Crosscurrents Serving the St. Paul District since 1977 January 2013 Vol. 39, No. 1 Dewatering a lock and Page 4

Extreme makeover in store for district website Page 9

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District CROSSCURRENTS

January 2013 | Volume 39, Issue 1 | 2 Contents 3 Comments from the top 4 District works through cold weather to

Joseph Gurin, operations, uses a clevis to complete Lock and Dam 6 dewatering project connect equipment to a crane during dewatering 6 History in the making, Headwaters reservoirs construction at Lock and Dam 6, near Trempealeau, Wis., Jan. 16. were a vision of the first district commander Photo by Kevin Bokay 8 District finds opportunity during drought, completes repair work at lock Crosscurrents is an unofficial publication authorized under the provisions of AR 360-1. It is published monthly for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District. 9 Extreme makeover near for district website Views and opinions expressed in Crosscurrents are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 10 Employee selected as the division Articles and photography submissions are welcome and must arrive by the hard hat of the year recipient 15th day of the publishing month for consideration. Submissions can be mailed or emailed. 11 Corps of Engineers Civil War history Submissions should be in Microsoft Word format for all written copy and photos comes alive with display at district office should be no smaller than a 5 x 7 at 300 dpi. All photographs appearing herein are by the St. Paul District Public Affairs Office unless otherwise accredited. 12 News & notes The mission of Crosscurrents is to support the commander’s internal information Crosscurrents is read program for the St. Paul District and its stakeholders. by tech-savy people like Crosscurrents also serves as the commander’s primary communication tool for Dave Kayser, Army Corps accurately transmitting policies and command philosophy to the St. Paul District of Engineers Information community and its customers. Technology. Photo by Patrick Moes Address all inquiries to: Editor, Crosscurrents U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 180 Fifth Street East; Suite 700 St. Paul, MN 55101-1678 (651) 290-5202 [email protected] ©

District Commander Col. Michael J. Price flickr Facebook YouTube Flickr Public Affairs Chief Shannon Bauer Crosscurrents Editor Patrick Moes Click on a logo to go to the St. Paul District social media page, where you can like us, watch videos about us or see more photos. Contributors George Stringham CROSSCURRENTS

January 2013 | Volume 39, Issue 1 | 3

Comments from the top

Team, Army and its installations, the Corps of future. With respect to all personnel Engineers is also subject to many of cost-saving measures, we will elcome back from the relaxing these same measures. continue to examine our decisions holiday break. As we begin the First, there is an immediate hiring based on whether the decision is Wgloom period, that time when freeze across the Army’s civilian reversible and what the decision the weather turns colder and snowier, workforce. There are waiverable means to our future. please remember to be safe as we positions, but the Chief of Engineers Other cost-saving measures participate in the many outdoor activities remains our approval authority. The include curtailing temporary duty the winter wonderland has to offer guidance is also clear in that minimal assignments, travel, training, and as we drive in less than desirable waivers will be allowed. What this administrative costs and conference Finally, and on a brighter note, it is conditions. means to the district is that we will have attendance. Everything will be winter, and we are finally getting some As we come back and get settled in to clearly define our critical positions. scrutinized. We are also preparing for much needed precipitation. We are this year, we are faced with financial We are looking at every aspect of what sequestration, which may include a Minnesotans, Wisconsinites, Iowans challenges that have caused the we do and determining if those tasks budget cut across all programs. The and North Dakotans; we enjoy the Department of the Army to issue some are mission critical. district leadership is analyzing impacts weather we are given … at least I do. fiscal guidance. This month, I would like The second aspect relating to and developing actionable plans. For us, the cold is not as fun without the to review some of that guidance and personnel is the Army’s guidance to Pending additional guidance, I will snow, so enjoy it while you can and be relate how it will affect all of us. terminate temporary employees and communicate potential impacts to the safe doing it. The Army faces significant budgetary to not extend any term employees district when I hear more. Thanks for all that you do day in and uncertainty for a number of reasons consistent with mission requirements. To The bottom line is that the district will day out. Keep up the great work that and must take some immediate steps date, students (temporary hires) in the manage this crisis. We will continue to has given the St. Paul District a great to reduce its overall expenditures. While Pathways Program are exempt. deliver our world-class solutions; and reputation across the Corps! most of the cost-saving measures Workforce planning has become we will work with and communicate with are occurring throughout the regular extremely complex as we look to the our partners and customers. BUILDING STRONG. CROSSCURRENTS

