This week our search for the best tacos in Chatt town brings us to a Mexican Restaurant located on East Brainerd Road in a strip mall which houses the Publix shopping store at Hurricane Creek La Alteña Mexican Restaurant is another higher end Mexican Restaurant compared to most of the mom-and-pop restaurants I’ve been to When you step inside and peek at their menu it reminds you of a larger chain restaurant in terms of food offerings and layout yet it maintains the coziness of being run by a family-oriented cook and staff There are 34 lunch combinations to choose from in addition to the appetizers During my first visit I opted for the Birria taco plate instead of regular street tacos which they have on their A la carte menu and rice with cilantro and onions on the side I was overjoyed when they brought out this large molcajete bowl filled to the top with chunks of avocado and it was so delicious I took what I couldn’t finish home to have with my leftover taco and rice The Birria tacos were stuffed with shredded beef and cheese The consommé was rich and had a spicy after kick that stayed at the back of my throat without being too spicy and detracting from the flavor of the broth and meat I tossed the onions and cilantro on top of the tacos and used my fork and knife so I could bring all those flavors together in one bite after dunking it in the broth They offer a Birria beef plate and Birria quesadilla plate as well Plenty of protein topped with cilantro and onions They have a menu item called Tacos Al Carbon spicy steak or chorizo street taco served with rice and beans for $11.99 I was stuffed after eating only two regular street tacos but if you have a hefty appetite this is a great deal for taco lovers The 34 lunch combinations are available from 11 a.m They have so many options that I could spend the next month or two coming in to try each one The interior features brightly painted walls showcasing the Mexican landscape and the staff is quick to bring out the chips and salsa and get your beverage order If it wasn’t for the fact that I already knew what I was going to order during my first two visits It may have taken me my whole lunch hour to figure out what delicious meal I was going to try You better believe I’ll be having meals delivered from here What’s your favorite taco place and why? Send me an email at Pattyl@brewermediagroup.com is chasing film as a feeling – a search which has led her and the bespoke production studio to London.  the UK-born Saskia has been immersed in the production scene in New York she’s helped pull together work for household name brands like McDonald’s from snappy social-focused fare to ambitious branded content That included an ad featuring Slick Rick and Flau’jae for Puma’s celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary and contending with tight timelines and producing visuals that feel bigger than their budget having moved stateside almost a decade ago and built her career in the hustle and grind of NYC It’s a move which supports expansion for Easy Mondays and unlocks opportunities for new talent and new clients Saskia’s journey to London is also driven by her heart.  “It’s a creative decision as much as anything else,” she tells LBB we have always loved the work that’s coming out of there both from agencies and brands We want to push for our directors to be a part of that and develop them from a creative standpoint first and foremost.” and you’ll get the sense of a profound drive to make work that matters that’s felt – both between Easy Mondays’ commercial films and her own plans for creating original content she feels there’s more fertile ground in which to explore that ambition in the UK than the US “There are more commercials coming out of the UK which challenge audiences I want to make people feel something.”  There’s an “identity crisis” coursing through the veins of culture in the US For brands seeking to craft work that stands out “People are trying to make work with universal appeal in a country that’s desperately divided,” she explains.  an amazing series of films by Steve McQueen about the West Indian community in London My Grandparents are unfortunately some of the biggest Brexiters I know but they watched that because it’s on the BBC and we talked about it when I was last home That’s the kind of shared cultural reference point that’s much rarer in the US”.  As a result, there are opportunities for work that isn’t afraid to be part of culture’s frayed edges. One example that jumps to Saskia’s mind is ‘Defy the Noise’ a visceral ad for beats which nods directly to the racist abuse faced by Bukayo Saka and other England players in the wake of penalty shootout defeat in the European Championships final.  I understand that what we’re talking about is the 1% of advertising where you get to tell those stories” And that’s a driving force behind another of Saskia’s priorities ahead of the London move: A renewed focus on original content.  says Saskia as she reflects on her motivations behind prioritising original content through Easy Mondays “It started from a conversation around morale – and more specifically my morale”.  The cut and thrust of production life is relentless Early mornings chasing sunrises bleed into exhausting late nights with sheer passion and a love for the craft justifying the lifestyle that becomes a much less appealing proposition.  is part of Saskia and Easy Mondays’ answer to a question of creative pride and giving directors the space to make what they want to make and tell the stories that maybe don’t have a place in commercials it feeds into the studio’s wider goals around helping directors to grow and develop giving them a chance to produce work that an agency might not think they’re capable of because it doesn’t exist on their reel “This is something I’ve spoken with Asori [Soto EP and founder of Easy Mondays] about a lot” On which note, Saskia is already walking the walk. “I’d been working with Rocio Crudo on a commercial about a year ago and she came to me with this mad idea for a film about an alien walking around a city,” she says “I helped put a script together based on her idea It was so energising to see the creative juices flowing in someone I really respected Those are the kind of projects which help filmmakers grow preserving the low-budget trickery that’s sometimes lost in the commercial world provides the requisite fuel to keep going in a challenging industry “So many of us are creatively starved,” reflects Saskia she’s found the creative appetite to which she and Easy Mondays are striving to cater.  When your work has the potential to be such a source of pride “I’ve always had a sense of insecurity that came along with producing,” says Saskia “It stems back to how I went to school for writing and directing I fell into producing because it was easy for me to help people and connect talent with work But it also became an easy place for me to hide.” That idea of ‘hiding’ is a pernicious one – but there’s a cold logic behind Saskia’s explanation it wasn’t going to be my fundamental idea which took criticism” she notes and you can get too comfortable in that invulnerability You can hold back from taking a chance on yourself and your ideas This also explains her own move into directing I was weighing in on treatments and even on-set and it feels like it’s time I basically put my money where my mouth is and be more accountable for the work”.  “There’s definitely a point when you’re early in a production career where you want to be on the big But freeing yourself from that is probably the best thing you can do.”  it’s a pure reminder that film can mean something as a means to an end of delivering a message – but an end in its own right “The first 30 seconds of our upcoming original content is spent watching someone trying to get up off the floor,” says Saskia “It’s not an easy watch – whatever the opposite of pandering is But we don't care - it’s our original content and we’re free to do what we want.”  