County will utilize lottery system for Wildcat campsites
After listening to nearly an hour of testimony, the Houston County Board decided to continue with the proposed campsite lottery for Wildcat Landing and Campground, but will postpone its implementation for one year. The board action was taken following a public hearing on proposed park rules and regulations, which was held April 8.
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Let’s get fired up

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 About ten years ago, Nate and Hallie Evans were working for a well known potter in North Carolina.  The Smithsonian magazine had sent a crew out to do a story about the firing of the huge wood fired kiln.  Partway through the firing, disaster struck.  Inside the kiln, some of the tightly stacked pottery had fallen.  Thousands of dollars worth of artistic pottery were breaking up inside the kiln. “We just had to keep smiling and acting as though nothing was wrong”, said Nate. “But we couldn’t feed the pieces of wood in because it was collapsed inside…the man who ran the pottery was probably losing his mind.“ In the wood fired pottery business, these things happen. 

 

  Nate, Hallie and baby Noah at their studio in northern Iowa.

Photo by Craig Moorhead

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CPAP units will help local ambulance calls
Sometimes having the right connections can be quite beneficial. That certainly held true for the Caledonia Area Ambulance Service (CAAS) recently, when it received two continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) units from Tri-State Ambulance of La Crosse.
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Congressman Walz puts forth bold funding request for 2009
Congressman Tim Walz has put forth a bold funding request for his district for fiscal year 2009. Many of his proposals will have an impact on our immediate area.
Closest to home, the congressman has requested money for the Houston County flood damage reduction project.
“Funding would go for an Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study to determine potential flood reduction projects in Houston county,” said Walz.

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County approves three CUP’s and variance requests April 8
The Houston County Board was in an approving mood April 8 when they went along with the County Planning Commission’s recommendations and granted three conditional use permits (CUP) and a zoning variance. All of the requests had been reviewed by the planning commission at the March 27 meeting.

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New county highway building may include various county departments

Initial ideas for the new highway department building the county is planning to construct on a 22.5 acre tract of land on the west edge of Caledonia were discussed during the April 8 Houston County Board meeting. According to the initial plans, the county’s Highway Department wouldn’t be the only county entity in the new facility.

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Houston County Dairy Princess crowned

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dairy_prin_crowning.jpgBrittany Olson, daughter of Clair and Patricia Olson was crowned Houston County Dairy Princess during the annual ADA coronation Sunday in Caledonia. At right, 2007 Dairy princess Londa Johnson places the crown on Brittany’s head. Above, the 2008 court. They are in front, from left, Little Miss Squirt attendant Taylor Welscher and Little Miss Squirt Irelynn Pronschinske. In the back, attendant Cady Hoscheit, Princess Brittany, and attendant Johanna Troendle.                Photos by Kristi Rogich

 

 
Bacterial meningitis hits Caledonia area
In the last five weeks, there has been a cluster of bacterial meningitis cases in and around Houston County. This past weekend the fourth case was diagnosed. The first three have been confirmed by the state to be closely related by serotype. Confirmation of the fourth case’s serotype is not yet complete.  The Minnesota Department of Health has been working closely with local public health officials and the Caledonia Area School District to protect the health of the community. Ages of the individuals affected range from 16 years old to 37 years old.

There is a vaccine against bacterial meningitis but it does not protect against the specific serotype that has been identified in the cases in this cluster. Current immunization guidelines for Meningitis do call for children from 11 to 18 years old to be immunized with the Meningitis vaccine. 

Because there is no vaccine to protect against the current serotype that has been identified in our county, it is very important to practice prevention through simple infection control practices. The most effective way to prevent the spread of meningitis and many other infections is conscientious and consistent hand washing. The use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is also very effective. Since the bacteria that causes bacterial meningitis or meningococcal disease is spread through the sharing of oral secretions, it is also very important that individuals do not share lip gloss, cigarettes, and eating or drinking utensils (pop cans/bottles, water bottles, straws, cups, etc.).  Kissing can also spread the bacteria. 

It is important that the public is knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease and contact their local provider immediately if they have them. Signs and symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck, or the development of a dark purple rash.  These symptoms at first may appear similar to other illnesses such as the flu, but the symptoms progress rapidly and persons with meningococcal disease can become seriously ill 12 -24 hours after symptoms start. 

For more information you may call Houston County Public Health at (507) 725-5810, or check the Houston County website at www.houstoncounty.govoffice2.com click on the County Offices and Departments section left side of screen and scroll down to click on Public Health. There is also information on meningococcal disease on the MN Department of Health website at www.health.state.mn.us or you may call the state health department at (651) 201-5414 or 877-676-5414.
 
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