• Ice safety tips from a person who pulls trucks from lakes
For many, Minnesota winter means going walking or driving out onto the ice for recreational purposes.
While it might seem safe to be out on the ice, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says that “ice is never 100% safe!”
“I have about five words for ice conditions,” said Gary Thompson, the owner of Tri-State Diving , who recovers everything in the water from a 95,000-pound excavator to wedding rings.
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• Five sisters donate rare, much-needed blood: Red Cross experiencing a critical blood shortage
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
Surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries all contribute to the high need for blood donations across the country.
One donation of blood can save up to three lives.
Right now, the American Red Cross is in a critical need situation for blood donations, according to the organization. Winter is a historically challenging time to collect blood and platelet donations because of holidays, weather and seasonal illnesses. The Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of type O blood, which is in the highest demand.
Five sisters did their part last week to help the crisis situation, potentially saving up to 15 lives.
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• Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, Minn. gets tiger attraction
The roar has been restored at the Lake Superior Zoo, where a new Amur tiger is on display and was formally presented Monday.
The female tiger, Taj, fills a void left in November when 15-year-old Amur tiger Lana was euthanized following months of treatment for liver disease. Taj came to Duluth from the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Ind.
“Everything fell into place; South Bend had too many tigers,” Dave Thompson, director of animal management, said during a news conference. “So, (it was) a little bit of luck, but also a little bit of planning as well.”
Read more from Duluth News Tribune
• Harvesting ice for the Spicer Ice Castle
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The West Central Tribune was there to capture the harvesting of blocks of ice that will make up the Spicer Ice Castle to celebrate Winterfest in Spicer, Minn.
