AM.MN: As if Social Security weren’t enough, Gen X to clean up meth mess

Minneapolis and St. Paul tear down vacant houses by the hundreds while suburbs and outlying towns face waves of foreclosures that leave homes empty. Meanwhile in rural Minnesota, a persistent meth craze continues to ravage not only people but real estate. Tiny Eitzen, in the state’s far southeastern corner, will soon lose a house that meth production made too hazardous to inhabit — one of only 90 houses in town, by the U.S. Census’ count. Who’s cleaning up the mess? Houston County has hired a demolition and landscaping firm out of Rushford by the name of Generation X.

Elsewhere in Minnesota this morning …

PAYNESVILLE: GM dealer to plead case in D.C. Doug Hawkinson got a Dear John letter to say it’s over between his shop and the now-bankrupt automaker, but he’ll make a trip this week to meet his new bosses in the nation’s capital in hopes of saving his business. [St. Cloud Times]

ST. PAUL: Ash trees‘ survival depends on Pawlenty’s unallotments. Arborists ID’d 59 infected trees for removal; survivors must avoid not only the ash borer beetle but cuts to treatment funds by gubernatorial fiat. [Park Bugle; Associated Press]

BEMIDJI: City beach sold to local hotelier. The deal puts into private hands the first half-acre of a planned 141.5-acre redevelopment area, but Nymore Beach will stay open to the public until an adjacent replacement is ready. [Bemidji Pioneer]

INTERNATIONAL FALLS: New passport rule snares zero. It was all quiet on the Canadian front Monday, as U.S. Customs let the 5 percent who weren’t carrying passports cross the border once they proved where they lived. [Duluth News Tribune]

MAHNOMEN: Sweat lodges have police breaking out citation books. Damian Bad Boy hosted 14 American Indian ceremonies last month, but the drumming, singing and bonfires drew complaints from neighbors — and tickets that he says violate his federal rights. [Bemidji Pioneer]

MINNEAPOLIS: Target taps Seattle’s Pearl Jam for new ad tune. The downtown-based national retailer previously favored two defunct local bands with an ad featuring the Suicide Commandos’ “Complicated Fun,” as performed by the Magnolias. [MinnPost; City Pages]