Page 53 - Show Notes News Today

Hiring and retaining top quality talent in workplaces has been more of challenge in recent years due to the worker shortage much of the country has been impacted with. Gail Cruikshank, Talent Director from the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, and Lacey Solheid, Associate Talent Development Partner at Blattner Company, joined me on WJON.

This week we talk to Kelly Kenoyer about updates from the Wilmington Housing Authority, then we talk to Grace Vitaglione about DEQ's latest move against PFAS, and, finally, Ben Schachtman about a bus tour to explore the four-year anniversary of Hurricane Florence.

WJON's Small Town series takes us this time to Gilman, Minnesota. Gilman is a town of 224 people located north of Foley where Highway 25 and County Road 3 intersect in Benton County. I talked with Mary Ostby from the Benton County Historical Society, Gilman City Councilman Andy Schommer and former Gilman City Councilman and longtime Gilman resident Randy Spiczka.

Archery deer hunting season starts Saturday along with rabbit and grouse in Minnesota. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says grouse hunting is huge in Minnesota and there is about 104 thousand bow hunters in the state. Schmitt explains that number has been pretty consistent in the last several years. Bow hunters in 2021 shot 24,400 deer.

An afternoon hunting for fits with The People Gallery.

There are many events in Minnesota involving apples this weekend. Amy Barrett from Explore Minnesota joined me on WJON. She says La Crescent in southeast Minnesota is hosting Applefest which includes arts and crafts, a car show, apple pies, and a parade on Sunday.

The St. Cloud area has a wealth of great bars/restaurants and eating options but each year new restaurant options open up. Today on WJON's 2-Cent Tuesday program listeners had some suggestions on restaurants that either used to be in St. Cloud or have never been here.

The Vikings posted a 23-7 win over Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday in the season opener. The Kirk Cousins to Justin Jefferson combination was on display with Jefferson pulling in 9 catches for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns. Star Tribune Sports Columnist Jim Souhan joined me on WJON.

St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis joined me on WJON for a radio town hall. He discussed work road, the sale of the media center near the new city hall, and the budget for 2023. Kleis says the city did a record amount of road resurfacing and construction projects in 2022 and still have many more planned in 2023.

Gas prices have been on a steady decline in Central Minnesota and throughout the country for the last few months. St. Cloud State Dean, School of Public Affairs and Economics professor King Banaian joined me on WJON. He says the reason for this trend is the demand for gas just isn't there.