BNSF will be making record infrastructural investments in North Dakota, including in the Minot area, to improve rail transportation in the state.

In a letter to Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, dated Tuesday, Carl Ice, BNSF president and chief executive officer, said, "We at BNSF are disappointed that we have not met our customers' expectations in North Dakota and across the network. We know that many customers have been significantly impacted. We are working closely with them to ensure that they have a transparent view into when their service will be improved and predictability will be provided to the service that they receive."

He said BNSF undertook a record capital program last year in its northern corridor including both capacity expansion and the maintenance required to ensure the safety and quality of the physical plant. He said those investments can slow down traffic. He also said the new capacity struggled to keep pace with the sizeable volume growth, including crude oil and grain movements, that BNSF experienced in the fourth quarter of 2013. There also was the extreme weather this winter that caused setbacks.

Eloise Ogden/MDN A BNSF train is shown in Minot. BNSF Railway will be making record infrastructural investments in the Minot area and other areas in North Dakota this year, says its president and chief executive officer.

"In 2014 we plan to make our largest, single-year capital investment in our company's history. Our investments of capital in expansion and maintenance in North Dakota will be a critical part of efficiently, and safely, facilitating the growth from the state, in particular, crude and agriculture, and growth elsewhere on the network," Ice said.

Ice said BNSF's maintenance investment grows as volumes grow. "In North Dakota this year, BNSF is spending $125 million to keep the existing tracks and facilities strong. Last year set a record for replacement and maintenance spending in the state $112 million."

He said replacement capital expenditures in North Dakota and elsewhere have also been growing since 2009. "Our planned expansion and efficiency capital will be more than $900 million in 2014, of which $265 million will be spent in North Dakota. This spending is part of a three-year capital expansion plan for North Dakota. We plan to spend $396 million over three years on the Glasgow subdivision alone that will result in over 100 miles of double track and the construction of three critical sidings. This investment will be important to successfully facilitating the growing volumes of freight trains of all kinds, as well as the Empire Builder," Ice explained.

"With the great increase in rail transportation in North Dakota, BNSF needs to make significant investments so the line can meet the many needs of our state," said Heitkamp, in a news release issued Friday. "Whether it is for rail safety, improved agriculture shipments, or Amtrak delays, our businesses need to know their products will be transported efficiently by rail and North Dakotans must be able to have reliable passenger rail."

To address issues specifically in North Dakota, BNSF notified Heitkamp that it will:

- Spend $162 million to double track the rail line from Minot to Glasgow, Mont., to help address major congestion issues for westbound traffic to destinations in the Pacific Northwest.

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Investing in N.D.

WINDHAM The high school experience came somewhat early for four classrooms of third-graders, who arrived in their new digs at Windham High School early Monday morning.

The past month has been a challenging one for the local school district, which is coping with a number of displaced Golden Brook Elementary School students after water and mold damage forced administrators to shutter a portable classroom building housing eight classrooms.

Weve made the best out of a very difficult situation, superintendent Winfried Feneberg said Tuesday afternoon. The first day went absolutely wonderfully.

The third-grade classes will be spending the rest of the school year at the high school, while four first-grade classes will be moved to other areas of Golden Brook School, including the art and music rooms and the computer lab.

Though the schools were closed for February vacation last week, dozens of staff members and volunteers were hard at work, moving desks and blackboards into the a section of the districts preschool, which is housed in an area of the high school thats separate from the general population.

Feneberg said the third-graders were greeted by waving high school students and their teachers as they exited the bus for the first time.

Once the kids arrived inside, another special surprise was in store: their very own lockers with official Windham High School Class of 2023 T-shirts tucked inside.

Almost everyone wanted to wear those shirts right away, the superintendent said. The staff thought of absolutely everything to make this a safe and welcoming environment.

An open house was held at the high school Sunday evening, and school officials said the majority of parents and children opted to attend.

The School Board is deciding on the future of Golden Brooks portable classrooms, with discussions to continue this week.

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Displaced third-graders warmly welcomed by Windham high-schoolers

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HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Governor Tom Corbett announced today that 33 rail freight improvement projects that will help sustain more than 43,000 jobs across Pennsylvania were approved today for funding from three PennDOT-managed programs.

"Pennsylvania has more operating railroads than any other state, and investing in our rail freight network keeps these invaluable assets in prime position to generate economic growth and jobs,'' Corbett said. "Improving rail networks not only spurs our economy, it also increases safety by helping to ease traffic on our highways."

The State Transportation Commission (STC) voted to approve $33.4 million for 15 projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and 14 projects through the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP). RTAP is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds and RFAP is underwritten through the new Multi-Modal Fund, created by Act 89. In November, Corbett signed Act 89, a far-reaching transportation program that clears the way for significant investments in all transportation modes.