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District works through cold weather to complete Lock and Dam 6 dewatering project by Kevin Bokay

or the fourth time since it was put LeSeure, Lock and Dam 6 lockmaster. into service in 1936, Lock and “Before dewatering begins, the cranes FDam 6, near Trempealeau, Wis., is at either end set the bulkheads into being dewatered. The lock was closed slots in the concrete, they bulkhead the Dec. 3, and the repairs are scheduled to Tainter valves and check all the seals be completed by March 11. - then the lock can be pumped down. The 13 lock and within the We sink an equipment barge with heavy district are dewatered for maintenance machinery on it to allow access for the on a schedule of every 15 to 20 years. crew.” A district employee monitors work at the Lock and Dam 6 dewatering, near Trempealeau, Wis., The work is scheduled around the During this scheduled maintenance, Jan. 16. The lock is dewatered approximately every 20 years for maintenance. navigation season, so maintenance work includes repairing concrete, Photo by Kevin Bokay takes place during some of the coldest sandblasting and painting the miter weather of the year. At least 35 people gates, and replacing most of the make up the dewatering team; they are bubbler system. The bubbler system drawn from lock and dam personnel, assists in dislodging debris that may maintenance and repair crews and disrupt the operation of the gates. personnel from the dredging team. Workers expect to replace 80 percent Traditionally, temperatures during the of this system with stainless steel tubes operation are seasonably cold with daily that have a longer service life. highs averaging around 30 degrees. Sandblasting of the miter gates takes This is mild compared to the cold place during the night and painting temperatures endured during previous is done during daylight hours. “The dewaterings. When the lock chamber sandblasters can see what they’re doing was dewatered in 1994, workers faced better at night, in low light, and the temperatures from 25 to 35 degrees painters work better during the sunlit below zero. Comparatively, this year’s hours” says Scott Uhl, operations. dewatering took place during very good Uhl said the team is also repairing weather. concrete along the lock chamber walls. “Before maintenance operations The Corps is using a wet-cut system could even begin, the crew removed that minimizes airborne dust and debris. four barges of mussels, sand and This method is more difficult to use in Knute Knutson, operations, operates a crane during work at the Lock and Dam 6 dewatering, near other debris that had accumulated at near-freezing conditions but is more Trempealeau, Wis., Jan. 16. the bottom of the lock,” said Rojean environmentally friendly, he said. Courtesy photo CROSSCURRENTS

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Gate repair also entails removing the because it had bent and deformed diagonals that criss-cross the gates by diagonals. The diagonals are tension heating them with a blow-torch. The bars that normally keep the gate plumb larger diagonals weigh close to 1,000 when stationary and prevent the gate pounds each, while the smaller ones from twisting while in motion. weigh in at about 600 pounds each. Lock and Dam 6 is also the first site in The lower gates are 25 feet high and St. Paul District to deploy a greaseless weigh 92 tons, while the upper gates pintle ball. The pintle is the bottom hinge are 23 feet high and weigh 85 tons point for the gates. The greaseless ball each. Uhl said the team needed to put will require much less resources and in a little extra work on one of the gates, maintenance.

Brandon Olson, operations, works on diagonals for the Lock and Dam 6 lock gates during the dewatering at the Trempealeau, Wis., lock and dam. The project began Dec. 3, 2012. Photo by Kevin Bokay

Kim Wenger, left, operations, and Mike Gunderson, operations, talk in the Lock and Dam 6 District staff begin preparing Lock and Dam 6, near Trempealeau, Wis., for dewatering in December lockhouse during the lock dewatering Jan. 16. 2012. The team is scheduled to be complete with the repairs around March 11. Courtesy photo Courtesy photo CROSSCURRENTS

