A MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR BEAR? SHIFTING, PERHAPS (Updated)

OK, FOLKS. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING!

BUT IT IS! ALL ON ACCOUNT OF THE RAIN WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING.

Ground stability a concern near river in Saskatoon

CBC News 

Posted: Jun 21, 2012 3:02 PM CST 

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2012 4:22 PM CST 

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Work crews are on the scene where the stability of the roadway is a concern. (CBC)

Residents of 35 homes have been asked to leave their residences and police are directing traffic around a section of road due to fears of a potential riverbank collapse in Saskatoon.

Police said Thursday they were told of structural problems in the area of 11th Street and Melrose Avenue earlier in the day.

Barricades were set up and traffic is being rerouted between the 200 and 300 block of 11th Street and at 10th Street and Melrose Avenue.

Work crews, city officials and Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison were also on the scene.

Around mid-afternoon officials from the city were asking people who live in a two-block area to leave their homes, at least for Thursday night.

Transportation was made available and officials were offering the evacuees dormitory space at the University of Saskatchewan.

The problem was first noted when a resident noticed the ground in their backyard had shifted, or slumped, by about 1.5 metres.

Emergency officials were also on hand in a Saskatoon neighbourhood to help move residents out, due to concerns about ground stability. (CBC)

The movement caused a power pole to topple.

Electricity has been cut off and workers from the power utility are on scene, making repairs.

"And where," you ask, "do the Bears live?" If you look at the map, and you see where 11th St. East hits the right edge of the map. That's us.   (Jackie at Teacher's Pet got an arrow in there for us. Thanks Jackie.) Melrose Avenue is the double line running down from the "St" of  "11th St. E." Eleventh and Melrose seems to be the main problem area. From Melrose and Eleventh, the land slopes fairly sharply to the west, and to the north — into the river.

Our apartment is in the zone that might be falling into the river. But we don't live in a house, so who knows what we should do? Indeed, a recent conversation with a Captain with our Fire Department indicated there is no plan to suggest evacuation from our apartment building. Yet. (Love that "yet," don't you!)

Backtracking, just about lunch time, the power was out in our building. Then we saw some City service trucks, then some police. Then, well, . . . we ignored the situation. Until we got the note from our son. And a phone call from him, to check this story. We're staying in touch with him, though we don't have any plans to move at this point. (He did offer us a place for the night, if we need it)

I thought today would be "life as usual." I was wrong. (But it's well know that Bear makes a lot of mistakes.)

Last week, a tornado threat. This week, maybe into the river. 

You cannot say life around here is boring. 

If you don't hear from me, you can assume we have slipped into the river. Right about here:

In other news, it is "Aboriginal Day" to-day in Canada, and there's a big celebration right across the river from us. The sun is shining. The sky is blue. The temperature is about 22°C (or about 72°F). The trees are green. The birds are singing. 

As Walter Cronkite would say, "And that's the way it is."

Blessing and Bear hugs, everyone!

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But wait! There's more

The city has just put out a news release. 

Ho hum. What's for supper?