Beltrami County Storm Cleanup Assistance and Needs

LOOKING FOR CONTRACTORS AND LOGGERS- if you own a business that
specializes in removing trees and root balls, cleaning up decimated
groves of trees or other related jobs please call the hotline 333-8395
with your phone number, name, whether or not you provide free
estimates and what your hourly rates are. We are compiling a list for
our citizens to call to help them save time in looking for
professionals who are available. The list will be published as soon
as we get the names.

VOLUNTEER GROUP COMING FROM AROUND MINNESOTA TO HELP THOSE IN NEED

The NECHAMA Emergency Response team, members of MN
VOAD, is in the process of putting together a group of volunteers to
come to Beltrami County to assist residents that are handicapped or in
desperate need of assistance with downed trees. Our hotline has put
together a list of such people in need. Unfortunately this group of
dedicated volunteers, who just finished up spending weeks in Duluth
helping citizens, experienced great difficulty last night in Eden
Prairie, MN at their headquarters where their completely outfitted
trailer and truck were ravaged. The trailer, full of chainsaws and
equipment necessary for processing downed trees was stolen. The truck
was trashed and someone attempted to steal that as well. Therefore,
they are trying to put together a new trailer and repair the truck in
preparation for coming to our area. This will delay their response.

GREENWOOD CEMETERY- this Cemetery, located in the City of Bemidji,
welcomes those of any faith to their burial grounds. Unfortunately,
the storm of July 2 caused major damage to their trees and grounds.
Shortly after the storm, City of Blackduck maintenance personnel
volunteered time and assisted in cutting up trees. Many thanks to
these folks. The Cemetery advises there still remains brush and root
balls that must be cleared. The Cemetery board does not have the
money needed to pay contractors to finish up the work nor the
machinery necessary to do this themselves so they are asking for
assistance. Since they are not sponsored by any particular church they
have a slim budget and would appreciate any donations of time,
machinery, labor or money. Please contact them at 243-2387 or
308-0324 or PO Bx 1431, Bemidji MN 56619 if you can help.

HOTLINE BELTRAMI COUNTY- we have cut back to checking the hotline
once a day now. For those of you who are signed up for help we are
keeping that list and will be forwarding that to our group of
volunteers FOR ASSISTANCE. However, be aware that it will be a length
of time before they are able to be here. We ask for your patience in
waiting.