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

Chris Steller — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:30:00 +0000

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]

Minnesota Independent » complicated fun

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