Latest news with #Rolla
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
She fell through the ground into an old septic tank. Experts say drought is destabilizing soil
Donna Kane was enjoying a quiet Friday, staining the deck on a windy April afternoon outside her farmhouse, when suddenly, while standing on the ground, the earth beneath her collapsed, and she fell into an open space below. Kane, who has lived on the Rolla, B.C., property just north of Dawson Creek for nearly 18 years, fell into what she learned was an old septic tank, full of icy water that, fortunately, was no longer contaminated with waste. But the water was over her head in the six-by-12-by-seven-foot tank. She couldn't pull herself out, so she had to figure out a way to keep her head above water so she wouldn't drown. "I was able to sort of reach up and hang on to the top of the earth and scream my head off," she told CBC's Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk. Her husband, Wayne Sawchuk, was close by, just inside their house, but the sound of her screaming was muffled by the wind and the radio. From inside the tank, Kane reached out to grab onto a nearby chair leg, pulled it down and turned it into a makeshift monkey bar that she could hold onto until she was rescued. Kane estimated she was in the hole for 20 minutes before her husband realized something was wrong and came outside to help her. "After I got warmed up and cleaned off, we just realized that … for the last few years, we had noticed a little depression in the ground where that hole was. But we didn't think about it." She's sharing her experience now to warn others that there may be something buried under their old homestead properties, and with the area currently at drought Level 4, they may end up in a similar situation if the parched ground gives way. Luis Goncalves, a registered onsite wastewater practitioner, installer and planner based in West Kelowna, said it's unusual that a homeowner wouldn't know about a septic tank on their property because it should be disclosed during a land transfer or purchase. Goncalves said it's important for people acquiring homes, especially in rural areas, to make sure they know what's under the ground before taking over a property. One place people can get that information, he added, is through their local health authority. When septic systems are decommissioned, Goncalves said, the contents of a tank are emptied and the tank is filled in to avoid a situation like the one Kane found herself in. The lifespan of septic systems can last anywhere from 20 to 40 years, he said, depending on soil permeability. The soil in Kane's community is usually moist clay. But now, it's bone dry, she said. After multiple years of drought, she worries the ground has no moisture left, making it unstable. "The clay always holds together really well. But now it's like popcorn," she said. Soil scientist Diogo Spinola, an assistant professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, said clay soil is made up of extremely tiny particles — a grain of sand can be hundreds to 1,000 times larger than clay particles. The small size of clay helps the soil to retain water, making it sensitive to drying and wetting, he added. "The impact of drought on clay soils can be quite dramatic," Spinola said. "During dry periods, they shrink and crack visibly at the surface. This is the classic image of [the] drought effect [on] clay soils. The soils become very hard and dense, which can damage infrastructure like roads, building foundations and underground pipes." Kane said while she was hanging in the septic tank, she took notice of the earth around her: it was dry, she said, and she could see each pebble and "distinction" in the soil. Ministry of Agriculture soil specialist Dieter Geesing said when clay soils dry out, they shrink and can develop deep cracks that can disrupt soil structures. Repeated cycles of drying and moisture can lead to crumbling and long-term structural damage, he added. It's been over a month since Kane fell through the ground. She and her husband have filled the tank in with rocks and dirt, and learned there are some old vehicles buried elsewhere in the yard. She said she still feels a little startled when she walks on uneven ground or steps on a wobbly stair. "I'm a little jittery, still. I know how lucky I was," Kane said. "Had Wayne not been here, I wouldn't have survived. And it could have been a child or someone who was unable to hang on for as long as I was able to.
CBC
25-05-2025
- General
- CBC
She fell through the ground into an old septic tank. Experts say drought is destabilizing soil
Donna Kane was enjoying a quiet Friday, staining the deck on a windy April afternoon outside her farmhouse, when suddenly, while standing on the ground, the earth beneath her collapsed, and she fell into an open space below. Kane, who has lived on the Rolla, B.C., property just north of Dawson Creek for nearly 18 years, fell into what she learned was an old septic tank, full of icy water that, fortunately, was no longer contaminated with waste. But the water was over her head in the six-by-12-by-seven-foot tank. She couldn't pull herself out, so she had to figure out a way to keep her head above water so she wouldn't drown. "I was able to sort of reach up and hang on to the top of the earth and scream my head off," she told CBC's Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk. Her husband, Wayne Sawchuk, was close by, just inside their house, but the sound of her screaming was muffled by the wind and the radio. From inside the tank, Kane reached out to grab onto a nearby chair leg, pulled it down and turned it into a makeshift monkey bar that she could hold onto until she was rescued. Kane estimated she was in the hole for 20 minutes before her husband realized something was wrong and came outside to help her. "After I got warmed up and cleaned off, we just realized that … for the last few years, we had noticed a little depression in the ground where that hole was. But we didn't think about it." She's sharing her experience now to warn others that there may be something buried under their old homestead properties, and with the area currently at drought Level 4, they may end up in a similar situation if the parched ground gives way. Dry soil Luis Goncalves, a registered onsite wastewater practitioner, installer and planner based in West Kelowna, said it's unusual that a