Rural

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  • A local lending partnership you can copy

    Small Biz Survival
    Becky McCray
    16 May 2012 | 11:40 am
    A local credit union partnered with community organizations to facilitate loans for small businesses with needs not met through traditional lending. Leslie Ackerman of Alternatives Federal Credit Union is using this model and presented on it at the BALLE Business Conference. The community organization brings the mission and raises the money. The local investors and community contribute the capital. The local lending institution manages the lending program. The funds are deposited as a loan loss (collateral on the loans). The community organization sets the lending policies. The local people…

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    rural - Bing News
    16 May 2012 | 6:46 am
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  • Rural doctors slam budget

    rural - Yahoo! News Search Results
    16 May 2012 | 12:42 pm
    RURAL doctors say they've been hit with a disappointing Federal Budget.

  • Wednesday Roundup: Moving to Rural Minnesota

    Daily Yonder - Keep It Rural
    editor
    16 May 2012 | 1:36 pm
    Biggest race in rural America Tuesday was in Nebraska • Why people moved in to rural Minnesota • Senators push Farm Bill • Deere reports record profits Lincoln Journal Star State Sen. Deb Fischer won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska Tuesday. She'll run against former senator and governor Bob Kerrey. Fischer is a rancher. The Washington Post called state Sen. Deb Fischer's win in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Nebraska a "big upset." It was certainly the biggest election in rural America on Tuesday.Fischer will run against former governor and U.S. Senator…

  • Webinar on "Screening for Developmental and Psychosocial Risks in Rural Family Medicine Practice: Implementation of Best Practices"

    News stories via the Rural Assistance Center
    16 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    The University of Washington Maternal and Child Public Health Leadership Training Program invites you to join a Webinar on "Screening for Developmental and Psychosocial Risks in Rural Family Medicine Practice: Implementation of Best Practices" on Tuesday, May 29th, 2012.
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    Small Biz Survival

  • A local lending partnership you can copy

    Becky McCray
    16 May 2012 | 11:40 am
    A local credit union partnered with community organizations to facilitate loans for small businesses with needs not met through traditional lending. Leslie Ackerman of Alternatives Federal Credit Union is using this model and presented on it at the BALLE Business Conference. The community organization brings the mission and raises the money. The local investors and community contribute the capital. The local lending institution manages the lending program. The funds are deposited as a loan loss (collateral on the loans). The community organization sets the lending policies. The local people…

  • Building a local business alliance

    Becky McCray
    16 May 2012 | 10:46 am
    BALLE is the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. It’s all about local businesses working together to make their local economy prosper, with a focus on locally-owned businesses, sustainability, green jobs, and thinking local first. There is a national organization, and local networks have formed in many cities, towns and regions. I'm reporting today from the BALLE Business Conference. A local BALLE network is different from the local chamber of commerce. The chamber must support all local business development. A local business network can focus on local ownership and sustainable…

  • Why you should start varnishing your customers

    Becky McCray
    14 May 2012 | 9:09 pm
    Have you ever varnished something, the old-fashioned way, with a brush? Did you try hurrying the job by slathering on a thick coat? It makes a sticky mess, and doesn't make for a good finish. Instead, the pros do lots of thin layers, maybe dozens. And the results are much better, shiny and smooth. First coat of varnish, photo (CC) by Dawn Peterson. So, think of selling like varnishing. You get better results with lots of thin layers instead of one thick coat. In selling, layering is the process of giving info in small chunks. Rather than overwhelm a prospect with the whole story and every…

  • a from the field Brag Basket

    Becky McCray
    11 May 2012 | 9:44 am
    I'm in the field today, so let's do brag basket without the explanations. What's the good news from your field this week? New here? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Subscribe.

  • Chris Brogan, Joe Sorge and I have a Kitchen Table Talk (VIDEO)

    Becky McCray
    9 May 2012 | 11:39 am
    Yesterday, I sat down with Chris Brogan and Joe Sorge for their series on small business, Kitchen Table Talks. We talk about my many businesses, SOBCon, Small Town Rules, failures, and customer complaints. If you don't see the video, click through to the page on Kitchen Table Talks. There is no proof that Chris and I were headbanging to the out music. No proof at all. (Joe Sorge is disqualified from headbanging for having a shaved head.) New here? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Subscribe.
 
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    rural - Bing News

  • IMPORTANT: Bing News RSS feed has moved!

    16 May 2012 | 6:46 am
    Go to the new RSS page and renew your subscription.

  • Louisiana Hospital Coalition Honors Rep. Chaney as Legislator of the Year

    PRIDE, La., May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hospital Coalition announced that it has selected State Rep. Charles R. "Bubba" Chaney (R-19) as Legislator of the Year at its annual conference in Baton Rouge. "We chose Rep. Chaney because of ...

  • restaurants for food security - and jobs too (Comment)

    In every religion, culture and civilization, feeding the poor and hungry is considered amongst the most noble deeds. In the Hindu religion, for instance, one is able to do one's 'punya' (good work) by feeding the poor. However, such large-scale feeding ...

  • health grant given to U of I research center

    IOWA CITY, IA. — An environmental research center at the University of Iowa has received a $7.9 million grant to help support research of health issues. The Environmental Health Sciences Research Center is getting a five-year grant from ...

  • Why move to Minnesota?

    New University of Minnesota research being published later today shows people in their 30s and 40s continue to move to areas that otherwise are experiencing population declines. So we asked sources in our Public Insight Network why they had moved to ...
 
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    Daily Yonder - Keep It Rural

  • Wednesday Roundup: Moving to Rural Minnesota

    editor
    16 May 2012 | 1:36 pm
    Biggest race in rural America Tuesday was in Nebraska • Why people moved in to rural Minnesota • Senators push Farm Bill • Deere reports record profits Lincoln Journal Star State Sen. Deb Fischer won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska Tuesday. She'll run against former senator and governor Bob Kerrey. Fischer is a rancher. The Washington Post called state Sen. Deb Fischer's win in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Nebraska a "big upset." It was certainly the biggest election in rural America on Tuesday.Fischer will run against former governor and U.S. Senator…

  • Country is Separating by Education

    editor
    16 May 2012 | 7:20 am
    When it comes to education, the rich are getting richer, as people with college degrees flock to a small number of U.S. counties. Robert Cushing/Census This chart divides the nation's adult population into four equal groups each decade. The 1st quartile (green line) are the quarter of U.S. adults in the counties with the highest percentage of those over 25 with college degrees.

