Newsletter-Early-Week

At Countryside Public Health, we work every day to protect and promote the health of our communities. One important way we do this is by monitoring disease trends across our state and communities, offering education, and providing resources that help people prevent and manage health conditions. One of the most common and serious health concerns we track in our country is High blood pressure, or hypertension — but the good news is, it’s also one of the most manageable with the right information and support!

The Minnesota DNR fire danger map continues to show that the entire area is in a very high fire danger. Officials are reminding everyone that fires can start easily and spread at a very fast rate if they develop. As a result, no open burning is allowed for much of western into parts of northwest and north central Minnesota.

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After serving as a Firefighter, EMR, EMT, Captain, and Assistant Chief for the past 21 years, Eric Soineis retiring from the Granite Falls Fire Department. Soine has paved the way for many future fire department leaders, expecting excellence while focusing on developing and maintaining our most important skills. Serving for the 4th Generation of the family, Eric’s Great Grandpa Formo served in Granite 1943-1961, Grandpas were Fire Chiefs in Granite Falls and Maynard, Eric’s Dad, Curt welcomed him to the fire hall he grew up across the street from in 2004. The Fire Department’s effectiveness on the fire ground, access to quality training, and facilities have improved greatly for generations of firefighters to come because of his work.

Much of the snow we picked up last week continues to melt away. With the sun angle so high this time of the year, temperatures even in the 30s and 40s can melt the snow away very quickly.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin a project to construct left-turn lanes near Raymond and Svea beginning April 14. A left-turn lane will be constructed for both east and westbound traffic at Highway 23 and County Road 1, northeast of Raymond. Also, a left-turn lane will be constructed for both north and southbound traffic at Highway 71 and County Road 3 near Svea.

When my wife and I were driving around the state of Minnesota over the weekend for a family baptism, we drove by many lakes and saw varying degrees of ice on area lakes. Some have very dark ice, while others with very little ice at all.