A Sign of the Times

Observed while driving down Broad Street in New Ulm. A very young girl, maybe under ten years, riding her bicycle down the sidewalk and talking on her cell phone at the same time. They say children mimic parents and I think this is evidence of that. END

Connecting Nicollet County

Nicollet County is looking for 20 inquisitive people. These people will make up the first class of a new leadership program called "Connecting Nicollet County". The class will begin on September 2 and will continue every month through May. If you are a person who wants to learn about leadership, learn about the assets and resources right here in Nicollet County, and can devote one day a month for nine months, we want you!

Each session will highlight one of the communities in Nicollet County: Courtland, Lafayette, North Mankato, Nicollet, St. Peter, Norseland area and St. George area. More than this, skill development sessions will be led by University of Minnesota Extension staff. You will learn about personal leadership, managing conflict, leading effective meetings, visionary leadership, communication skills and working with the media.

The deadline to apply is July 30. Applications are available at all city offices, the Nicollet County government center, or on line. Go to www.connectingnicolletcounty.org to down load an application and read more about it. end

A NEW KIND OF STIMULUS

As awful as the oil spill is, it seems to me that this tragedy has some redeeming side effects. The news is reporting that BP is employing 25,000 workers who are working twenty four-seven. These people are being gainfully employed and the wages they receive is "new" money as opposed to tax payer money. This money is pouring into our economy -just like the oil is pouring into the Gulf. This is creating jobs and it seems like that word is being used a lot by both the President and the Congress. Jobs are a good thing.

This terrible accident is bringing a new kind of stimulus to our economy. Granted, this is not the chosen route, but we have to play the hand we are dealt. A recent newspaper account indicated the amount spent so far is $2.65 billion. Some of these dollars are in the form of payments to businesses who have suffered a loss of income from the disaster.

There has been some speculation that this clean up will bankrupt BP and then we will be left to finish the job. A Channel 4 piece visited with a Metro area attorney who was involved in the Exon Valdez incident. His feeling was that BP will never go bankrupt because they deal in oil - not just in the Gulf, but all over the world. And as long as we have this insatiable appetite for oil, BP will be there doing business and making big bucks.

It is discouraging that the President and our Congress folks do not use this event to advocate for alternative fuels. I do not think President Obama knows how to pronounce Ethanol. end