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The Headwaters reservoirs The Mississippi River Headwaters reservoirs Corps of Engineers construction employees work on the Winnibigoshish Dam, near Deer River, Minn., provide several recreation opportunities for have several public docks and fishing piers in 1884. The Corps received $75,000 in 1880 to begin constructing the dam. outdoor enthusiasts. available for outdoor enthusiasts. File photo File photo File photo

Headwaters reservoirs: many as 41 reservoirs in 1870. The didn’t share the same optimism. Streams, dreams and navigation reservoirs were to be scattered across Brad Johnson, regulatory division the St. Croix, Chippewa, Wisconsin and archaeologist, said the Objibwe Bands by Patrick Moes Part 1 of 3 Mississippi rivers. were often on the losing side of the dam he late 1800s were challenging Brevet Maj. Gen. Goveneur Kemble With surveys completed, Congress construction process. times for people living in the Warren, the district’s first commander, formally asked the Corps to study the According to Jane Carron in her article TMidwest. Flour millers in the was conducting field surveys of the impacts that the reservoir system would “Dams and Damages,” the bands Minneapolis area, as well as boat Mississippi River Headwaters region have on navigation. The study began in opposed the dam construction from the captains on the , in the 1860s. According to Corps 1879. Maj. Charles J. Allen, the fourth very beginning. often had difficulties working on the river reports, engineers quickly realized the district commander, wrote in a Corps The Pillager Band of Objibwe Chief in the late summer months because the importance of the Headwaters region of Engineers Annual Report to the Chief Flatmouth said, “No one that comes river ran dry. to improving river navigation in the Twin of Engineers, “The lakes at the source here and stops for a while can know The need for reliable river Cities. Following the surveys, the Corps of the Mississippi furnish a compact how important this is to us. When our transportation was a growing created several plans to reduce the reservoir system, almost as if laid out by lands were given to us by the Great requirement for the Minneapolis / navigation issues found along the river. an engineer.” Father we could do something, but St. Paul, Minn., area, said Brad After exploring the Headwaters region While the reservoir plans were if these dams are made we will all be Perkl, archaeologist. So much so and additional river basins in welcomed by the millers and navigation destroyed.” that one of the first tasks assigned to and Wisconsin, Warren called for as captains alike, the Native Americans Despite the Objibwe Bands opposition, CROSSCURRENTS

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Congress approved $75,000 in 1880 of their family members worked on the Brainerd, Minn., was the last of the in St. Paul during a prolonged drought for the Corps to begin constructing dams,” he said. dams constructed, and it was the only by more than a foot. “Our boat was Winnibigoshish Lake Dam via the The Dam construction continued in one initially built in concrete. aground and we had no rainfall, and that Rivers and Harbors Act. The Corps of 1882, when the Corps began building According to the Corps’ annual was due to the reservoirs – they raised Engineers announced in 1882, “The more wood-framed dams in the region. reports, the region’s navigation needs the river and we floated off,” he said. Winnibigoshish Dam is the inauguration Leech Lake Dam, Pokegama Dam, Pine continued to increase south of St. Paul While the water release was beneficial to of the reservoir system for the entire River Dam and Big Sandy Lake Dam and the reservoirs were looked at as the navigation in St. Paul, it wasn’t the same country.” The first of six reservoirs to were all completed by 1886. The Big cure for navigation during the summer. further downstream. Bosse said, “I had be completed, the wood-framed dam, Sandy Lake Dam was modified in 1896 During this time, the Corps was also the general opinion of pilots and other also known as Winni, was finished and to contain the only navigation lock at making improves downstream of St. river men that the effect below Lake placed into operation in 1884. any of the Headwaters reservoirs. Paul as part of the four-and-one-half Pepin was hardly noticeable.” Jeff Steere, northern Headwaters Despite completing all the wood- foot channel requirement. Even with the Corps’ best efforts to section supervisor, said, despite their framed dams in the Headwaters The reservoir cure was short-lived. use reservoirs to shield the navigation opposition to the dams, many Native region, the Corps began rebuilding Henry Bosse, district draughtsman and industry from low water events, Perkl Americans helped build them. “We’ve them less than 20 years later with the photographer in the 1880s, testified said the Corps ultimately looked toward had a number of different families come more modern construction material before Congress in 1898 that the locks and dams on the Mississippi River back trying to research and see if one – concrete. The Gull Lake Dam, near reservoirs only helped raise water levels as the best option.

