City parks look terrific

Soaring high: Red Wing Public Works crews and plenty of green-thumb volunteers have made local parks showplaces.

After a slow start because of some cool weather and then no rain, the flowerbeds, shrubs and grass are in fine condition. Ball fields appear fairly well maintained. Trails look good. Playgrounds are clean.

Of special note are Colvill Park's Discovery Garden and the Central Park Band Shell's landscaping ... and just in time for River City Days.

Soaring high: Congratulations to Miss Red Wing and her princesses.

Cammy Nelson, the city's ambassador queen, and Chelsie Hinrichs and Amanda Faas have a busy year ahead of them. Traveling across the region, they have the responsibility to represent this community with poise, maturity and enthusiasm.

No doubt they will learn things about themselves, one another and their community along the way. We wish them all the best.

Rough landing: Citizens and civic leaders may not be taking the Goodhue County's hazard mitigation plan seriously enough, judging by the fact only a few people showed up for Thursday night's initial public hearing.

Township residents should be especially vigilant as the county updates the five-year plan required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Why? Because at least one town board shirked its duty in 2004, leaving residents without certain federal safety nets. Fortunately, no tornado, flood or manmade tragedy struck that township.

Imagine what would have happened had residents of Vasa and Featherstone townships been without recourse after the 2008 tornado.

Goodhue County's plan to reduce or eliminate the loss of life and property damage is important. The next public input meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 27 in the Zumbrota City Hall. Be there — or make certain someone from your city or township is.

Tags: soaring high, river city days, miss red wing, goodhue county hazard mitigation plan, opinion, editorials, parks