Critical digital culture and media arts · Since 1993 The Neural Archive is a repository of publications collected by us during the years. Browse our collection here. Sometimes the online world reveals unsuspected parallel dimensions. This is an unknown restyle of Neural independently (and secretly as we never knew about it) made by NY-based Motion and Graphic Designer perhaps only a bit glossier for the magazine’s line it testifies once more how even your most familiar outcomes can have another life somewhere else Isn’t ASCII Art a perfect form of “graffiti” in 2010s? The 8-bit aesthetics is among the strongest visual references connecting the analogue recent past with the omni-digital present, so why not adopt it to finally have some public art embedded in the present? In Varberg, Sweden, 2016, the GOTO80 crew (feat: Karin Andersson) did it choosing (not by accident) the Mo Soul Amiga-font YesNo by Timo Kahlen feels like “traditional” net art a well crafted stuck webpage for the user’s aural and clickable enjoyment The relationship between Andy Warhol and personal computers (becoming quite popular during his last years) has been only partially investigated beyond his Amiga works. In November 2015, Sotheby’s sold his “Apple (from Ads)” (acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas) for 910.000 USD and in catalogue’s notes Warhol tells about his meeting with Steve Jobs insisting to give him one and showing him how to draw (even if still in black and white): “we went into Sean [John Lennon’s son]’s bedroom–and there was a kid there setting up the Apple computer that Sean had gotten as a present I said that once some man had been calling me a lot wanting to give me one but that I’d never called him back or something I’m Steve Jobs.’ And he looked so young And he told me that he would still send me one now And then he gave me a lesson on drawing with it but they’ll make it soon in color…I felt so old and out of it with this young whiz guy right there who helped invent it.” Harsh Noise Wally is a sophisticated mashup mixing strips of Wally the lazy and cynic colleague of Dilbert with some epic noise music extreme attitudes Minority Report comes closer… Three huge screens at Birmingham New Street railway station are scanning passers-by and play advertisements accordingly http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/new-street-station-advertising-screens-9920400 GoPro ancestors in the 1960s and 1970s mainly sport and movie persons like F1 driver Jackie Stewart There are exhibitions where a research phase is carried out before the opening focusing on the nature of the theme and not just on the curatorial ambitions and the selection of works {class} can be counted among the former and is the result of ‘interdisciplinary study and artistic research’ into one of the most sensitive areas of the current media landscape how machines classify the digitisation of reality with which they are endlessly fed It took place at the V2_Lab in Rotterdam and Florian Weigl curated the exhibition in the rooms of the same institution This catalogue contains what you might expect: images of the exhibition biographies of the artists and the editors but it mainly engages with the artists through interviews rather than classic critical or basic explanatory texts The two editors introduce the process of each artist (Mimi Ọnụọha Julian Oliver and Bengt Sjölén) before examining their techniques choices and intentions through specific questions The artists’ own trajectories are then contextualised and the catalogue becomes a polyphonic dialogue about an entire collective effort not just an accompaniment but an excellent strategic complement to the exhibition This weblog is licensed under a Creative Commons License Manufactura Independente Bert Altena passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord on January 20 Bert will be deeply missed by his family; his wife with his seven siblings who sadly miss and love him: John (Phyllis) along with many other friends and family members in Canada We rejoice knowing that he is with his infant grandson Klaas Lubbertus Cornelus Altena was born April 20 Bert moved to British Columbia and in 1979 he started his 35-year-long journey at Bethesda Christian Association where he dedicated his leadership to faithfully serving people with disabilities and their families His family thanks his loved ones for their support the staff at Polson Centre for their excellent care and the network of believers who prayed for his peace and joy as Jesus welcomed him home.  Rylee Altena and Brodie Altena gather together for a picture Several fundraising opportunities are being put together for the family of a Hurricane teen Hurricane High School senior Trevor Higgins, 17, is currently receiving care in St. George Regional Hospital for critical injuries he endured on Sunday, Oct. 27, when he collided with a car while riding home on his dirt bike, as previously reported by St. George News There have been some updates on his condition since the collision occurred In addition to raising money for the teen and his family Higgins' friends are also trying to raise awareness in light of the high number of recent crashes currently a sophomore at Utah Tech University The two of them met several years ago at an auto shop class at Hurricane High School and she said they still ride bikes together "a lot." they were both riding dirt bikes while two of their friends "We had just finished riding in Purple Hills and were going home," Altena told St "We usually just ride in the desert and just truck our bikes out there but we just wanted to ride home because it was close Altena said Higgins was riding directly in front of her as they rode through Hurricane a car on the right side of the road crossed over to make a U-turn Altena said that all Higgins could do was hit the brake hard "I thought he'd stopped in time," she remembered She said Higgins crashed straight into the car sending the back tire of his bike "up in the air." His bike pressed him against the side of the car before he fell down with the bike on top of him Altena said the people who were in the car then came out and called 911 while she ran to check on Higgins "I threw my bike off to the side and ran up to him," she recalled Altena said Higgins' breathing sounded "raspy," so she unclipped his helmet to try to give him more breathing room She said someone who said he was an experienced first responder happened to be driving on the road right behind them This man came out of his vehicle and removed Higgins' helmet and had Jones and Altena's brother carefully lift the bike off of Higgins since he was "all tangled up in it." Soon afterward Higgins' recuperation will reportedly require multiple costly surgeries and other medical procedures. Sometime after he was transported to the hospital, Charger Jones' mother, Heather Jones, set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations and help Higgins' family pay off inevitable medical expenses but Altena said the total cost of the expenses is "definitely going to be more than that." "We're just trying to raise anything," she said "We're going to start making shirts and stickers and selling those to raise money There is also an Instagram page providing updates on Higgins' condition and links to places where donations can be made She and several others are planning to do a fundraising event in Hurricane "sometime soon," where they will "get a whole bunch of cars and bikes together" and drive down Main Street in Hurricane But they are not yet sure when it will take place They also hope the hashtag "rev4trev" spreads in order to promote safety for motorcycles and the GoFundMe page and they are encouraging people to post about it (they could) take a video of them revving their engine and then put that on their story or post it and then also tag the GoFundMe to spread that and then also awareness (to) watch out for bikes," Altena said Higgins' friends are being proactive to support his family and to make the community aware of a cause they believe in "We just want people to look out for them," Altena said of her fellow bike riders note: When making charitable contributions it is advisable to consult with professionals for tax advice and investment risks Email notifications are only sent once a day summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Receive Sunday Local Offers Coupons from St Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application at the Friendly Horizons Memory Care in Sioux Center Memorial Services will be held at 2:30 PM Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the Carmel Reformed Church of rural Rock Valley, Iowa with Rev. Mike Altena officiating.  