Canal closure has locals seething

Hennepin festivities scheduled despite impending shutdown ROCK FALLS - Today, and again 2 weeks from now, there will be celebrations around the 101-year-old Hennepin Canal. Although they weren't planned that way, they may turn out to be farewell parties. The Hennepin Canal Parkway is one of 11 state parks slated for closure Nov. 1 as part of massive state budget balancing cuts and layoffs. Gov. Rod Blagojevich last week proposed closing the parks, as well as 13 state historic sites, and laying off more than 300 state employees to address a $1.4 billion deficit. The closures include Castle Rock State Park and Lowden State Park, both in Oregon, and the 105-mile Hennepin Canal Parkway, which includes the main and feeder canals. The main canal