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Many Rural Post Offices to Stay Open

Many Rural Post Offices to Stay Open

Good news for hundreds of rural Post Offices.

The United States Postal Services says they'll stay open but with shorter hours.

As many 3,700 low revenue post offices had been set to close next week.

That includes this post office in hope, though it's still not clear which post offices will stay open.

The Postmaster General says the new plan will save the agency a half a billion dollars a year.

Extra Seatbelt Enforcement in May

Extra Seatbelt Enforcement in May

Another crackdown, the largest ever, is soon coming to Southeast Minnesota.

Many counties in our area will take part in Minnesota’s upcoming seatbelt enforcement.

On May 21st, extra officers will be patrolling the roads.

More than 400 agencies are participating in this special enforcement wave.

The enforcement will last until June 7th.

A ticket for not buckling up can cost anywhere from $25 to more than $100 with added fees.

A Reason to Run: Tackling my First Hill Run

A Reason to Run: Tackling my First Hill Run

Journal of a Distance Runner (Thursday April 26th 2012)

 

Hill Runs:

Have you ever tried to run up a hill? It’s not as easy as it looks.

At first, you think, “yeah, I can totally do this.”

After a few feet, you suddenly realize how steep you’re actually climbing.

I was surprised last week when my trainer told me to not only run up a 600 meter hill, but do it 7 times.

Let me tell you one things about hill runs, they stink. 

They’re terrible.

But everyone tells me their worth it.

At first I thought, “you guys are crazy. No way in heck can this be worth it.”

I soon realized how beneficial they can be.

Just a few days ago I was handed a map of the marathon route.

On race day I’m set to encounter a handful of nasty looking monoliths of destruction.

My knees are trembling already.

A Reason to Run: Only 37 Training Days Left!

A Reason to Run: Only 37 Training Days Left!

Journal of a Marathon Runner: ( Friday April 20th)

 

After several weeks of training  I finally came to one scary realization, in only 37 days I will have to run 26.2 miles!

Even though I’ve logged over 300 miles so far, it’s still an intimidating task.

26.2 miles, 26.2 miles. WOW!

In my long runs I am currently up to 20 miles each Sunday, but it’s that extra 6.2 that still escapes me.

Surprisingly, 20 miles is the most I’ll run until the race itself!

My trainer has forbidden me from running any further than my training schedule will allow.

For some reason, that baffles me. I was always taught that if you’re doing something you’ve never done before, you should try it out alone first.

That way you know what to expect before you run a race in front of thousands of spectators.

I’m told it will all work out in the end. I hope it does.

KAAL News Reporter Races to Beat Cancer

KAAL News Reporter Races to Beat Cancer

Cancer is a deadly disease that effects millions across the nation. In late 2011 it hit my family.

In November last year, my grandma was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

There was nothing I could do to make things better. In all my life I’ve never felt so helpless.  

That’s why I decided to take a stand.

For the past few months I’ve been training to run my very first marathon attempting to raise money for cancer research.

So far I have met countless people with touching stories of perseverance and survival.

Coming this May I will share these stories as well as my own in a five part series titled “A Reason to Run.”

Stay tuned to ABC 6 News and kaaltv.com for updates on this ongoing series.

 

To join the cause visit this website and make your donation. Every little bit counts in this race to beat cancer!

Laughing Out Loud For Your Health

Laughing Out Loud For Your Health

     Sometimes laughter is the best medicine and that was the case at the Iowa Statehouse.
     Monday was officially proclaimed laugh out loud day in Iowa.
     Governor Branstad signed the proclomation during this jovial ceremony.
     It's part of his plan to makeIiowa the healthiest state in the country.
     We're told laughing raises the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and can improve the immune system.
     Researchers have found that even fake laughter can have a positive effect on your health.

Drug Buy Back Program Working

Drug Buy Back Program Working

A county-wide effort to properly dispose of unwanted perscription drugs is working.

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's office set up a secure storage container and says the eight month old program is proving to be "extremely successful."

The goal is to keep medications out of the wrong hands as well as landfills and waterways.