New Relay For Life total is inVivian Holtz deposited all the money donated for this year’s Relay For Life, and was happy to say that the final total ended up being $55,000.At press time last week, the Star Herald reported the most recent number possible, which was $53,000. Relay For Life organizers had expected somewhere near $35,000, so the grand total was a pleasant surprise.The total gradually increased as last-minute fund-raising proceeds came in to Holtz. This was the biggest year yet for the Rock County Relay For Life. All money raised goes to the American Cancer Society.Writers Series to stay at state parkRecent cut-backs for the state park system had threatened the use of the facility for the Blue Mound Writers Series.According to Ben Vander Kooi, with some minor modifications, the series will be made available for the 10th annual event.Starting July 12, six authors will be featured at the series.Here’s the schedule:July 12th:Brian Bedard, Hour of the Beast, (short stories)July 19th:Verlyn KlinkenborgThe Rural Life, Making Hay (A Rock County story)July 26th:Freya ManfredA Daughter Remembers(memoirs, poems)August 2ndLori SturdenvantA Man’s Reach – (Gov. Elmer L. Anderson)August 9thBart SutterCold Comfort, Book of Names (essays, poetry)August 16thBill HolmEccentric Islands (essays)Hwy 60: one of 199 highway projects2003 will see 199 highway projects either started or completed.The projects are designed to relieve congestion, improve interregional corridors and enhance safety on the state’s 12,000-mile trunk highway system.The projects include 137 in Greater Minnesota and 62 projects in the Twin Cities area.Of the total, 79 of the projects are carried over from last year and 120 are new ones.The new projects will cost an estimated $600 million.The record high level of spending this year is because of a one-time funding allocation by the 2000 Legislature of $459 million.A proposal by Gov. Pawlenty would have invested $1 to 1.2 billion in what he considered critical highway and bridge improvements over the next nine years.One of the major projects that will be completed this year will be a four-lane expansion of Highway 60 from Heron Lake to Wilder.Know your treesIf you don’t know your trees, now is a good time to learn.The National Arbor Day Society has put together the book, "What Tree Is That?"The 72-page guide will help you identify 135 different trees found in the eastern and central U.S.Well-known trees, such as oaks, maples, spruces, and pines are featured along with less known species such as horsechestnut and mockernut hickory, sassafras and shadbush persimmon and pawpaw and pagoda tree and pecan.The book also has dozens of drawings and illustrations of the tree’s leaves or needles and their acorns, berries, seedpods and other identifying features.To obtain the $3 book contact the National Arbor Day Foundation at Nebraska City, NE 68410, or go online to arborday.org.Do you wear your seat belt?State Troopers were taking a hard look at motorists without their seatbelts recently.As part of their "Safe & Sober" campaign state troopers from the Marshall office, gave citations to more than 240 unbuckled motorists during the May 19 thru June 1 campaign.The goal of the campaign was to increase awareness of the use of seatbelts, which is believed to be approximately 80 percent prior to the campaign.In addition to the Minnesota State Patrol, about 400 other law enforcement agencies participated in the campaign.Last year 657 people were killed in Minnesota, the highest death toll in 20 years.Of those killed, 338 were not wearing seat belts.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com