homeowner wouldn't know about a septic tank on their property because it should be disclosed during a land transfer or purchase. Goncalves said it's important for people acquiring homes, especially in rural areas, to make sure they know what's under the ground before taking over a property. One place people can get that information, he added, is through their local health authority. When septic systems are decommissioned, Goncalves said, the contents of a tank are emptied and the tank is filled in to avoid a situation like the one Kane found herself in. The lifespan of septic systems can last anywhere from 20 to 40 years, he said, depending on soil permeability. The soil in Kane's community is usually moist clay. But now, it's bone dry, she said. After multiple years of drought, she worries the ground has no moisture left, making it unstable. "The clay always holds together really well. But now it's like popcorn," she said. Soil scientist Diogo Spinola, an assistant professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, said clay soil is made up of extremely tiny particles — a grain of sand can be hundreds to 1,000 times larger than clay particles. The small size of clay helps the soil to retain water, making it sensitive to drying and wetting, he added. "The impact of drought on clay soils can be quite dramatic," Spinola said. "During dry periods, they shrink and crack visibly at the surface. This is the classic image of [the] drought effect [on] clay soils. The soils become very hard and dense, which can damage infrastructure like roads, building foundations and underground pipes." Kane said while she was hanging in the septic tank, she took notice of the earth around her: it was dry, she said, and she could see each pebble and "distinction" in the soil. Ministry of Agriculture soil specialist Dieter Geesing said when clay soils dry out, they shrink and can develop deep cracks that can disrupt soil structures. Repeated cycles of drying and moisture can lead to crumbling and long-term structural damage, he added. It's been over a month since Kane fell through the ground. She and her husband have filled the tank in with rocks and dirt, and learned there are some old vehicles buried elsewhere in the yard. She said she still feels a little startled when she walks on uneven ground or steps on a wobbly stair. "I'm a little jittery, still. I know how lucky I was," Kane said. "Had Wayne not been here, I wouldn't have survived. And it could have been a child or someone who was unable to hang on for as long as I was able to.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
North Dakota farmers feeling effects of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health kick
Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 24, 2025. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to 'Make America Healthy Again' is making some North Dakota farmers queasy. Kennedy's MAHA movement shuns highly processed foods and dyes. But it also includes an attack on oils made from seeds such as sunflowers and canola, with North Dakota being a leading producer of those specialty crops. These oils are among what has become known as the 'Hateful Eight,' oils from canola, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, soy, rice bran, sunflower and safflower targeted by the MAHA movement. During a roundtable discussion last week in Fargo with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, representatives of crops such as sunflowers, canola, soybeans and lentils said the MAHA movement is troubling for their members. Rollins is part of a MAHA Commission, created by President Donald Trump, with Kennedy as the chair. John Sandbakken is executive director of the National Sunflower Association, headquartered in North Dakota but representing growers around the country. He said he has heard from farmers in multiple states concerned about the Rollins' role on the MAHA Commission, led by Kennedy. 'There's a lot of misinformation out on the internet about seed oils, and we are hoping, as groups, that you will be a strong advocate for seed oils and the healthy benefits that they do bring to our consumers,' Sandbakken said. Rollins responded that Kennedy is a 'unique voice.' 'My commitment is to be a vigorous and persistent advocate for all agriculture, including the great people that you represent,' Rollins said. The American Heart Institute is among the groups siding with seed oils advocates that they are healthy. Kennedy is backing beef tallow, a cooking oil that fell out of favor for being high in saturated fat. US ag secretary hears concerns about federal staff cuts during North Dakota visit An oil that is low in saturated fat is canola oil. Tim Mickelson, a Rolla farmer who is president of the U.S. Canola Association, encouraged Rollins to 'follow the science' on health and ag research. Mickelson said he fears the anti-seed oil movement is gaining momentum among consumers, which is just one of the problems facing canola growers. Mickelson farms near the U.S. border with Canada, where most canola is grown. He said canola prices in the U.S. follow the prices on Winnipeg Commodity Exchange and prices are also affected by the Canadian dollar. 'So if you're pushing ideas of a tariff on Canada, and it's hitting canola, you're going to hit the futures price negatively. You're also going to hit the Canadian dollar negatively,' Mickelson said. 'So canola is getting a double whammy.' He said even the rumors of tariffs hurt the canola market. 'Anytime somebody would sneeze on the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange about a tariff, canola would just be plummeting down,' Mickelson said. He said the market fell about 20% in March as tariffs with Canada were making headlines. 'Anything that disrupts the flow of canola between the United States and Canada is detrimental to the entire industry,' Mickelson said. While the canola market has rebounded, he said the tariff talk and market drop was happening as farmers were making final decisions about what to plant in the 2025 growing season. The United States had a record year for canola production in 2024, most of it coming from North Dakota, according to the U.S. Canola Association. There were 2.7 million acres planted to canola in 30 states last year, led by North Dakota with more than 2.1 million acres. Mickelson said with farmers concerned about changing consumer demand for canola oil and the timing of the tariff talk, canola acres could be down by 20% this year. Mickelson said he was grateful that Rollins came to North Dakota. 'I think she has very good intentions on taking what we talked about today and trying to implement the things that need to be changed,' Mickelson said, but acknowledged that she has less influence on the MAHA movement than the health secretary. 'That's a big challenge,' Mickelson said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
