Laurel Beager

Laurel Beager

  • Joined: October 11, 2023
  • Articles: 3055

Aasen recognized for forestry work

A forest resource specialist with the Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District has been recognized with the “Partnership Award” from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry.James Aasen was presented with the award - the highest level of recognition given by the division to partners and contributors to Minnesota forestry - at the annual DNR Summer Supervisors Meeting, July 31 in Brainerd.The award recognizes Aasen’s outstanding work with the DNR Division of Forestry in Cooperative Forest Management, or CFM, community forestry, landscape planning, and cross boundary management.“James’s tireless work has led to improved relationships, effective collaboration, and more work getting done on the ground,” said Ben West, DNR Forestry area supervisor.Aasen plays a prominent role within the Borderland forestry community, DNR officials said, citing the following details.As the chair of the Northern Landscape Committee, a volunteer, citizen-based regional landscape committee, central to carrying out the landscape management processes, Aasen pulls landscape partners together to facilitate cross boundary management and the free flow of information.Leading the Koochiching Cooperative Weed Management Group, Aasen has piloted many successful community projects and treatment of invasive species including buckthorn outreach and removal, as well as cross boundary management of wild parsnip.Aasen’s contributions to the CFM program are many, DNR officials said.

Getting it right; RLMC learns how to react

Practice makes perfect.The old saying is on the mark for just about everything, but is especially true in an emergency, when seconds count and people’s lives could be on the line.The Rainy Lake Medical Center campus and pharmacy conducted a three-day active shooter training culminating in a drill that was meant to feel real.And it did feel real when Mike Marturano, of Bullseye Safety & Training in Duluth, walked through the halls firing a pistol loaded with blanks toward the floor, prompting staff to react as they had been trained: initiating emergency procedures, scattering, shouting “active shooter,” calling 911 and getting out of the building if possible.As Marturano moved through the building, firing the gun, he checked doors to patient rooms, bathrooms and offices.

City council filings, so far

The filing period for candidates seeking positions on city councils in International Falls, Ranier, Littlefork, Big Falls and Northome closes at the end of the business day of city offices Aug.

Sports Notebook

Parents of Bronco athletes competing in high school sport must turn in paperwork for their student by the first day of fall sports practice on Monday, Aug.