  • Tuesday Roundup: Happy Birthday

    editor
    15 May 2012 | 2:07 pm
    The USDA is 150 years old today • More 'pink slime' layoffs • Beware sleepy oil field drivers • The failing coal industry  USDA View of the Department of Agriculture, The Smithsonian Castle and the U.S. Capitol taken from atop the Washington Monument circa 1900. Happy birthday, USDA.Chris Clayton writes here on the history of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. President Lincoln signed the legislation creating the USDA May 15, 1862 — that's right, 150 years ago today.At the time, 90 percent of Americans were connected to farming. A proposal to create a department of agriculture…

  • Up from the Flood in Southeast Missouri

    editor
    15 May 2012 | 8:04 am
    A decision to breach a levee last spring brought floodwaters down on 200 square miles of SE Missouri. After a full year, some people are still displaced, others are farming again, and everyone has an opinion about the Corps of Engineers' fateful choice. Jeff Roberson/AP Carlin Bennett, Presiding Commissioner of Mississippi County, MO, and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson having just learned that the Corps of Engineers planned to blow up the levee and flood 130,000 acres, May 2, 2011. On the morning of May 2, 2011, the swath of southeast Missouri along the Mississippi River, from the mouth of the Ohio…

  • Monday Roundup: Pink Slime and Post Office Hours

    editor
    14 May 2012 | 1:10 pm
    A 'pink slime' taste test • Dollar Stores opposed in Vermont • President to target military veteran voters • The hours post offices will be closed The New York Times This is downtown Chester, Vermont. There's a controversy here and in four other Vermont towns about whether dollar stores should be allowed to be built. Philip Boffey writes that they tried a taste test at the New York Times. They cooked some burgers with "lean finely textured beef" (otherwise known as "pink slime") and some others that were slime free. He writes:As for how it tastes, we conducted a test at the Times…
 
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    Blog for Rural America

  • Trust Me

    Paul Mansoor
    1 May 2012 | 4:09 pm
    Want to make money? I’ve got a great investment opportunity for you! Don’t worry about the details--just give me your money and you’ll profit. Ignore the fact that 97% of financial investors disagree with my plan. My intuition tells me that this is a safe bet. Most rational people would hesitate to trust me with their money, at least without evidence. Skeptics would challenge: “Why should we trust you?” Randomly put 100 climate scientists in a room, and 97 would say that humans affect Earth’s temperature. Out of that hundred only three disagree. Now, honest…

  • EPA on Fracking

    Paul Mansoor
    25 Apr 2012 | 2:48 pm
    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new fracking regulations. This directly impacts the health of those living near fracking sites, many of whom are rural residents. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method to harvest natural gas. Chemicals are shot underground to break up rocks, releasing embedded gas. Residents living near fracking sites have reported polluted groundwater and other health dangers. The new regulations target air pollution. Specifically, when the underground gas rises to the Earth’s surface, it tends to “flare” up before being…

  • Taxes, Wind-Energy, and the Power Company

    Paul Mansoor
    12 Apr 2012 | 3:33 pm
    Thank goodness tax-season is nearly over. Every year my jaw tightens and fists clench as I sift through documents and forms. Tax-time is not my best-time. Sometimes I’m tempted to hand over the keys to someone else, and just trust that they will act in my best interest. But that’s a fantasy. No one will value my money or time as much as I do, and deep-down I know I should remain vigilant. Why trust someone else with something so important? Yet we do that every day with our utilities. We hear the power company say “Trust us, we know what we’re doing,” and we…

  • Did Climate Change Drink My Apple Cider?

    Brian Depew
    11 Apr 2012 | 1:17 pm
    I bought a cider press at an auction last week. I am really excited to make apple cider this fall. The last two years, I had a bumper crop of apples. That sounds like gallons and gallons of cider to me. But after last night, I am wondering if I should put the cider press back up for sale. You see, my apple trees were in full bloom before the end of March when temperatures hit 90 degrees. Then it dipped to 27 degrees last night. A handy chart I found warns that fruit loss begins at 28 degrees, and if it hits 25 degrees, a near total loss occurs. A lot of people are talking about the strange…

  • Efficiency Gains

    Paul Mansoor
    9 Apr 2012 | 1:49 pm
    Energy is on everyone’s mind, from politicians to our neighbors, but we are not helpless! The uncertain economy is a perfect time for you to evaluate your own energy use--and find the savings. Andrew Carnegie spent heavily in down economic times. He built new factories and tuned up his company. When the economic depression ended, Carnegie Steel (later renamed U.S. Steel) was stronger and ready to grow. This is a classic lesson of winter preparation leading to a strong spring. We Nebraskans are facing a tough “winter” of our own. High energy prices affect everything, from the…
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    Blandin on Broadband

  • ARRA projects about to get scrutinized by Congressional Subcommittee – including Lake County

    Ann Treacy
    15 May 2012 | 5:02 pm
    The ARRA Broadband project is getting called to the principal’s office tomorrow. Yesterday the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology announced a Hearing on Broadband Loans and Grants. Here’s the situation as stated in the Subcommittee memorandum… More than three years after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) allocated $7.2 billion for broadband grants and loans, the jury is still out whether taxpayers are getting their money’s worth. Despite claims of ARRA projects being “shovel ready,” recipients of 233 National Telecommunications and Information…

  • Public-Private Partnership in Dakota County – Key is Collaboration

    Ann Treacy
    15 May 2012 | 8:43 am
    I spoke last week with David Asp, Fiber Administrator and Network Engineer at Dakota County. David is a great networker in at least two ways. First, he knows how to design and build a broadband network that is efficient and effective. Second, he knows how to work with a network of people to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the broadband network. (I like to think that folks like David will keep us out of the predicament that West Virginia found themselves in – applying for federal funds to build broadband where it already existed.) I know that many people were impressed with…

  • Minnesota Public Safety Broadband Wireless Data Network Requirements Study

    Ann Treacy
    14 May 2012 | 4:21 pm
    A while ago I wrote about a webinar I watched on FirstNet. You may remember… The FirstNet plan is to build a broadband network for police, firefighters, emergency medical service professionals, and other public safety officials. FirstNet is really just getting going – but there are some plans. First plan is for FirstNet to work with state, local and tribal governments. A goal is to create an interoperable, cohesive, countrywide network. That being said, states can opt-out of FirstNet. Apparently the plan (and I’m gleaning this from the webcast) is for FirstNet to come to the states…

  • Minnesota Schools Create Positive Outcomes from Technology

    Bernadine Joselyn
    14 May 2012 | 1:15 pm
    Sometimes at the Blandin Foundation we feel like gardeners. We sow seeds, we nourish projects and we wait to see what grows. It’s been fun to watch the Itasca Area Schools Collaborative (IASC) flourish especially as they receive attention (Minnesota Public Radio and Cisco website) for their success. As Cisco reports… Dr Michael Johnson believes that one should “never waste a good crisis.” In recent years the provost of Itasca Community College (ICC) has faced more than his share: beginning in 2005, declining enrolments in northeastern Minnesota dealt a serious blow to institutions of…

