Stop the MN mine - UPDATE x2

From Houston County, MN friends

HOUSTON COUNTY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: That an application has been made by G-Cubed, on behalf of Bruening Rock Products of 900 Montgomery St, Decorah, IA 52101 and Jarad and Clair Olson for a Conditional Use Permit to operate a quarry for mineral extraction in the Agricultural Protection District.

The applicants have decided to withdraw their application for the August public hearing to gather more supplemental information. The application will be rescheduled for a later date.

In the meantime, sign the petition (link coming).

Please plan to attend the hearing in Caledonia on Thursday August 28th in the commissioners room, Houston County Courthouse at 5:15 pm and please send comments by email to Zoning@HoCoMN.gov.  

Comments must be received by this Tuesday, August 19th. 

UPDATE: Comments about the proposed Clair Olson mine must be emailed to Houston County Zoning office by tonight, August 18.   Zoning@HoCoMN.gov.  Comments received by this time will be included in the public information packet. Comments are public information. 

If you intend to speak at the hearing on Thursday August 28, 5:40 pm (be there by 5:15) there will be a sign up sheet outside the County Commissioner's room. We need to pack that hearing room and fill the hallways too!

We don't know if this mineral extraction is intended for cattle bedding or something more but, to us, it doesn't matter. No one should be destroying the unique scenic beauty of this area, putting neighbors at risk of noise, poor air quality,  truck traffic safety issues, road damage, ground water problems, property devalued and tourism ruined. The Root River flows beside this proposed mine. The bike trail, hikers, canoeing all will be effected.  This mine is on the same hill that was a part of the struggle a few years ago...2 miles east of Rushford on #16, across from the entrance to Ferndale Road and Hatchery Drive. The most scenic stretch of the Root River Valley.  Thank you all. 

Clair Olson wants to have a mine/quarry just across Highway 16 from Ferndale Road and Hatchery Drive. The Root River--a trout stream--flows right beneath the proposed mine!  This is one of the most scenic stretches of the Root River Valley. They would be allowed to blast, wash and sort.

In comments ask that the Olson permit be denied and state reasons: The Root River flows right next to the mine: tourism will be hurt;  property values will fall; truck traffic will be a hazard; roads will be damaged; the blasting and washing of the sand will hurt air quality and ground water quality. The scenic beauty will be ruined.   

We don't know if this will be for frack sand or construction/bedding purposes but who knows where the trucks go?

Comments from Wisconsin would be very important since so much damage was done by the mining companies to local communities there and many Wisconsin residents use and appreciate the Root River.

See the notice at https://www.hometownsource.com/classifieds/caledonia_argus/community/announcements/legal/notice_of_public_hearing/houston-county-notice-of-public-hearing/ad_01a01590-1035-56d0-a269-b89b16f77114.html

Compost time

This Project Drawdown article about composting notes, "For every million metric tons of organic wastes that decompose, 469 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gases in the form of methane are released."

Composting organic material like food waste and lawn materials results in soil carbon rather than landfill methane emissions.

Learn how to compost at this "Scraps to Soil" workshop at People's Food Co-op on August 22 from 4 to 5 p.m. Register to attend and be entered to win a free compust bin. 

Learn more here: https://www.pfc.coop/classes-events/pfc-composting-class

Read more about how composting combats the climate crisis in this publication from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Bernie in Viroqua

Fighting Oligarchy: A Townhall Conversation with Bernie Sanders in Viroqua

With Special Guest Rebecca Cooke on Saturday, August 23

10:30 a.m. Doors Open

11:00 a.m. Music by Foreign Fields

12:00 noon Speaking Program Starts

Pierce Hill Performing Arts

S4706 Orchard Rd, Viroqua, WI 54665

Please note: the following items are not permitted inside the venue:

• No signs and no flags of any kind
• No weapons of any kind, including for attendees with open carry permits
• No hard water bottles
• No bags larger than a fanny pack (exceptions made only for medical needs)

Free parking is available on-site.

RSVP here: https://act.berniesanders.com/signup/rsvp-oligarchy-viroqua/

Coulee DSA Saturday

From Coulee DSA

COFFEE SOCIAL

Saturday morning at 10 at Cabin Coffee

The Color of Fear

From La Crosse Waking Up White:

The filmmaker Lee Mun Wah is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the film The Color of Fear by letting folks stream it for free this weekend. You can access the film here: https://stirfryseminars.com/lgr-series-the-color-of-fear-1/

Here is a synopsis:

The Color of Fear (Part One) is an insightful, groundbreaking film about the state of race relations in America as seen through the eyes of eight North American men of Asian, European, Latino and African descent. In a series of intelligent, emotional and dramatic confrontations the men reveal the pain and scars that racism has caused them. What emerges is a deeper sense of understanding and trust. This is the dialogue most of us fear, but hope will happen sometime in our lifetime. (1994, 90 minutes, closed captioned)