Pioneer PINE CITY
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015
VOL. 130 NO. 34 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
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New, expanding businesses mean jobs in city BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
Broekema Beltway’s Pine City location is doubling the size of its facility and planning to add 10 employees within a year – and is just one of a number of businesses either starting up, expanding or upgrading in recent months across the Pine City area. INDUSTRIAL PARK: BROEKEMA BELTWAY Broekema Beltway General Manager Jeff Eilers said the German-owned agricultural beltway manufacturer’s expansion has been in the works for about a year, and now they’re ready to see dirt flying at their location in the Pine City
Industrial Park north of downtown. “We’re doing this because we’re anticipating some growth over the next couple of years and our ownership group was farsighted enough to add on to our building,” Eilers said. “We’re actually doubling the footprint of our working facility, and it’ll be used for storage and new machinery.” With a newly expanded facility will come the need for new workers. Broekema currently employs about 35 full time and many more part-time positions. “Our one year plan is to add 10 new jobs – two supervisory and eight hourly,” Eilers said. “And then the five year plan SEE BUSINESS, PAGE 11
MIKE GAINOR | THE PIONEER
Contractors, Broekema Beltway employees and Pine City officials helped dig in as the company marked the beginning of their expansion project.
I-35 road work begins Sept. 8 STAFF REPORT NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
Drivers heading north of Pine City on Interstate 35 should prepare for construction and slowdowns this fall. MnDOT reports that a resurfacing project on I-35 near Hinckley will begin Tuesday, Sept. 8. Lanes will be closed in both directions during the daytime, and drivers should expect delays. The Highway 48 interchange ramps will close for one day at a time, dates to be determined. Motorists will be detoured on Highway 23 interchange ramps and County Road 61. No part of the detour is on gravel surface. The project includes the area from one mile south of Hinckley to 1.5 miles north of Hinckley. The project is expected to be completed by Oct. 9. According to MnDOT, the finished project will provide a smoother road surface for 3.85 miles of freeway pavement and the ramps at Highway 48 and improved safety for motorists. The estimated cost of the project is $1.5 million To learn more visit the project website at www.dot.state.mn.us/ d1/projects/I-35Hinckley/
PHOTO PROVIDED
Pine County 4-H kids explore aquatic robotics
What do you get when you mix water, robots and kids? The new Pine County 4-H Aquatic Explorers Robotics Team, that’s what. Youth from across the county met on Aug. 6-7 to design and build a remote-operated vehicle and learn about aquatic invasive species threatening local waters. Working together with University of Minnesota Extension Educators, the group created a plan of action to assist in the early detection and education of Aquatic Invasive Species. A key part of their plan is to start using their remote operated vehicle to monitor local rivers, lakes and streams. The aquatic robotics project is part of Extension 4-H’s effort to develop the next generation of scien-
tists, engineers and technology leaders in Minnesota. “We want kids to get excited about science and the environment while making a difference in their community,” said 4-H Program Coordinator Lorelei Finley. The 4-H aquatic robotics project is made possible through partnerships. Program funding is provided through the support of Pine County Aquatic Invasive Species funds and the Pokegama Lake Association. To get involved or learn more contact the University of Minnesota Extension at 320-591-1650 or www.4-h. umn.edu.
CONSTRUCTION AHEAD Where: I-35 near Hinckley Project start: Sept. 8 For drivers: Daytime lane closures in both directions. Expect delays. Ramps closed: Highway 48 ramps will close for one day, date TBD. Total span: One mile south of Hinckley to 1.5 miles north of Hinckley – 3.85 miles total. Project end: Oct. 9 Project Cost: $1.5 million
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