  • How to Engage Diverse Audiences Online

    Ann Treacy
    11 May 2012 | 4:00 pm
    E-Democracy has recently released a report on their approach (and success) in engaging diverse participants in their online (email and web-based) forums. E-Democracy hosts online discussions based on geographic location. Most of their communities are based on city or neighborhood. I am a long-time E-Democracy volunteer. The traditional way to grow a list is through existing social networks. In other words, I ask two friends to join, they ask two friends and so on. It grows a list – but it also means you get folks who run in the same circles. In the last couple of years, E-Democracy has…
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    The Rural Blog

  • Oil industry chief says 15% ethanol-gas blend bad for cars; renewable fuel folks call that 'bad science'

    16 May 2012 | 1:25 pm
    DesMoinesRegister.com's Dan Piller writes that the American Petroleum Institute president and CEO Jack Gerard contended Wednesday that studies by the Coordinating Research Council have shown that gasoline with 15 percent ethanol could damage vehicle engines. This follows Gerard's criticism last year of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to expand the blend limit of ethanol to unleaded gasoline for vehicle use from 10 percent to 15 percent. He called those decisions "premature and irresponsible.” The agency "approved E15 knowing ongoing vehicle testing had not been…

  • People with college degrees increasingly cluster, but not in rural areas; bad for rural economies

    16 May 2012 | 12:27 pm
    College-educated people in this country used to be more equally distributed in this country, reports the Daily Yonder. And while the percentage of people in the U.S. who have a college degree has increased dramatically in both rural and urban areas since 1970, those with college degrees are clustering in some counties and not others. This diversity is a demographic divide with serious economic consequences.The map below shows the distribution of adults (those over 25 years of age) who had a four-year college degree in 2010, when 27.9 percent of U.S. adults had such degrees. The counties…

  • House votes to de-fund American Community Survey, as tea party elements raise privacy objections

    16 May 2012 | 11:50 am
    Last week, the U.S. House, by the vote of most House Republicans and four Democrats, passed an amendment to cease funding to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The survey is a continuous update of American's economic, demographic and housing data, as described by homeowners, and, explains The New York Times, "is widely considered a vital tool for business decision makers." In 2006, the Republican-led House touted the ACS program as good for business and communities, yet now sees it as "an unconstitutional breach of privacy." It's an example of the influence of the tea party,…

  • Arizona governor vetoes bill to take over federal land, calls it unconstitutional and costly

    16 May 2012 | 10:47 am
    Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed legislation Monday that would have allowed the try to state to take public land from the federal government, a fight that several Western states talked about but that only Utah, so far, has decided to wage. Robert Gehrke of The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Brewer, well-known as a feisty conservative, informed legislators that the bill appeared to be "not reconcilable" with the U.S. Constitution and Arizona’s Enabling Act and that it would create uncertainty for holders of leases on federal lands.Gehrke writes that the governor also pointed out, "If Congress…

  • College visits and test-prep workshops are the most help to rural students who want to attend college

    15 May 2012 | 1:57 pm
    College visits and workshops to prepare for exams like the American College Test seem to make the biggest difference in rural students' college enrollment rates, a new Mississippi State University study shows. The study was published in The Rural Educator, which is the official journal of the National Rural Education Association.Researchers found campus visits and ACT workshops were overwhelmingly the factors with the most impact on college enrollment, reports Diette Courrege on Education Week's Rural Education blog. Rural students' average college-enrollment rate of 27 percent is far…
 
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    Rural Intelligence

  • The Art of Shopping: Working Warren with a Pair of Pros -- Style Section -- Shopping

    MarilynBethany@aol.com
    9 May 2012 | 5:44 pm
    We all shop, but shopping with someone who actually makes a living buying stuff is an entirely different game. For one thing, the pros notice subtleties we pikers would be likely to overlook, such as the fine print on the $900 price tag dangling from a ‘50s floor lamp that’s shoved into the corner of a cramped and dusty shop on Warren Street in Hudson. Faced with such seemingly irrefutable evidence, many would conclude that $900 is the asking price. Not Paul Siskin, of Siskin Valls, an interior design firm in New York City.  “How much?,” he asks.  Mark of Mark’s (612…

  • Cross Roads Food Shop is Hillsdale’s New Hot Spot -- Food Section -- News

    MarilynBethany@aol.com
    9 May 2012 | 9:26 am
    Chef David Wurth has been living and cooking long enough in the Berkshires and Hudson Valley to know that a successful business must have crossover appeal. With the Cross Roads Food Shop, he has created the quintessential rural restaurant—a neighborhood hangout by day, destination dining by night—that attracts locals and weekenders alike. In the morning, you can linger over coffee and cornmeal pancakes ($5) or grab an egg sandwich ($5) to go. After noon, there are locally sourced salads such as Brussels sprouts, grated goat cheese, walnuts and wheatberries ($7), grass-fed burgers with…

  • Garden View: Are Green Thumbs Inherited? -- Style Section -- Garden

    MarilynBethany@aol.com
    7 May 2012 | 11:29 am
    Liza Gyllenhaal is the author of the novels “Local Knowledge,” “So Near,” and the forthcoming “A Place for Us,” all set in the Rural Intelligence region. She and her husband divide their time between Manhattan and West Stockbridge, MA where she writes — and putters around in her garden. We’re pleased to share her periodic musings on gardening and other topics with RI readers. I think there must be a gardening gene, yet to be discovered in some secret strand of our DNA. My paternal grandmother created one of the most beautiful and extensive rose gardens I’ve ever seen (and…

  • Food Festival Ramps Up in Hudson -- Parties © Openings Section -- Parties

    MarilynBethany@aol.com
    7 May 2012 | 7:52 am
    Dale Stewart reports from Hudson. There was a palpable buzz in advance of the second annual Ramp Fest Hudson, and by all accounts (and palates) the event — held on Saturday, May 5 at the Basilica Hudson —  surpassed expectations. Produced by Jeff Gimmel of Swoon Kitchenbar (pictured left, with gallerist Karen Davis) and stationery provocateur Alison Riley, Ramp Fest — a benefit for Glynwood — brought together Hudson Valley chefs and their NYC counterparts in a culinary homage to the beloved wild leek, and to spring itself. Foodies sampled a surfeit of inspired dishes such as…

  • Frank Langella Screening and Signing -- Parties © Openings Section -- Parties

    MarilynBethany@aol.com
    6 May 2012 | 11:38 am
    Tara Kelly reports from Millerton. The literati turned out to ogle the glitterati when the stylish antiques store Hunter Bee hosted a book signing for Frank Langella (pictured at left) on Saturday, May 5. Langella has been a busy man. He’s criss-crossing the country to promote two pet projects: his new memoir, Dropped Names Famous Men and Women as I Knew Them; and the movie Robot and Frank, to be released in August. Earlier in the day, The Moviehouse screened a special preview of the film, after which Langella, a Millerton resident, answered questions about the movie, his life, and his past…
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    Reimagine Rural

