You are correct, LeaderReader. I too am an avid playa of softball and appreciate the bug-free environment. I used to cake on the bug spray until it ate away at my skin and made me, well, ghost-like. Now I wear a medical mask so I don’t breathe the fumes — the blue masks match our uniforms. I too like swattin’ softballs better than swattin’ bugs.

Hello Cricketboy! I heard the siren-like sounds of the bug man the other night. I was shocked to see Beans the Clown driving the bug mobile but upon further review, I should have expected nothing less. Talk about a siren sound… Almost as good as yours! Keep up the good work Cricketboy!

Apparently none of you play softball at Roberts Park! Prior to Clarke Mosquito started spraying I would get more of a workout swatting the little buggers than playing softball. A few times I thought they were going to pick me up and fly away with me. It has made a night and day difference! Anyone stating anything less would be inaccurate.
It’s great to enjoy the outdoors without having mosquito bites all over my body. If you don’t like the sprayer, close your windows and turn you’re A/C on!

Is the Do Not Spray list a perfect answer for those wishing to avoid the spray, SlingBlade? No. But that’s your only option now to having the sprayer on past your house since residents voted about 6 to 4 to pay for the spraying.
I don’t recall much angst over the chemicals expressed last fall before the vote. That would have been a good time to campaign against spraying, not now. The vote provides for three years of funding.
(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at [email protected].)

The chemical product being sprayed is called Biomist 4+4, according to the city website. This contains permethrin, which is classified by the US EPA as a likely human carcinogen, based on reproducible studies in which mice fed permethrin developed liver and lung tumors.
See http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/permethrin_fs.htm
I would rather live with mosquitoes now than with cancer 10 years from now.

Those who have concerns about the spraying have always had the option to ask to be placed on the “Do Not Spray” list prior to spraying beginning by calling the city. The spraying unit is shut down as it passes your house.
(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at [email protected].)

The City of Hutchinson’s website (ci.hutchinson.mn.us) has a link to the company doing the spraying (Clarke). They have all the MSDS information there.

Hmmm…to quote - "I guess I’m just so tired of this “be afraid, be VERY afraid” mentality that seems to infect so many us."
And then you say, “Releasing more chemicals into our environment should be very carefully considered. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?”
Kind of a double standard there don’t ya’ think???

I’d like to know the effectiveness of this spraying also. Personally, I would rather not have my children inhaling these chemicals. It’s silly to have this fear based idea about west nile and other mosquito born viruses/illnesses—-I mean, west nile virus is real but the spraying can’t possibly lower your chances of getting it by much. I guess I’m just so tired of this “be afraid, be VERY afraid” mentality that seems to infect so many us. Releasing more chemicals into our environment should be very carefully considered. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

I don’t know that the effectiveness has been proven. The spraying was done during dry summers. I think that we rely too much on chemicals and are not aware of long term consequences because there is never a proven link. I just know that the cancer rates are increasing along with chemical use.

What ever chemical it is, it is protecting us from getting West Nile and several other mosquito born illnesses. I saw a truck spraying a week earlier than the above posted schedule. A nice gift for the Graduation parties that were going on later in the week! Every time I swat a mosquito, I remember a few years back, before spraying, and am reminded, it could be so much worse. THANK YOU voters!! It is a beautiful thing to be able to be outside in the summer in Minnesota.

Does anyone know what chemicals they are using for the spraying? I’m sure they have been labeled as “safe”, but who really knows the long term affects they could have? If I had small children I would be concerned of that potential.

The dates are as follows: june 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20 (up to 4 additional treatments possible in late July thru mid-September). All info has been & will be posted in the city, Leader, & KDUZ websites. It’s all contingent on weather, & Tuesdays are the “make-up” days.

The spray truck came by my house a couple of nights ago. It was funny, I heard a noise like a tornado siren, ran outside, only to find the pump on the mosquito spray truck spraying the air and the sides of the roads with some sort of chemical. Those trucks are LOUD. So, yes they are spraying now.