International Falls Journal - Road not connected to Boise profitability - Comments

Seems like there are 5 kinds

Anton1965 — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:11:19 -0500

Seems like there are 5 kinds of people on this burner road issue. First, there are those that are on the "other" side of the fence. Secondly, there are those who are on the same side of the fence I am on. Thirdly, there are those who don't sit on fences as they may fall off and be on the wrong side of the fence. Fourth, there are those who don't care one way or the other about any fences. Lastly, there are those who can't even spell fence or don't know what one looks like. Now it seems, to me at least, that folks should sit on one side or the other so that every one can see. That way, even if there consistently wrong, everyone will at least know where there coming from and can consistently depend on which way they are going. Which side of the fence are you sitting on?

Just remember, Boise has the

roj2000 — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:04:42 -0500

Just remember, Boise has the power (like little children when they get mad), to pack up everything and head out of town. I see that happening within 10 years, then what will the town do? I think y'all should start getting a contigency plan in place, for the inevitable!! The town is slowly drying up, and it's time to start planning on a future without Boise. You need to look at what resources you have available and figure out a plan. I think the Falls should become a place like Aspen or Vail, Colorado. A place where the rich (successful) and famous can come and call it "home". Think of it, they would pump millions into the economy, and many of the locals could make a living off the "rich and famous". After all, it looks as though ONLY the rich can afford to buy ANY land withing 10 miles of Rainy lake!! The Park screwed that up, so why not exploit whatever the park and the rich (successful) people from MSP or wherever bring to the area. When I retire in a few years I'm going to be able to come up there to visit now and then, so I guess I don't have a dog in this fight, but I hate to see the town just become another northern ghost town, or tourist trap. Look at your resorts. They are slowly fading away, instead of getting bigger and better to attract the people with money. The resorts have become just another place for the "local" weekend drunks to hang out. I have to go, but think about what I said, do something NOW, before it's too late.

GOOD POINTS...WELL TAKEN!

GOPHER60 — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:40:09 -0500

GOOD POINTS...WELL TAKEN!

That hand don't play to

Anton1965 — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 23:11:40 -0500

That hand don't play to well. I think I have a better hand and think I will call. It is not a safety issue as I have good reason to know that there is not the truck traffic on burner road as you would be made to believe. In fact, I have been watching the road day and nite for the last three days and nights and there is not much traffic at all. There is not the movement across the road by Boise either. I also checked the state traffic code and Boise would be in violation on at least two counts for transporting pole length logs across the road ie. overwidth load and unflagged overwidth load or extension beyond the vehicle. Also the vehicular traffic has the "right of way". Now rumor has it, I like rumors, Boise knows there maybe a problem in the future with moving wood across the burner road and definately does not want to be forced to move the wood "back" to the former wood storage yard. I been thinking of something else too. What kind of people are they that can look you in the face and ask you for something for nothing and actually think you are going to "give it to them? I mean, do they have so little regard for your self respect that they actually think you are really going to give it to them because we are so stupid as to think they can make us believe something that to date is not the truth? I think I will go to one of the car dealers and ask them for a free car as mine is not safe to drive and they will be safer on the streets if they "give" me a new one. Then I will ask the grocery store to "give" me some food. What is this? No, the company requested a 2500 foot road without compensation and the residents voted as the city council has provided and have voted no. I might add many who have voted no are the same folks that voted for the current council and mayor. Had a serious effort been made the vote would have been a couple thousand against this "grab" City council the people have spoken and the answer is no, or at least no under the current offer. Its about time that company became a "partner" with this community not its dictator.

O.K. let's put the cards on

GOPHER60 — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 10:32:16 -0500

O.K. let's put the cards on the table! i say that the burner road should be EXCHANGED for a new road that would come out at rainier, extended from hwy. 332. BOISE'S boundaries should be 12th. st on the south, 2nd. ave on the west, 2nd bridge on the on the east and the river on the north. whether we like it or not this issue is a SAFETY issue. this would make jamison and french additions quiet residental living areas that would be only entered from the east. it would also direct tourist traffic directly into town via hwy 53. traffic going up to island view would take 12th. st and also residents of jamison and french additions the new road. an agreement between BOISE and the STATE to finance and construct the new road would have to be in place prior to any agreement being signed in my opinion.we can't please all of the people all of the time but there should be room for compromise. let's start growing instead of remaining stagnate..

