The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 15th.

Reminder that two Chamber events are coming up in the next month: • the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3rd at 11am at St. Mary’s Care Center, sponsored by B & B Tire and Auto; • Women’s Expo on Saturday, April 10th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Blue Note Ballroom, the event is sponsored by Roadhouse Coffee Shop and Timber Garage Door Systems.

For related links supplied by conservative Dassel accountant Ford Peterson, click here.

The Grove City Republican’s bill (H.F. 3474) would exempt Minnesota from a 2007 federal law that, for all intents and purposes, phases out traditional light bulbs starting in 2012 and makes those incandescents go dark two years later.

Urdahl said the federal legislation violates states’ rights provided in the 10th Amendment. The point he makes is this: The U.S. Constitution allows the federal government to regulate interstate commerce, so light bulbs manufactured in Minnesotans for Minnesotans to use would be exempt from federal commerce law.

“Most of us agree those curly-Q bulbs have poor light quality and are difficult to dispose of because they contain toxic mercury,” Urdahl said. “But those aren’t even the greatest of my concerns. The real problem I have with this ban is it’s another instance of government creeping even further into our lives. Our founding fathers would be dismayed if they knew Washington is reaching so far into our lives as to control the light bulbs we use. My bill is a stand against this trend of government intrusion, asserting states’ rights whether we’re talking light bulbs or other things.”

There also is the potential for Minnesota to reap a jobs-related benefit from this bill at a time the state is working to reduce its unemployment rate.

“We’re looking to help people get back to work, so this could be an opportunity for entrepreneurs to bring a new line of jobs to Minnesota by manufacturing light bulbs,” said Urdahl, who is awaiting a committee hearing to present his bill. Similar legislation passed the Arizona House this month.

The incandescent bulbs ban is part of the Energy Independence and Security Act, which imposes new efficiency standards beginning in 2012 in an effort to move the country toward more efficient compact-fluorescent light bulbs and LEDs. It phases out the sale of the most widely used incandescent bulbs, ranging from 40 to 100 watts.

District 18B includes the cities of Annandale, Cokato, Howard Lake, and South Haven, and the townships of Cokato, Corinna, French Lake, Middleville, Stockholm, and Southside in Wright County, and covers all of Meeker County.

GOLF: Boy’s Golf will start on Monday, March 22nd in the Middle School Cafeteria.  Girl’s golf will start on Tuesday, March 23rd.   Girls, please bring 20 dollars for purchasing polo shirts.   Everyone, get your forms and payments in to Mary ASAP.

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NCAA BRACKETS: Are due to Mr. Fobbe at 11:00 on Thursday, March 18th.
HAPPY PI DAY(3/14): In honor of Pi Day, students may stop by Ms. Sperle-Berg’s room or Mr. Moavec’s room before or after school on Monday and Tuesday to submit their memorized digits of Pi.  1st place winner will receive a pie and 20 decimal places will earn you a delicious snack.   The world record is held by LuChao with 67,890 decimal places.
PROM BOWLING FUNDRAISER: Sign-up in the High School Office.  The cost of the meal for Prom will be determined by how much money we raise on this fundraiser.

The following students still need to pick up their 1st Responder Certificates: Robert Moynagh, Jace Whitcomb.
Students from 9th  to 12th  grade that would be interested in bowling or forming a team to bowl March 27th at the Lake Bowl should sign-up in the office and someone in charge will contact you. This fundraiser will benefit prom 2010.
There will be a junior class prom meeting Tuesday, March 23rd at 3:40pm. Please bring your completed bowling sign-up sheets and the money to the meeting.
Saturday, March 27th the junior class is sponsoring a bowling event at the Lake Bowl in Howard Lake. The time frames are: 11am – 1pm, 1pm – 3pm and 3pm – 5pm. Not only will there be 2 hours of bowling for $10.00, but a chance to win some door prizes and support our local communities. This event is to enable a lower cost of prom for the students. We are in need of 6 adult teams. Please call Karen Erickson @ (320) 286-6782 to schedule your team.
April 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th (Thurs thru Sun) there will be a spring paper drive. There will be a semi trailer in the parking lot of the Lake Bowl in Howard Lake and will provide students to unload paper Saturday and Sunday. The junior class of 2011 will again be hosting this drive to earn money for their class. The money collected, will benefit the class in purchasing anything that they choose when they are seniors, from the senior breakfast to Chanhassen Theatre tickets…etc.

The Howard Lake Royalty Program is looking for Junior and Senior girls to be candidates for this year’s Good Neighbor Days celebration.  There will be an informational meeting on Sunday, March 21 at 6:30pm at Emmy’s Salon.  Those interested are encouraged to attend should bring a parent.  Bios and other information will be handed out.  Even if you are unsure if you would be a candidate, please attend!  If you would like to learn more about the program, visit our website at www.howardlakegoodneighbordays.webs.com or email us at HLRoyalty@hotmail.com.

The proposed regulations would apply to the Rural Service Overlay Districts (RSD’s), which are located in the unincorporated areas of Carver County. The purpose of the proposed Ordinance would be to enact regulations to license and regulate adult uses (also known as sexually-oriented businesses) in businesses or places open to the public, which could be located in the unincorporated areas of the County. These regulations are intended to prevent the adverse secondary impacts associated with adult use establishments.

