OTTAWA NOON ROTARY

Mike Harsted heads the La Salle County Department of Environmental Services and Land Use. He addressed the Ottawa Noon Rotary Nov. 18. He focused on the two topics of energy wind farms and recycling. The county now has about 320 turbines in wind farms currently with new developments in the planning stages for west of Grand Ridge. Eventually, there could be as many as 1,000 in the county. Initially, birds killed by the moving blades was about the only downside to the turbines. Now, several other points are being looked into including lights flickering, noise, loss of moisture in the ground and effects on microwaves. The plans for the new Grand Ridge expansion may include overhead electric lines.

As to recycling, there has been a decrease in quantities recycled in the county. This is partly due to the removal of several deposit points for cost cutting means. Recycled materials can now be co-mingled since they are sent to China, which purchases them and sorts them on-site.

President Dan Braley opened the meeting with the pledge and Jim Keely provided the prayer. Jerry Halterman led singing. Randy Repp won the weekly drawing. Visiting Rotarian from Granville Reed Wilson was introduced.

Four members were inducted into the club. They are John Newby, Meggan Mulinazzi, Tracy Bedeker and Patrick McVay.