  • It’s time to invest in our inner core

    Mike Knutson
    14 May 2012 | 6:59 am
    How does your small town look in-and-around Main Street?  More specifically, how do the houses look in the neighborhood around your community’s core?  Is the age of the 80-120 year old housing stock showing? In some rural communities, one senses that the inner core is like an inner city ghetto that one must escape out of to get to the new housing developments on the cities’ edge. I was reminded of this issue by a recent blog post written by Becky McCray at Small Biz Survival.  Becky highlighted the efforts of Burnet, Texas (pop. 4735)  who is seeking “to encourage the development of…

  • A lawyer’s story: returning home

    Guest Post
    10 Apr 2012 | 6:48 am
    Guest blog by Shane Penfield Project Rural Practice Task Force State Bar of South Dakota “It’s not the end of the world, you can just see it from here,” was a common response I received from professors, classmates and state policy makers when they learned where I was from. I grew up on my family’s ranch southeast of Lemmon, SD  and when my original plans of becoming a farmer/rancher fell through due to terrible cattle prices in the late 1990’s, I decided to become a lawyer. Lemmon has always been my home; during my time at the University of South Dakota there was never any doubt…

  • Talent attraction: Let’s start a conversation

    Mike Knutson
    5 Apr 2012 | 7:31 am
    What makes New York City so successful?  Mayor Michael Bloomberg says NYC’s economic growth is directly connected to its ability to attract talent. Many newly successful cities on the global stage – such as Shenzhen and Dubai – have sought to make themselves attractive to businesses based on price and infrastructure subsidies. Those competitive advantages can work in the short term, but they tend to be transitory. For cities to have sustained success, they must compete for the grand prize: intellectual capital and talent.” (Source:  “Cities must be cool, creative and in…

  • I Guess I’m A Rural Lawyer – - Go Figure!

    Kathy Callies
    4 Apr 2012 | 1:41 pm
    Guest blog by Bob Morris,Chair Project Rural Practice Task Force State Bar of South Dakota When South Dakota State Bar President Pat Goetzinger asked me to Chair the Project Rural Practice Task Force, we discussed that out of the 1,800 practicing lawyers in South Dakota, 65% of those lawyers were located in Rapid City, Pierre, Sioux Falls, and Aberdeen. I affectionately call them “The Big Four.” That would mean 35% of the lawyers are spread out everywhere else. Naturally I assumed that President Goetzinger asked me to be the Chair of the PRP Task Force because of my charisma, charm, and…

  • Downtown to Small Town: A “City Girl’s” Transition to Rural Practice

    Kathy Callies
    3 Apr 2012 | 4:53 pm
    Guest blog by Sarah L. Larson I grew up at the mall. Not literally, of course, but there were time periods throughout my tweens, teens, and young adulthood when I was working or shopping or mingling in the city every day, all day. Everything I ever needed was within a 15 minute drive. When I first decided to pursue law school, I knew that corporate law was my gig. I interned with a corporate legal department every summer for 3 years, while pursuing my MBA at the same time as my Juris Doctorate. I would graduate with both degrees in 3 years and head back to the city to rise the corporate…
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    STPNS Free Public Feed

  • Beacon carrier works to compete

    10 May 2012 | 7:24 am
    Juliet Hufford is only 10 years old, but she’s already putting in a lot of time working to achieve her dream....

  • Dan Peterson named End-O-Line interim director

    1 May 2012 | 7:32 am
        Currie — Former history teacher at Westbrook Walnut Grove School, Dan Peterson, recently started his dream job, as interim director of the End-O-Line Country Park. In addition to his history background Peterson also has served as a member of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum B...
 
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    High Country News - Most Recent

  • Recycling diesel emissions for farm fertilizer?

    Marian Lyman Kirst
    16 May 2012 | 10:25 am
    Canadian farmer Gary Lewis, fed up with the failures of synthetic fertilizer, has invented a system called Bio-Agtive Emissions Technology, a tractor add-on that recycles diesel emissions into fertilizer.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/most-recent/~4/SlA_ekaxwFA" height="1" width="1"/>

  • Western legislatures grab for control of public lands

    Jodi Peterson
    16 May 2012 | 10:19 am
    Some Western states are rekindling the Sagebrush Rebellion and demanding ownership of federal lands -- but it's not just about local control.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/most-recent/~4/aA8fiErw1lM" height="1" width="1"/>

  • Bark beetle kill leads to more severe fires, right? Well, maybe

    Gail Wells
    15 May 2012 | 1:29 pm
    The connection between bark beetle outbreaks and Western forest fires is more complicated than it might appear.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/most-recent/~4/SlYQLoY46H0" height="1" width="1"/>

  • Western legislative roundup

    Jodi Peterson
    14 May 2012 | 12:24 pm
    Some recent Western legislative highlights are noted, accompanied by quotes from the legislators involved.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/most-recent/~4/j5qzUJrlrEE" height="1" width="1"/>

  • The Pawnee Buttes oversee a changing landscape

    Allan Best
    11 May 2012 | 5:07 pm
    Eastern Colorado’s Pawnee Buttes have witnessed so many historical changes that they’re likely to survive the current energy-development boom.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/most-recent/~4/Iq5lqgrzLgw" height="1" width="1"/>
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    High Country News - From the Blogs

  • The time for oysters

    Danielle Venton
    16 May 2012 | 11:46 am
    Increasing ocean acidity spells trouble for shellfish<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/FromTheBlogs/~4/kMgtEn-u3Is" height="1" width="1"/>

  • Treaty tribes dedicate final replacement fishing site

    Terri Hansen
    16 May 2012 | 10:42 am
    The lost fisheries and drowned Celilo Falls are not truly replaceable, though<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/FromTheBlogs/~4/QwvUNxPx_7k" height="1" width="1"/>

  • Strip mining kitty litter

    Jackie Wheeler
    15 May 2012 | 11:48 am
    A cat-loving English teacher ponders the origins of the clay she's been using<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/FromTheBlogs/~4/FMRVFPjL_-4" height="1" width="1"/>

  • Debate over what makes a road rages on in Utah

    Red Lodge
    15 May 2012 | 11:44 am
    The state sues for control and road access in public lands -- for recreation and extraction<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/FromTheBlogs/~4/mYG1KJYPWcM" height="1" width="1"/>

  • Little grousing on the prairie

    Red Lodge
    15 May 2012 | 11:39 am
    As drilling interest in the national grassland grows, few step up to protect it<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/hcn/FromTheBlogs/~4/70qU-Um57f8" height="1" width="1"/>
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    rurritable

