More than 30 buildings, many dating to the 1880s or earlier, had to be torn down or have their front lopped off 20 feet.

Pope Francis called for solidarity the world over to confront the “epochal challenge” posed by the coronavirus pandemic, as Christians celebrated a solitary Easter Sunday, blending the joyful feast day with sorrow over the toll the virus has already taken.

Home is in same row as F. Scott Fitzgerald's former home

COVID cases are surging in Stearns County, in large part due to three meat packing plants in the area. We photograph St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis as he broadcasts his daily COVID-19 update to constituents on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at St. Cloud City Hall in St. Cloud, Minn.

What began in March as a small camp consisting of about a couple dozen homeless adults has now swelled to more than 100 residents in tents. Known as "Camp Quarantine," the fast-growing encampment has raised alarms over the health of the camp residents amid the coronavirus pandemic. Construction crews will begin installing a large metal fence around a homeless camp. Police are also expected to be on site too. The fence is being erected to contain the growth of the sprawling camp, which now has about 100 residents in rows of tents. The camp is located on Met Council property along the light-rail line near E. 28th Street and Hiawatha Avenue.

I understand the above quote completely. Life would be so much simpler if my work was just reviewed by my personal friends and by people whose careers are tied to mine. Sure, they’d point out problems, but they’d do it in a nice way, quietly. They’d understand that any mistakes I made would never have […]

Saturday's 14-race Florida Derby Day card gets under way at 11:30 a.m. from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., and the Grade 1 Derby will feature a full field of 3-year-olds competing for $750,000 and 170 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, now scheduled for Sept. 5 (100 points to the winner, 40 to second, […]

The post Triple Crown News Minute Presented By Kentucky Equine Research: Closer Look At Florida Derby Contenders appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

In this edition of the Triple Crown News Minute, Paulick Report publisher Ray Paulick takes a look at the first division of Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark. The Arkansas Derby is an official points race on the road to the Kentucky Derby that offers a total of 170 points […]

The post Triple Crown News Minute Presented By Kentucky Equine Research: Can Anyone Beat Charlatan? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

By all accounts, the second division of Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., going as the 13th race on the 14-race closing-day program, is much deeper in quality than the first division, which is dominated by the Speightstown colt Charlatan, likely an odds-on favorite. Nadal, who like Charlatan is an […]

The post Triple Crown News Minute Presented By Kentucky Equine Research: Arkansas Derby’s Deeper Division appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Grand Canyon National Park search and rescue personnel are now focusing their search for Robert A. Williams on the Hermit Basin area west of Grand Canyon Village. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-05-29-search.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/grand-canyon-hiker-discovered-deceased-below-north-rim-near-toroweap-valley.htm

Windy conditions on Saturday and Sunday led to moderate growth on the Saffron Fire which is being managed for multiple objectives on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/5jul10_windy_weekend_news.htm

On Wednesday, June 15, Grand Canyon National celebrated the completion of two years of improvements to the Mather Point and Grand Canyon Visitor Center area, and hundreds showed up to join in the celebration. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/2011-06-21_event.htm

Fire crews continue working towards containment of the Grand Fire and estimate the current size at 446 acres with 50 percent containment. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/2012-06-13_grand.htm

Today additional resources arrived to support the Fuller Fire. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/type-2-team-fuller.htm

The Obi Fire, which started on July 21st, is approximately 578 acres. Daytime growth was slower despite active surface fire in downed logs and needle cast and a few instances of single tree torching. The fire continues to move to the north and east displaying moderated fire behavior due to overcast skies and scattered light rain showers. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/obi-fire-grand-canyon-np-nrim-grows-to-578-acres.htm

The Obi Fire, which started on July 21st, is approximately 743 acres. Growth of the fire perimeter today was primarily in the northern and southeastern portion of the fire perimeter. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/obi-fire-nr-grandcanyon-743-acres-20180728.htm

The Obi Fire is approximately 941 acres. Growth today was primarily in the northern and eastern portions of the fire perimeter. Light southwesterly winds throughout the day allowed fire to grow through pine needles and downed logs. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/obi-fire-nr-grandcanyon-941-acres-20180729.htm

The Obi Fire is approximately 1000 acres. Growth today was primarily in the northern and eastern portions of the fire perimeter. Light southwesterly winds throughout the day allowed fire to grow through pine needles and downed logs. Fire behavior was active with single tree torching and surface fire of one to three foot flames where the fire was consuming dead logs. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/obi-fire-on-grand-canyon-national-park-north-rim-grows-to-1000-acres-stina-fire-on-kaibab-national-forest-grows-to-25-acres.htm