Interment will be held prior to the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.   The video will be live streamed on the Carmel Reformed Church FACEBOOK page: https://www.facebook.com/carmelreformedchurch Visitation will be from 5-7 PM Monday evening at the Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center The Altena family prefers memorials be directed to Friendly Horizons Memory Care Kathleen Marie (Franken) Altena was born October 26 to Gerrit H Franken and Gertie (Bosch) Franken near Sioux Center She attended country school and completed her education at Sioux Center High School Kathleen married Wilmer Altena in Sioux Center on January 18 They enjoyed traveling and attending events like the state basketball tournaments in Des Moines and the Bible Conference at the lakes until Wilmer passed away in 2003 Kathleen moved several times after Wilmer’s death Most recently her home was in Friendly Horizons in Sioux Center a place where she found real community and loving care She is fondly remembered by her caretakers as the woman who rose before dawn and always held a steaming cup of coffee – never quite hot enough or strong enough to suit her Kathleen held several jobs during her younger years church secretary work for the Carmel Reformed Church and teaching piano lessons to nearly every child in Carmel She loved the Carmel Church and the Carmel family and was very involved while she was a member there Kathleen loved children and never missed an opportunity to be with them She volunteered as a mentor for Friendship Bible Study and Hospice for many years Losing her sister was a tremendous loss for Kathleen Without fail she called her kids and grandkids on their birthdays and sang them the entire “Happy Birthday” song She loved flowers and gardening and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in the garden or anywhere else She truly “prayed without ceasing” and continually “meditated on God’s Word.” She leaves behind a Bible filled with notations Kathleen loved the Lord deeply and her family is confident that she is eternally singing and playing music in His presence – probably with a cup of coffee that is finally hot enough and strong enough to leave her completely satisfied and at perfect peace Kathleen is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Deb and Elson Schut of Sioux Center; her son and daughter-in-law Dan and Sandi Altena of Sioux Center; and her son and daughter-in-law Kathleen was proceeded in death by her parents Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of David Altena created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories © 2025 Langeland-Sterenberg Yntema Funeral Homes Made with love by funeralOne 2019 at the Good Samaritan Society of George at 2:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley will be held from 1:00-2:00 PM prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the daughter of William and Jennie (Vugteveen) Wynia 1948 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley The couple made their home on a farm SW of George She would drive tractor as needed and raised chickens the couple moved to an apartment in George Iowa and later the Good Samaritan Society in George She enjoyed the good friendships she made in these facilities over the years    Wilma had a great love for her family She always enjoyed the grandchildren and great-granddaughters coming to see her She was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull    Wilma is survived her children Eloise “Toni” Healy of Sioux Falls Christopher Scott Healy and Cory (Shelly) Altena; 2 great-grandchildren Kinsly Altena and Keilahny Altena; brother-in-law    She was preceded in death by her parents Eugene "Oots" Altena Live Stream      Eugene “Oots” Altena age 79 of Sioux Center 2020 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center      A private family funeral service will take place at 10:30 AM 2020 at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center with Reverend Randy Widbin officiating Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center A livestream link will be available here prior to the service      Public visitation will be one hour prior to the service (9:30 AM to 10:30 AM) with family present at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center      Social distancing guidelines will be followed      The Midwest Honor Flight blessed Oots beyond measure and he wants to pass it forward His wish is that all memorials be directed to the Midwest Honor Flight      Eugene “Oots” Altena was born July 20 the son of Elmer and Sena (Van Donkelaar) Altena in Sioux Center He grew up in Sioux Center and attended school until the 8th grade Eugene was drafted into the United States Army in 1963 He attended basic training at Fort Leonardwood in Missouri During his service he earned the Good Conduct Medal and the Expert Pistol Badge He then went to Merit Motors as a mechanic/serviceman He then co-owned Doc’s Café for 20 years (home of the maid-rites) he worked at Joe’s Ready Mix until he retired      Oots gave his life to Christ in 1992 after attending the New Life Treatment Center He attended Cursillo and worked many YATECs He mentored and served many people over the years He loved people for who they are and met them where they were at He referred to them as a loving and supportive church He will always be remembered for his humor and infectious laugh      Those left to cherish his memory are his son MO; grandson Austin and great grandson Asher Altena of Knoxville Melinda (Daryl) Vanden Brink all of Sioux Center      He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Sena; and sister and brother-in-law                                                                                           Blessed Be His Memory       Livestream link for Leroy Altena Service 2020 at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center      A private family funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m 2020 at Memorial Funeral Home at Sioux Center with Rev Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery at Sioux Center      Visitation with some family present will be held Sunday at the Memorial Funeral Home at Sioux Center      Social distancing guidelines will be followed and masks are recommended Memorials may be designated to Sioux Center Christian School      Leroy Fredrick Altena was born December 1 1935 to Jake and Sadie (DeVries) Altena in Maurice Leroy was raised on the family farm near Maurice and attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Western Christian High School      Leroy met a lovely young woman named Esther DeBoom at a Young Peoples’ Society meeting they were united in marriage at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center where they became members of the church they became charter members of Redeemer United Reformed Church in Orange City Iowa for a year before moving to the Altena family farm near Maurice Leroy “retired.”  