DNR state park news releases - October 9, 2009

DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 9, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; Patricia Arndt, Minnesota State Parks planning and public
affairs manager, 651-259-5578.

Fall Festival set for Lake Carlos State Park on Oct. 10

The leaves are vibrant, the air is cool - fall is here! Bring the whole
family to welcome the change of season at Lake Carlos State Park's
Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10. The event will take place at the
park's Lakeview Group Camp from noon to 4 p.m. Activities for all ages
will include guided nature hikes, pontoon boat rides, and more. The park
will even be providing pumpkins for children to decorate and take home.

A complete schedule of events can be picked up at park office or
visitor center. There is no fee for this program, but vehicle permits
($5/day or $25/year-round) are required to enter Minnesota state parks.
In case of rain, events may be moved to various park shelters; details
will be available at the park office.

Lake Carlos State Park is located 10 miles north of Alexandria on State
Highway 29, then 2 miles west on Highway 38. For more information, call
320-852-7200.
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DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 9, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; Steve Carroll, DNR information officer, 651-259-5342.

Fall is busy time at two Minnesota state parks

From wildlife watching, to fall colors, hiking to camping, there's
plenty to do this fall at Hayes Lake and Lake Bronson state parks in
northwestern Minnesota.
Fall migrations are taking place so visitors can watch waterfowl
flights of ducks, geese, and sand hill cranes. Migrating raptors can be
seen along roadways. Visitors can see elk herds with bulls actively
bugling. Song birds, especially warblers, are prolific in both parks.

There are also opportunities to hunt elk, sharp-tail grouse, ruffed
grouse, and waterfowl in the area, or experience the special permit deer
hunts in the parks.

Both parks also offer camping options for people interested in spending
the night.

Hayes Lake State Park offers:
· Rustic* fall camping for $16 a night for electric or $12 for
non-electric.
· Camper cabins available through October. Rates are $45 a night for
non-electric, or $50 a night with electricity.

Lake Bronson State Park offers:
· Rustic* fall camping at Lakeside and Lakeside Extension, Two Rivers
campgrounds for $16 a night for electric or $12 for non-electric.

Call today for reservation at 1-866-85PARKS (1-866-857-2757), or go
online at www.stayatmnparks.com.

*Rustic camping amenities include vault toilets and hand pumped water,
showers and flush toilets are closed for the season.
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DNR NEWS -- lottery for antlerless deer Becker, Cass, Hubbard counties

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; Rob Naplin, Park Rapids area wildlife supervisor,
218-732-8452.

Hunters need permit for antlerless deer in permit areas 244, 245 and
246

Deer hunters who use a firearm or muzzleloader in deer permit areas
244, 245 and 246 (Becker, Hubbard, and Cass counties) and want to
harvest an antlerless deer must apply for an either-sex permit by the
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009 deadline. Successful applicants will be drawn
by lottery.

"Nearly half of Minnesota's 127 deer permit areas now are lottery
areas, a significant increase from last year," said Rob Naplin, Park
Rapids area wildlife supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources (DNR). "More permit areas were designated lottery in 2009
because deer populations in those areas are at or below deer population
goals."

"Annually, we estimate deer numbers using a population model that
considers harvest and over-winter survival," said Naplin. "We then use
that information to designate lottery areas."

In lottery deer areas, firearms and muzzleloader hunters may only
harvest a buck unless they apply for and receive an either-sex permit.
Successful applicants may take an antlerless deer only in the designated
lottery area and only during the season listed on the application.

"Unlike previous years, muzzleloader hunters must apply for a permit
even if they don't hunt the regular firearms season," Naplin said. "If
a hunter applies for and receives a permit for the muzzleloader season,
for example, it's not valid during firearms season. And a firearm
season permit is not valid during muzzleloader season."

Hunters may apply for an either-sex permit through any Electronic
License System agent, via the DNR Web site or by calling toll free
888-665-4236. Lottery winners will receive permits via U.S. mail.

Bonus permits cannot be used in lottery deer areas, regardless of
weapon type. Hunters who are unsuccessful in the lottery may only
harvest a legal buck throughout the season in lottery deer areas.

Archery hunters may take a deer of either sex in a lottery area without
applying for a permit.

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DNR NEWS -- Sweet Adelines perform Sept. 6, Red River SRA

LOCAL

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 31, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; Patricia Arndt, Minnesota State Parks planning and public
affairs manager, 651-259-5578.

Sweet Adelines to perform Sept. 6 at Red River State Recreation Area

Red River State Recreation Area in East Grand Forks, Minn., has live
entertainment lined up for Labor Day weekend.

Bring a lawn chair, a picnic, and your whole family to enjoy "An
Evening at the Park," featuring a performance of a capella music by
the Sweet Adelines, a group of women barbershop singers who love
entertaining. The performance will take place in the group camp area at
6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6.

A vehicle permit will be required for those who enter the park by car,
but the event itself is free. For more information, call the park at
218-773-4950.
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DNR news release - August 3, 2009

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; Patricia Arndt, Minnesota State Parks planning and public
affairs manager, 651-259-5578.

Restored gristmill and steam engine ready for Grinding Days at Old Mill
State Park on Aug. 30

The steam engine that powers the historic Larson Mill at Old Mill State
Park in northwestern Minnesota is back, just in time for Grinding Days.
The Case 359 engine had been in the shop for a couple of months for
boiler restoration.

People can visit the park between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 30,
to hear the steam whistle blow and see the engine come back to life,
turning the huge stones that grind grain into flour, the old-fashioned
way.

It is the one time each year when park visitors can see the mill in
action.

