WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA

National Weather Service issues red flag warning for parts of Minnesota

Kelly Boldan — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:26:14 GMT

CHANHASSEN — A combination of warm temperatures and dry, breezy conditions forecast for Monday afternoon will lead to elevated or critical fire weather in parts of west central, southwestern and northwest Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service.

A red flag warning has been issued by the weather service for much of those regions. Any fires that develop can spread rapidly.

Counties included in the red flag warning are:

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday: Becker, Clay, Clearwater, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Wadena and Wilkin. 2 to 8 p.m. Monday: Chippewa, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd and Yellow Medicine. 2 to 9 p.m. Monday: Big Stone, Traverse, Lincoln and Lyon.

A record warm air mass, with highs in the low 70s, will combine Monday afternoon with dew points dropping into the 20s, leading to humidity values falling to 15% to 25% by late Monday afternoon. Those conditions will be impacted further by increasing west winds in the afternoon, with gusts up to 35 mph by early evening.

These conditions will lead to critical fire danger thresholds being met.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging Minnesotans in the red flag warning areas to refrain from burning any items at this time.

"Any spark could become a wildfire under red flag conditions," said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.

To receive text updates on current wildfire risk and open burning restrictions in Minnesota, text “FIRE” to 66468.

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Human death from rabies reported in western Minnesota

West Central Tribune staff report — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 21:15:08 GMT

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating a human rabies death in a person over 65 years of age who had exposure to a bat in western Minnesota in July.

This is Minnesota’s fourth case of human rabies since 2000. The diagnosis of rabies was confirmed on Sept. 20, based on testing done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The Department of Health is working with the patient’s family and health care facilities where the patient was treated to evaluate whether any family members or health care workers were potentially exposed and need treatment.

The Department of Health reminds the public that bats in Minnesota can have rabies and that individuals should avoid contact with bats.

If a person has any physical contact with a bat or finds a bat in the room of a sleeping person, unattended child or anyone who cannot reliably communicate what happened, the bat should be captured safely and submitted for rabies testing. A bat’s teeth are so tiny that a bite may not be felt or even leave a noticeable mark.

If the bat is not available for testing, contact your healthcare provider or the Department of Health quickly after the exposure for information on what to do next.

If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal.

Rabies treatment has proven to be nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease after exposure, but it must be started before symptoms of rabies appear. Rabies treatment is not needed if the bat can be captured, tested and found to be free of the virus.

Bats can be submitted to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory or to a veterinarian for rabies testing. Information on submission, including a video on how to safely capture a bat for testing, can be found on the Rabies page of the MDH website.

Never touch a bat with bare hands.

People who have been exposed to rabies virus are given an injection of rabies immune globulin, and four doses of rabies vaccine over a two-week period. Seek medical treatment promptly after potential exposures are recognized; however, as long as symptoms have not developed it is never too late to start rabies shots. People can ask their health care provider about patient assistance programs that may be available to help with the cost of rabies treatment, if needed.

State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Stacy Holzbauer is also reminding people that they should get their household pets and livestock immunized against rabies. Rabies shots are available for dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, cattle and sheep.

Sept. 28 is World Rabies Day and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the disease and how to prevent it.

The number of rabies-related human deaths in the U.S. has declined from more than 100 annually in the early 1900s to less than five cases annually in recent years. Of infections acquired in the U.S., 70% are attributed to bat exposures.

In Minnesota, previous cases occurred in 1917, 1964, 1975, 2000, 2007 and 2021. All were fatal. The cases that occurred in 2000 and 2007 were in persons who were bitten by bats but did not seek medical attention.

People with concerns about possible exposure to rabies or who have questions about the disease can call 651-201-5414 during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or contact their health care provider.

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For a moment, I was concerned about a not-so-silent spring

Michael Johnson — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Within Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” are haunting words about a place where birds cease to sing.

The cause behind the lack of singing birds was DDT, a chemical banned for agricultural use worldwide since 2001. DDT was developed as the first of the modern synthetic insecticides in the 1940s. It was initially used with great effect to combat malaria, typhus and the other insect-borne human diseases among both military and civilian populations, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It also was effective for insect control in crop and livestock production, institutions, homes and gardens.