Grand Canyon National Park will implement closures of the Cape Royal Road, Cape Final Trail, and Cliff Spring Trail tomorrow August 4th, 2018 at 9:00 pm. This closure is for public and firefighter safety as crews continue to prep the Walhalla Plateau. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/20180803-temporary-road-trail-closures-nr-obi-fire-2270-acres.htm

Grand Canyon National Park has temporarily closed Cape Royal Road. Included in this closure are Cape Final Trail, Cliff Spring Trail, the northern section of the Ken Patrick Trail from Point Imperial to Cape Royal Road, and the southern section of the Ken Patrick Trail from Cape Royal Road to the old Bright Angel Trail. The road to Point Imperial and all other North Rim trails and facilities are open at this time. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/2018-08-05-north-rim-temporary-road-trail-closures-obi-fire-3350-acres.htm

The Obi Fire is estimated at 7,420 acres. Growth today was primarily in the northern and eastern portions of the fire perimeter. Light southwesterly winds combined with dry, unstable air contributed to the fires growth. Fire behavior was active with isolated tree torching and surface fire of two to four foot flames where the fire was consuming dead logs. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/2018-08-07-obi-fire-7420-acres-temporary-road-trail-closures-nr.htm

Grand Canyon National Park has implemented new temporary closures for public and firefighter safety. These include the Swamp Ridge Road, the North Bass Trail, and the Powell Plateau Trail. Fire Point, the Nankoweap Trail, and the Point Imperial Trail remain closed. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/20180810-grca-new-temp-road-trail-closures-obi-fire-8100-acres.htm

Temporary road and trail closures for public and firefighter safety continue at Grand Canyon National Park. These include the Swamp Ridge Road, the North Bass Trail, and the Powell Plateau Trail. Fire Point, the Nankoweap Trail, and the Point Imperial Trail remain closed. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/obi-fire-grows-to-9-921-acres.htm

The Ikes Fire, which started on July 25th, is approximately 25 acres. Fire behavior was active with surface fire of three to five foot flames where the fire was consuming dead logs. The fire is backing and flanking towards the east. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/ikes-fire-on-grand-canyon-national-park-north-rim-grows-to-25-acres.htm

The Ikes Fire, which started on July 25th, is approximately 28 acres. Rain on Wednesday significantly reduced fire behavior, resulting in almost no new fire growth. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/precipitation-temporarily-slows-ikes-fire-growth-on-north-rim-of-grand-canyon-national-park.htm

The Ikes Fire continues to grow despite the minimal amount of moisture received from recent storms. Fire is estimated at 77 acres. Crews continue to prep the perimeter of the planned burn area. Road and Trail closures remain in place. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/ikes-fire-grows-to-58-acres-despite-monsoon-weather-08062019.htm

The Ikes Fire has grown to 85 acres due to warmer, drier weather over the past few days. Over the weekend, Grand Canyon identified 3 lightning caused fires. The Royal Fire, Sinkhole Fire, and Outlet Fire located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park are 100% contained due to full suppression tactics. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/ikes-fire-grows-due-to-warmer-drier-weather-20190812.htm

The 11,000-acre lightning caused wildfire which is located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest became active last week during a wind event that produced wind gusts to 45 mph. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/ikes-fire-grows-helicopters-to-assist-2019-09-26.htm

Lowe’s is delivering $1 million worth of flower baskets to isolating moms and grandmothers in senior homes around the US for Mother’s Day.

The post Lowe‘s Sends Mother’s Day Love to Isolated Seniors With $1 Million in Flower Baskets Delivered From Local Growers appeared first on Good News Network.

Thousands of people have flocked to shopping malls and supermarkets across Adelaide, raising concerns of growing complacency over the coronavirus pandemic.

Commercial thinning in fully-stocked normal Douglas-fir stands of merchantable size is evaluated and compared to the alternatives of leaving stands to grow unthinned or of liquidating them. Comparisons are made in terms of volume production and financial returns.

Diameter growth is seasonal in Douglas-fir, the evergreen tree found in much of western Washington, Oregon, and northern California. Initiation and cessation of diameter growth are both triggered by environmental cues. The tree responds to these cues to improve its chances of growing under favorable conditions. As environmental conditions change, however, land managers want to know how warmer summers and falls may affect diameter growth in Douglas-fir.