National Weather Service classifies recent tornadoes in Missouri, Illinois
MISSOURI & ILLINOIS- The National Weather Service (NWS) has completed surveys and compiled a list of tornadoes. The tornado in DuQuoin, Illinois, and the Rolla tornado were not in the NWS list. The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into these categories: EF0: 65 to 85 mph EF1: 86 to 110 mph EF2: 111 to 135 mph EF3: 136 to 165 mph EF4: 166 to 200 mph EF5: >200 mph Below is the list of tornadoes, as of this evening, that occurred in Missouri and Illinois: Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 19.18 miles Path Width /Maximum: 100 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 8:29 p.m. CDT Start Location: 3 E Japan / Franklin County / MO Start Lat/Lon: 38.2321 / -91.2427 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 8:51 p.m. CDT End Location: 2 SE Union / Franklin County / MO End Lat/Lon: 38.4241 / -90.99 Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 5.57 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 220 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 8:33 p.m. CDT Start Location: 6 ENE Swiss / Franklin County / MO Start Lat/Lon: 38.5799 / -91.3592 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 8:39 p.m. CDT End Location: 4 SE Berger / Franklin County / MO End Lat/Lon: 38.6347 / -91.2843 Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 130 mph Path Length /statute/: 13.63 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 130 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 1 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 8:56 p.m. CDT Start Location: 1 SE Villa Ridge / Franklin County / MO Start Lat/Lon: 38.4604 / -90.868 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 9:10 p.m. CDT End Location: 1 WNW Wildwood / St. Louis County / MO End Lat/Lon: 38.5876 / -90.6797 Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 122 mph Path Length /statute/: 30.88 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 1320 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 9:16 p.m. CDT Start Location: 1 NNE Clarkson Valley / St. Louis County/ MO Start Lat/Lon: 38.6329 / -90.5875 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 9:53 p.m. CDT End Location: 2 NW Alton / Madison County / IL End Lat/Lon: 38.924 / -90.1827 Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 115 mph Path Length /statute/: 25.33 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 850 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 9:18 p.m. CDT Start Location: Morse Mill / Jefferson County / MO Start Lat/Lon: 38.2701 / -90.6488 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 9:39 p.m. CDT End Location: 2 E Mehlville / St. Louis County / MO End Lat/Lon: 38.4951 / -90.2814 Rating: EF3 Estimated Peak Wind: 165 mph Path Length /statute/: 26.70 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 500 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 9:51 p.m. CDT Start Location: 3 SW Fremont / Carter County / MO Start Lat/Lon: 36.9213 / -91.207 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 10:11 p.m. CDT End Location: 6 ESE Ellington / Reynolds County / MO End Lat/Lon: 37.1814 / -90.869 Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 14.67 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 275 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 9:52 p.m. CDT Start Location: Valmeyer / Monroe County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 38.2991 / -90.3107 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 10:10 p.m. CDT End Location: 2 NW Floraville / St. Clair County / IL End Lat/Lon: 38.3968 / -90.0729 Rating: EF3 Estimated Peak Wind: 155 mph Path Length /statute/: 29.92 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 1525 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 10:20 p.m. CDT Start Location: 4 NE Garwood / Reynolds County / MO Start Lat/Lon: 37.1113 / -90.851 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 10:57 p.m. CDT End Location: 2 N Saco / Madison County / MO End Lat/Lon: 37.3949 / -90.4466 Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 109 mph Path Length /statute/: 6.84 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 450 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 10:28 p.m. CDT Start Location: 2 NE O'fallon / St. Clair County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 38.6129 / -89.8779 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 10:33 p.m. CDT End Location: 4 S St. Jacob / Madison County / IL End Lat/Lon: 38.6626 / -89.7756 Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph Path Length /statute/: 8.10 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 700 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 10:33 p.m. CDT Start Location: 2 NE Mascoutah / St. Clair County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 38.5352 / -89.7795 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 10:33 p.m. CDT End Location: 1 E Trenton / Clinton County / IL End Lat/Lon: 38.6072 / -89.6678 Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 13.39 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 400 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 11:11 p.m. CDT Start Location: 1 SW Hagerstown / Fayette County / IL Start Lat/Lon: 38.9324 / -89.188 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 11:23 p.m. CDT End Location: 5 NW Brownstown / Fayette County / IL End Lat/Lon: 39.0567 / -89.003 Rating: EF3 Estimated Peak Wind: 135 mph Path Length /statute/: 25.05 miles Path Width /Maximum/: 500 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 3/14/2025 Start Time: 11:31 p.m. CDT Start Location: 5 SE Silver Lake / Perry County / MO Start Lat/Lon: 37.6225 / -89.9232 End Date: 3/14/2025 End Time: 11:55 p.m. CDT End Location: 3 WSW Shiloh Hill / Randolph County / IL End Lat/Lon: 37.9188 / -89.6746 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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