Calendar
TODAY
Recycling curbside collection, 8 a.m., north of 11th Street and west of Highway 53 (includes Terrace Lane).
Councilors Gail Rognerud and Paul Eklund open house, 1-2:30 p.m., City Hall, council chamber.
New Year’s Eve lobster and/or prime rib supper, 6:30 p.m., (reservations, 283-3615), Moose Lodge.
FRIDAY
Walk-ercise group, 10-11 a.m., Backus Community Center gymnasium.
Falls Hunger Coalition Food Shelf open, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 1000 Fifth St.
Serenity Sisters, Women’s A.A., noon, Backus, Rational Alternatives, Room 101.
Members and guests Elks Lodge 1599 Friday Light Meal, 5:30 p.m.
Narcotics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Alano Club.
For Those in Need, Addiction Recovery, 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1340 Keenan Drive.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., Alano Club, 410 Fifth Ave.
SATURDAY
Littlefork Ambulance Thrift Shop open, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Bingo, 1 p.m.; prime rib sandwiches supper, 6 (reservations, 283-3615), Moose Lodge.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Alano Club.
Sunday’s Daily 3
3, 6, 9
Sunday’s Northstar Cash
16, 20, 22, 27, 28
Friday’s Gopher 5
4, 12, 17, 41, 45
Saturday’s Hot Lotto
4, 10, 16, 32, 44
Hot Ball
14
Friday’s Mega Millions
2, 5, 10, 20, 38
Mega Ball
14
Saturday’s Powerball
7, 10, 11, 14, 36
Powerball
15
Millions of Minnesotans are in a deep chill with temperatures 25-30 degrees below zero. The American Red Cross recommends the following tips to stay safe during the deep freeze.
Cold Safety Tips
- Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
- Someone should seek medical attention immediately if they have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.
- Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin.
- Don’t forget family pets – bring them indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
- Avoid frozen pipes - run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.
- Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
- Download the Red Cross First Aid App for quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. This free app is available on the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores.
Home fire risk increases during cold.
Local Red Cross workers responded to more than 700 home fires in Minnesota during 2014; eight in just the past few days. During extremely cold weather, the risk for a fire in someone’s home can increase. To avoid fire danger, remember the following:
Never use a stove or oven to heat the home.
Remember "3 feet from heat." If using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.
Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment someone wants to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
For more information, visit redcross.org/mn. Like on Facebook: American Red Cross Minnesota Region. Follow on Twitter @mnredcross.
Q: The other day at an intersection I noticed a car with the windows so frosted up that the driver had to roll down a window to check for cars coming from my side. What is the law on frosted windows?
A: Minnesota Stature 169.71 subdivision 3 states; “No person shall drive any motor vehicle with the windshield or front side windows covered with steam or frost to such an extent as to prevent proper vision.”
While the statute does not mention the rear windows I highly recommend that all windows be cleared. Too many people remove the snow from the windows but leave it piled high on the engine hood. If all of the snow is not removed, when a vehicle reaches highway speeds, some snow can be blown from the vehicle and sucked into the fresh air intake area of your car. (Normally located near the bottom of the front windshield). This usually results in an almost instant moisture fog up on the inside of your windows and windshield. Try to make sure you get all the snow removed from your vehicle as it will increase your visibility and could help you avoid a crash.
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Neil Dickenson, Minnesota State Patrol, 1131 Mesaba Ave., Duluth, MN 55811. (You can follow on Twitter @MSPPIO_NE or at neil.dickenson@state.mn.us)
‘GREAT DECISIONS’ DISCUSSION GROUP
The community group “Great Decisions” of citizen education and discussion program about foreign policy issues will meet from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the lower level meeting room at International Falls Public Library. Topic will be “Defense Technology” with Jim Jackson facilitating. If a group plans to attend, contact Diane Adams at the library or Sue Nordquist at 283-8687 for more information.
FALLS SCHOOL BOARD
International Falls School Board will conduct three special meetings next week. The first, scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday at Falls High School cafeteria, will be to install new board members and elect the board’s new officers. The board will then gather at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 7 in the cafeteria to meet with a representative of the Minnesota School Board Association to discuss strategic planning survey results. A 5:30 meeting will follow to conduct a hearing for termination of the head boy’s swim coach. The meeting could be closed upon request from the coach prior to the hearing.
AFTER LOSS GROUP
The After Loss Group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Giovanni’s.
International Falls Police Department
Hit-and-run: A vehicle registered to Sheila R. Steinbach, Eighth Street, sustained less than $1,000 damage Friday while parked at County Market, 1907 Valley Pine Circle, where it was struck by another vehicle that left the scene.