Old-growth forests provide unique habitat features and landscape functions compared to younger stands. The goals of many forest management plans in the Pacific Northwest include increasing the area of late-successional and old-growth forests.

An update to one of my early 'one page' demonstrations to bring it up to date using the latest CSS techniques.

A second version of the tabbed pages with a default page open on entry.

A single level dropdown menu aimed at the Safari Mobile browser (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch).

A single level slide down menu aimed at the Safari Mobile browser (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch).

A multi-level flyout menu aimed at the Safari Mobile browser (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch).

A droplist menu with delay action aimed at the Safari Mobile browser (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch).

A flyout list menu with slide action aimed at the Safari Mobile browser (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch).

A flyout set of social network icons with slide action aimed at the Safari Mobile browser (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch).

Using CSS3 to produce an expanding stack of image links, suitable for the iPad etc.

At the end of October, 2019, my photo library contained approximately 60,000 images, mostly taken over the past 20 years. (Of those, nearly 40% are from the past five years.) Comparing the size of my library with those of friends of mine, I’m about average, but still, 60,000 is a big number, and managing that […]

The post Managing your photo library: pruning old growth appeared first on Complete Digital Photography.

SurreyLive has detailed the times and locations the aerobatics team is expected in the county

The quick bread recipe tastes delicious and requires just five ingredients

A 4-year-old Douglas-fir plantation in the western Washington Cascades was monitored for 8 years after fertilization with potassium (K), nitrogen (N), and K+N to determine fertilizer effects on rates of mortality from laminated root rot (LRR) and other causes relative to a nonfertilized control.

Incidence and effects of tree damage by black bear (Ursus americanus altifrontalis) in a 50-year-old, coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) plantation are described. Bears girdled or partially girdled 35 dominant or codominant Douglas-fir trees per acre, but only in that portion of the plantation that had been interplanted at age 4 with red alder (Alnus rubra Bong). No red alder were damaged. Bears damaged Douglas-fir in this stand on at least four occasions between 1929 (planting) and 1991. Fully girdled Douglas-fir (six per acre in 1976) died within 2 to 14 years. Of the 29 per acre partially girdled trees, 17 percent died in the 16 years of observation, compared to 9 percent of nondamaged trees. Crosssectional growth of surviving damaged trees exceeded that of matched, nondamaged trees by about 30 percent at three heights on the bole: 6 ft, 4.5 ft, and immediately above the damaged area. Death of six large Douglas-fir trees per acre reduced live stand volume of this species for about 6 years after bear damage until growth of the remaining trees compensated for the volume lost to mortality. Confirmation of the stimulating effects of bear damage on subsequent tree growth is needed at other locations.

A taper equation and associated tables are presented for red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) trees grown in plantations. The data were gathered from variable-density experimental plantations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Diameter inside bark along the stem was fitted to a variable exponent model form by using generalized nonlinear least squares and a first-order continuous autoregressive process. A number of parameterizations of the exponent were examined in a preliminary analysis, and the most appropriate form was determined. This was achieved by examining alternative models across geographic locations and silvicultural treatments on the basis of their ability to behave well outside the range of the modeling data by using an independent evaluation data set from across the region and a model validation procedure. Incorporating three easily measured tree variables--diameter at breast height, total tree height, and crown ratio--provided the best fit among location and treatment. This taper equation can be used to estimate diameter inside bark anywhere along the stem, inside bark volume of the entire stem to any top height diameter, and merchantable height and volume between any two points along the stem (i.e., individual log volumes). The flexibility of the model allows for accurate volume predictions across a range of operational stand conditions and management activities and is therefore an improvement over previously published red alder volume and taper equations.

Soil disturbance is a visually apparent result of using heavy equipment to harvest trees. Subsequent consequences for growth of remaining trees, however, are variable and seldom quantified. We measured tree growth 7 and 11 years after thinning of trees in four stands of coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb. Franco)) where soil disturbance was limited by using planned skid trails, usually on dry soils. The three younger stands had responded to nitrogen fertilizer in the 4 years before thinning, but only one stand showed continued response in the subsequent 7- or 11-year period after thinning. The most consistent pattern observed was greater growth of residual trees located next to skid trails. The older stand also showed greater growth in trees located next to skid trails, whereas tillage of skid trails failed to benefit growth of nearby residual trees for the first 7 years after tillage. We conclude that traffic that compacted soil only on one side of residual trees did not reduce growth of nearby trees.