ELY

Lodge weathers storm with help from guests

Shortly after a powerful storm blew through the historic Burntside Lodge — dropping trees, cutting power and knocking one of the lodge's cabins off its foundation — guests at the Ely-area resort put vacations on hold to help clean up.

"Each and every cabin turned out to help," said lodge owner Lonnie LaMontagne. "New guests, young and old guests. It was heartwarming."

The storm was the worst the lodge had ever seen, according to LaMontagne, who operates the century-old resort with her husband, Lou. It destroyed two Burntside boathouses. The National Weather Service said straight line winds were to blame.

No one was seriously injured, though one set of guests was shaken after a tree fell on their cabin.

After a day of removing and cutting up fallen trees, the guests that evening held a potluck dinner. The next day they were out on the lake.

"They all booked to come back next year," LaMontagne said.

Matt McKinney

Eau Claire, Wis.

Conservation group disputes frac sand report

A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources report on the health hazards of frac sand mining has drawn criticism from conservationists who say it misrepresents the dangers of sand dust.

The report was long anticipated after a petition urged the DNR to more closely study frac sand dust. But when it was released earlier this month, groups such as Midwest Environmental Advocates said the DNR should have looked at particles of dust smaller than 10 microns.

The threat from the 2.5-micron particles "is where they really start to hurt the human body," said Ryan Billingham, a spokesman for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. The DNR report said sand mining or processing does not produce the smaller particles.

Matt McKinney

Sartell

Roundabout construction to cause highway closing

Roundabout construction will close a portion of Stearns County State Aid Hwy. 1 in Sartell for approximately two months starting this week.

The road will be closed between LeSauk Drive and north of Heritage Drive starting Wednesday. Heritage Drive will remain closed at CSAH 1.

Four lanes will be constructed northwest of Trunk Hwy. 15 past Heritage Road and will include a five-legged roundabout at Heritage Drive. A lane will be added along northwest-bound CSAH 1 south of Trunk Hwy. 15, according to a release from the Stearns County Highway Department.

Evergreen Drive will be extended and will become the fifth leg of the roundabout. Separately, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will be constructing dual left turn lanes along TH 15 for northwest-bound traffic at CSAH 1.

Detours will be posted. Local residents will be able to access River Oaks Lane and homes along CSAH 1. All other motorists will be advised to use the detour or alternate routes.

Mark Brunswick