Its use is still approved for indoor applications in the fight against malaria. It’s determined a greater cause to stop the spread of malaria than to stop the use of DDT in areas of Africa, where 94% of malaria cases continue. Speaking of malaria, World Malaria Day was on April 25. It’s a day to take notice that the disease claimed 608,000 lives in 2022 and 249 million new cases were reported that same year, according to the World Health Organization.

As the case with most things that seem too good to be true, there were and continue to be side effects to the use of DDT. Its broad use led to the development of resistance by many insect pest species. A relationship between DDT exposure and reproductive effects in humans was suspected, based on studies in animals. Some animals exposed to DDT in studies developed liver tumors. As a result, today, it is classified as a probable human carcinogen by U.S. and international authorities.

In a surprising turn of events in the spring of 2024, some 60 years after Carson wrote about not hearing birds in the spring, I was a little apprehensive about hearing an abundance of birds. That’s crazy coming from me, someone who normally looks for and marks the day of the returning snowbirds. This year it was Canada geese, sandhill cranes and wood ducks all returning over two days. Among our songbirds, we saw hundreds of redwing blackbirds join the ranks of finches, and the ever-present woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees in early April.

Let me tell you, there was nothing silent about this spring. I’m often awakened by the sounds of a multitude of birds and one morning the flocks of blackbirds were deafening. It was marvelous.

I was apprehensive because we had just heard of avian flu affecting more than just other birds in states like Texas and Arizona — it was infecting dairy cows. Not having livestock other than chickens, my main concern is the infection of our egg-laying and butcher chickens. So when big flocks started flying in from the south, I actually had some concerns about them getting too close to the chickens. I do not want to be one of the few operations reporting deaths this spring.

Now I know my little backyard flocks are of no comparison to the commercial flocks that surround us in west central Minnesota. To be in their boots must be awfully stressful. However, they have to take precautions I have no interest in taking. If my birds can't free range, I have no interest in having them.

Like much of the country, some of my early fears have subsided. One of the articles we published in Agweek, shared how one farmer was chopping all the trees down around her farm so birds would not hang around there. I can assure you, I am not going to be cutting our trees down to stop birds from coming around. I enjoy birds and trees very much. If I wanted to live in a place with no trees I’d pick up and move back to the Dakotas. Just kidding, I know you have trees out there. I planted some.

I hope we can continue to hear more about what is known about avian flu and its effect on other populations. Here at Agweek, we'll continue to report on it. We need to think long and hard about what’s worse when faced with troubles, not unlike the “Would You Rather” game my kids get me to play often.

Would you rather have trees and the possibility of a disease hitting your operation, or cut down all of your trees in the hopes it makes a difference?

Would you rather kill the insects spreading malaria and possibly become sick from DDT or not use it and quite possibly die from malaria? These are real-world questions that still persist today.

The right answer is often never the same for each person posed the question, and it may even change over time. Rachel Carson might offer advice from her book, “The balance of nature is not a status quo; it is fluid, ever shifting, in a constant state of adjustment. Man, too, is part of this balance.”

As for me, I'm pleased to hear the sounds of the birds singing, frogs peeping and kids laughing under the warm spring skies.

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Natural gas customers encouraged to conserve energy during this national winter storm

West Central Tribune staff report — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 12:44:00 GMT

WILLMAR — Xcel Energy is encouraging customers to conserve energy, due to an increase in wholesale gas prices that is expected to last a few days as cold weather will spread across most of the U.S.

The cold weather is expected to affect the production and demand for natural gas, which Xcel Energy purchases to deliver to customers and to generate electricity.

According to a press release Friday from the company, Xcel stated that while supply and demand have increased the price of wholesale gas, the increase expected will be significantly smaller than the increase in price in 2021 during Winter Storm Uri.

Xcel said the biggest step customers can take to conserve energy is to lower their thermostats a few degrees if they have a natural gas furnace. Xcel recommends people to set their thermostats between 65 and 70 degrees while they’re home, and 58 degrees if they’re away.

Open blinds can also take advantage of the sun's warmth during the day. Closing them at night will also help insulate against the cold air outside. Ceiling fans can also be run so warm air near the ceiling is forced down.

Clean air filters also go a long way in reducing the work required by a furnace to heat a home. Xcel says replacing the air filter once a month during the winter season can reduce heating costs by as much as 15%.

