Hello Everyone!

I started working on the June Agenda and there just wasn't enough to put on the agenda to justify a meeting! There were really only two items to update.

1. We have succeeded in raising the cash necessary to give Bolton & Menk the green light and begin the corridor study. Jake from Region Five in crossing the "I's" and dotting the "T's" on the final contract and expects both sides to ink the deal soon. Thank you to Region Five for getting it done for us!

2. We have to sit on our hands and wait to see how the games play out between the Governor and the Minnesota Legislature. As of right now we do NOT have the necessary language in the Legacy Bill that would fund the DNR Master Plan. Ron Potter, DNR Parks & Trails is confident that we can still get the necessary language included in the Legacy Bill during the special session. The expected cost is approximately $150,000.00 which seems like a "no-brainer" as compared to all the other issues. I have asked Senator Gazelka and Representative Lemieur to look into it. If you bump into them, you might "remind" them how important this is for all of Central Minnesota. If different, you might ask your Senators and Reps to push for this funding as well. Success in funding the Master Plan this year will move us a whole year closer to actually building our trail.

Thanks Again to the following organizations for their contribution to this effort:

Cass, Crow Wing and Morrison Counties, The City of Little Falls, The City of Randal, The Little Falls Chamber of Commerce, The Little Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Randal Area Business Group, The Lincoln Area Business Association, Central Telephone Company, Minnesota Power, Eastern Morrison County 4 Wheeler Club, Brainerd Snodeos, Fort Ripley Trail Busters, Gull Lake Drifters, Baxter Snowmobile Club, and the Bay Lake Sno-Packers.

I am sure I have forgotten someone! Please let me know who that is! I do want to offer a special thanks to Mark Kavanaugh as he stepped up and challenged most all the Clubs to pitch in and help!

See you next month Thursday, July 14th at 5:30 PM at the Camp Ripley Marty Skoglund Environmental Classroom! Please contact me if you need to put something on the agenda.

Thanks! Bob, Committee Chair

The St. Cloud Times featured an article about the proposed extension of the Lake Wobegon Trail into St. Cloud on Friday, February 4th, 2011. The completion of this project would put St. Cloud at the eastern end of an extensive trail system with the Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail at its core. Imagine being able to go from the city of St. Cloud to Fergus Falls or all the way to Cass Lake or Lake Bemidji State Park! Little Falls would receive its share of visitors from all connecting trails. Check out the article here: http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011102040018

 This is a Minnesota DNR news  release from November 24, 2010, I received permission to publish it on this website. Thank you to Steve Carroll, Minnesota DNR public information officer.

In the spotlight again as a leader in outdoor recreation, Minnesota has been named “Best Trails State” in the country. The award, presented to Minnesota by American Trails, recognizes a state which is facilitating an outstanding statewide system of trails.