South metro news briefs: How to stop the flood of junk mail

Dakota County's Recycling Zone is offering advice for cutting down on unwanted junk mail, considering that over 100 million trees a year are lost producing it and only about 20 percent is recycled.

The 500 million phone directories alone require 1.6 billion pounds of paper.

To remove your name from junk mail lists, officials advise, head for the Direct Marketing Association, a trade association, and register at www.dmachoice.org to remove your name from catalogs, magazines and other unsolicited mail lists.

Consumer credit bureaus can help remove your name from preapproved credit card offers: Visit www.optoutpre screen.com or call toll-free 1-888-567-8688.

To remove your name from lists to receive phone books, visit www.yellowpagesoptout.com.

For smartphone users, apps such as PaperKarma let you take a picture of an unwanted piece of junk mail and yank your name from that list.

The City Council in Shakopee is weighing the possible purchase of two parcels of land near the emerging new intersection at Hwy. 169 and County Road 69.

The state is offering 27.8 acres as a "first right of refusal" before the private market would get involved. The price is about $1 million.

The city could extend Vierling Drive and hold onto the land for future development.

If you'd like to weigh in or find out more, call public works at 952-233-9369.

Savage is advising residents to not just wait for warmer temps to deal with ice dams at the edges of roofs.

"Ice dams have been known to cause major water damage by lifting up the roof's shingles and allowing water to enter the attic," the city said. "The water in the attic may then either run down the exterior wall or leak through the ceiling into the living space.

Snow rakes are a good way to deal with the snow, but there are professionals who can do a better job. "Be sure to get a copy of your professional's workers comp and liability insurance before he or she gets to work," the city says.

The University of Minnesota Extension has information on ice dams at www.extension.umn.edu/environ ment/housing-technology/moisture-management/ice-dams-removing. Savage's building department also can answer questions.

Registration for parks offerings in Prior Lake is now open, and the city is inviting nonresidents to be added to the mailing list for catalogs of activities.

If you're interested, call 952-447-9820. You can check out activities at www.priorlake recreation.com or www.face book.com/CityofPriorLake.