He continued to stay busy working in the hay business and selling wooden pallets He enjoyed being outdoors and took drives to look at the crops Leroy and Esther moved from the farm into Sioux Center Leroy and Esther honeymooned in the Black Hills of South Dakota and have returned almost every year since They especially enjoyed watching the Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park They also enjoyed visiting flea markets and antique stores Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 65 years Esther Altena of Sioux Center; three daughters and their husbands: Debra and Paul Dorr of Ocheyedan IA; 15 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law Arlene Altena and Chalice Altena and numerous nieces and nephews Leroy was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers Aubrey and his twin Elroy; and one infant great granddaughter Coach John Stevens and Head Coach Murray Westren have been mightily pleased with their charges this season Nicole d’Altena has just announced the release of her new book A Taste of Destiny – Children’s Short Stories a creative collection of tales designed to captivate readers of all ages This latest work is an extended version of her original release and offers a unique reading experience with no formula to follow The 170-page book is a blend of memories and fiction Nicole’s stories invite readers to see the world in a new way or simply unwinding at home—whether on a sunny or rainy day Nicole’s distinct style shines through with her playful use of language she introduces made-up words and sounds that add to the charm of her writing The stories offer easy reading for some and deep meaning for others with no clear beginning or end—leaving it up to the reader to engage in the adventures however they choose A Taste of Destiny* is available for purchase through both Ebay and the Destinity website offering an accessible way for readers to dive into Nicole’s world of stories she spent much of her life travelling the world she continues to share her imaginative creations through her writing and website in this browser for the next time I comment Follow CornishStuff on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the discussions in the comments. Click here to give us a like! Follow us on Twitter - For the latest breaking news in Cornwall and the latest stories, click here to follow CornishStuff on X. Follow us on Instagram - We also put the latest news in our Instagram Stories. Click here to follow CornishStuff on Instagram Got A News Story Or Event To Share With Cornwall editor@cornishstuff.com Sign up for the latest daily news in Cornwall from us Privacy Policy – Cookie Policy CornishStuff is owned by and part of Check It Out Ltd © 2024 - 2025 Website Designed in Cornwall by Springer Marketing • All Rights Reserved « Back MARIAN ALTENA was born at home near Rock Valley Iowa to Richard and Cora (Van de Vegte) Postma on April 4 She attended Rock Valley Christian School through the 8th grade her three older brothers went to the Army so she stayed home to help with the farm work and to care for the younger children They farmed north of Rock Valley a couple years before moving to a farm near Larchwood Iowa for one year before making their home on a farm near Pipestone They continued to farm near Pipestone for 30 years until retiring in 1987 After Marvin’s death in March of 2004 Marian continued to live in Pipestone until moving to Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton 2012 where she resided until her death on Wednesday Marian was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Pipestone and considers “How Great Thou Art” her favorite hymn She played the organ at the Christian Reformed Church for many years Marian enjoyed playing the piano for family and for over 20 years for the residents at the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone She also attended the Dorcas Ladies Bible Study Marian had a very caring and compassionate spirit; always putting others first Over the years Marian opened her home to more than 50 children through foster care Some of her hobbies included crocheting and gardening She is lovingly remembered by her children Indiana and Rodney Altena of Pipestone; granddaughters Laurie (fianc Temujin) Altena and Adison Altena; grandsons Scott Altena and Tony (Misty) Nelson; seven great-grandchildren; sister Stanley (Sharon) Postma and Robert (Sheryl) Postma; two sisters-in-law Wilma Altena and Marlene TeSlaa; two brothers-in-law She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband 2015 at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am 2015 at the Christian Reformed Church in Ireton Pastor Norlyn Van Beek and Pastor Bob Pollema will officiate Burial will be prior to the service at the Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley with the family present from 2:00-4:00 p.m The Porter Funeral Home in Ireton is assisting the family He attended the Rock Valley Christian School through the eighth grade He married Winifred Vanden Berg in Rock Valley He was employed for Blankespoor Black Smith He was an active member of the Ireton Christian Reformed Church In 2008 he and Winifred moved to the Homestead in Sioux Center 2014 he moved to Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City spending time with his family and being a witness to others of his loving Savior he made many friends and touched many lives IA 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren IA and many nieces and nephews also survive Dick He is preceded in death by his wife; daughter Tanner Kollis and Eli Tirril; 4 brothers and one sister Former French dressage team horses Badinda Altena and Actuelle de Massa have been sold and will appear under saddle of two Scandinavian riders Badinda Altena is a 17-year old KWPN mare by Tolando x Goodtimes Under Frenchman Pierra Volla the mare made her international show debut as a young horse at the CDI Pompadour in 2012 and went on to represent France at the 2012 World Young Horse Championships in Verden where they were 13th in the consolation finals They returned three years later for their Grand Prix debut at the 2015 CDI Vidauban. They became a fixture on the French team competing at the 2015 and 2017 European Championships and 2016 Rio Olympics. They were the 2016 and 2017 French Grand Prix champions and they won bronze at the 2018 French Championships In the summer of 2018 Volla refused to ride on the team at the World Equestrian Games and sold his horse to Danish real estate mogul (Jeudan) Jens Erik Udsen She only once showed her internationally in 2020 in Aarhus Two years later the mare made a surprise return on the scene with Helgstrand's team rider Jeanna Hogberg and won the CDI-W Zakrzow Trine Holm Søgaard got her on loan and competed her in three national Inter II classes Celina Badstangen on LacosteAt the start of March 2023 Badinda was sent to Cathrine Dufour who used her big social media network to promote the horse Less than a week later she sold to Norwegian Celina Bådstangen Badstangen has been campaigning Lacoste (by Locksley II x Wolkenstein II) at Under 25 level The pair made its international debut at the 2022 CDI Mariakalnok a year ago "She’s an incredible mare and I can’t wait to get to know her," Celina told Eurodressage The Norwegian recently had to take it easy as she got injured in a car accident which made me crash off the road," she explained "I am riding again but need to take it slow while the sternum is healing." Actuelle de Massa is a 