The Gull Lake Dam, near Brainerd, Minn., is the only one of the six Headwaters dams to be initially Trees tower over the Winnibigoshish Lake constructed in concrete. The dam was placed into Pokegama Lake, near Grand Rapids, Minn., during the winter. Recreation Area, near Deer River, Minn. operation 101 years ago in 1912. Photo by Tammy Wick Photo by Patrick Moes Photo by Patrick Moes CROSSCURRENTS

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Maintenance and repair employees place a temporary dam, or cofferdam, on the Lower St. Anthony A barge from the maintenance and repair section in Fountain City, Wis., is used by district staff to Falls Lock and Dam in Minneapolis during repairs Sept. 20, 2012. complete concrete repairs to Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in Minneapolis Sept. 20, 2012. Photo by Shannon Bauer Photo by Shannon Bauer

District finds opportunity during drought, to the Northern States Power, or NSP, at all monolith joints, no water stops completes repair work at Minneapolis lock power plant at an adjacent site in the within the structure were compromised. 1980s. Their next steps included prepping by Shannon Bauer In addition to being highly erodible, the eroded surface for placement, Fall said the geometry of this location replacing reinforcement and then, finally, rought isn’t all bad. Low flows inspection, Corps divers discovered is unique. In order to dewater the placing and curing the concrete. An on the Upper Mississippi the concrete sill in all three of the dam three dam gate bays, he said, staff in-house maintenance and repair crew, DRiver provided the district an gate bays had severe erosion at their from engineering and maintenance specifically Mike Gunderson and Josh opportunity to make concrete repairs monolith joints. “We were concerned, and repair needed to design and Rye, both in operations, completed the at Lower Saint Anthony Falls Lock and because Lower Saint Anthony Falls is build a dewatering box, which they work, which took around six weeks. Dam in Minneapolis. built on a highly erodible foundation,” he did with materials the district already Because the work location was Jacob Fall, engineering and said. “If that were to be compromised, had on hand. “We were trying to be close to the district headquarters, Fall construction, said the district has been there’s a good chance that piping economical,” he said, “and it [the said, it enabled engineering staff the waiting years for river flows low enough could occur in the foundation.” Piping, dewatering box] worked really well.” opportunity to go out and view the to safely divert water at Lower Saint he explained, is when water flows After designing, building and installing work and offer technical advice more Anthony Falls from the dam to the underneath the foundation eroding the the dewatering box, closer inspection often than with other projects. “Working attached facility. foundation’s material. It could result in of the concrete revealed that although together so closely was a great learning He said during the 2005 periodic failure. He added that this happened there was severely eroded concrete experience for both of us,” he said. CROSSCURRENTS

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Extreme makeover near for district website by George Stringham

ith a new year comes a new that it meets their needs and provides look to the district’s web them access to the information they Wpresence. This Corps-wide are seeking. If the information is process started with the Corps of not available, then there is contact Engineers Headquarters’ website in information for the public to reach out December 2011 and continued through to us.” Jan. 31. Nearly 40 websites have The first thing the viewer will notice gone live with the new branding. All on the new home page is a pane of website migrations are scheduled to be rotating stories. In the banner at the top completed by March 31. of the page is a navigation menu that While the home page address will is consistent throughout the website. remain the same (www.mvp.usace.army. In addition to the standard navigation, mil), the migration will result in changed the home page also has three spots, web addresses, or URLs, which means all surrounding the rotating stories, current bookmarks or favorites will no where the user will have direct links This screen capture shows what the new district website will look like. The migration is currently longer work. to commonly accessed pages: “HOT scheduled to be completed the first week on February. The new content management INFO,” above; three web buttons to the Photo by George Stringham system is hosted by the Department of right; and “Quick Links” below. Defense and provides the Corps with Under the new navigation, a large a consistent look and feel; streamlines portion of the district’s information content management to make it easier will be found under the “Missions” to keep pages up-to-date; delivers a dropdown menu at the top of the richer end-user experience that makes page. Here, viewers will find commonly The St. Paul District public use of audio, video and other web viewed pages like regulatory and elements and provides disability access permits; recreation, parks and lock website will migrate the first by compliance with Section 508 of the and dam tours; programs and project Rehabilitation Act. management pages; and emergency week in February. This means “Corps-wide, the effort to standardize management and disaster response. all of your links, bookmarks will our web presence will make it much Other pages of interest can be found easier to access the information the under “About.” Here, the user will find need to be reset. public needs,” said Col. Michael Price, information about the district’s history, St. Paul District commander. “Since leadership and different offices. Under our website is the first access point “Media,” users will find what has to the St. Paul District, it is important traditionally been labeled Public Affairs.