As always, if you smell a scent like sulfur or rotten eggs in or near the home, leave immediately and do not turn on or off any electrical devices, as it could be a possible gas leak. Go outside and call Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999 to report the problem. In a life threatening emergency call 911.

More tips can be found on the Energy Savings Tips page at xcelenergy.com.

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Take a leisurely ride, or perhaps compete in a race, along one of west central Minnesota's many bike trails

West Central Tribune staff report — Mon, 29 May 2023 15:22:00 GMT

Bicycling is a low-cost way to meet up and exercise at the same time. With trails available throughout west central Minnesota, and several biking events slated for June through September, you can take a ride in your neighborhood, join a group or raise money for a cause.

June 10

ALBANY — Caramel Roll Ride, 8 a.m., 400 Railroad Ave, Albany, $25. This “beginning of summer” ride has seven possible destinations: Freeport, 12-mile loop; Avon, 12-mile loop; St. Joseph, 32-mile loop; Holdingford, 20-mile loop; Bowlus, 34-mile loop; Blanchard Dam, 40-mile loop; and Highway 10, 46-mile loop. Caramel rolls will be available at designated rest stops along the way. Registration deadline is June 8. More information can be found at www.bikereg.com/lwt-caramel-roll-ride

June 17

ALBANY — Tour of Minnesota, 4 p.m., $499. This seven-day, 300-mile ride has three goals: to visit out-of-the-way small towns and vistas, enjoy the heritage and culture of those towns, and to bring economic development to local businesses. There is a sampler option for riders wanting a short route, which is set for June 18-19, and costs $150. For more information and to register, visit www.tourofminnesota.com/register

June 17

AVON — Lady Slipper Nature Ride, 8 a.m., Lake Wobegon Trailhead, 453637 Co. Rd. 9, Avon, free. This casual ride along the Lake Wobegon Trail is intended for bikers to see the Minnesota State Flower, the Showy Pink and White Lady Slipper Moccasin Flower between mile markers 93 and 94 west of Avon (8-mile loop). Registration deadline is June 15. To register, visit www.bikereg.com/lwt-lady-slipper-nature-ride

June 18

WHITE BEAR LAKE — Sota Wheel Race, 7 a.m., $135. The third annual Sota Wheel Race is a 14-day, 1,200-mile paved bikepacking challenge that circles central Minnesota. The race starts and ends in White Bear Lake, and travels through four regional segments of the state. For more information and a map of the full route, visit www.mnisotawheelrace.com/the-route

July 9

St. JOSEPH — Tour of Saints, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., College of St. Benedict, 37 South College Ave., St. Joseph, $45. The Tour of Saints begins and ends at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. Check-in opens at 6:30 a.m., and bikers may start their rides up until 8:30. There are three loops available: 18-mile, 35-mile or 50-mile courses. More information can be found at www.bikemn.org/all-events/tour-of-saints

July 15

GRANITE FALLS — Bluenose Gopher 50, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bluenose Gopher Public House, 681 Prentice St. The third annual Bluenose Gopher 50 is a 50-mile loop from downtown Granite Falls along the Minnesota River valley National Scenic Byway. Registration is available online for free, or opens at 7 a.m. preceding the race. For more information about the race, registration and camping sites, visit www.bluenose.coop/bluenosegopher50

July 22

ALEXANDRIA — Alexandria Triathlon, Lake Brophy County Park, 1900 Brophy Park Road NW. Registration $70 for individuals, $130 for relay team; $15 for kids splash and dash. Prices increase after May 22. Website: www.trisignup.com/Race/MN/Alexandria/alexandriatriathlon

Aug. 12

NEW LONDON — Green Lake Kids Triathlon, 860 S Andrew DR NW, ages 3-12. Registration is $25 until July 31; price increases to $30 Aug. 1. Start time is 9 a.m. Website: runsignup.com/Race/MN/NewLondon/GreenLakeKidsTriathlonSpicer.

