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Frozen pipes plague Fillmore County residents By A ngie Rodenburg angie@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Cindy Gallea runs a dog sled team near Wykoff, Minn. in preparation for the 2014 Iditarod which begins March 1st. Photo by Barb Jeffers
Cindy Gallea to compete th in 12 Iditarod By Barb Jeffers barb@fillmorecountyjournal.com
While some people in this area complain about the cold and the snow of winter, there are others whose passion depends on such conditions. Cindy Gallea of Wykoff, Minn. has a passion for dog sled racing or “mushing” and the snow we now have in Fillmore County helps her keep her dogs training and preparing for races such as the wellknow Iditarod that begins this year on March 1, 2014. This will be Gallea’s 12th Iditarod and the preparation for such an important and grueling race is constant, difficult,
and complicated. Being prepared for the Iditarod does not start shortly before the race. It takes year-round training and planning. Cindy Gallea graduated with a B.S. in Nursing in 1973 from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. followed by earning her Masters Degree in Nursing from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1990. In 1990 Gallea moved to Montana where she was able to train her dogs with ease due to favorable conditions. In 2010 she moved back to Minnesota to be closer to her parents who live in Gaylord, Minn. Gallea stated, “I couldn’t leave my dogs behind”, so she
and the dogs found their new home near Wykoff where Gallea operates Snowcrest Racing Sled Dogs. Gallea has been mushing for 27 years and completed her first Iditarod at age 47. The time spent training the dogs is a huge time commitment and the cost can be staggering. Gallea approximates she spends from 18 to 24 hours a week on training runs. This increases to as much as 35 to 40 hours a week at the peak of training. This is in addition to dog care, food preparation, planSee IDITAROD Page 3
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Fillmore County has been plagued by a brutally cold winter. It’s the kind of cold that takes your breath away and makes you want to stay at home under a pile of blankets. However, the issues that the subzero temperatures cause have made their way indoors for many Fillmore County residents. Homes all across the county have been experiencing frozen pipes and sewers. Matt Swenson, owner of STS Plumbing and Heating in Mabel, Minn. said, “We’ve had more calls about frozen pipes this winter than we’ve had in the last 10 years combined.” Even Fillmore Central High School had a pipe burst in back of the school. The City of Lanesboro has received 20 phone calls in the past two weeks from residents with
frozen pipes. “The calls started with a cluster of four houses and the problem spiderwebbed out from there,” said City Administrator David Todd. “In the past it (frozen pipes) has not been an issue that is pervasive, but due to the cold temps and harsh winter it has become a problem.” This issue has kept the Lanesboro Public Utilities employees and Streets and Parks Department very busy; receiving phone calls at home and taking time outside of normal hours to assist residents. A common theme across the county. The City of Lanesboro has purchased huge quantities of hoses to aid residents with frozen pipes; hooking up homes with water to those without. The residents helping those without water will not see any charge for that water on their own bill. Though some See FROZEN Page 13
DMC tourist ideas welcomed from Whalan residents Clinic in Rochester, Minn.—is moving ahead. Mayo officials steve@fillmorecountyjournal.com are currently in the process of The temperature was still soliciting input from the towns firmly stuck below zero, where of southeast Minnesota, includit seems to have stubbornly ing Whalan and the eight other been for weeks, last Monday towns that comprise the Trail night, February 10, when the Town partnership. Whalan City Council gathered What do they want to know? for its monthly meeting, but no How to encourage Mayo clients water problems or frozen pipes to visit Bluff Country when they were on the agenda. “Knock on find themselves in Rochester for wood,” said Mayor Larry John- Mayo Clinic appointments. son. “We hope that continues as “They want us to give them ideas,” explained Trail Town we move towards spring.” The Trail Towns Committee Committee member Char Johnreported that the Destination son. “They will not be coming Medical Center (DMC) projSee WHALAN Page 7 ect—an initiative of the Mayo By Steve H arris