13-year old Lusitano mare by Pastor GUB out of Ofelia de la Font (by Fuzilador OCO) Trained to Grand Prix level by Anne Sophie Serre, the mare first represented France internationally at the 2016 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, where she finished 11th in the 6-year old consolation finals. A month later the duo earned bronze at the 2016 French Young Horse Championships Serre and Actuelle at the 2019 CDI-W MechelenIn 2017 Serre rode the dark bay in the 7-year old tests and in 2018 moved her up to medium tour level. As of August 2019 they began competing at international Grand Prix level and the duo became instrumental in France clinching a team spot for the Tokyo Olympics Games she did not compete at all in 2020 and returned to the scene in April 2021 but with her Grand Prix score stuck at 69% while in 2019 was more consistently over 70% Serre last competed Actuelle internationally at the CDI-W Lyon a year and a half ago in October 2021 The elegant bay mare has now been sold to the Swedish company Söderberg Select Stables behind rider Beata Soderberg Beata made her name on the international show scene as an Under 25 rider aboard Fiorano (by Rousseau x Rotspon) Since 2021 she competed on the senior circuit with schoolmaster Heuberger TSF and has two rising stars in Jimbrere B (by Bordeaux x Jazz) and Talento (by Totilas x Breitling W) Photos © Lukasz Kowalski - Astrid Appels Stalls for Rent at Durondeau Dressage in Peer, Belgium Exceptionally Well Located Equestrian Facility in Wellington, Florida Well-built Equestrian Estate With Multiple Business Opportunities in Sweden Stable Units for Rent at Lotje Schoots' Equestrian Center in Houten (NED) For Rent: Several Apartments and Stable Wing at High-End Equestrian Facility Stable Wing Available at Reiterhof Wensing on Dutch/German border Real Estate: Well-Appointed Country House with Extensive Equestrian Facility in the U.K. Rémi Blot Couple Harry and Summer Altena stand in front of items sold through a variety of businesses they own Clothing for sale through their Poshmark shop hangs in the couple’s garage in Hurricane Handmade beach jewelry sold by Nature’s Twist is shown Summer Altena poses next to a variety of air plant home decor items she’s created A variety of custom designed air plants by Summer Altena with Air Plant Buddies sit on a shelf in Hurricane The couple’s daughter Rory Altena sells her handmade beach jewelry at a local market location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Summer Altena The couple’s daughter Trinity Altena sells her homemade dry jars at the market Handmade bracelets by Nature’s Twist are shown Handmade jewelry by Nature’s Twist are shown The Altena family poses together while selling a variety of homemade items at a local market A pair of custom drawn and printed Vans shoes made by the couple’s daughter Trinity are shown location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Summer Altena via Instagram Couple Harry and Summer Altena stand in front of their homemade items at a local market Custom-designed air plants by Summer Altena hang from a handmade tree Custom-designed air plants by Summer Altena feature local driftwood Nana’s Sweet and Sassy Mustard and homemade chips are shown The Altena family stands in front of their homemade items at a local market A pair of custom-drawn and printed Vans shoes made by the couple’s daughter Trinity are shown Look no further than one family who’s showing the world that family teamwork makes the dream work “We’ve always just kind of worked on our own and done our own thing,” Summer Altena said about […] “We’ve always just kind of worked on our own and done our own thing,” Summer Altena said about the couple’s business pursuits “We love being entrepreneurs because we get to spend more time with our family.” Both Altena and her husband Harry were raised by entrepreneurs they’ve followed in their family’s footsteps while teaching their own children the art and hustle of working for themselves “I’ve had like six or seven businesses I’ve started from the ground up,” Harry Altena said There’s money to be made around every corner but you can’t do it if you sit on your butt.” “You gotta have your hands in everything,” he said about owning multiple businesses As the couple shipped clothing to customers, they added free thank-you gifts such as candy bags with hippie stickers. When Harry Altena came up with the idea to add air plants to the gifts bundle bagged them up and included plant care instructions – and customers loved them The couple’s 17-year-old daughter Rory started her own handmade beach jewelry business five years ago – Nature’s Twist And after the family moved to Hurricane one year ago she began selling her jewelry at local markets With the seashell air plants already on hand people loved them and they sold out the same day they increased the number of plants for sale and added a variety of unique designs to house them Air plant designs now include driftwood found near Zion and the Virgin River which can be soaked completely without rot Plants also come in centerpiece pots and hanging macrame They’re constantly adding to the designs and plan to have air-plant Christmas ornaments for the upcoming holiday season Summer Altena said they are similar in heartiness and don’t require much water but there’s one main thing that sets them apart from any other type of plant – they don’t need soil Plants do have roots but obtain nutrients from light in the air grow and change colors throughout the year and also produce flowers the air plant can simply be moved to another location where it will continue to grow and grow,” she said with once-a-week watering in the summer and once every other week in the winter Plants are soaked completely in water for 10 minutes then placed upside down overnight to avoid root rot – one of the only ways she said the plants can be killed But their entrepreneurial game doesn’t stop there Inspired by the vibe of the market and their love for people the couple decided to add another business to their market table The same week they started offering air plants Altena took her dad’s 50-year-old homemade salsa recipe and started the business Harry Altena created the seasoned homemade chip recipe to sell alongside it a recipe that takes nine hours to create 100 bags “It’s definitely a labor of love,” he said It was literally like two days and we had branded an entire salsa company Summer Altena said her mom got jealous and gave her the recipe for her signature mustard Named “Nana’s Sweet and Sassy mustard,” they now sell “Nana’s” and “Pop’s” side by side air plants and beach jewelry wasn’t enough at one point their booth spread to three full tables with each member of their family selling their own homemade goods Their other daughter Trinity sold “dry jars” – layered jars with full recipes inside that included items like pea soup organic tea he brewed himself and popcorn featuring his own seasoning blend our other daughter’s making these take-and-bake jars and we have like 20 feet of real estate at the market The couple said they also have bankrolled on fads in the past such as starting a vape company that sold $1,000-plus vape mods and a handmade fidget spinner company made from exotic metals Nature’s Twist also features Vans shoes that are hand-painted and printed by their daughter “It’s just nice being able to do something together,” Summer Altena said being able to march to your own drum is an amazing thing.” Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC SARTELL — Blue dragonflies zipped along the shore A heron held a half-eaten bullhead in its beak And Eric Altena buzzed through the Mississippi River and the greenish waters of Little Rock Lake in a jet boat two weeks ago.  but he was the only one in his family drawn to fishing His interest started as early as his toddler years is the area fisheries manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources And he spearheaded a major Central Minnesota project — the recently delayed drawdown of Little Rock Lake and the Mississippi River north of the Sartell dam.  "I want to make the resource better," Altena said of the aquatic ecosystem. People use that resource — the plants birds and water — in a lot of different ways but last week the DNR put off the project for one year There was a missing piece of the application that fell through the cracks a required federal cultural resource review.  Altena felt frustrated last week by the delay because everything seemed to be going smoothly "What makes Eric tick is just his enthusiasm," said retired Colorado State University professor Steve Flickinger Flickinger was Altena's professor decades ago and the two traveled to Brazil last summer to catch peacock bass in the Amazon River Basin RELATED: Little Rock Lake drawdown delayed, again Altena does have other interests outside of the water. He has a son, Braden Altena Eric Altena has been deeply involved in that sport too.  "He's absolutely nuts about hockey," Flickinger said. Altena has coached refereed and otherwise supported hockey leagues.  but his interests line up with the state identity: hockey with a penchant for the water and an interest in underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau His mother told him he took a stick and pretended to fish when he was just 1 1/2 years old at Mystic Seaport a maritime museum in Connecticut, Altena said.  He earned a degree in Colorado and worked stints in Texas where he also earned a master's, and in Michigan.  Altena thinks he's a little more outgoing than most "fish geeks," and he lives his life according to a mantra he includes at the end of his email signature:  sleep to be ready for the challenges of tomorrow and eat for the energy to do so This year marks his 20th with the Minnesota DNR and the fifth year working on a drawdown of Little Rock Lake.  Cloud Times reporters out on the river and lake in mid-July to explain the drawdown process and the aquatic ecosystem Officials and farmers have worked to reduce the runoff of nutrients into the watershed but there's still built-up nitrogen and phosphorus that fuels growth of undesirable algae.  Drawing down the water at the Sartell dam will expose the edges of the water and stimulate growth of cattails, bulrushes and other emergent plants that root under water and grow above the surface Those plants can use up the lingering nutrients in the lake bed. They may also stabilize the shore against erosion and expand fish habitat.  RELATED: Before it was bad: It took decades for Little Rock Lake turn green Not all residents were keen on the drawdown Some on backwaters worried that too much new growth would impede their boat access to the river Others questioned the six-figure cost, primarily covered with a grant near $175,000.  we want to document it," Altena said of the drawdown "Everything in all the books says it's going to work." It's a plot he chose for privacy and for its proximity between work in Little Falls and hockey obligations in St "I don't live there because of the project," Altena said RELATED: What's next for the delayed Little Rock Lake drawdown? The drawdown is one of several major initiatives in his career. He's worked on Rum River dam removal at Milaca, smallmouth bass radio-telemetry tracking between the St Cloud and Coon Rapids dams and reducing bag limits for sunfish on lakes around Little Falls the drawdown will be among those projects. Altena doesn't expect to suggest a second drawdown "It's one of those career projects that you hope for," Altena said from the middle of Little Rock Lake.  MORE: The Little Rock Lake drawdown that would improve water quality was delayed again. Why? Nora G. Hertel: 320-255-8746, nhertel@stcloudtimes.com and on Twitter @nghertel.  Reading"Xaviera Altena’s work adapts..." More fromWork Contact Advertising Opportunities Newsletters Insights + Opinion Creatives + Projects Advice + Resources Culture + Lifestyle Nicer Tuesdays The View From... POV Forward Thinking Review of the Year Jenny Brewer Olivia Hingley Ellis Tree Elizabeth Goodspeed Liz Gorny Extra Search Xaviera references modern day issues and news stories in her work combining them with 90s pop culture influences for a fresh approach to topical illustrations Throughout her work we see pieces that tackle themes such as feminism She’s had several commissions from De Correspondent yet it’s her personal work that really drew us in With fruity shades like raspberry pinks and lemon yellows there’s a joy and freshness to each of Xaviera’s illustrations that mainly focus on the female form Her clean linework brings everything together and there’s a consistent style of character appearing throughout her portfolio simple faces are cute but contrasted with large limbs and vivid clothes that remind us distantly of Laura Callaghan’s bodacious work Xaviera even manages to make a half eaten banana a can of pop and bumbag look new and exciting Further Infowww.xavieraaltena.com Rebecca Fulleylove Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art She is also senior writer at Creative Review Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest About Careers at It’s Nice That Privacy Policy Insights Residence Creative Lives in Progress If You Could Jobs © It’s Nice That 2024 · Nice Face Logo © It’s Nice That www.xavieraaltena.com Rotterdam-based illustrator Xaviera Altena has developed a style that encompasses bold linework We speak to the dream team about their blend of playfulness physicality-led practice reminds its audience of the person behind the piece In the newest instalment of his illustrated series Brian Blomerth explores the life of John C Lilly – the scientist that used ketamine to speak to dolphins Aysha Tengiz received a questionable contract asking her to give up rights to her own intellectual property the illustrator explains why that’s such dodgy practice and why creatives need to be more clued up about copyright About Contact Advertising Opportunities Newsletters Insights + Opinion Creatives + Projects Advice + Resources Culture + Lifestyle Nicer Tuesdays The View From... POV Forward Thinking Review of the Year Jenny Brewer Olivia Hingley Ellis Tree Elizabeth Goodspeed Liz Gorny Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest Careers at It’s Nice That Privacy Policy Insights Residence Creative Lives in Progress If You Could Jobs French Olympic team horse Badinda Altena has been sold to Danish Grand Prix rider Charlotte Heering Badinda Altena is a 13-year old Dutch warmblood mare by Tolando x Goodtimes Under Pierra Volla the talented chestnut mare made her international show debut as a young horse at the CDI Pompadour in 2012 and went on to represent France at the 2012 World Young Horse Championships in Verden They then disappeared from the international scene to make their CDI Grand Prix debut in Vidauban in 2015 the duo became a fixture on the French team competing at the 2015 and 2018 European Championships and 2016 Rio Olympics They were the 2016 and 2017 French Grand Prix Champions and they won bronze at the 2018 French Championships In the summer of 2018 Volla shocked the French dressage world from refusing to ride on the team at the World Equestrian Games which led to France not sending any rider at all to Tryon Volla announced then that he was selling his horse This year she competed Black Pearl at small tour level and Joker Selection at Grand Prix level In 2017 the talented Bufranco made her one of the biggest rising stars in Denmark but the horse was not shown internationally in 2018 "I'm super happy and excited for the