Aug. 13

SPICER — Green Lake Triathlon, 159 Lake Ave. S., Spicer, ages 13 and up. Registration is $59 for individuals, $110 for a two-person relay team and $150 for a three-person relay team; prices increase June 28 to $69, $130 and $180, respectively. Sprint Course: ¼-mile swim, 14-mile bike, 3-mile run; Olympic Course: ¾-mile swim, 22-mile bike, 6-mile run. Start time 8 a.m. Website: runsignup.com/Race/MN/Spicer/GreenLakeTriathlon

Sept. 9

SAUK CENTRE — Caramel Apple Ride, 8 a.m., 202 10th St So, Sauk Centre, $25. There are three possible destinations for this ride: West Union, 15-mile loop; Osakis, 27-mile loop; and Melrose, 17-mile loop. Treats, including caramel apples, will be available at designated rest stops along each route. Registration deadline is Sept. 7. To register, visit www.bikereg.com/lwt-caramel-apple-ride

TBD

WILLMAR — Mayor’s Bike Ride, free. The communities of Willmar, Spicer and New London are coming together for a community bike ride. More information is available online at www.willmarlakesarea.com/event/mayors-bike-ride/

Self-directed

GARY, S.D. — The Day Across Minnesota, starts in Gary, South Dakota, and ends in Hager City, Wisconsin. The DAMn challenge encourages bikers to travel 240 miles of Minnesota gravel roads by bicycle in a single day. While there is no mass start date for 2023, bikers are encouraged to take on the challenge and report their results. More information and self-reported results can be found at the-damn.com/results

Minnesota trails

For updated maps of both paved and gravel trails, see:

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/starter_kit/wheels Minnesota Trails: mntrails.com/bike-trails Minnesota events

For more information for biking events across Minnesota, see:

Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, www.bikemn.org/events Minnesota Bike Trail Navigator, mnbiketrailnavigator.blogspot.com/ Minnesota Trails, mntrails.com/events Lake Wobegon Trail, lakewobegontrail.com/lwta-rides/]]>

PHOTOS: Milan celebrates 17th annual 'A Taste of Syttende Mai'

Macy Moore — Sun, 21 May 2023 19:57:46 GMT

MILAN — Considering the small rural community of Milan was once referred to as Little Norway, it's no surprise the community of just over 400 residents keeps celebrating its heritage strong year after year.

Wednesday, May 17, served as Constitution Day in Norway this year, with Milan's celebration following up a few days later for the 16th annual "A Taste of Syttende Mai."

The day began with Kviteseid Lutheran Church hosting Kvitseid Smorgaas Tea. In downtown, the Minneapolis-based band, "The Swedish Trio," serenaded the crowd with tunes to waltz in the streets while vendors sold their wares to folks gathering during the early afternoon.

To wrap up the day, folks huddled the sidewalks of Main Street in the heart of Milan for the annual Uff-da parade. Dancers in polyester, members of the longstanding Milan Community Band and Vikings riding in ship-shaped floats kept the crowd amused and entertained into the early afternoon.

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Wanted: Young farmers seeking farmland to rent in west central Minnesota

Carolyn Lange — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:11:00 GMT

WILLMAR — With farmland locked up tight — and expensive to buy or rent even when land is available — it can be tough for young farmers to get into the business.

Securing land can depend on who you know or who you’re related to.

Along with having the financial means, convincing a retiring farmer or unrelated landowner to lease property to a young farmer can oftentimes hinge on cultivating a relationship.

A landowner wants to be assured that a young farmer just getting their start in the business knows what they’re doing and that they’re a good risk to bet on.

RJ and James Orsten, two brothers who raise cattle north of Willmar under the name Cardinal Creek Cattle Company, are trying to get the message out that they are looking for land to rent and that they do, indeed, know what they’re doing.

RJ, who is 25, and James, who is 21, mailed cards to 75 landowners in northwest Kandiyohi County and northeast Swift County this winter that includes the brothers’ credentials, goals as young farmers and a request to be considered as a future renter.

“We’re just trying to get our name out and try and show them we have the experience to run the land ourselves,” said James.

The attractive notecards, which features their logo of a cardinal on the front, includes a testimonial to let landowners know who they are and that they have the education and experience behind their dreams.

“We are writing to express interest in renting cropland, pastureland and hay ground. We grew up in the Willmar area on a farm and have been passionate about the family operation ever since we were young,” reads the cards. “After attending college and graduating in 2019, we have returned to the area to pursue farming full time.”

The idea to reach out to landowners came from their dad’s banker, said RJ.

