Anoka County is stepping up to honor its lifesavers, as it announces April 14-20 to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, celebrating the dedication of those at the emergency communications center, which hits a milestone 50th anniversary this year, as per official county statements.
The county isn't just paying tribute, it's also tackling environmental issues, rallying the community for the Mighty Mississippi River Cleanup events with three dates laid out for eco-warriors; April 22 at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, April 24 at Riverfront Regional Park in Fridley, and April 27 at Mississippi West Regional Park in Ramsey, each event promising to scrub the riverbanks clean of trash and this initiative is just one click away for volunteers interested in mucking in.
The need to stay sharp during disasters is at the heart of the county's concern too, marking April 8-12 as Severe Weather Awareness Week with plans firmly set for two tornado drills on April 11, in a push to get residents prepped for nature's unpredictability, info which can be easily accessed on the county's website.
Infrastructure updates are in full swing, with Anoka County approving a joint power deal to bring University Ave's traffic signals into the 21st century at last and, not just there, but also improvements are afoot at Hodgson Road and County Road J/Ash Street with new roundabouts aimed to make the drive smoother and safer for the folks of Lino Lakes and Shoreview, plus there's another roundabout in the works for the folks at Viking Boulevard.
Over in Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, the bridge and trail are getting a facelift courtesy of Sunram Construction Inc., looking to wrap up the end of 2024, while a more somber note is struck as a local group spearheads a memorial for two Vietnam War heroes in Cedar Creek Conservation Area, turning memory into monument.
