Tag Archives: auto

Crossing a new bridge

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With the real item behind him, Aerial Lift Bridge Supervisor Ryan Beamer holds one of the miniatures made from worn steel plates removed from the bridge during repairs in this Oct. 16, 2009, file photo. (2009 file, Steve Kuchera / News Tribune)

Ryan Beamer’s job has had a lot of ups and downs in the past 15 years.

Beamer worked his last day on Friday as supervisor of Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge, Zenith City Online reports.

Beamer, who was hired as a bridge operator in 1998, declined an interview request, saying he wants to “fade quietly into the night.” Actually, the Navy veteran is returning to school to finish work toward a nursing degree.

Beamer had been bridge supervisor since 2005. He’ll be replaced by Dave Campbell, recently a master electrician with Sappi Paper Products, according to Zenith City Online.

Show off that bike

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Don’t just rely on neighbors and those you pass on the highway to be the ones to see your motorcycle. Display it.

The Twin Ports Motorcycle Expo and Bike Show is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 18 at Black Bear Casino Resort.

Enter a bike for $10 cash the day of the show and leave enough time open to stay for the whole event. Trophies and tickets to Moondance Jam and Buffalo Valley Fest are up for grabs as prizes.

Don’t have a bike or just don’t want to enter? That’s fine, too. Admission is $3 for anyone interested in attending the event, which will have on-site bike dino and pinstripe tuning. The latest Victory motorcycles will be available for test rides. Superior High School will be auctioning off a bike that two students built. There also will be vendors with accessories, clothing, tattooing and piercing.

Go to twinportsmotorcycleexpo.com or call (218) 348-7625 for more information.

Remind teens to be safe behind the wheel

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The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety is urging parents to remind their children of safe driving habits as the prom season and end of the school year approaches.

April, May and June have combined for the highest percentage of unbelted teen deaths during the past three years. There were 30 teen motor vehicle occupant deaths during those three months the past three years, and 19 of those killed were not buckled up.

“The prom and end of the school year season is an exciting time for teenagers, but it also has proven to be a dangerous period on the road,” said Gordy Pehrson, youth programs coordinator.

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for Minnesota teens.

8 counties, 1 number

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Arrowhead Transit wants us to get the word out that it has consolidated its contact info into one all-encompassing phone number for the eight counties it serves.

That toll-free number is (800) 862-0175. All other numbers have been or will be discontinued.

Arrowhead Transit’s dispatch rarely rests, operating from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Callers during nonbusiness hours have the option to leave a voice message.
Arrowhead Transit’s administration number in St Louis County will continue to be (218) 741-0724.

The eight counties are Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis and Pine.

Is this yours?

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When Ken Carlson got his vehicle stuck in the snow March 9 at the McQuade Public Access north of Duluth, two guys were kind enough to pull him out and up the hill in their red four-wheel-drive pickup truck.

The only problem is that the gentlemen accidentally left their trailer ball head for the tow strap behind on Carlson’s receiver.

If you’re the owner of said trailer ball head, Carlson would like to return it to you. Contact Eh? at (218) 723-5300 or news@duluthnews.com, and we’ll make sure Mr. Carlson gets your information.

Duluth snowstorm stats

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We at Eh? love numbers and stats, and the Department of Public Safety provided us with some about Saturday’s snowstorm. These stats pertain only to the Minnesota State Patrol for the Duluth District and are courtesy of Sgt. Curt S. Mowers.

  • 49 — number of vehicles reported off the road
  • 16 — number of crashes that resulted in property damage
  • 6 — number of miscellaneous assists
  • 3 — number of DWIs
  • 1 — number of injuries from crashes

Program helps get car seats to kids

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A number of kids are safer on the roads, thanks to a program administered by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety.

The program, which began in 1994, has provided 4,591 child car seats to low-income families over the past two years. Families who receive a car seat also receive a demonstration session from a trained child passenger safety technician.

When used correctly, child seats reduce the chance of death by 70 percent for infants younger than 1 year old and by 54 percent for kids ages 1-4. A belt-positioning booster with a lap-and-shoulder seat belt reduces a child’s risk of injury by 59 percent.

The program, working with local partners, distributes car seats at more than 100 locations across Minnesota. It’s paid for with fines from violations of child passenger safety seat laws.

Keep the safe streak going this New Year’s holiday

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The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports that the state has not had any drunken-driving traffic fatalities during the New Year’s holiday for the past four years; a safe holiday next week could make it five in a row.

It’s part of a trend of more people planning ahead for a safe ride home on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, officials said.

Between 2002 and 2007 in Minnesota, the holiday saw 25 traffic deaths (seven involving a drunken driver); 60 serious injuries (26 alcohol-related); and 1,608 DWI arrests.

Since 2007 on the two-day holiday, Minnesota has seen 10 traffic deaths (one involving a drunken driver, but not since 2008); 24 serious injuries (eight alcohol-related) and 1,477 DWI arrests.

“Statistics show more people are doing the right thing by planning ahead for a safe ride home on New Year’s Eve,” Jean Ryan, DPS Office of Traffic Safety impaired driving coordinator, said in a news release. “We hope people make a resolution to continue that behavior throughout all of 2013.”

We do, too.

Whether it’s calling a cab, arranging for a designated driver or using public transportation, make sure you take the necessary steps to stay safe — and keep everyone else safe, too — on Northland roads as we celebrate the arrival of 2013 next week.

One stop, two favors

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The first favor is the kind that happens every day. The second one, not so common. Here’s the story:

Henry and Peggy Lueck were in town this weekend from Wisconsin visiting their daughter. They stopped for gas Sunday evening at the Holiday Station Store at Rice Lake Road and Arrowhead Road, and Henry was having a hard time with the pumps. A nice woman helped him figure out which buttons to push and levers to pull.

That’s favor No. 1. Nice but not all that newsworthy.

Then, according to Peggy, Henry finished pumping gas and went inside to pay. He stepped up to the clerk and learned about favor No. 2: The woman who helped him figure out the pump had also snuck inside and paid for his gas.

Henry and Peggy say thanks, 36 times.

Too late?

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Rev. William Graham spotted the hearse outside of the Shopko in North Branch, Minn., on Nov. 25 and took a picture with his iPhone. (Rev. William Graham / for the News Tribune)

Like a lost verse from an Alanis Morissette song, a hearse was spotted in line recently at a drive-thru pharmacy.

The moment was captured by Rev. William Graham of the College of St. Scholastica. Graham spotted the hearse outside of the Shopko in North Branch, Minn., on Nov. 25 and took a picture with his iPhone.