Early Spring & Blaze Destroys Historic Barn
Early Spring & Blaze Destroys Historic Barn plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.
Weather prognosticator, Punxsutawney Phil, that grumbling ground hog that gets pulled from his burrow every February 2nd gave a small Pennsylvania crowd what they were hoping for, an early spring.
AUDIO: Punxsutawney Phil was raised from his burrow and found that there was no shadow around, so an early spring it will be!
Groundhog proponents state that the rodents' forecasts are accurate 75% to 90% of the time. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says Phil doesn’t have the greatest track record.
RIPPEY: Punxsutawney Phil has been correct less than 40% of the time so it’s not even as good as flipping a coin.
I’ll go with the early spring thank you!
A two-alarm blaze on the site of the historic Meadowland Dairy kept fire crews busy Tuesday afternoon. Fire crews were called to the area on SE 162nd Ave. & Powell Blvd. just before 5 p.m., where they found the barn fully engulfed in flames and threatening nearby homes. Strong east winds created problems for the firefighters and a second alarm was called for the blaze. Crews were able to save the nearby homes, but the barn eventually collapsed and was destroyed by the fire.
Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.
So, Walmart is now the nation’s nutritional hero, sweeping in to save the day and our waistlines by supplying healthier food choices at their super stores. My gut tells me there’s more to this than meets the eye; perhaps just a jumpstart on the required nutritional changes soon to be adopted by the overall grocery industry anyway. Nothing like being the first one to hop on the old bandwagon, so to speak. It’s an age old marketing ploy. If all goes according to plan, Walmart’s changes should have Americans clamoring to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables. Does this really mean Walmart’s customers will start eating healthier, or does it merely mean that by reducing the price of healthier snacks in their stores Walmart will be encouraging their customers to spend more money buying more snacks. Plus, being the first to reduce the sodium and sugar in their own house brand sends a very strong signal to not only the consumer, but to other companies as well; “We’re doing all we can to improve the nutritional standards of our products, what are you doing?” Again, is Walmart really America’s smiley face in shining armor?
Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
