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Today is Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter. With snowfall pounding the Midwest today, the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA), the North American trade association representing snow removal professionals has tips for shoveling snow safely.

"Shoveling snow has a number of health risks associated with it, including the most serious one a heart attack," said Martin B. Tirado, CAE, Executive Director, SIMA. "Other more common health risks include dehydration, back injuries, pulled muscles, broken bones and frostbite. But the good news is there are ways to safely shovel snow,"

Here are SIMA's tips for safe snow shoveling:

TIP #1: Stay on top of the snow. No we aren't suggesting that you make snow angels but when there's a heavy snow, the best advice is to stay ahead of the storm. SIMA recommends that to prevent snow and ice from adhering to the sidewalk or street, clear the snow every few inches instead of waiting for the snow to stop falling before you head outdoors.

TIP #2: Wear breathable layers. Layering is typical cold winter weather advice. We suggest wearing layers of loose clothing so you can peal a layer off if you get hot. Avoid wearing heavy wools, manmade materials or other materials that dont allow perspiration to evaporate. Better choices are cotton and silk.

TIP #3: Watch your feet. No you aren't on Dancing with the Stars, but nonetheless, you need to pay attention to what's on your feet when heading outdoors to shovel snow. SIMA suggests wearing quality outdoor winter wear such as waterproof boots with good traction. Good traction is critical to ensuring that you don't slip and fall.

TIP #4: Take a few minutes to stretch. Shoveling snow is a workout so you need to stretch to warm up your muscles particularly because you are shoveling snow in the cold weather. Stretching before you start shoveling will help prevent injury and fatigue.

TIP #5: Push don't lift. Sounds like something a high school wrestling coach may say but if you push the snow to the side rather than trying to lift the snow to remove it, you exert less energy thereby placing less stress on your body.

TIP #6: Drink up! Water that is. SIMA recommends taking frequent breaks and staying hydrated. You should drink water as if you were enduring a tough workout at the gym or running five miles.

TIP #7: Don't play in traffic. Sometimes people get so focused on the task at hand they don't pay attention to their surroundings. When shoveling snow near streets, pay attention to the traffic since vehicles may not have good traction in the snow and ice.

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Heart attack, back injuries and frostbite among the risks of snow shoveling

Wind Storm Damage at SLHRS Depot 12 30 2014 Tree Removal 1 6 2015
On Dec. 30, 2014 a wind storm hit the Bay Area. The big tree in front of our building in Thrasher Park in San Leandro, was blown down into our Station and th...

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Wind Storm Damage at SLHRS Depot 12 30 2014 Tree Removal 1 6 2015 - Video

Confined Tree Removal
Sectional felling of a Cryptomeria Tree in Palmerston North.

By: Tree Experts

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Confined Tree Removal - Video

Last weeks positive identification of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Keokuk County brings the number of Iowa counties infested with one of the most destructive tree pests ever found in North America to 19.

Boone County was put on the infested list in August when EAB, which kills ash trees and already has killed millions across the Midwest, was positively identified by a federal EAB team in the city of Boone in June.

In Keokuk County, the positive identification of EAB was made by an Iowa EAB Team member who observed an ash tree with evidence of recent woodpecker activity, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). A tree branch was removed and a suspect larva was collected.

Mike Kinter, the IDALS EAB and gypsy moth coordinator, said the Keokuk find is no real surprise considering the other recent discoveries in nearby areas in December.

Like many other finds this winter, woodpecker activity continues to capture our attention of potentially EAB infested trees, said Kinter, who in April spoke to city and Boone County staff and the public about the coming infestation. The winter months are an opportune time to scout for the signs we are looking for, such as light-colored bark areas, or flecking, and feeding holes as a result of woodpeckers searching for EAB larvae to feed on.

The half-inch long metallic green colored beetle kills four species of Iowas ash trees: blue, green, black and white. Experts with the IDALS have said EAB will most likely kill 99 percent of the states ash trees.

Long before the arrival of EAB, the City of Boone began preparations, namely earmarking funds in a five-year plan for tree removal. It also surveyed and cataloged ash trees in the citys rights of way. The citys parks department has completed its cataloging and has already begun removing ash trees with a girth of 18 inches or less. The removal of larger diameter trees, many with a 50-inch diameter, will be bid out to contractors. There are an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 ash trees in the citys rights of way.