future with my new star," said Heering "She's a very sensitive lady and I still need to find the buttons Volla will continue his Grand Prix career on the 13-year old Sir Piko (by Sir Donnerhall) If you want to go to sea almost regardless of the weather conditions then this Altena 53 is the kind of boat you want Built in the Netherlands in 1998 as an extended version of the 47ft Altena Blue Water Trawler Take the 6mm thick steel hull for instance which includes fin stabilisers and a fully protected main propeller window._taboolaSlots=window._taboolaSlots||[];window._taboolaSlots.push({"mode":"thumbnails-a-mid","container":"taboola-mid-article","placement":"Mid Article","target_type":"mix"}); This little ship feeling continues inside through the storm-proof doors, with traditional fiddled woodwork throughout and even a navigation station – the kind of feature you rarely see outside of large bluewater sailing yachts Accommodation is for up to six people, split between two bunk cabins in the bow and a massive owner’s suite back aft But the heart of the Altena 53 is its super-heavy duty engine a Caterpillar 3306 commercial diesel engine that is designed to run at maximum capacity 100% of the time so you’ve got an emergency option to get you home This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Jim Tanner has worked as assistant sports editor at the Times Free Press since late 2006 He started at the Times Free Press in 2001 and worked as a news copy/design editor from 2001 through 2006 In addition to working as a night and weekend editor producing local and national sports coverage for print and online readers Jim occasionally writes local sports and outdoors stories and is a graduate of McCallie School in Chattanooga He earned an associates degree from Oxford College of Emory University and attended Emory University before earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Prior to joining the staff at the Times Free Press Jim worked as a sports copy editor at the Chattanooga Times and was news editor at the Dalton (Ga.) Daily Citizen Jim lives in the Ferger Place community near downtown Chattanooga This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press El material de Associated Press es Copyright © 2025 derechos reservados Associated Press y no puede ser publicado audio y/o video de Associated Press no será publicado reescrito para su transmisión o publicación ni redistribuido directa o indirectamente en ningún medio Ni estos materiales de AP ni ninguna parte de los mismos pueden almacenarse en una computadora errores u omisiones de los mismos o de la transmisión o entrega de la totalidad o parte de los mismos o de cualquier daño que surja de cualquiera de los anteriores Get the world's #1 plant‑based magazine The North Brabant municipality of Altena in the Netherlands is launching the first Dutch-area pilot program that promotes plant-based proteins.   With the slogan “Plant-Based Together,” the program involves visiting supermarkets and restaurants to encourage local people to make plant-based food choices more often Local ambassadors are helping by sharing their favorite plant-based products and recipe inspiration One of those ambassadors is top beach volleyball star Raïsa Schoon who can be seen in a promotional video calling on residents of Altena to eat plant-based food more often.  “Tasting that plant-based food can be delicious is the best way to convince people,” Marianne Karstens of the Green Protein Alliance (GPA) said in a statement “This is why we are organizing several tasting sessions together with supermarket entrepreneurs from the region.” the current ratio of plant-based and animal protein in the Dutch diet is 37:63 The GPA’s goal is to realize a 50:50 balance by 2025 GPA points out that Altena is a representative area and target group to encourage plant-based eating because it is not yet a popular choice for residents to eat plant-based food.  Karstens notes that the pilot program will measure how effective its techniques are long-term we will measure in the period after the tastings whether they have had a long-term incentive effect,” Karstens said The municipality is also home to plant-based pioneers such as Schouten Europe and HAK which are also supporting the pilot program HAK is encouraging the use of pulses as an alternative to animal proteins spearheaded the area pilot and is a driving force behind it all.  The duo is specifically interested in exploring how grass proteins might outperform common plant-based meat bases such as soy and scalable alternative to soy,” Grassa Director Rieks Smook said in a statement it provides a huge reduction in the carbon footprint.” The partnership between Schouten Europe and Grassa is also significant in the Netherlands in a different way The country’s National Protein Strategy follows a European Union-wide ambition to reduce dependency on protein imports and to increase production of plant proteins.  Because the Netherlands is dependent on imports for roughly 80 percent of its plant protein and is the largest importer of soybeans in the EU Schouten Europe and Grassa’s research in the area of grass protein could support the country’s goal to become more self-sufficient in this area and to aid in the shift toward more sustainable diets.  The shift to plant-based proteins has been expanding to the fast-food sector, too. Last fall, fast-food giant McDonald’s made its plant-based burger a part of the permanent menu at all of its locations in the Netherlands The move follows a successful test launch of the McPlant in the country last year.  “We are pleased with the permanent place of the McPlant on the menu,” Stijn Mentrop “During the temporary introduction last year we received many positive comments from our guests about the taste of the McPlant.” international pizza chain Papa John’s added vegan pepperoni to its menu at 26 locations across the Netherlands The pizza chain currently offers seven vegan pizzas in the Netherlands all of which are topped with Bute Island Foods’ vegan cheese Vegan chicken is also available as a pizza topping.  Dominos Netherlands also offers three vegan pizzas (Vegan Margarita and Vegan Veggie) after the chain reformulated its standard crust to be free from animal products as part of its “Clean Menu Policy.” The pizza chain worked with the Dutch Society for Veganism to develop the new pizza options which first debuted in 2018.  “The demand for plant products can no longer be stopped now that more and more people are discovering that you can live perfectly without animal products,” Dutch Society for Veganism spokesperson Debby van Velzen said at the time “Innovative companies are responding to these changes.” DON'T MISS OUT: Get breaking news, recipes, and our weekly vegan deal by signing up for our FREE VegNewsletter Nicole Axworthy is a Digital Editor at VegNews and author of the cookbook DIY Vegan.  CHECK IT OUT All things plant‑based,in your mailbox and inbox Sign in Join now, it's FREE! surrounded by his family, on Saturday March 16th 2024 at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre Beloved husband of Patricia.  Loving father of Diana Robinson (John) Paul (Andrea), Paula Van Altena and William (Tammy).  Cherished grandfather of Amber Chantel and Kyle.  Dear great-grandfather of thirteen grandchildren and one great-great grandson.  Sadly missed by his sister Mary Osborn (Ken) and his brother Frank (the late Jenny).  