered a photo like this in the MN EQB Arrowhead hearing, but the transmission line at that time was nestled in the treeline and was not visible.

This is driving south on Midway Road looking east towards Gary:

This is my favorite, a long iron double-decker bridge across the St. Louis River. Lots of fishing going on below, Lake Sturgeon are found there. The bridge, at the time of the August/September 2000 hearing, had a wood deck and was “upgraded” to cement, and it’s lost much of its character. W.O.L.F. entered a fantastic photo of the sunset through this bridge which showed it at its historical best, here the poles are a LOT taller and visible, they were a grey/blue that blended in a little bit, here they’re ugly rust:

This photo is on the Minnesota side looking east down the right-of-way towards the iron bridge across the St. Louis River:

And this one is from the same spot looking west toward Gary and beyond:

So how’s that for ugly? Let’s see what the PUC has to say about ATC taking over this part of the Arrowhead line.

I’m off on the outskirts of Gary, taking photos and crusing, headed out of town to see if the scenic overlook overlooked the transmission, drat, it didn’t, and I see there’s a bus stop out there in the middle of nowhere at the overlook, and as I’m heading back into Gary, there goes Sadie, doing a drive by, filling in for another driver on the 2 route!!!

p.s. Should I take it as an editorial comment that someone keeps “commenting” with “anti-snoring” spam to my first transmission post?

For a while now, they’d been playing “Simon says…” but finally, two weeks after Nancy and Kimber Prehn requested that the County Board rescind its carte blanche tax exemption for Simon Industries and negotiate a Host Fee Agreement, the County did just as we asked!

Here’s the latest report from the Waseca County News!

The way they got there was pretty convoluted, but the result was perfect! The county is protecting the interests of the community and paying attention to their constituents. They understand the importance of economic development, and understand that economic development does not equal corporate welfare. A hearty thanks to the Waseca County Board!

Now, all that’s left is for Sen. Dick Day and Rep. Connie Ruth to correct their error of leaving out Blooming Grove Township from their proposed tax exemption legislation, and correct their error of not requiring a Host Fee Agreement with the County and Township. Other similar legislation has these provisions — WHY DID THEY LEAVE OUT THEIR CONSTITUENTS??? Just who are they representing? Ask them to fix it by sending an email — just click on their names above. Message: You made a mistake by not protecting your constituents rights. Please correct this right away by changing the language of the bills to say that both the County and Township approve the exemption contingent upon signing a Host Fee Agreement. Thanks!

Kelly Doran, my little bro’ David’s friend from junior high and high school, is running for Senate!

Here’s the MPR report. With Jesse’s John Wodele and a pocketfull of money, he’s got potential. And he’s getting good coverage, WCCO, The Business Journal, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Duluth News Tribune…

Run Kelly, Run!

Here’s the beginning, the very tip of the iceberg, on the Transmission
Omnibus Bill from Hell, HF1344 and SF 1368, from reporter Stephanie Hemphill, of MPR:

Power Struggle

There could very well be more soon on Arrowhead Transmission Line docket at the PUC where Minnesota Power is wanting approval for ATC to take over for MP in Minnesota — and the ATC/TRANSLink tie.

Stay tuned…