  • Fitches, Opossum, Chickens

    coozledad
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:11 pm
    I promised BigHank53 a tutorial on making these syringe pens, but I wasn’t sure if you could make quick field sketches with them. They’re a little tricky with finer work because you’ve got to have some kind of blotter to keep excess ink from ruining the drawing. But I found that with this crude sketch it was handy to be able to use the plunger to distribute ink directly onto the darker areas, and work out of the resulting puddle with the nib. My takeaway from this drawing is the paper was too coarse. A hot press watercolor paper or illustration board would have been a better…

  • Stupid little funeral

    coozledad
    23 Apr 2012 | 12:37 am
    When Moe was starting to fight that cancer, I posted this tune, and she told me she liked it. I posted it because it was the track I would wear out when I was bumming. Punk didn’t come close to this. I know it’s a parable about Nixon, and it’s prog, but they didn’t miss a fucking note. If I were in a band that made this song, it would be enough. When I watched my mother dying of cancer, I initially thought there would be some reconciliation, or some lesson, or some new knowledge of death. But all death does is break your stupid selfishness apart and says “fuck…

  • Four legged chicken

    coozledad
    28 Mar 2012 | 8:30 am
    I grew up doing occasional dog-work out in the country, and watched at least a couple of middle aged farmers bust their hearts trying to stay in agriculture and make a dollar. My older brother drew most of the jobs where he got to hang with some of these hound-faced characters and hear them bitch about blacks all day, principally because he was a highly attentive suckup. In contrast, they generally found some task for me where I could work alone and not break anything. He’d taken a lot more ass-whipping from my father than I ever did, and was subsequently more in his element in any…

  • honte des amphibies

    coozledad
    15 Mar 2012 | 8:00 am
    The frogs are out already, and after seeing types I hadn’t really noticed before yesterday, I decided to take the camera up to the pond to get some shots of them singing. The one I was hoping to get a picture of, a copper colored spheroid with legs that look like leaves, and a transparent sac slung under his jaw for chirp enhancement, was a no show, or more accurately, was farther out in the reeds than I was willing to wade. I did get a shot of this young couple bumping uglies, despite their studied efforts at concealment. It was the gurgling and snorting that gave them away.

  • An early spring.

    coozledad
    8 Mar 2012 | 6:40 pm
    I was outdoors sketching the crow today (unseasonably warm weather, only slightly damp) and watching him grab various items from my pencil box to mangle. The kneadable rubber erasers were a big hit, as was a ziploc bag for a woodless graphite ‘art pencil’. We played tug of war with that for a few minutes (he was insanely happy doing this) until he decided to let me draw him for awhile. I got the impression he understood some of the sketches had something to do with him, even if he wasn’t aware he was the subject. After sitting comparatively still for a few minutes, making…
 
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    Boshemia's Bohemia

  • 7 May 2012 | 4:22 pm

    Ayngel Overson
    7 May 2012 | 4:22 pm
    Merger shakes uranium landscape in Paradox Valley http://ping.fm/LT3a7

  • 7 May 2012 | 10:49 am

    Ayngel Overson
    7 May 2012 | 10:49 am
    Saving the Uranium Drive-In Sign $5 at a time... http://ping.fm/BdMQV

  • 5 May 2012 | 10:00 am

    Ayngel Overson
    5 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Saving the Uranium Drive-In Sign http://ping.fm/S7XJ7

  • 3 May 2012 | 11:54 pm

    Ayngel Overson
    3 May 2012 | 11:54 pm
    The Uranium Drive-In Sign - Past, Present and Future http://ping.fm/M3arT

  • 3 May 2012 | 11:52 pm

    Ayngel Overson
    3 May 2012 | 11:52 pm
    Save The Uranium Drive-In Sign http://ping.fm/8oM6k
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    FishTaxi

  • Boat Crack

    5 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    This guy must be a plumber getting his boat ready to go fishing.

  • Canning Again Soon!

    3 May 2012 | 2:19 am
    On one of my many trips to Valdez this year I picked up my canning equipment.  I'm going to take it down to the Kenai this summer and can Kenai reds.  Its been a while since I have had the opportunity to can salmon.  This picture was taken in 2007.  A Jalapeno fresh pack.  Fresh out of the water & into the can.  Also, these were the famous Copper River Reds.  Kenai reds are almost as good.  But I don't tell the Kenai fisherman that.more pics & full story here

  • New Road

    1 May 2012 | 2:56 am
    There's two seasons in Alaska.  Winter & Road Construction.By the time I get back from summer fishing on the Kenai the road job by my house should be finished.  I won't be around for all the detours, closures & dust.  Oh, darn.

  • New Valdez Blog

    29 Apr 2012 | 9:48 pm
    Living Alaska ProjectLots of pictures of Valdez, the local foods & lifestyle.  The Northern Lights time relapse photos are awesome!  Check it out.  Tell them FishTaxi sent you!

  • Old Tsaina Lodge Phone Booth

    27 Apr 2012 | 1:33 am
    I got a thing about phone booths so whenever I see them I take a pic.  Phone booth in Cold Bay, AlaskaRed Phone Booth
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    Masson's Blog

  • That’s *Chief* Justice Dickson to You!

    Doug
    15 May 2012 | 7:44 pm
    I was pleased to learn that Justice Dickson will take the position of Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. Mostly it’s just good old-fashioned home-town bias. He practice for many years (17 I think I heard) as a general practice lawyer in Lafayette. He had been a Supreme Court Justice for many years before I even became a lawyer. But, I’m told, when he first came to town, he shared office space with Fred Hoffman who founded my law firm. So there is an extremely tenuous connection there. Later, he practiced with some other excellent local lawyers I’ve had the privilege…

  • Rightward Drift

    Doug
    14 May 2012 | 3:15 pm
    Sheila Kennedy has a good post entitled “Looking Backward.” She reminisces about how, in 1980, she won the Republican primary in what had been the Eleventh District and how her loss in the general to Andy Jacobs was typically attributed to her being a bit too much of a Goldwater Republican. She says her governing philosophy hasn’t changed in the last 32 years, but now she’s routinely accused of being a leftist or a socialist. Fred Clark at the Slacktivist also had a good post a few days back about the tribal markers of evangelicals that got me thinking. It occurs to me…

  • Slow posting

    Doug
    14 May 2012 | 6:18 am
    As the weather gets nicer, I find that I care less about Internet stuff. Maybe it’s the cognitive dissonance between the online world of ZOMG the world is in an existential crisis, everything sucks on the one hand and my immediate circumstances being quite pleasant on the other. Maybe once the existential crises come spilling out from the Internet and into my real world I’ll be singing a different tune.

  • Jon Easter on Donnelly and Marriage Equality

    Doug
    11 May 2012 | 6:28 am
    Jon Easter has a good post on Senate candidate Joe Donnelly’s position on marriage equality: Donnelly’s agin’ it. (So is gubernatorial candidate, John Gregg.) For what it’s worth, Libertarian gubernatorial candidate, Rupert of Survivor (blanking on his last name at the moment) is in support. Maybe it’s a way of capturing the middle. And, in any event on this, I expect it’s simply what the various men believe. But, it seems year after year, the GOP does what it can to fire up its base while the Democratic Party does what it can to depress its base. Bold…

  • Romney in High School

    Doug
    10 May 2012 | 6:47 pm
    The Romney in high school story is a little bush league, but I guess if we’re going to worry about Kerry’s swiftboat and how he eats a cheese steak, or Obama’s eating dog or birth certificate or Bush’s DUI and national guard service and generally let horse race and personality coverage displace more boring, work-intensive substantive coverage about how they’d govern if elected then I guess this kind of thing is part of the landscape. My opinion isn’t colored by whether a candidate was or was not a dick in high school. The story is that Romney, in high…
 
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    high hopes gardens

  • May 12, 2012 – Who’s on First?

    highhopesgardens
    12 May 2012 | 8:44 pm
    Today was Martin’s first speech competition. The category is Duo Interpretation. He and a classmate did a reprise of Abbot and Costello’s “Who’s on First.”

  • May 9, 2012 – Big Gardening Day on the Farm

    highhopesgardens
    9 May 2012 | 10:07 pm
    It was a great “getting things done on the farm day.” It was the first day that Linda and Claire were home all day, so the garden and other things were transformed. First, Claire volunteered to clean out winter from the hen house. About five overflowing loader buckets (liberally soaked with water to aid the composting process) and the hen house was ready for fresh bedding, and next year’s compost is on the way. Many plants and seeds and mulch found their way into the garden as well. We got the recycled lumber tarps out of the barn, Linda planted a bunch of peppers and…

  • April 30, 2012 – Emma at World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute

    highhopesgardens
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:41 pm
    Emma was selected to attend the Iowa Youth Institute sponsored by the World Food Prize.  She worked diligently on a paper regarding water security in Jordan. Here’s a link to the story for more details. Many luminaries attended,including the President of Iowa State, CEO of Pioneer, and Governor Branstad.  Most everyone except the Governor stayed on course in addressing the youth except the Governor couldn’t help but make his pitch for Lean Textured Beef whatever.

  • April 29, 2012 – The Prom Goes on Forever…

    highhopesgardens
    29 Apr 2012 | 9:28 pm
    It’s a tradition in Marshalltown to have a band concert the day after prom. On the downside, the kids are wiped out after staying up through the after-prom party.  On the upside, everyone gets to wear their prom gear for another formal event!

  • April 28, 2012 – Prom Night

    highhopesgardens
    28 Apr 2012 | 9:10 pm
    It’s prom night. Here’s Emma and Tyler before prom at dinner. Emma with all her peeps just before heading off to prom.
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    Blog for Rural America

  • Trust Me

    Paul Mansoor
    1 May 2012 | 4:09 pm
    Want to make money? I’ve got a great investment opportunity for you! Don’t worry about the details--just give me your money and you’ll profit. Ignore the fact that 97% of financial investors disagree with my plan. My intuition tells me that this is a safe bet. Most rational people would hesitate to trust me with their money, at least without evidence. Skeptics would challenge: “Why should we trust you?” Randomly put 100 climate scientists in a room, and 97 would say that humans affect Earth’s temperature. Out of that hundred only three disagree. Now, honest…

  • EPA on Fracking

    Paul Mansoor
    25 Apr 2012 | 2:48 pm
    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new fracking regulations. This directly impacts the health of those living near fracking sites, many of whom are rural residents. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method to harvest natural gas. Chemicals are shot underground to break up rocks, releasing embedded gas. Residents living near fracking sites have reported polluted groundwater and other health dangers. The new regulations target air pollution. Specifically, when the underground gas rises to the Earth’s surface, it tends to “flare” up before being…

  • Taxes, Wind-Energy, and the Power Company

    Paul Mansoor
    12 Apr 2012 | 3:33 pm
    Thank goodness tax-season is nearly over. Every year my jaw tightens and fists clench as I sift through documents and forms. Tax-time is not my best-time. Sometimes I’m tempted to hand over the keys to someone else, and just trust that they will act in my best interest. But that’s a fantasy. No one will value my money or time as much as I do, and deep-down I know I should remain vigilant. Why trust someone else with something so important? Yet we do that every day with our utilities. We hear the power company say “Trust us, we know what we’re doing,” and we…

  • Did Climate Change Drink My Apple Cider?

    Brian Depew
    11 Apr 2012 | 1:17 pm
    I bought a cider press at an auction last week. I am really excited to make apple cider this fall. The last two years, I had a bumper crop of apples. That sounds like gallons and gallons of cider to me. But after last night, I am wondering if I should put the cider press back up for sale. You see, my apple trees were in full bloom before the end of March when temperatures hit 90 degrees. Then it dipped to 27 degrees last night. A handy chart I found warns that fruit loss begins at 28 degrees, and if it hits 25 degrees, a near total loss occurs. A lot of people are talking about the strange…

  • Efficiency Gains

    Paul Mansoor
    9 Apr 2012 | 1:49 pm
    Energy is on everyone’s mind, from politicians to our neighbors, but we are not helpless! The uncertain economy is a perfect time for you to evaluate your own energy use--and find the savings. Andrew Carnegie spent heavily in down economic times. He built new factories and tuned up his company. When the economic depression ended, Carnegie Steel (later renamed U.S. Steel) was stronger and ready to grow. This is a classic lesson of winter preparation leading to a strong spring. We Nebraskans are facing a tough “winter” of our own. High energy prices affect everything, from the…
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    Bringing Home the Bacon

  • Photo Bomb

    Holly Michael, APR
    14 May 2012 | 10:32 pm
    I was trying to take a photo of the black pig to show you its ear notch and I only just noticed the white sow photo bomb.I really think this photo needs a caption. A meme? Any suggestions?

  • Snapshots on the Farm

    Holly Michael, APR
    7 May 2012 | 8:44 pm
    Help me Funk-Out, you're my only hope.

  • Gettin' Funky Wit It

    Holly Michael, APR
    5 May 2012 | 9:45 pm
    I do an unbelievable amount of research for each of my blog posts. And in researching this one, I discovered that my extreme level of non-hipness reaches all the way down to the level of thinking that Will Smith's 1998 rap hit was "Gettin' Funky with it." Also, I thought this was a recent tune. And I almost spelled rap with a W.Na na na na na na na.My extreme whiteness established, I do want to talk about a new miracle product that entered my life recently called Funk-Out. The good people at Funk-Out thought just maybe that a farm wife like me might be dealing with some funk (disclosure…

  • Snapshots on the Farm

    Holly Michael, APR
    29 Apr 2012 | 2:17 pm
    Last night was our spring club pig (pigs for 4-H kids) auction. I am part of the clerking team that takes money and keeps records using a 20-year-old laptop and a dot matrix printer!

