It's getting worse out there - Difficult to hazardous driving conditions in western Minnesota; Lac qui Parle Co. pulls its plows

By: Tom Cherveny, West Central Tribune

Blowing snow, reduced visibility and drifting have created difficult to hazardous driving conditions in the region.

No travel is advised in areas west of Montevideo, where road conditions are described as hazardous. Lac qui Parle County pulled its county plows from the roads in the morning, and is advising no travel in that area, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

County plows are still operating in Chippewa, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties, but are finding the going difficult.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation in Willmar reports that state plows are keeping the highways clear but cautions that there is drifting in sheltered areas.

Diane Beck, MnDOT public affairs, said the department also advises motorists that there are drifting and visibility problems in the western portion of the region.

DFL governor hopefuls to answer questions - This Saturday afternoon at Alexandria Technical College

The following is a press release from the local DFL party:

The Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) in the counties of central and west central Minnesota are sponsoring a DFL Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Saturday, January 9 at 1 p.m. at the Alexandria Technical College Auditorium, South Auditorium, Room 743.

During the forum, the candidates will answer questions in order to introduce themselves, identify their positions on current issues, and present their leadership insights and abilities.

A time to meet and talk with individual candidates will follow.

This event is timely, say local DFL leaders, because it provides information for caucus-goers to use in the non-binding preference vote for the Democratic governor candidate at the statewide DFL caucuses, which will be held Tuesday, February 2.

There are 10 candidates vying for the DFL endorsement, including State Senator Tom Bakk, former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton, former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher, former State Senator Steve Kelley, State Senator John Marty, State Representative Tom Rukavina, Mayor of Minneapolis R.T. Rybak, and State Representative Paul Thissen.

2010 will be an important election, according to local DFL leaders.

This January 9 forum is open to all – an opportunity to get to know the candidates, learn more about the issues and participate in the process of choosing a candidate.

Another blizzard is on its way

Stevens County issues weather alert; Morris schools close
Morris Sun Tribune staff reports

Stevens County Emergency Management has issued a weather alert because of potentially dangerous blowing snow and cold temperatures.

The Morris Area School District also dismissed students at 1 p.m. on Wednesday because of deteriorating weather conditions.

According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm warning is in effect for West Central Minnesota through 6 p.m. Thursday.

As much as six to eight inches of fluffy snow is expected by late Wednesday night, and wind gusts of 30 to 35 miles per hour could cause significant blowing and drifting snow.

Temperatures also are expected to plummet, causing dangerous wind chills.

To receive emergency alerts from Stevens County via phone, mobile phone or email through the Instant Alert Plus system, contact Dona Greiner, Emergency Management Deputy Director, at donagreiner@co.stevens.mn.us, or sign up at www.envoyprofiles.com/STEVENSCOUNTY/

Well this frosts me white

While taking a much-needed break from editing the very first issue of the Herman Hoffman Tribune, to be published for January 7, 2010, I read through a few area newspapers.

One of them, the Chokio Review, published an article by Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Gene Hugoson. In it, Huguson talked about the importance of agriculture when it comes to job creation and retention in Minnesota. He highlighted the woeful job outlook that our state and nation are both facing.

Nowhere in the article does he mention how important it is to keep farmers on the land, operating their family-owned farms, keeping the means of production for our food as local as possible.

West Central Area Knights girls basketball is 8-2 after hammering conference rival Breckenridge

The West Central Area girls basketball team improved to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Heart O' Lakes Conference with a 71-37 drubbing at home over Breckenridge (2-5 overall, 2-5 HOL).

More will follow on Wednesday morning.

Hoffman City Council meets on Monday night (video posted)

An additional video is posted to the Editor's Youtube page, the link being: youtube.com/user/hoffeditor

A few more snow pictures following the aftermath of the big Christmas blizzard of 2009