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Engineering and construction employee selected as the division hard hat of the year by Patrick Moes he Mississippi Valley Division project and the lower embankment recently announced Eric Johnson, project. Both contracts, the largest T engineering and construction, as American Recovery and Reinvestment the recipient of its 2012 Construction Act-funded projects in the division, were Hard Hat of the Year Award. valued at nearly $47 million. The division presents the annual award “Eric’s leadership, construction to recognize excellence in construction expertise and superior work ethic quality management by its construction combined for the successful execution field personnel. Johnson was selected of these projects to the highest quality as the recipient over contenders from standards, on-time and within budget,” the entire division. said Tom Johnson, St. Paul District A Winona, Minn., resident, Johnson Eastern Area Office, or EAO, supervisor. was recognized for his actions as “With over 38,000 Corps of Engineer construction representative in the employees, only nine receive this Eric Johnson, engineering and construction, is the Mississippi Valley Division Lock and Dam 3 Project Office in prestigious award.” 2012 Construction Hard Hat of the Year recipient. Red Wing, Minn. While working there, Johnson has worked for the Corps Photo by Patrick Moes he was responsible for contract of Engineers for 25 years. He currently administration and quality management works as a construction control for both the navigation improvement inspector at the EAO in Winona, Minn.

A construction worker removes rock from the Mississippi River during construction at Lock and Eric Johnson, engineering and construction, monitors construction at Lock and Dam 3, near Red Dam 3, near Red Wing, Minn., Jan. 10, 2012. Wing, Minn., Jan. 10, 2012. Photo by Vanessa Hamer Photo by Vanessa Hamer CROSSCURRENTS

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He selected sites for Fort Smith on the survey work. This included a border Arkansas River and Fort St. Anthony, survey with Canada, explorations of the later renamed , at the Great Basin, California, the Colorado confluence of the Minnesota and River Basin and the Transcontinental Mississippi rivers. Railroad Surveys. The link between the topographical The topogs surveyed five possible engineers and the Corps was short routes for the railroad, including the lived. The Topographical Bureau Northern Route, which was conducted was separated from the Office of by then Lt. Gouverneur K. Warren. The Chief Engineer and designated as an route went through Saint Paul, Minn. independent War Department staff The route was eventually built by James organization June 22, 1831. Despite J. Hill’s Great Northern Railroad. Also this separation, direct supervision of during this time, 1849-1850, Lt. John topographical engineers remained G. Parke was assisting in surveying the with the Chief of Engineers. During Iowa and Minnesota territory line. United States Civil War artifacts are currently on display at the St. Paul District Headquarters in St. this period, topographical engineers Paul, Minn. The artifacts were lent to the district by Spencer Johnson. were responsible for civil works Civil War Rick MaGee, operations, arranged for the artifacts to be displayed at the district office. improvements and military functions. Photo by Patrick Moes The two branches were completely Both Union and Confederate armies separated July 5, 1838. The Corps of were unable, or at times, unwilling to Corps of Engineers Civil War history Topographical Engineers was placed furnish the necessary troops to the comes alive with display at district office under the supervision of Chief of the engineers. In spite of these deficiencies, Topographical Bureau. the engineers performed valuable and by Ken Wilk The Secretary of War ordered all diverse services and many officers s we observe the sesquicentennial, had the mission of providing civilian federal government civil engineering became worthy commanders. or the 150th anniversary, of the engineering tasks, such as national projects to be transferred to the Several of the armies had their own AUnited States Civil War, we should border surveys, harbor and river work, Corps of Topographical Engineers engineer departments working in the also remember the U.S. Army Corps highway and railroad surveys and Aug. 1, 1838. Military functions that field during the war. They did research, of Engineers role in the war. The Corps exploration of the western territories. were being performed by the Corps field work, printing and distribution was an integral part of the war and had The Topographical Engineers, of Topographical Engineers were for the armies while they were on the many changes during the conflict. authorized for War Department duty subsequently transferred to the Corps march. The most sophisticated of Prior to 1863, there were two separate March 3, 1813, conducted engineering of Engineers in 1839. these departments was the Army of engineering branches within the U.S. surveys for military purposes and The Topographical Engineers, or the Potomac’s Office for Surveys and Army. The Corps of Engineers had a explored routes for the passage of Topogs, were very active between 1839 Military Defenses. mostly military mission, and they were troops. They reported directly to the and the start of the Civil War. They The Corps of Engineers and the also responsible for building military Chief of Engineers. saw action in the Seminole Wars and Corps of Topographical Engineers were and governmental buildings. The Corps In 1817, Maj. Stephen H. Long Mexican-American War. They were also reunited in 1863 as “an act to promote of Topographical Engineers, however, explored the Upper Mississippi River. doing a lot of exploration, mapping and the efficiency of the Corps of Engineers.” News & notes w & notes