Predeceased by his grand-daughter Lindsey Paul will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his many relatives and friends At Paul’s and the family’s request and visit with the family at the STEVEN R Funeral service will take place in the chapel on Saturday March 23rd 2024 at 1:00pm until the time of memorial service at 1:00pm All are welcome to attend the live stream of Paul’s service at  https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/87717   donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Kidney Foundation would be appreciated by the family For more information, or to leave a condolence message for the family, please visit our website at www.bridgefuneralhome.com Stephen Altena posing in his Frolicking Suit in front of “The Frolic Arch.” ‘The Frolic Arch,” wall installation detail from the “The Frolic Arch,” wall installation Ornamental patterns found in old-fashioned wallpapers and fabrics are Altena’s inspiration — the kind of patterns associated with sentimentality and nostalgia A critical assessment of the merits of a subject Reviews are based on the writer’s informed/expert opinion When it comes to deliciously decorative floral paintings his latest exhibition at The Assembly Gallery the Hamilton artist offers a garden of earthly delights His sources of inspiration continue to be the ornamental patterns found in old-fashioned wallpapers and fabrics the kind of patterns associated with sentimentality and nostalgia “Sentimentality and nostalgia are not taken seriously within the art world,” Altena tells me I wanted to take this perceived weakness and make it a strength.” “The Frolic Arch” takes over one of the gallery walls all cut out from earlier paintings and drawings He’s created a highly textured and relief-like surface by layering some cutouts and suspending others from the ceiling with ribbons “I had a basic plan: large works go in the back smaller pieces and the coloured pencil drawings to the front the installations are unplanned and spontaneous.” but I didn’t know it was an exhibition at the time,” Altena says “I had been staring at my old paintings and drawings wondering how I could reuse and recycle them I decided to cut them up and turn them into collages “I began tacking up cut-out flowers on my studio wall Then I began connecting the cutouts with ribbon — I had a bag of my grandmother’s ribbons and notions — and I let it grow on the wall “I wanted the challenge of creating something completely new,” he explains “It will change and grow during the run of the exhibition.” and flowers shaped by the mark of the brush as does a small vignette of three people in a landscape wearing 18th-century clothing “Rococo’s decorative maximalism is my natural default setting,” Altena says The smaller paintings on the remaining walls include fancy florals like “Lilies.” The tops of three lilies take over the space their pink and magenta petals leaping out against a dark olive background Altena’s liberal use of thick paint on the petals and leaves is awesome red-clad riders and hounds chase invisible foxes That’s when he wore a Frolicking Suit consisting of a floral jacket and I began thinking about who would inhabit these landscapes,” he says “I immediately thought of an 18th-century dandy — there’s that Rococo default setting!” Just as he had recycled his earlier paintings for “The Frolic Arch,” he repurposed an old suit “I cut the pants to make breeches,” he said “The flowers on the jacket are oil-on-canvas paintings that I cut up and applied with a hot glue gun “The Frolicking Suit allowed me to become a piece of art appearing as if I stepped out of the painting The Suit is another way for me to push painting off the wall Paintings are often thought of as being complete but I have discovered that paintings can have another life and take up space in a completely new way.” YouTube video maker and former professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand Contact: assemblygallery@gmail.com RICE — A dry start to the summer means algae in some area lakes and rivers has become par for the course Lake systems rely on a balanced ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus Department of Natural Resources area fisheries manager Eric Altena said Wednesday the system is without that contribution of fresh nitrogen because the phosphorus gets more prevalent," Altena said The U.S. Drought Monitor categorizes most of Benton County as abnormally dry, while Stearns County is abnormally dry in the east and experiencing moderate drought in the western portion of the county, according to data through July 9 Abnormally dry areas developed or expanded in several parts of the Midwest, including central Minnesota, the weekly drought summary said.  According to the Department of Natural Resources' May hydrologic conditions report Cloud this year had the ninth driest May on record short more than 2 inches of rain from normal   National Weather Service records show St Cloud was short about 1.5 inches of rain from June's normal and what rain did come arrived mostly in the last three days of the month and if more nitrogen is not provided by rain green algae and even blue-green algae can take hold This is part of the natural cycle; lakes typically start the spring with a closer balance that we actually had algal blooms even in the better-quality lakes," Altena said Blooms in lakes with better water quality tend to be filamentous algae — the slimy stringy algae that can coat plants or grow on rocks in slow-flowing rivers.  "We saw many of that in our lakes this spring and that was primarily due to the fact that we had a drought," Altena said area rivers would have relatively high flows through June That means the water clarity is lower and algal growth does not necessarily occur But when sun exposure allows things to grow He said he received several calls about a large plume of duckweed — tiny free-floating plants — that rain flushed down the Platte River from the Rice-Skunk Lakes and into the Mississippi River It is also common to get more complaints about dead fish on shorelines in drought years But recent rain could have given Little Rock Creek a shot of nitrogen and runoff water clearer water allows  plants to thrive this is the goal for Little Rock Lake: to change the system from a shallow lake with dirty water to a more clear-water state with good vegetation A drawdown of the Mississippi River above the Sartell dam last summer was part of that process Altena said a plant survey conducted in Little Rock Lake in June showed more plants than the previous year despite the green tint and some algae build-up on the windblown side "It's trending in the right direction," Altena said.  but reminds people that improvements will take time To expect instantaneous change is "pretty unrealistic." "This is like being punched in the stomach for 107 years for Little Rock Lake and all we did was kind of give it a little bit of a break and try to nudge it in the right direction so it could hopefully help itself," Altena said Sarah Kocher is the business reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-255-8799 or skocher@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahAKocher Support local journalism. Subscribe to sctimes.com today This marks the sixth mountain lion in state history Two rams in HD 622 test positive for disease Other reintroduced wolves found near Denver Plus a comparison of previous years numbers of fawn and calf survival “It was pretty scary,” says Altena Altena’s hunting instincts took over and he was able to aim his gun at the mountain lion right before it lunged pulling the trigger and creating the memory of a lifetime He hit the 80-pound female mountain lion in the shoulder and says it died “soon after.” While Altena has had success as a hunter before – harvesting a 12 point buck the previous season – he says that the mountain lion “tops that hunt.” Altena’s mountain lion is only the sixth one killed in the state according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources there have been only three confirmed mountain lion sightings in Iowa this year “This was the kill of a lifetime,” says Altena.