Also, the STC approved $1.3 million for four projects from Marcellus Shale impact fees designated for distribution through PennDOT's Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways.

For more information, visit http://www.dot.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Rich Kirkpatrick or Erin Waters-Trasatt, PennDOT 717-783-8800 Steve Chizmar, Governor's Office 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: Following is a by-county list of approved rail freight projects under the three programs with the state share:

RTAP Projects:

Allegheny County

Berks County

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Thirty-three Rail Freight Projects Approved For State Funding Through Three Programs; Action Sustains Roughly 43,000 ...

By DAVID JOHNSTONFeb. 25, 2014, midnight

NEWSREADER replaced amid fallout of national one-hour bulletin.

Daniel Gibson, who has hosted the Albury bulletin since 2011, has been replaced as Prime7s local newsreader by Natalie Forrest

Daniel Gibson, who has hosted the Albury bulletin since 2011, has been replaced as Prime7s local newsreader by Natalie Forrest.

Daniel Gibson, who has hosted the Albury bulletin since 2011, has been replaced as Prime7s local newsreader by Natalie Forrest

PRIME7 has been forced to replace Daniel Gibson as its local newsreader amid the fallout of Channel Seven blind-siding the regional affiliate with the creation of a one-hour national bulletin.

Gibson is heading up a 30-minute national news service at 6.30pm for Wagga and Orange viewers.

He has been replaced as the Albury newsreader by Natalie Forrest with the switch made last night.

Albury viewers will continue to watch a re-packaged national news service from Channel Seven in Melbourne, which doesnt include a weather report.

Prime Media Group chief executive Ian Audsley said Forrest was a logical replacement for Gibson, who has hosted the Albury bulletin since 2011.

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Forrest set to replace Gibson

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THE Kapamilya Karavan last Pista Senyor had adoring fans greeting their respective idols with appreciate screams, during the mall shows and in the Sinulog grand parade.

A few hours before the mall shows, some entertainment writers chatted with the visiting stars including Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Richard Yap, Jodi Sta. Maria and Maja Salvador.

Of course, photo opportunities were also given to the scribes as they are also fans themselves (though not all will admit it).

Piolo talked about his coming movie with Toni Gonzaga, entitled Starting Over Again, Star Cinemas third offering for this year coming close to the Kim Chiu-Xian Lim starrer Bride for Rent and the Padilla clans Sa Ngalan ng Ama, Ina at Mga Anak.

In the interview, Piolo expressed his admiration for the multi-talented Toni who displayed dedication to her craft.

It can be recalled that a soft drink commercial featuring the two of them, with Toni blurting out I love you, Piolo!, served as Tonis big break. It paved the way for her entrance to the celluloid world.

Ironically, Starting Over Again is Piolos and Tonis first team up together on the wide screen and in a Valentines Day treat at that. It will open two days ahead (Feb. 12) of the day of hearts. Iza Calzado completes the love triangle in the story.

***

I intentionally refrained from writing about the Vhong Navarro-Deniece Cornejo-Cedric Lee controversy because I might be accused of inducing you to throw up (in case you still havent) for information overload or plain overexposure to the issue.

As what I had expressed on Facebook, Im not really a fan of Vhong but based on what I saw on TV, and the statement of the NBI, his accounts coincided with the CCTV footages.

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Serna: Siding with Vhong

Company announces relocation to Norcross

A3 Communications has announced the relocation of its Atlanta office this week. Formerly in Atlantas Buckhead district, A3 has relocated to 5000 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suite 155, in Norcross.

Since our original Atlanta office opening in 2012, weve seen significant growth in both the public and private Georgia markets, said Brian Thomas, president of A3 Communications.

Because of the increase in customers and a significant growth in staff, A3 Communications needed a larger space. The new office houses meeting and warehouse space and is centrally located within an easily-accessible industrial office park. Additionally, with simpler access to four major highways, A3 can continue to serve Georgia-based customers quickly and efficiently.

We look forward to continuing to provide the highest level of client service for information technology and physical security-based projects from our new Norcross office, Thomas said. With nearly 25 years in business, we look forward to continuing to build our presence across the Southeast.

For more information on A3 Communications, visit http://www.a3communications.com.

Suwanee resident receives business awards

The operator of Five Star Painting in Suwanee, franchisee Scott Specker, earned two awards during the annual 2014 Five Star Franchising Conference.

Specker was recognized as Customer Service King and Rookie of the Year.

Its an honor to receive these awards, Specker said. At times we experienced the challenges of growing a business and gaining traction during 2013, but we really tried to focus on keeping customers happy.

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BUSINESS BRIEFS: Company announces relocation to Norcross