The pioneer cabin will be open for viewing, characters in period
costume will be "milling about," and fresh stone-ground flour will
be available for purchase.

A vehicle permit ($5 daily, $25 annual) is required to enter Minnesota
state parks and recreation areas. Additional family-oriented programs
can be found online at www.mnstateparks.info.
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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; Patricia Arndt, Minnesota State Parks planning and public
affairs manager, 651-259-5578.

Wi-Fi now available at Red River State Recreation Area

Red River State Recreation Area visitors can now upload camping and
fishing photos, check e-mail messages, and surf the Web while relaxing
around a campfire in East Grand Forks, Minn.

The sending and receiving units became operational July 25 after work
crews from Eagle Electric Co. installed the units onto two power poles
near the ends of the center camping loop.

The service is being provided free at the present time. The Water and
Light Department of the city of East Grand Forks funded the
installation.
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DNR news release - State land reforestation and herbicide application in Bemidji area

DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 13, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; Nick Severson, DNR Forestry, 218-694-2146.

State land reforestation and herbicide application in Bemidji area

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plants trees on
state lands to reforest harvested areas, provide wildlife habitat,
protect watershed values, and maintain the quality of state forests.

Such an effort is underway in the Bemidji area beginning about July 15
and ending about Aug. 15. All sites treated with herbicides will be
signed so that the public will know when they are on treated lands.

Professional foresters determine the tree species appropriate for the
site, while the DNR hires private contractors to do the actual
planting.

"Herbicides will be applied to approximately 49 acres of state land
in the Bemidji area to help establish new forests," said Nick
Severson, area program forester. "Some sites will be prepared
mechanically by scratching debris and duff away from the soil. We will
also apply herbicides to 305 acres of seedlings planted last year to
reduce competition and enhance growth."

This year, local DNR foresters have planted more than 225 acres in the
Bemidji area during April and May. More than 165,000 trees,
predominantly pines and spruces have been hand planted on sites prepared
during the past year.

Minnesota has one of the country's largest state forest systems and
also one of the largest state forest tree planting programs in the
nation.

More than 8,000 acres of state forest lands are planted and seeded each
year. This is equivalent to an area one-quarter mile wide by more than
50 miles long. In the last 10 years, the DNR has planted or seeded close
to 90,000 acres, an area of state forest land equivalent to a strip
one-quarter mile wide by 560 miles long, stretching from Minneapolis to
Cincinnati, Ohio.

The DNR often chooses to plant pines as a major tree species,
particularly red pine, the state tree. The DNR has overseen the planting
of 800,000 white pine on state lands to increase the presence of this
species in Minnesota's forested landscapes. Many other native tree
species will also be used. Oak and other hardwoods, for example, are
widely planted in the state forests of southeastern Minnesota.
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Free Blogging Workshop Monday 7/13

Start Your Own Blog or Web Site!
A Free Workshop For Beginners

July 13, 2009 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM
Northwest Technical College; Room - Computer Lab

Create your own blog or web site for FREE in this hands-on workshop

Do you want to set up a blog or a web site, but just aren't sure where to start?

In this workshop, you'll create your own "space" on the internet for blogging, or as a web site, using a free web application. We' show you everything you need to know to set up a web presence easily and quickly using WordPress, one of the most popular blogging sites on the web. Bring your own computer, or use one in the computer lab.   You'll learn step by step how to set up & customize your very own Internet site and you'll leave the workshop with your own fully functioning blog or web site!

Topics will include:
- What is a Blog?
- How to Use a Blog As a Web Site
- Sign up and Set up: Getting Your Blog Started
- Customizing Your Blog
- Wow! I've Got a Blog/Web site. Now What?

We'll also show you how to put your new blog/or web-site on the local site (www.bemidjicommunityinternet.org) so others can easily find it & all the other features of the community website.

This workshop is designed for artists, musicians, small businesses, entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants to market themselves or have a voice online

Presented by: Debbie Warne-Jacobsen, Web Site Designer & Content Creator
Debbie is the site designer of the Northern Community Internet web sites (www.northerncommunityinternet.org), and has developed many sites for Bemidji State University as well as local musicians, artists, and businesses.

Sponsored by: Bemidji Community Internet (www.bemidjicommunityinternet.org)...a community-building project of Northern Community Radio (KAXE 105.3 FM, 91.7 FM).

To register for this FREE workshop, call 1-800-662-5799.   Advance registration required due to space limits.

DNR news release: Kids fishing clinic offered at Hayes Lake State Park

DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 7, 2009
Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023; Hayes Lake State Park, 218-425-7504.

Kids fishing clinic offered at Hayes Lake State Park

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites children and their parents to Hayes Lake State Park on Saturday, July 11, from 10-4 p.m. for a Kid's Fishing Clinic at the Dam Picnic Area.

Participating children will explore the aquatic habitat of Hayes Lake, learn to identify fish, practice knot tying and casting, and end the afternoon fishing on the pier.

This program is for children grades one to four, and is limited to 10 participants. Registration is required by calling 218-425-7504. The DNR encourages parents to participate with their children. Participants do not need a fishing license.

This program, sponsored by Mattson Pharmacy of Roseau, is free. A vehicle permit, sold at the park office, is required to enter the park. Daily permits are $5. Annual permits, good for year-long access to all 72 of Minnesota's state parks and recreational areas, are just $25.

The entrance to Hayes Lake State Park is located 15 miles south of Roseau on State Highway 89, then nine miles east on Roseau County Road 4.

For more information about Hayes Lake or Hayes Lake State Park, visit www.mndnr.gov.
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