Recently on the Thursday morning show we talked with ICC provost Bart Johnson as well as Coordinator for the Career Pathways Team Claire Peterlin and Ben Daigle from Swan Machine in Grand Rapids.  We heard more out about the cool opportunities for students that lead to an increased workforce locally. 

Starting August 1st, 2019 the State of Minnesota will be Hands-free. 

What does that mean? Simply put, you may not hold your phone in your hand.

Also, a driver may not use their phone at any time for video calling, video live-streaming, Snapchat, gaming, looking at video or photos stored on the phone, using non-navigation apps, reading texts and scrolling or typing on the phone.

In Minnesota we have a serious shortage of people with skills to work in certain areas of our economy.  The shortage of workers is most critical in advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services, information technology, early childhood education, and transportation.

In 2017, the MN legislature put up a million dollars for a pilot program that offered workforce development scholarships of 25 hundred dollars to attract students into these careers.

It's our Summer VIP Membership Drive and VIP means many different things.  If you pledge at our $10/month level you'll get a VI-pop-socket.  Keep yourself out of jail and sport the popsocket and dash mount to comply with MN's August 1st law of hands-free driving. 

This month for On the House local real estate agent Jesse Davis brought in David Lick from Itasca Waters.  We talked about how Itasca County has an abundance of clean water - but it's a resource we often take for granted, and may not be there forever. 

Itasca Waters has an interesting program that David tells us about - their Itasca County Shoreland Advisors Program. 

This week Marshall reports on Tower City Finance issues that are continuing to be unearthed since the suspension of the Tower City Clerk/Treasurer.  This time the LCCMR grant Tower received is in jeopardy.  We'll also hear about Lamppa Manufacturing and their new facility that could mean much economic growth to the region - it's back on track finally after contracts have been signed.  Somewhat good news for Zup's Groceries which burned down last year in Cook, MN will have a temporary store opened soon.

Program 70  "The Future is Secure": Making Groundwood Paper

A radio series produced by historian Don Boese.   Don is the author of eight books dealing with local history in Itasca County, including "John C. Greenway and the Opening of the Western Mesabi", and the main source for this series,  "Papermakers: the Blandin Paper Company and Grand Rapids, Minnesota".

Eric Haugen began playing the cello at the age of three.  He's now completed undergraduate studies in cello performance and is in the process of completing his master's degree in cello performance.  He grew up in Bemidji and is back in town for a couple of weeks. We caught up with him on the morning show where he told us about his path as a musician, what he's up to now and what's in his future.  

This morning we welcomed Ryan Martinson and Sarah James from the Grand Rapids Players summer theater camp.  For over a month they've been learning theater and prepping for this weekend's performances of Mary Poppins Jr. and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  Performances are Friday (7/12) at 6:30pm and Saturday (7/13) at 2pm at the Reif Center.