  • Thou Shalt Not Mock the Lord's Toilet Cake

    Holly Michael, APR
    23 Apr 2012 | 9:29 pm
    Last Sunday we Presbyterians were celebrating a much-needed gutting and remodeling of our Lyndon Johnson-era church bathrooms. In addition to thanking the volunteers and quoting Matthew 15:17, we dedicated our new facilities to the Lord's doody duty.Do you not yet understand,that whatsoever enters inat the mouth,goes into the belly,and is cast out into the sewer?In celebration of this momentous occasion, a cake was procured. Since I have three children who often spend Sunday mornings running back and forth to the church bathroom, I sit in the back and was able to snap a mobile phone photo of…
 
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    Wisconsin Office of Rural Health - Federal News

  • More States Work To Implement Health Care Law

    mlradtke
    16 May 2012 | 1:20 pm
    Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sebelius announced that Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington will receive more than $181 million in grants to help implement the new health care law. The grants will help states establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges.  (Source: HHS.gov)  [Read article]

  • Health, United States, 2011

    mlradtke
    16 May 2012 | 12:15 pm
    The report series presents an annual look at national trends in health statistics. The report contains a Chartbook that assesses the Nation’s health by presenting trends and current information on selected measures of morbidity, mortality, health care utilization, health risk factors, prevention, health insurance, and personal health care expenditures. This year’s Chartbook includes a Special Feature on Socioeconomic Status and Health. read more

  • Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Reform of Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation

    mlradtke
    16 May 2012 | 11:56 am
    This final rule revises the requirements that hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These changes are an integral part of our efforts to reduce procedural burdens on providers. read more

  • Achieving Better Quality of Care for Low-Income Populations: The Role of Health Insurance and the Medical Home for Reducing Health Inequities

    mlradtke
    16 May 2012 | 11:24 am
    A new analysis of the Commonwealth Fund 2010 Biennial Health Insurance Survey demonstrates that when low-income adults have both health insurance and a medical home, they are less likely to report cost-related access problems, more likely to be up-to-date with preventive screenings, and report greater satisfaction with the quality of their care.  (Source: Commonwealth Fund)  [Read article]

  • HHS Launches New Web-Based Tool To Track Performance Of Nation’s Health Care System

    mlradtke
    16 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius announced the launch of a new web-based tool that will make it easier for all Americans to monitor and measure how the nation’s health care system is performing. The web-based tool, known as the Health System Measurement Project, will allow policymakers, providers, and the public to develop consistent data-driven views of changes in critical U.S. read more
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    ruraltourismmarketing.com

  • Does “Simple and Doable” Mean Internet Marketing is Easy?

    Joanne Steele
    16 May 2012 | 11:28 am
    I have heard from a number of small local business owners confused about what I mean when I say internet marketing is simple and doable. They think that I’m saying that internet marketing is easy! I’m not. Let me explain… Internet marketing is a lot like dieting. Losing weight is simple – you reduce your [...]

  • Don’t Mess with Facebook Rights and Responsibilities!

    Joanne Steele
    8 May 2012 | 12:31 pm
    If you aren’t following Facebook’s terms of service to the letter, you’re risking big consequences. Imagine spending tons of time building up a long friends list only to have it all disappear because you failed to follow the rules! That’s what is happening to a growing number of small local businesses who have used their [...]

  • Bipolar View of the Internet for Small Local Businesses and Rural Tourism.

    Joanne Steele
    1 May 2012 | 1:20 pm
    I discovered this infographic today.  I’ve spent so much blogging time today thinking about it that I decided to share my thoughts, which run in two different tracks for small local business and rural tourism businesses. Created by: Forensic Psychology Track #1. We shouldn’t be trying so hard to multitask. Track #2. We really do [...]

  • A Pinterest Page Example Any Rural Tourism Business Can Copy

    Joanne Steele
    24 Apr 2012 | 11:32 am
    There have been lots of blog posts about how to use Pinterest for business. Although the information in the ones I’ve read was useful, it either referred to large brands, or showed few examples, my recent Pinterest post included. So your questions about the logistics of exactly how a small local business could set up [...]

  • Are You a Rural Tourism Destination? If You Say No, Read On

    Joanne Steele
    17 Apr 2012 | 4:25 pm
    … if you say, “Yes!” this is for you too… It’s the beginning of the travel season in the Western Hemisphere, so the internet is full of predictions for tourism 2012. What about your small town? Do you have a tourism season? Does the idea make you laugh? The fact is that rural tourism is [...]
 
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    Fawnskin Flyer

  • Fawnskin is Electric | GG’s TOT

    GG (Gossip Girl)
    15 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Okay, so this week I am doing the TOT on Tuesday instead of Thursday–mainly because there is a lot of info to get to you and then simply because I can do what I want–which is one of the benefits of being editor-in-chief! Eric of Bear Valley Electric gave me the scoop on the happenings around town. New electrical poles are going in and work will continue in Fawnskin until the end of May which is why the North Shore delays have been making locals grumpy but at least the flagging crews are polite. GG especially likes when they smile and wave. What you need to know is that an…

  • Pretty in Pink | GGs TOT

    GG (Gossip Girl)
    10 May 2012 | 1:33 pm
    Fawnskin is pretty in pink since the cherry blossoms have been making their grand appearance. In some areas, they have already bloomed and changed–but in other locations, such as this one, they are still buzzing with bees as pollination takes place–which might be why you are sneezing. Over at GG’s Grotto I have a lot of apple and pear blossoms. The lilacs have bloomed but are very dark this year. My Aspen buds have finally opened up–and I am hoping we don’t have any freezes until they stabilize since that type of late event can ruin the crop for the year. Postal…

  • Italian Ice – Cooking with Clara

    GG (Gossip Girl)
    8 May 2012 | 7:57 pm
    I haven’t shared a Cooking with Clara in a while but I know it is a favorite and I am outta steam after my travels. Learn more about Cooking with Clara or click the image below to order her book.

  • Pre-Cinco de Mayo | GGs TOT

    GG (Gossip Girl)
    4 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    So, this week’s TOT was preempted by the day trip desert adventures but, as promised, here is the news–although Post Master Mike says not much has been happening around these parts–things are brewing. But first… Jack was still on the nest tree when I returned. Which I personally feel better about because he is sure hard to keep track of when he is out flying around the forest. One of the neighbors got to see one of the adults scoop up a trout for dinner one night on the way to the Post Office while another called in all the dead trout to the unconcerned agencies. The…

  • Treasures in Joshua Tree & Yucca Valley

    GG (Gossip Girl)
    3 May 2012 | 9:40 am
    It has been a while since I did GG’s Day Trip and since I headed down to Joshua Tree this week I thought it might be a nice little break. Don’t worry, check out GG’s TOT tomorrow. Joshua Tree is located in the high desert about 1.5 to 2.0 hours from Big Bear, CA and many locals head down to the desert to escape and enjoy and entirely different environment. In fact, one of my neighbors was at the same spa both days that I was! I mentioned the location to him sometime back and he turned into a regular desert rat, especially when snow storms were predicted. GG tends to like to…
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    THE RURBAN FRINGE

  • What Makes a Community Livable? Part I: Sense of Place

    Jennifer
    8 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    (This is the first of a short-term series of posts in which I explore some shared traits of livable communities … I hope you’ll join in the conversation to share what “livable” means to you!) I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about what makes a neighbourhood or community livable. Is it the physical characteristics? Location? People? Amenities? Walkability? There’s no one right or wrong answer … instead, it tends to be defined at the local level, by those recognizing a unique identity and placing a high value on the processes that affect growth and change to maintain or…

  • Rural Roads Key to Regional Growth

    Jennifer
    24 Apr 2012 | 9:34 am
    Ahhh, spring. A time when a young farmer’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of how he’s going to manoeuvre his machinery down country roads. Or … maybe not. Most folks who live in rural-urban areas are well aware that their roads – designed primarily during the early-to-mid-20th century – are now handling loads and traffic that the original builders could not have imagined. Heavier grain trucks, manure tanks, semi-trailers hauling commodities, as well as rising numbers of non-farm residents who live and work in neighbouring areas, have all increased the demands on local roads. As…

  • ‘Rurban Round Up: Diamond Jubilee Funding, Seeking Rural Fellows, Star Trek PR, Affordable Housing Tools and More

    Jennifer
    17 Apr 2012 | 9:49 am
    Does your community want to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee? Canadian Heritage is making funding available for community celebrations in honour of the Queen’s 60-year-reign. Click here to learn more. The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation’s 2nd National Rural Research Workshop: Policy & Research in Community Investment is May 24th and 25th in Ottawa, Ontario. The conference will focus on the relationships between policy and research as they relate to the practice of rural community investment. Learn more here. Rural Support Partners (RSP) is a social enterprise working in the…
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    Great Plains Communications Blog

  • Grant Spotlight: Cody-Kilgore High School

    GreatPlainsComm
    15 May 2012 | 2:09 pm
      It’s that time of year again!  The time when we share the winners of our annual grant program, which provides up to $20,000 dollars worth of aid to programs from schools in the communities we serve. Our first grant spotlight this year is Cody-Kilgore High School, which received a grant worth over $4,500 dollars from out “Commitment to the Schools” program! The school will purchase two Mobi Mobile Interactive Whiteboards, which turns any whiteboard into an interactive learning center. The system is easily portable meaning that several classrooms will be able to take advantage of…

  • Internet to the Rescue: Last Minute Gifts for Mom

    GreatPlainsComm
    10 May 2012 | 3:27 pm
    Sometimes the days on the calendar simply pass by much faster than expected.   When this happens, it’s common for important dates to simply sneak up on us; no matter how important those dates are.  So if you find yourself with the need to pick up a last minute Mother’s Day gift, we understand. Here are a few helpful websites: Proflowers.com: You can order Mother’s Day flowers up until the Friday before Mother’s Day and select from dozens of options.  It’s practically guaranteed that you will find the right bouquet to make the mom in your life smile!

  • How the Internet Can Help Kids Learn This Summer

    GreatPlainsComm
    3 May 2012 | 2:54 pm
    Summer break is, undoubtedly, one of the best parts of being a kid.  However, many parents worry about what those three months of no-school can do to kids’ academic success due to “learning loss,” which is the loss of knowledge that often occurs when days at the pool replace days inside the classroom. Fortunately, the Internet (brought to you by Great Plains Communications) has some fantastic tools to help kids stay mentally in shape this summer season. Bookswim.com – If your kid has already torn through the collection at the local library, this is a great resource.  For one price,…

  • Congratulations to Our Scholarship Winners!

    GreatPlainsComm
    1 May 2012 | 3:52 pm
      We are big supporters of education in our communities.  As part of that commitment, we give away $20,000 worth of scholarships each year to outstanding students who excel in academics, athletics and charity. If you know one of our fantastic winners, tell them “congratulations”! We’re very proud of them all. 2012 Great Plains Communications Scholarship Recipients: Seth Badle of Hay Springs Michael Bishop of Hayes Center Seth Burge of Grant Savannah Reynolds of Niobrara Spencer Smith of Neligh Austin Widhelm of Dodge Adam Dickey of Imperial Jenna Rifer of Verdigre…

  • The Value of Service – Our Techs Get It

    GreatPlainsComm
    26 Apr 2012 | 1:41 pm
    Here at Great Plains Communications, we take customer service very seriously and feel that it shows in the quality of service that customers receive.  A while ago, we posted about the high level of service provided by our Customer Response Center reps and now we would like to talk a little bit about the techs. Our technicians are great.  They’re helpful, leaders in their communities, friendly and often go above and beyond the call when taking care of our customers. It may sound like corporate bragging, but the data bears it out.  Our customers have time and time again rated our…
 
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    Prepstead Blog

  • Attracting Birds to your Lawn or Garden

    Shawn
    16 May 2012 | 8:07 am
    The birds you attract to your lawn and garden are part of the local ecosystem, and by attracting birds to your lawn and garden you can gain the advantage of these little guys to help on your homestead. Many birds eat different types of insects like mosquitoes, spiders and other insects you might not want [...]

  • Warning Signs of Food Allergies

    Shawn
    15 May 2012 | 11:54 am
    As you may know already, food allergy is an adverse reaction to certain types of food which then creates a response from the immune system. The reaction that the immune system eventually generates will then cause discomfiting symptoms. Luckily I nor any of my family has any know food allergies, although I know some people [...]

  • Country Style Rib Recipe

    Shawn
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Yesterday was Mothers Day, and I hope all had a great one. We invited the family over to come eat some good food and hang out for a bit. We debated about what to cook and decided I would do the ribs on the smoker again. While the other times I had done ribs on [...]

  • Happy Mothers Day

    Shawn
    13 May 2012 | 4:18 pm
    Wanted to wish all the mothers out there a happy mothers day. We just got done with our mothers day dinner and relaxing with the family. Take the day as an opportunity to pay tribute to your mothers and thank them for all their love and support. Mothers day has become commercialized to a great [...]

  • Stopping The Pain Of Toothaches

    Shawn
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Toothaches are very excruciating, some of the worst pain you will ever feel in your life.  Everyone out there at some point, will experience the pain of a toothache, even if you follow proper hygiene, toothaches can happen at anytime.  Although it can be very painful, there are ways to get relief through natural herbal [...]
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