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Editor’s Note Thanks from overseas Do you have news you want to share with the district? Send your announcements “Thank you and our Saint Paul District team for the nice holiday card full of warm of births, weddings, graduations, etc., to Crosscurrents. messages and signatures which arrived in my office a few minutes ago. Letters and [email protected]. envelopes are now beginning to arrive on base. Delivery of packages from the U.S. to Afghanistan has been a priority this past month and letters were reportedly held by Patrick Moes Newcomers back so that all packages could arrive here in time for Christmas. I work at [U.S. Forces] – Afghanistan Headquarters located in Kabul, on a well Jason Brownrigg, administrative assistant, operations, Fountain City, Wis. fortified and protected Base. I am safe and well and looking forward to returning Sharon Garay-Rodriguez, engineer, engineering and construction, Fargo, N.D. home to Donna, White Bear lake, and our district team early this summer.” Dennis Johnson, student, planning, district office. Ken Beck, real estate. Molly Wezel-Peterson, secretary, engineering and construction, district office. “I received a heck of a large Christmas card from y’all there at the district office. THANK YOU !!!! Perked me up. It was totally unexpected, but welcome. Again, Retirements thanks To all.” John A. (Wojo) Wojciechowski, engineering and construction. Ed Eaton, engineer, engineering and construction, district office. Christopher Knotts, biologist, operations, district office. Congratulations Tom Koopmeiners, procurement analyst, small business, district office. Robert Kupietz, striker, operations, Fountain City, Wis. Bryana Sauer, resource management, and her husband welcomed their daughter, Paul Madison, engineer, engineering and construction, district office. Ariana Grace Sauer, to their family Dec. 14, 2012. She was 5 lbs., 9 ozs. Shannon Matthews, library specialist, library, district office. Equal Employment Office to create Broomball helps with team building Black History Month display away from work The district’s equal employment is creating a display at the district office in St. Paul, Minn., to recognize Black History Month. Feel free to stop by and learn about St. Paul District employees the many important contributions African Americans have provided to our nation. finished off another year of broomball at the ice rink in Civil Servant of the Year Award nominations due downtown St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 30. The district had two teams play during the season The Federal Executive Board of Minnesota 36th Annual Federal Civil Servant of the and many employees were able Year Awards Program and Luncheon will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in to get some exercise on the ice St. Paul, Minn., at 11:30 a.m., May 3. while playing with their fellow This program offers public recognition of federal employees who have coworkers. demonstrated outstanding performance. All nominations must be submitted to Photo by Patrick Moes Jamie Engelbretson, (651) 290-5481 or [email protected]., no later than Feb. 28.