Classified as a Tree City U.S.A. for 27 years, Boone has created an inventory of its trees. The inventory was converted to a GIS system, which shows the location of species in city rights of ways. Accessed by Smartphones and iPads, the system monitors the trees condition and required maintenance.

The map of the ash trees in the citys rights of way that have been marked with an X for removal can be seen on the citys website under EAB information (www.boonegov.com/eab.html). The city will not charge for removal of a tree in its right of way. Residents are responsible for ash trees on their property. Residents with an ash tree in the right of way adjoining their property can file an appeal with the citys parks department to not have it removed. If successful, the resident is responsible for maintenance, removal and liability of the ash tree, according to the citys website. There is a $50 filing fee for each tree and a $25 fee for each additional tree with a maximum of $150.

The next window for preventative treatment measures - trunk injection, soil injection, soil drench, or basal trunk sprays - will open in mid-April to mid-May, according to the IDALS.

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EAB found in Keokuk County

4507 Finley Avenue, Unit 4, Los Feliz - http://www.4507finley4.com
Unique Mid Century condo in the heart of Los Feliz Village. Hardwood floors, authentic tile work and new fixtures in bathroom and kitchen, SS appliances. Lus...

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4507 Finley Avenue, Unit 4, Los Feliz - http://www.4507finley4.com - Video

A sprinkler system helped put out a fire and save county property at the Merrimack County Superior Courthouse in Concord yesterday.

A preliminary investigation by the Concord Fire Department, the state fire marshals office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined the fire to have been accidental, according to a press release issued yesterday by the state fire marshals office.

The fire is believed to have started in a vending machine on the first floor of the building.

The Concord Fire Department was called to 163 N. Main St. at 10:13 a.m. after receiving an alert from an automatic fire alarm. Firefighters arrived on scene at 10:18 a.m. to find smoke in the building and an active sprinkler in a room of vending machines.

The building was closed and secure at the time of the fire.

Fire Marshal J. William Degnan said the sprinkler system prevented a much larger fire and loss of county property, as well as reduced the danger to firefighters.

The fire came two days after another one in a similarly unattended public building, in that case owned by the town of Henniker. The Henniker Highway Department garage, which wasnt outfitted with a sprinkler system, and several town vehicles were destroyed in that fire, with damage estimated to be about $1 million.

(Nick Reid can be reached at 369-3325 or nreid@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @NickBReid.)

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Fire breaks out at courthouse

By Ashley Csaszar Feb. 3, 2015

UTICA, NY -- Clean up is underway at the Price Chopper grocery store in South Utica after its sprinkler system flooded a portion of the store Monday afternoon.

According to a shopper in the store at the time of the incident, the fire alarm began going off, which activated the sprinkler system around 3 p.m.

All shoppers were evacuated, and the store has been shut down through the overnight as employees and crews work to clean up the several inches of water that accumulated in the front of the store, according to a store official.

The store plans to reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, said the official.

An investigating into what caused the alarm and sprinklers to go off is ongoing.

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Shoppers evacuated after local grocery store flooded by sprinkler system

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3 Minute Facelift helps Pauline. For more information visit http://www.3minutefacelift.ca.

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Published: 2 Feb 2015 13:00

COLLEGE chiefs have been given 70,000 to study the future of the campus in Greenock with the Sugar Sheds touted as an alternative location.

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Bosses at the West College Scotland (WCS) Finnart Street facility have been given the sum from the Scottish Government to investigate the fabric of the building.

Local MSP Stuart McMillan has raised the issue on several occasions as to what support will be provided to make improvements.

The SNP man also mooted the idea of the college relocating to Greenocks historic Sugar Sheds to bring the building back into use should the Finnart Street campus be deemed no longer suitable.

Two years ago Mr McMillan wrote to the then James Watt College (JWC) management and various agencies, including the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) the governments higher and further education funding body calling for a feasibility study to be carried out to look into the idea.

The MSP is now happy that financial support to the tune of 70,000 has been provided to explore the future of the Greenock site.

Mr McMillan said: I am pleased to learn from the Scottish Government that funding of 70,000 has been provided to help undertake a business case outlining options for the Greenock campus.

Alongside this, the Scottish Government has invested 26.6 million of capital funding to the SFC to support infrastructure investment across the sector.

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Sugar Sheds touted as new college home