Because farmland rental contracts usually last for several years, the brothers were advised that it can take 2-5 years to see results from initiating a relationship, he said.

Farm background

RJ and James are third-generation Kandiyohi County farmers who grew up raising hybrid turkeys and hatching eggs for Hendrix Genetics alongside their dad, uncle and grandparents on their Kandiyohi County farm, where they grow poults that became layers that produced fertile eggs that were hatched into new poults.

The family raises row crops on about 850 acres of land and, in the 1990s, added a few beef cattle as a hobby.

While growing up, RJ took an interest in the cattle and James started tinkering with the equipment and gravitated towards row crop farming.

After finishing college the brothers began working on the farm full time in 2019. While still working in the family’s turkey operation, RJ and James are trying to branch off on their own.

“We have been taking on more responsibility with the crops and cattle since returning to our family’s farming operation and are looking to expand our operation over the next few years,” reads the card.

“Together, we believe our combined strengths will benefit the farming community and we aspire to continue the legacy set before us, being good stewards of the land God created.”

The request concludes with a request that the landowner “keep us in mind if you are ever looking to rent your land.”

Cardinal Creek Cattle Company

The family operation had been run by the brothers’ dad (Robert) and uncle (Ross) under the name R & R Family Farms before RJ and James took over the cattle business.

The brothers renamed the operation the Cardinal Creek Cattle Company.

The cardinal was a favorite first of their dad’s grandmother, said RJ. “And we wanted to make a fresh start.”

Their cattle herd, which is primarily raised as breeding stock for other growers, has grown to 150 registered Hereford cows that will all be calving this spring.

The brothers don’t own any pasture or cropland of their own but rent about 350 acres from neighbors, which they heard about by word-of-mouth.

They’d like to rent another couple hundred acres of pasture land for their cattle to graze as well as additional hay and cropland to generate feed for the cattle and to sell as a cash crop.

The extra land would allow the brothers to increase their herd and eventually develop a production sale for their cattle to be sold through their own company’s online auction. They currently take their cattle to consignment auctions in Minnesota and South Dakota as a way to establish their reputation and make commercial and registered cattle buyers aware of their breeding stock.

The brothers also shoot videos and photos of their cattle and utilize social media to promote them to buyers.

Marketing through social media is an important part of getting their cattle and the company’s credentials exposed to cattle breeders.

So far they haven’t had any responses to their cold-call cards looking for land to rent, but they know it could be a start to building a future relationship.

If they can’t find additional land they’ll “just have to continue to work with what we have” and new ways to be efficient, said RJ.

“But we’ll keep looking, and searching and asking,” he said.

Carolyn Lange retired from the West Central Tribune in January 2022.]]>

First flood outlook 'average' for west-central Minnesota

Tom Cherveny — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 12:13:00 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — There is an “average” or normal risk of spring flooding in Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service’s first flood outlook report for 2022. The report released Feb. 10 found average snowpack conditions throughout most basins in the state.

As always, the first report comes with the caveat: Much will depend on weather patterns in March and early April.

The flood risk in the Minnesota River basin is termed average. The National Weather Service calculates a 13% risk of “minor” flooding in the Montevideo area, which compares to a historical average of 10% in mid February.

In general, snow depth and water content on the landscape through much of Minnesota is within the average parameters for this time of year.

The most snow is found in the headwaters of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. Due to last summer’s drought, the National Weather Service reported that there is a lot of room to intercept runoff.

Snowfall amounts recorded from Sept. 1, 2021, to Feb. 9 throughout the state are within 25% of normal ranges.

The season’s first measurements show the equivalent of 2 to 4 inches of water on the landscape of northern Minnesota and in the 1- to 2-inch range in southern Minnesota.

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Winter Storm Izzy brings new snowfall to region

Macy Moore — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 22:00:00 GMT

Kandiyohi County residents were reminded that winter is far from over Friday morning, as measurable snow swept through the region with the most recent snowstorm. Blowing, heavy snow inundated the region as Winter Storm Izzy pushed through much of Minnesota, leaving slick roads and whiteout conditions in its wake.

Inclement weather proceeded throughout much of the day, with an expected 6 to 10 inches of snowfall from the storm being expected by the time the storm started tapering off in Kandiyohi County on Friday evening.

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