The Planning Commission will reconvene the hearing, which was opened last month, to take additional public testimony and to answer questions. All persons interested are invited to attend the hearing and be heard on this matter. Written comment may be mailed to: Dept. of Land Management Carver County Government Center 600 East 4th St Chaska, MN 55318-2102 (952) 361-1820.

There are no “strip clubs” or other adult use businesses currently proposing to locate in Carver County, according to David Drealan, director of Carver County land and water services.

In the City of Watertown, Mill Avenue is closed at the 400 block.

In Camden Township:

County Road 30 is closed between County Road 33 and the west county line.

Yancy Avenue is closed between 78th Street and County Road 30.

82nd Street is closed between County Road 32 and Union Avenue.

62nd Street is closed west of County Road 33.

Vega Avenue is closed at 86th Street and at 94th Street.

In Watertown Township, County Road 123 is closed between Highway 7 and County Road 122.

The South Fork of the Crow River at Highway 7 near Mayer reached a level of 13.09 feet Tuesday morning, an increase of 1.76 feet in 15 hours. Flood stage at that point is 11 feet.

The National Weather Service forecast predicts a crest of  15 feet at Mayer on or near Friday, March 19.

At the first and only public showing at 2 p.m., Sat., March 20, viewers may be seated alongside nine local travelers (the McDonald clan and friends of Watertown) as they explore Ireland’s renowned idyllic countryside, rugged coastline, ancient monuments and castles.

Patrons may join in the rural traditions for Irish music, literature, language, culture, and, of course, religion, as they follow the footsteps of St. Patrick himself, and how he brought the teachings of Christ to fourth century AD pagan Ireland.
The video production will be presented at the Watertown-Mayer Performing Arts Center at the Watertown High School, 1001 Highway 25, by the Watertown Historical Society and Watertown-Mayer Community Education. And as always, one needn’t be Irish to enjoy this movie, which is being shown free. More information is available by calling (952) 955-1623.

What makes this film so special is how it transports observers into Ireland’s evocative scenery and landscapes that have spawned legends. It provides opportunities to stop and experience the warmth and friendliness of the Irish people with scenes that permeate and give viewers a ten-day stay in the Emerald Isle, including:

Waking up to one of the most spectacular views of the majestic cliffs Mohr, and, O’Brien’s tower, built by a descendent of the ancient high king of Ireland. Then drive the winding Burren countryside crossed with stone fences, stopping to experience the Dolmen and Portal tombs, the ancient memorial built in the 4th millennium, B.C. and the LaGrange the oldest tomb in the world, built in 6000 B.C.
To Kilmacduagh with the Temple Mary, and the relics of the church of St. John the Baptist, where St. Patrick’s teaching and love for learning took root, as just one of the places where “the isle of saints and scholars” labored to preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians. McDonald’s narration takes us through this history and so much more.
Explore Corafin, Limerick and other cities to enjoy the shops and trades people, such as the butcher whose slogan is “Pleased to meet you and meat to please you.”  There are the brightly colored doors of the row houses, the impressive gothic style architecture of the Cathedrals, Abbeys and mediaeval churches, and a few splendid old-world thatched cottages beautifully photographed by the professional hands of K.J. and Joe McDonald. Combined, the two have nearly 75 years of experience in professional photography.

Make a day trip on a circuit on the winding roads that lead you between the Atlantic coastline and the highest mountains in Ireland. Alternatively visit the wild splendor of the Dingle peninsula famous for its hills, rocky shores, subtropical flower gardens and pastures covered with beautiful green grass and grazing sheep.

Blarney Castle is only minutes away for those who feel the need to kiss the Blarney Stone and acquire the “gift of the gab” (the ability that all Irish possess to speak at length on any subject under the sun!) and then view the Irish goods at the Blarney Woollen Mills.

When the sun is shining and days near perfect, the sites are breathtaking, but people sure don’t come to Ireland for the weather, so when the rain is beating down its easy to find solace in a quiet corner beside a roaring fire or a riotous afternoon enjoying the “craic” (Gaelic, with the closest English translation being “music and fun”) in a local pub. Besides, on the Emerald Isle, it’s the rain that makes the grass so green.

This is the sixth historical documentary McDonald has produced; the latest was the film “A Dream Come True” the story of the Lions trip for 117 World War II vets to the Washington D.C. Veterans memorial. It was seen by nearly 2,000 people.

This ice jam, combined with rapid snow melt, may cause flooding in Brownton, Glencoe and south of  Lester Prairie.  Details are as follows:  

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR AN ICE JAM AND SNOW MELT IN...
  MCLEOD COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 1000 AM CDT TUESDAY

* AT 1009 AM CDT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLOODING ACROSS THE
  WARNED AREA. SANDBAGGING WAS OCCURRING ALONG BUFFALO CREEK...IN
  THE CITY OF BROWNTON...ALONG DIVISION STREET.  ICE JAMS WERE
  FORMING NEAR BROWNTON AND GLENCOE...ALONG BUFFALO CREEK.  OTHER
  SMALL CREEKS AND DITCHES MAY OVERFLOW BECAUSE OF ICE JAMS AND THE
  RAPID SNOW MELT.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  BROWNTON...GLENCOE...LESTER PRAIRIE...AND PLATO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM ICE JAMS AND RAPID SNOW MELT WILL CAUSE
FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES.
ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF
CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.