I was very specific --

Thomas L. Johnson — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:25:32 -0500

I was very specific -- eleventh street in. I start seeing old and ugly at the empty space where the Red Owl stood, at the empty Holiday Station, at the empty former used car lot. I think that many of the business from Chocolate Moose to 11th Street including the Outback? [hidden off the road] are nicely put together and well maintained. But an ugly core city hurts whether we are talking about International Falls or Minneapolis. That's all I meant.

Thomas L. Johnson, I am very

six-shooter — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:58:55 -0500

Thomas L. Johnson, I am very surprised at your commments at how unattractive the drive into town is from the south end. You obviously have missed all the motels that are have no-vacancey signs the resturants whose parking lots are full and the gas stations that have one line-up after another who are getting more than frozen minnows. On like you these people are enjoying what this town has to offer them. I have used restrooms in gas stations in my travels that are cleaner than a eating establishment that has that great come on in look. In the forty years of driving and using the Burner Road I have yet to even come close to an accident. I have had more near misses on Main Street since they changed that. Oh, and if I see you this summer on the seedy side of town I will surely ask you why you have crossed the tracks and am glad to see you. Surely you will be at the all class reunion representing class of '65 as I will be.

you got it jill t the smell

the falls is home — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:49:55 -0500

you got it jill t the smell ment no one in our house would be going hungry that night

I worked at Boise for many

sker — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:54:36 -0500

I worked at Boise for many years and I agree with others; Boise provides a very nice income. The smell issue has always been connected to money. It was most noticable during strikes at the Mill-no smell--no money!! If the burner road is traded to Boise for land to build a new road, I hope there is enough land available alongside the road to make a park. This park could then contain "Rocky and Bullwinkle" along with "Smokey", the Chamber of Commerce HQ.-(they are so far out of touch with the locals, they might just as well move to the outskirts of town) and just a little space for a statute of Mayor Mason so she gets all the glory she is looking for!

KUDOS Jill-t Boise put food

Tammy Hoffman — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:31:54 -0500

KUDOS Jill-t

Boise put food on the table when I was growing up and clothes on my back. There was also a horrible odor...dad would remind me, "that is the SMELL of money."

Amen Jill.

MamaG — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:14:57 -0500

Amen Jill.

FIX YOUR

MamaG — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:07:06 -0500

FIX YOUR AUDIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FYI I hope somebody is

MamaG — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:37:14 -0500

FYI I hope somebody is monitoring this!!! There is a terrible buzz and you can't hear what the people are saying!!!!

Well said Jill-t!

NorthernGirl — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:13:58 -0500

Well said Jill-t!

Anton 1965, I have been

jill-t — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:35:07 -0500

Anton 1965,

I have been reading the journal online for years now and I have finally decided that I need my voice heard. I no longer live in the Falls but I was born and raised there. My father, grand father and great grand father all work or worked in the mill. What is your problem with Boise Cascade? It seems to me that they did just fine, did not die of cancer or any weird diseases and could not walk across the rainy river on the so called sludge. Those that have past on are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery and were lifelong residents of the Falls, the rest still live in town. What is your problem with the Mill, did you not get hired or were you fired and now have a beef with the Cities largest employer. I can remember mill payday every other Thursday when the banks stayed open late to accommodate the pay checks that were given to the hard working men and women who then in turn spend those checks at Super One and Super Value, the Sports shop and Meyers Sports, Menards, K-Mart, the Outdoorsman’s etc… need I go on.
Those of us that know about the Burner road USE IT!!!!! When tourists come to town, if they need to stop they will, if not, they blow through town on their way to Canada or the Lake. What is the big deal? Do you stop in Orr or Cook every time you go through town, are you a little peeved when you have to slow down to 30 miles per hour in Orr or 40 MPH in Cook. DO YOU STOP EVERY TIME? Give it up! The road is going to happen and no one will know the difference. This is not a matter of safety due to falling wood, it is a matter of the large loaders that have to cross the road, and by the way Anton, the mill has been here longer than you and every other person in town and I am sure that you know some one who gets one of those checks that I talked about earlier, and I would even manage to guess that the money earned in the Mill has helped you in some way. If I am way off on this then call me out, if not drop it. All you are doing is spewing hatred toward International Falls’ biggest employer.

Road not connected to Boise profitability

Journal Staff — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:18:10 -0500

To the editor,
In response to Mr. Shannon’s letter: