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2007

Sunday, December 30, 2007. The secular holiday season is just about over. About 24 hours from now, the crowd in Times Square, New York, will have counted down as that big ball goes down, and midnight will have swept through Minnesota.

Folks here will be out, seeing in the new year with friends. Or, like me, staying home and watching other people do the hard work of whooping it up.

Then the Christmas lights will go out, for the most part. The Sauk Centre street crews will have the garlands and "HAPPY HOLIDAY" signs down within a few days, and life will be routine until winter starts melting.

All this philosophizing is intended to distract you from the fact that I don't actually have much to report.

The biggest deal I learned about this week was that the Our Lady of the Angels church has a new painting. Fr. Statz commissioned it, someone's paid for it, and it's hanging in the church's entrance. I found out about it this morning and, wouldn't you know it: this was one of the very few Sundays when I didn't bring my camera.

I ran across some photos that seem to sum up this year's Christmas

New, and improved: pre-lit red, white, and green Christmas trees.
This isn't your grandfather's Christmas tree, but the white (silver, I suppose), and red one would look good in some settings.
December 6, 2007.

Our Lady of the Angels church in Sauk Centre is a long way from Bethlehem. December 24, 2007.

Getting ready for Mass on Christmas Eve, in Our Lady of the Angels. December 24, 2007.

It's a little early, but: Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 27, 2007. What I think is Sauk Centre's first view-of-the-street webcam was launched today. Actually, I got the technical side of it done last night, but it wasn't ready for its opening until late this afternoon.

I don't have more to add today. The medical procedure I had this morning left me feeling no pain: and with the left-over anesthetic sauntering through my system for the rest of the day. I wrote a little more about it in "Through One Dad's Eye".

Wednesday, December 26, 2007. My guess is that quite a few folks have been doing some combination of visiting family, getting back to work, and seeing what they can get at after-Christmas sales.

I can't confirm that, though. Today has been another demonstration that I am no longer a teenager. I'm getting ready for an up-close-and-personal encounter with today's medical technology tomorrow. I know how that sounds, but it'll get worse if I try to fix it.

The bottom line is that I won't have much to report or add to the Sauk Centre Journal until tomorrow. Meanwhile, there's a more personal look at this family's life in Sauk Centre in "Through One Dad's Eye".

Sunday, December 23, 2007. The church we go to, Our Lady of the Angels, was so full this morning that my wife said, "I hope they realize this isn't the Christmas Mass."

The bulk of the family was at Soo Bahk Do tonight, with the van, which is part of why I didn't get to the tree lighting service tonight. I don't think this season will be as exciting as the 2005 Christmas holiday. That's when, on Christmas Eve, the Christmas tree clipped the priest and the star bopped the deacon. I think Father Statz has enjoyed referring to that, last year and this.

It was a windy and snowy day. Nothing very serious, but enough to make me hope that everyone got home without incident.

I spent most of the day, and the weekend, taking naps and being with family, so this will be a short entry.

But, there's always time for a few more photos of Christmas lights.

One of the more thoroughly decorated yards. December 18, 2007.

Inside, a very blue tree. Outside, some distance away, a Nativity scene. December 18, 2007.

As I've said before, Merry Christmas.

Thursday, December 20, 2007. To paraphrase a slogan I read many years ago, "next week I gotta get organized! Somehow, I missed Wednesday's update of the Sauk Centre Journal.

On the 'up' side, I got out today, and talked with the proprietors of Hamilton's Old Time Laundry. They've been around since October of 2006. They say that they "clean your clothes without cleaning out your wallet" - and do it in 900 square feet of the lowest floor of The Palms motel, across from McDonalds. They've even got a dryer that 'freshens' wrinkled clothes.

A new, old-fashioned, laundry sign. December 20, 2007.

The year-old laundry's sign was painted by the owners' daughter. Nice work: in my opinion, anyway.

I'm not sure what happened to Sassy's Under the Palms. The space they occupied, next to Hamilton's Old Time Laundry, is for lease again.

Now, it's time to look at some more Christmas lights.

Colored lights around the garage door, glowing snowpeople in the yard.
December 18, 2007.

This Christmas display is a bit different. I like it. December 18 2007.

Sunday, December 16, 2007. Still doing catch-up. On my way to the Lakeview Medical Clinic in St. Mike's (St. Michael's Hospital, to be more formal) this week, I noticed a new sign near the north end of Main. That dark blue pylon really stands out against the snow.

Not much more to say, except: here are the photos.

Nice, quiet street in Sauk Centre: during a Minnesota snowfall.
December 1, 2007.

Clearing the Wal-Mart lot: no small job. December 1 2007.

Grilling in winter: there's nothing quite like it. December 1, 2007.

Snow on the street: a treat for snowmobilers. December 2, 2007.

Snow: picturesque; with practical concerns. December 4 2007.

Cool sign. December 13, 2007.

I hope you're having a good holiday season.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007. I'll be doing catch-up for a while, it looks like. Whatever bug I've had has kept me inside for the most part: so I don't have all that much to say about what's been going on in Sauk Centre in the last week or so. My educated guess, based on over two decades living here, is that the stores are busy, and that more people have their yard displays up and running.

Now, going back almost a week, here are a few photos of the elementary school's Christmas show. Or winter show, or whatever it's supposed to be called.

I like this lobby, between the auditorium and the multipurpose room. Someday, I may manage to catch the 'sparkle' in the overhead lights. December 6, 2007.

Getting all the kids in all the grades on and off stage, on time, and in order, is no minor task. December 6 2007.

SRO - Standing Room Only. The auditorium was full, from the stage, to the equipment recording the show, to the two sets of seating in the back. December 6, 2007.

Meanwhile, we'd had some of that snow that's been falling this month. I like having a 'white Christmas.'

Looking outside, I saw a face in the snow. December 6, 2007.

It's getting closer to Christmas. May your season be relatively stress-free. Or, to be more traditional, "Merry Christmas!"

Monday, December 10, 2007. This is going to be a brief entry, for reasons that I wrote about in "Monday: Another Week, Another Set of Antibiotics."

So, tonight, I'll post a photo or two, and try to get back with more tomorrow. (And you know how well those assurances have been going of late.)

Snow on the grill? No problem! December 9, 2007.

Supper on the grill. December 9, 2007.

Meter-reader's footprints in the snow. December 7, 2007.

Footprints in the snow last week reminded me of the guy who reads the meter, and everyone else who keeps things running, year-round. Thanks for all that work!

Sunday, December 9, 2007. Christmas preparations are interfering with my schedules.

That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.

I'll have more, later on Monday. Including photos.

Really.

Sunday, December 2, 2007. I've got three things to say, before starting:

1. I missed Wednesday's entry this week. Sorry about that!
2. Today's entry is going to be very short.
3. I plan to be back, with more (and photos) by about 5:00 on Monday.

I know what the calendar says, but about four inches of snow on the ground say that it's winter. I commemorated the occasion by getting the family van stuck on my way out the driveway.

Thanks, everyone who got me out! (There's more about this at Sunday: Snow, Advent, Grilling, and Family, on my "Through One Dad's Eye" blog.)

Sunday, November 25, 2007. Thanksgiving Day weekend is over. We just missed having a white Thanksgiving here: A few flurries on  Thursday were all promise and no substance.

Not quite a "white Thanksgiving." November 22, 2007.

The lights at the south end of Ash street are still flashing red. I hope they get that fixed before major Christmas shopping traffic starts. The intersection's a trifle complicated, and not everyone understands the Minnesota standards of how to treat that sort of situation.

People are still getting places set up for Christmas: including the Historical Society, in the basement of the library.

A little greenery, a few lights, at the History Society. November 23, 2007.

I don't really have that much to report. I've mostly been hanging out with my family, since Wednesday. we went to 'Grandpa's' this afternoon, for a get-together with another unit of the extended family. That was a good time. One of my nephews brought his laptop, and spent some of the afternoon trying to fix part of the power supply. I haven't heard how that worked out, yet.

Back in my day, he'd have been working on a car. November 25, 2007.

That wraps it up for this week: except for sharing today's sunset.

Another Minnesota Sunset. November 25, 2007.

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. I'll be going to Mass in the morning, but that's about all the traveling this family has planned for right now.

The lights, down at south 12th and Ash, have been set to flashing red. I suppose that's a step toward getting repairs done. A crew has been through there, painting crosswalks on the street: painting over some traffic arrows on the south side of the intersection, and leaving an arcane message on a curb.

Probably means "crosswalk here." November 19, 2007.

P's & Q's Computing skipped right past Thanksgiving, and got their Christmas display up. They're one of the Main Street businesses that can be counted on for a big holiday display.

Ho, Ho, Ho: Sauk Centre's computer store display. November 19, 2007.

Coburns has a big turkey out front now. My wife's been getting at least one 'turkey card' stamped there, so we may have a turkey soon.

That sign reminds me of construction-paper turkeys I used to make, back in elementary school. November 19, 2007.

Downtown, they were getting the garlands up. I checked today, and the south Main "HAPPY HOLIDAY" sign is up, too. I assume they got the north one taken care of, too.

Getting those garlands up isn't exactly a small job. November 19, 2007.

Folks have been getting Christmas yard displays up, too. I'll get to that on Sunday, I trust.

Sunday, November 18, 2007. It's holiday season. No question about it. In fact, in the Wal-Mart supercenter, I saw three holidays represented, within about ten feet of each other: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. See for yourself:

A painted Jack o' lantern, scarecrow, pumpkins: and a Christmas tree. November 13, 2007.

Folks are getting their Christmas decorations up, while the weather is still relatively warm, and yards are snow-free. One of the more reliably exuberant households has a fancy display up: complete with palm tree.

Christmas lights. November 14, 2007.

Another household is among the Christmas early birds (early reindeer?): but their display is more of the elegant simplicity type.

Broken pumpkins, unbroken televisions. November 14, 2007.

Main Street Coffee Company has their display up, too. I'm not sure how many businesses will deck themselves out this much.

Specialty coffee shop lit up for the holidays. November 14, 2007.

Those "technical difficulties" I talked about on Thursday are turning out to be no big deal. I hope, anyway. I wrote a little more about what was going on in Through One Dad's Eye and Starting a Small Business Without Losing My Mind.

Thursday, November 15, 2007. I've been experiencing technical difficulties, and hope to have something new published by Sunday, at the latest.

Thank you for your patience.

Sunday, November 11, 2007. Veteran's Day. Or, for the traditionalists, Armistice Day. Or, in Canada, Remembrance Day. Banks and Federal offices will have today off, but for most of the rest of us, it'll be another work day tomorrow.

Red, white, and blue banners were up in Our Lady of the Angels church today, with an American flag and a Vatican flag up front. Rather colorful. I know: I concentrate on OLA: but that's the church I go to, so that's what I talk about.

Flags were up on the downtown light poles, as far back as Friday, at least.

I heard an unusual number of sirens tonight: Maybe we'll read about it in the paper.

We've had a snow flurry or two, but not a single flake endured. Sooner or later, though, winter will come.

I don't have all that much to report today. Part of the reason for that is that I've been trying to get an oversized video file out of my digital camera. Without success. Right now, the device is sitting in a safe in Alexandria, waiting for a technician to come in Monday morning. At least, I hope so. He might be taking Veteran's Day Monday off.

Also, I've been distracted by some interesting technical stuff. Enough excuse-making, though. I'll be back Wednesday: with pictures, I hope.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007. Christmas decorations and merchandise went up in stores here in Sauk Centre right after Halloween. Now, they're in full holiday shopping mode. It'll be red-and-green for the next two months.

Looking back on it, putting old television sets and a monitor for pickup on Halloween wasn't the best idea in the world. They weren't broken, but some pumpkins were smashed around them.

Broken pumpkins, unbroken televisions. November 1, 2007.

That suggests a quite restrained approach on the part of the pumpkin breakers. Just the same, breaking pumpkins and destroying Jack o' lanterns is a custom that I may never really understand.

I think there have been more jaywalkers downtown lately. I've run into more, at least. That's to say, I've seen more. I haven't actually run into any. In fact, the people I've noticed seemed to be taking an intelligent interest in minimizing the probability that they'd end their lives as hood ornaments.

Sunday, November 4, 2007. I was out of town over the weekend, taking a couple of the kids up to see "Grandpa Gill." That was time well spent.

Speaking of time, the "fall back" part of daylight saving time happened over the weekend. Once again, folks here in America have been given jet lag, without the need to travel. I could do without getting yanked back and forth one hour, twice a year, but there doesn't seem to be much we can do about it.

Friday, around 5:00 in the afternoon, I noticed smoke west and a little south of town. As I went over the Interstate, it became obvious that the cloud was over a mile away.

Field fire, west and a little south of town. November 2, 2007.

Make that a couple miles out of town. A field fire had started, and was heading east, thanks to a quite brisk wind. Quite a bit of the Sauk Centre fire department was out there, putting a dent in the fire.

A whole lot of fire, and only so many firefighters. November 2, 2007.

I wasn't able to stick around to see how it came out. I trust that the firefighters kept the blaze away from trees, down by a watercourse, that the fire was heading for.

I said I'd be back, with more Halloween photos.

These folks did a nice job. That looks like a serious crash landing.
October 20, 2007.

That's not a Jack o' lantern. A spider lantern, maybe? October 31, 2007.

There, that'll have to be enough for now.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007. Happy Halloween!

I'll be back later, with something to say.

Now, it's later. I'll get back to Halloween right after a few other items.

Crime Scene Investigation tape isn't seen too often around here, so it sticks out. Someone seems to have lobbed something fairly substantial through a window, a few blocks north of us. I hope that gets sorted out before things get much colder.

A very broken window on south Ash Street. October 29, 2007.

The house that burned on south Pine earlier this month must have been in worse shape than it looked from the curb. It had been torn down, and the hole filled in, when I drove by today.

The way it was. October 1, 2007.

The way it is. October 31, 2007.

Whoever lived there had some nice decorations and plantings before the fire. One of those small hanging-pot stakes had been set up in the soil where the basement had been filled in. I like that: a sort of tribute to the house that stood there.

It's that time of year, when birds head south, some of the critters dig in, and insects do whatever it is that insects do. The things I call boxelder bugs were holding some sort of even on the wall of our house, near the utilities meter. I don't know what they were up to, but I suspect that it had to do with their kind's strategy for making it through the winter.

Bugs of autumn. No wonder they don't have odes written about them. October 6, 2007.

One of the banks has a new sign: with color. That explains why their old sign was dark the last week or so.

The new sign has eye-catching animations, too. October 29, 2007.

Sic transit gloria mundi, and all that. At one time, the old sign was a new and exciting technology. October 29, 2007.

Today was Halloween. In the stores, some folks were getting last-minute treat-buying, gizmo-getting, and costume-picking done. A few households went to quite a bit of trouble with their displays. (I plan to be back, Sunday, with a few more photos.)

These folks were ready early (The sign on the left says, "Treats Inside (tricks optional)." October 11, 2007.

Windy day: good thing those decorations were firmly attached.
October 31, 2007.

Ps and Qs has a tradition of holiday displays. October 31, 2007.

Finally, trick or treating. October 31, 2007.

I was able to walk (waddle, actually) with my son, trick-or-treating tonight. That was fun. We met quite a few other family groups, doing the rounds. I've seen more folks out: it was windy and cool this year.

Sunday, October 28, 2007. This week I've got a better explanation for missing Wednesday's entry. My wife is ill. Nothing serious, just enough to take the edge off. I've been pitching in, a little, and probably haven't messed too much up in the process.

That pair of traffic lights at Ash and 12th are still pointing in the same direction, more or less. I suppose there's more to fixing the fixture than taking a firm hold of the assembly and giving it a good twist.

Father Robert Olima has been visiting the Our Lady of the Angels and St. Paul Parishes, at least, for the last several weeks. He's from the St. Joseph parish in Migori, Kenya. The Sauk Centre Herald did a good piece, "Kenyan connection," on October 2.

Part of a photo board in Our Lady of the Angels Church in Sauk Centre. October 21, 2007.

I saw a cluster of kids, and adults flowing through downtown this Friday. The kids were in Halloween costumes: I don't know what the occasion was, but it looked like the folks were having a pretty good time. I was impressed. The grown-ups had good control of the group: There wasn't any of the 'trying to herd cats' aspect to it. Not, at least, from the safe ten-yard distance I maintained.

Kids in costume on the corner. October 26, 2007.

This hasn't been the flashiest fall I've ever seen here, but it hasn't been the biggest washout, either. As usual, the maples are among the top performers. It's getting toward the end of the season, though.

One of my favorite spots for fall photos. October 22, 2007.

We've been getting some wonderful sunsets lately. Or maybe I'm just reacting to them more, now.

Autumn sunset by Sauk Lake: Someone's burning leaves. October 24. 2007.

Just a few more days, and it will be Halloween. Good grief! I see it's on a Wednesday this year!

The Wednesday entry should be published sometime Wednesday night. I've got some decent photos of Halloween lawn decorations.

Sunday, October 21, 2007. "There should be more ready to go Wednesday night." Ha!

You've noticed that I missed this week's Wednesday entry. Sorry about that. By the time I realized what had happened, it was already Friday. It isn't that anything in particular happened this week. Things have just been uneventfully hectic.

At least I'm in better shape than the traffic light down at 12th and Ash I don't know what happened, but it looks like something big and heavy brushed by it, probably last weekend. With all the other lights there, it isn't really confusing, just odd that red and green lights are both pointing in the same direction.

Rumpled traffic lights at 12th and Ash. October 17, 2007.

We've been getting rain. I shouldn't complain, considering the lack of water we had over the summer, but it's a bit dreary, when parking lot lighting is on in the mid-afternoon.

Mid-afternoon. Too early for the lights to be on. October 18, 2007.

Two days after that picture was taken, it was a bright, beautiful autumn day.

Two days later: beautiful fall weather. October 20, 2007.

I haunt the computer and electronics aisles in Sauk Centre's Wal-Mart. One day, I saw the biggest toaster I'd ever seen, on a shelf next to a computer. No, it was another computer.

Pop-up computer? Internet-ready toaster? October 9, 2007.

Yesterday was another beautiful day. I had the grill set up, burgers properly placed. Our daughter who's home from college even decided to keep me company.

I lit the fire, put the burgers on when the grill was hot, and then we ran out of LP gas. Cooking the burgers inside just isn't the same.

Today, with a re-filled LP gas cylinder, I was ready, and we had drizzle at noon. That's okay, though: those grilled burgers are worth getting damp.

Our Lady of the Angels church had a polka mass this morning. This time, the musicians were sufficiently polka-ish for my taste. I'll admit it: I like the oom-pahs.

Polka Mass at Our Lady of the Angels church. October 21, 2007.

The Country Polkateers kept playing a little while after Mass. October 21, 2007.

One thing is sure: this is a change of pace at OLA. October 21, 2007.

This next week should be more 'normal' for me. Famous last words? I'll keep you posted.

Sunday, October 14, 2007. Another weekend gone. I enjoyed grilling, Saturday and Sunday. Today's light rain was a plus, in a way: When raindrops started exploding on contact with the grill, I knew it was hot enough.

Now that we're half-way through October, on the way to Halloween, it's starting to feel more like fall.

Blue sky, yellow leaves, and a ready-to-rake lawn. October 4, 2007.

This wasn't the best year for autumn colors, but it wasn't as much of a dud as I expected. I don't know that there was a 'peak day' around here. Trees and bushes seemed to have a staggered schedule for shedding this year. Actually, it made for some rather nice effects: bare trees, green trees, orange trees, and green, ready-to-rake grass, all in one place..

Season's end at the lakeside campground. October 11, 2007.

And, there's the farmer's market by the American Legion, downtown. The folks there have to dress warmer now, than they did a month ago, but they're still in business.

Farmer's Market at the American Legion. October 11, 2007.

I've been going back, catching up on photos. There should be more ready to go Wednesday night.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007. There's an explanation for why I didn't get a Monday updated made for the Sauk Centre Journal. It's at the end of today's entry.

There's an explanation for why I didn't get a Monday updated made for the Sauk Centre Journal. It's at the end of today's entry.

Around 6, Sunday evening, the lights went out, and stayed that way for about 40 minutes. I haven't heard what happened, but assume that it had something to do with the thundershowers that were passing through.

That portable four-way-stop sign is a good idea. October 7, 2007, about 6:30.

Lights weren't out all over. At least one building downtown had battery backup for lighting in what I think was a stairway. And, happily, fire/police/emergency services seems to have its own reserve power system.

Sauk Centre Fire and Police: these lights don't go out. October 7, 2007, about 6:30.

It's getting to be more conventionally Autumn-like now. Yesterday's wind reminded me of my childhood in the Red River Valley of the North: a strong, wuthering sound that relaxes or worries, depending on a person's personal history.

Now, and explanation (not an excuse) for why I didn't do what I said I'd do, and get something ready for Monday.

I got sick. Not so sick that I could claim pity: just ill enough to make my efficiency and alertness approach zero.

Then, yesterday, I used my head as a percussion instrument. Not intentionally, but quite effectively. One of the kids had done a good job of mopping the kitchen floor, but not such a good job of drying it.

I broke my fall with my head. In case you're in a similar situation, a word of advice: another part of our body might be a better choice.

What surprised me was what a musical sound my head made: a sort of hollow, wooden "boink."

After that, I didn't feel like doing much. My legs, on the other hand, decided, in the wee hours of the morning, to see which could produce the most Charlie Horses per minute.

Aside from that, though, I'm doing fine.

Sunday, October 7, 2007. The good news, for me, was that I got some paying work over the weekend, was able to grill hamburgers Saturday and Sunday, and had a good visit with some of the extended family today.

The bad news is that I don't have much ready for the Sauk Centre Journal. The key here is "ready." I've got photos, notes, all the parts ready to go.

Here's what happened. We had some lightning and thunder this afternoon, which didn't bother me a bit, since I was having a good time visiting with family. I was ready, a little before six this evening, to get started on the Sauk Centre Journal and a few other obligations: all of which required a working computer.

Then the lights went out. A few minutes later, they were back on. Then they went out. And stayed out for about forty minutes.

Not long after the lights came on, and I had the computer running and ready to go, I saw flickers. Then, I heard thunder.

It's not the lightning I'm so worried about: it's the power surges that can happen when lightning affects our power grid. The computer went off again. And stayed off as a long-winded thunderstorm muttered its way over Sauk Centre.

Eventually, the atmospheric percussion performance and light show was over, and I got to work. Now, much later, that I've got time to work on this Journal, there's flickering again.

That video clip shows what I've been enjoying this evening. My plan is to get back to work on the Sauk Centre Journal Monday morning.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007. This is one of those weeks when I didn't enjoy reading the newspaper.

For starters, it's been a hot eight days in and around Sauk Centre. I read in the Sauk Centre Herald that no one was hurt when that house on South Pine caught fire.

And, nobody got hurt when a truck caught fire on Highway 71 in Sauk Centre. The lady who was driving the truck was none too pleased. That truck had a new engine in it. She got out with her purse and a folder of her husband's, but the truck and some Tupperware party material got burned.

That was the third fire in eight days that the Sauk Centre fire department had to deal with: starting with that house fire last week.

The top story wasn't so happy, though. A nineteen-year-old Sauk Centre man was killed when his vehicle went off east Highway 28 and hit a tree. If it's the section of road I think it is, it isn't the place I'd want to be driving, after 1:00 in the morning.

Then, there's the Sinclair Lewis Park.

Vandalized.

Again.

Some jerk or jerks knocked in part of the gazebo, threw trash in the fountain, kicked in a pop machine, and indulged in other forms of self-expression a week ago. The Sauk Centre Police want anyone who saw someone at the park after dark Wednesday, September 26, to call them at 351-7022.

That explains why the umbrella-kids sculpture  was down, and the gazebo had snow fencing around it last week. The fountain sculpture wasn't mentioned, so I'm assuming and hoping it's okay. That thing is quite a local seasonal landmark.

As one of the men who was cleaning up after the presumably over-age-in-grade brats said, "the more stuff they break, the less new stuff we can get." (quoted from the Herald) There was going to be new playground equipment at Sinclair Lewis Park. Now, I don't know. Apparently, there's been a continuing problem with vandalism at area parks. Sad.

On a happier note, the weather today was bright, sunny, warm. Too warm, actually, for me: but I'm not complaining. The sun is starting to rise and set south of due east and west, so we'd better enjoy sweating while we can.

Monday, October 1, 2007. The house on south pine doesn't look as bad as it might. The vines growing on the south side even seem to be relatively okay. On the other hand, those broken windows on the second floor and attic aren't what I'd want in my home. I imagine we'll be reading about this in the Sauk Centre Herald tomorrow.

Beautiful autumn day, not so pleasant scene. October 1, 2007.

Happily, the vines seem to be okay. Small consolation, I know.
October 1, 2007.

On a happier note, I was in Alexandria today, and saw a collection of ducks, geese, and gulls at Noonan park, near downtown.

I like these Autumn holiday trimmings. September 26, 2007.

Sunday, September 30, 2007. I was out of town for the weekend, and got back later today than I expected. So, this will be a rather short entry.

There was a house fire over on Pine Street South. The place doesn't look good: broken windows on the upper floors, and windows boarded up on the ground floor. I hope everyone got out in time.

Roadwork on the eastward extension of Sinclair Lewis Avenue seems to be done: there's a snappy set of lane markings on the black asphalt surface now.

The autumn leaves aren't going to be very spectacular this year. That drought didn't help.

I haven't heard or read anything about what effect the recent rains had, but they should have helped.

I plan to be back Monday night, with a bit more: and with photos.

Thursday, September 27, 2007. The two big autumn holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving, are coming. The most obvious signs are the pumpkins piled outside some stores, a few people who got a head start on holiday decorating, and a distinct orange-and-black color scheme in some store shelves.

I like these Autumn holiday trimmings. September 26, 2007.

Getting an early start on Halloween decorating. September 25, 2007.

The umbrella kids statue has been taken down in Sinclair Lewis Park, and the gazebo is, for reasons that I don't quite understand, wrapped in orange snow fencing.

Taking the statues down I can understand. Wrapping the gazebo in snow fencing puzzles me. September 27, 2007.

I've seen flocks of birds overhead. They're preparing their annual evacuation, leaving us humans, sparrows, and squirrels to keep an eye on the north country.

Autumn migration over Sauk Centre. September 25, 2007.

Downtown, we've got another set of those new old-fashioned street lights. These are on Main, just north of Sinclair Lewis Avenue.

More new old-style lights downtown. September 27, 2007.

A fire, power outages, and someone who found out how deep the underpass was, under the Lake Wobegon Trail. September 25, 2007.

This week's Sauk Centre Herald included an account of that fire just off the southeast side of town. No one was hurt, happily, but the Melin's house was pretty badly smoked up. The paper says that Jim Melin's co-workers from Wal-Mart showed up, asked their clothes sizes, and came back with clothes. Other folks brought a motor home in, so the Melins would have someplace to sleep.

Taking a phrase from the article, I'd say the it was a case of "Wal-Mart family" mixed with Minnesota Nice. That's something I like about living here: We don't just have people living next to us, we've got neighbors.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007. So far this week, I learned that last week's storm was the worst that Sauk Centre has experienced in five years.

I also learned that I can do only so many things in a given amount of time. Finishing the Wednesday entry for the Sauk Centre Journal wasn't one of them. Barring unforeseen developments, I should have something done tomorrow evening.

Sunday, September 23, 2007. Sauk Centre, along with quite a bit of Minnesota and Wisconsin, had exciting weather on Thursday. After the summer's drought, I don't feel like complaining about the rain, though. Hail around our house wasn't even pea-size, for the most part, but I've heard that other parts of town got up to - golf ball size? I think that was it.

As the rain was letting up, a fair fraction of the Sauk Centre police department went by our house, including a tanker. I kept hearing sirens, and got curious.

Someone just south of the Interstate was not having a good day. A house on the highway that runs by the airfield was very sincerely on fire. I suppose lightning started the fire, but that's an assumption.

There's a lot of coordination involved in fighting a fire. September 20, 2007.

A tanker from the Melrose Fire Department and one from Sauk Centre shuttled back and forth from a hydrant in town to the fire while other firefighters worked on the house.

Not what a homeowner wants to see in the front yard. September 20, 2007.

I expect there'll be details in Tuesday's Sauk Centre Herald.

A few of the firefighters near Sauk Centre's southeast side.
September 20, 2007.

I took some video, and put it in Central Minnesota Theatre (Storm & Fire, 9/20/2007).

Aside from that, it's been pretty quiet. I grilled burgers yesterday and today. I think I'm getting the knack of not incinerating them.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Those new old-fashioned lights seem to be on their way north of Sinclair Lewis Avenue now. A crew has been working on the sidewalk on the east side of main, up to the Family Dollar Store corner.

New old-fashioned lights by the Family Dollar.
September 19, 2007.

Sidewalk work outside the Holiday Super Stop on the south side was getting the store ready for winter. It looks like they decided it made more sense to heat the sidewalk, than shovel and scrape.

Heated sidewalks. Sometimes those things make sense.
September 18, 2007.

Meanwhile, on the east side, it's road work time. There's going to be a lot of that going on next summer.

It's nearing the end of one of Minnesota's four seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Roadwork. September 19, 2007.

Quite a few people sat in on the council meeting tonight, including me. The council had a public hearing on the North Pine/South Ash Street work that's scheduled for next summer.

Actually, it wasn't officially scheduled until tonight, if I understand how this works. Some details are still getting sorted out, but tonight the council voted, 5-0, to go ahead with the north Pine Street and South Ash Street reconstruction. It's going to be a busy, and messy, summer next year.

Street lights were on by the time I left the council meeting tonight.
September 19, 2007.

Right now, I've had a big day, and am turning in. I'll talk more about next year's big street work project another time.

Sunday, September 16, 2007. Downtown Sauk Centre has another block's-worth of the new old-fashioned street lights now. I'm looking forward to seeing what they look like at night. The project couldn't be missed by anyone going downtown this week, as sidewalks were cut up with near-surgical precision.

A pleasant side-effect was that, while yellow tape blocked the sidewalks on one side or another, there wasn't as much jaywalking. Once the tape was down, though, folks were back, testing the nerves of hapless drivers.

New old-fashioned lights needed new power lines, apparently.
September 12, 2007.

Someone needed help, around Martin's Jewelry, Thursday afternoon. My hat's off to the folks who keep the police department and ambulance service working.

Hats off to Sauk Centre's emergency services. Someone needed an ambulance, in front of Martin's Jewelry. September 13, 2007.

Friday afternoon, one of the last street lights was being lowered into place on "The Original Main Street."

That's a tall crane, being used to install "Original Main Street's" new old-fashioned streetlights. September 14, 2007.

I suppose it could have been worse at Jitters Java. They've got a working parking lot back, although with a decidedly sub-par surface.

It could have been worse: they filled in the trench. September 14, 2007.

Actually, it could have been a lot worse. I understand that a water main broke, somewhere outside the eatery. A crew came, and declared that the leak was three feet from the building.

So, that's where they started digging. When they got to the pipe, no leak. Reasoning that it must be a little nearer the street, they extended the hole westward.

Still no leak.

Digging a little farther west, they still couldn't find the leak. The leak must be somewhere on the pipe, and the pipe led west, toward the street, so once more it was westward-ho!

Eventually, they had a trench dug as far as the shutoff valve. Still no leak, but their quest was almost at an end. The leak was off, on the other side of the shutoff valve.

Do you see that orange-reddish traffic marker near the street, in the photo up there? That's roughly where the leak was. The packed sand is where the trench was dug: all the way from the building to the street.

The church I go to, Our Lady of the Angels, has been raising money to replace the old, defunct, dishwasher. Finally, fundraising got nearly to the goal: just $700 short of what was needed.

That's when the elevator went phut. That's going to cost well into five figures to fix. It's not an option, really, since the church is obliged to provide wheelchair access. It's fix the elevator, raise the ground, lower the church, or knock down walls to make room for one of those carnival-ride-style switchback access ramps.

And, next summer, everyone on this part of Ash Street gets to pay for (much-needed) utilities and street repair/replacement. That costs money, too.

To end on an 'up' note, it's been a beautiful weekend. Clear skies, (fairly) gentle winds. Today, it was in the high seventies, I'm told.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007. I got out yesterday, and took a few pictures. It was 9/11/2007, six years after the attack on New York, and Washington, D.C. For the most part, flags around town were at half-staff.

Flags at half staff, in remembrance. September 11, 2007.

Meanwhile, life's been going along as it usually does. A fair fraction of  the Jitters Java parking lot got dug up. I haven't found out why. Most of the dirt is back in place today.

Not the sort of thing a business owner wants to see in the parking lot. September 1, 2007.

Lake Wobegon Trail has another bench, near Ash Street in Sauk Centre. I think the cement had just been poured and smoothed when I came by.

Another bench for Lake Wobegon Trail. September 11, 2007.

And someone's put a new sign on the Lake Wobegon Trail bridge over Main, letting Justin know he's welcomed home.

Justin: welcome home. September 11, 2007.

It's starting to feel like fall. And about time, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not built for heat. Some trees are starting to turn. I don't think it's exactly fall colors, though. My guess is that they've been stressed by this summer's drought.

Sunday, September 9, 2007. Actually, Monday morning. I got distracted yesterday evening.

School started last Tuesday. I'm getting used to the twice-daily sounds of school busses and cars passing by, with the occasional screeching tire.

The school year got off to a hot start, but now it's cool. Literally. It's a few degrees below 60 here, compared to last week's torrid temps.

Hot stuff! First day of school, and it's not quite 100. September 4, 2007.

Street work on the east side of Main has been going along well. Saturday, I noticed that retro-style lights were up. (Sorry, no pictures yet: that'll teach me to go out without a camera!)

Downtown's new street lighting construction reduced jaywalking, at least temporarily. September 4, 2007.

I must have been very impressed with the work in progress. After dropping something off at Main Street Press, I took this photo from inside the printer's new place. Well, not so new now, but for twenty years I'd been going to that green building that's near Wal-Mart now.

Street scene from inside Main Street Press, downtown. September 4, 2007.

It's a beautiful day, out there. With a little creative scheduling, I should be able to enjoy some of it.

Saturday, the 3rd annual Motorcycle Fun Run, for Companies A (Alexandria), C (Sauk Centre), and E (Hutchinson), made their Sauk Centre-Osakis meandering drive. (Hey! ACE! I hadn't noticed that before!) I missed it: taking pictures, not participating. Maybe next year. I that the Sauk Herald covered the event.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007. It's been a hot week, so far. I hope the schools are air-conditioned. School started yesterday, a fact that I'd have noticed without our son's getting back in the academic track. Our house is on one of the major feeder streets for the school, so traffic gets pretty exciting around 8 and 3.

It's been hot: around 95 yesterday, and not much cooler today. On a personal note, I discovered something important: It's not a good idea for a fifty-something guy, who's still exercising his way back from decades of arthritis, to do a brisk half-mile walk in this heat.

The Ash Street project is still getting talked over. Maintenance has to be done, the street would work better if it were wider, and I really don't mind some extra effort (and cost) going toward making crosswalks safer for pedestrians.

However, the mildly heart-stopping assessments could have come at a more convenient time.

Then, there's the matter of the sidewalk on the east side of Ash, from 9th to: the fairgrounds? That wasn't in the plan earlier, but apparently now it is. And, of course, that makes it a big more expensive.

Thankfully, the people who've talked to me about it have been quite practical. Something I'm not looking forward to is losing several trees. Nothing's been said, but I can't see how widening Ash can be done without removing some relatively attractive, and very shade-producing, trees.

Sunday, September 2, 2007. school starts soon: this week, I believe. But for now, it's Labor Day Weekend, and a Sunday, and I'm going to take it easy: even to the point of having more pictures, and less writing, in this entry.

Jitters Java, on Main, has new awnings. I understand that work's not finished on them yet. August 3, 2007.

Repairs are moving along, fixing damage from the mid-August storm. August 30, 2007.

Labor Day weekend wedding at St. Paul's. September 1, 2007.

That brings me pretty much up to date. I hope you're having a fun, and safe, Labor Day weekend.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007. My wife and I, and two of the kids, went to the elementary school this evening, for what I think of as school orientation. The picture I took doesn't do justice to the event. What you see was the quiet corner of the classroom.

School orientation: next time, it's the real thing. August 29, 2007.

The classroom we were in has a special 'poet chair' in it. I don't think I've run into this sort of thing before. I hope to learn what's involved, later in the school year.

A poets-only chair? I hope to learn more about this. August 29, 2007.

I learned what's going on next to the Centre Floral storefront today. The boarded-up windows belong to the south half of the flower shop. They're putting in new windows. It's part of the Main Street project to give downtown a historic look, with new materials.

That's going to look nice, when it's done. August 29, 2007.

Meanwhile, down at Main and 4th Street, a crew was working at something that involved cutting up quite a bit of cement. The word is that the city's replacing the downtown Main Street light poles with retro-style poles, like the ones on part of Sinclair Lewis Avenue.

It was a beautiful day, but I still don't envy these guys. August 29, 2007.

Downtown Sauk Centre is going to be a treat for the eyes when all this is done. I hope some of the vacationers driving through, on their way to lake country, decide to stop on their way.

Sunday, August 26, 2007. First of all, Snap Fitness Center opened a week and a day ago, on August 18. They're the third fitness outfit in town now, joining Curves for Women and Fitness Guru. What makes Snap different, aside from being on Main Street, is that they'll be open 24/7/365, and I'm told will be lower cost. I suppose there are enough people in and around Sauk Centre to support that many fitness places: it helps that they've developed their own set of attractions.

Snap Fitness. It's a snap? Snap to it? Oh, never mind. August 18, 2007.

There's work being done on the storefront just south of Centre Floral, downtown. Boards are over the windows, and have been for most of the week. What's been going on inside, I don't know. I'm hoping to get out next week, and start catching up.

Something's going on behind those boards, there in the center of the picture. Maybe I'll find out next week.. July 24, 2007.

Friday and Saturday, I drove the family van up to visit my father, followed by one of my daughters, with a car packed for college. That was a good visit, but I'm glad I've got a day to rest before helping another daughter move, tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007. I haven't been out much this week, so most of my experience of Sauk Centre has been second-hand.

Like this week's Sauk Centre Herald. There's an article about the Ash Street project. We've known it was coming since early August. The paper says that the average Ash Street household will end up paying $8,400 each. The Herald did a good job of detailing what's going to happen, and how much it will cost.

My family lives on Ash, so I'm taking a personal interest. Eight grand may not seem like a lot to some folks, but for us that's 16 cars like the one my wife drives, with almost four week's food supply left over.

I know that the project needs to be done, and I'm not complaining. The arrangements are reasonable. Still, I'm going to go to the property-holders' meeting set for later this month.

They're going to be working on the water mains and sewer system, too: and about time. Systems like that take as much of a beating from Minnesota's wild temperature swings, but buried pipes deteriorate like everything else.

I hope I can stay this objective when the assessments come due.

One of the bits of unintentional humor in the paper was the statement that "water main and sanitary sewer improvements will not be assessed against residential property owners with the city picking up the cost."

Okay: property owners aren't assessed directly. But we pay, directly or indirectly, for all the revenue that the city picks up from taxes and fees. I don't think it was meant to be, but "picking up the cost" struck me as funny. And, I know what they mean: and appreciate it.

That can't be all that happened in Sauk Centre, so far this week, but it's all I can think of at the moment.

I'll be back when there's more, or at least by Sunday night.

Monday, August 20, 2007. This should have been the Sunday entry, but I picked up some sort of bug. Nothing serious, but it's made me less efficient - and bright - than usual.

"Small town America," one version, at least, is supposed to be this timeless, idyllic place where life is happy and serene.

That's not how it works. We've got the same problems as everyone else: just maybe not as often.

Someone I knew was arrested for stealing from the Alexandria Wal-Mart. And apparently he'd been living in a house near ours. It was a rental place, and the last two sets of tenants had lifestyles that encouraged the police to visit at intervals.

I haven't been able to verify much, apart from what was in the KSAX and Echo Press News. Maybe the Sauk Herald will publish more information.

Meanwhile, I've noticed that the McDonalds, down by the Interstate, offers, and I hesitate to key in these words, Iced Coffee!

I mean to say, Iced Coffee?!. July 26, 2007.

Surely this must signal the end of civilization as we know it! Coffee, as everyone knows, is supposed to be hot!

The rain we've been getting is fine, but even I think it's been too cool. It got up to 60 yesterday, over in Glenwood where the weather numbers I use are collected. It's supposed to be 79, this time of year. It could be worse. The low was 55 there, back in 2004.

Now, I think I'll go lie down for a while.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007. Reading the Sauk Centre Herald, I learned that the weekend storm hit the school, too. The athletic area east of the school, actually. Between flying bleachers, uprooted trees, and a toppled scoreboard at the school, and parts of the Ford dealership's buildings getting thrown at their cars and points downwind, there's been a lot to clean up.

The Herald and Alexandria's Echo Press reported a robbery at the Sauk Centre Wal-Mart last Friday. The Echo Press article said that the crime was reported "about 1:04 p.m. on August 3," but everyone else remembers it happening on the 10th.

The good news is that no one got seriously hurt, although I'd guess that it didn't feel that way to the person working at Wal-Mart, who got sprayed with Mace.

Some 25-year-old guy and a teenage girl got caught caught in a stolen van near Alexandria, around exit 103. They're both from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the van was stolen in Cedar Rapids, and food stolen from the Wal-Mart here was found in the van.

The guy's in jail, the girl's been handed over to her mother.

That's about as much excitement as I want. More, actually.

School season is bearing down on students and parents in Sauk Centre. The sign near the Elementary School's entrance announces open house in a little over a week.

Less than two weeks to go, it looks like. August 14, 2007.

Another transition is happening at Jitters Java. Germaine, who's worked there (several years, I'm not sure exactly how long), is moving on: and made a farewell banner for the occasion.

Transitions at Jitters Java. August 13, 2007.

The return of Charlie Company, and other Minnesota National Guard soldiers, is still getting recognition. Stopping in at an optometrist's downtown, I saw an "Enduring Freedom" banner on the outside/inside light pole. (My wife had picked the item I was going to pick up. She asked me to get it, last week.)

Indoor street scene downtown. August 13, 2007.

Today, after mass, I saw a very personalized paint job on a van in the church parking lot. This family is very glad to have the dad/husband home.

This family is very glad to be together again. August 15, 2007.

I'm actually publishing Wednesday's entry Thursday morning. Things happened: again. One of these days, I've got to get organized: and talk the rest of the world into cooperating with me.

Sunday, August 12, 2007. Friday nights are a bit more lively than those during the work week, but this weekend got a bigger kickoff than usual.

Something, a really strong spot of straight-line wind, or maybe a small tornado, re-arranged part of the south side a little after midnight.

Sometime between 1 and 2 on Saturday morning, I heard an enormous clatter. It was as if someone had thrown a King-Kong-size garbage can or a load of metal siding onto Ash Street.

A near-miss for folks living near Lake Wobegon Trail. August 11, 2007.

Saturday morning's storm could have been worse. August 11, 2007.

My wife told me, as she was leaving to mind the store for her father later that morning, that a shed had blown over near Lake Wobegon Trail. That's what she saw, in the first and second pictures. Despite its appearance, it isn't a shed. It's part of a roof, I think. It could have been worse. As far as I have heard, no one was hurt.

A near-miss for folks living near Lake Wobegon Trail. August 11, 2007.

Several yards near the intersection of Ash and Lake Wobegon Trail in Sauk Centre had debris deposits and broken branches.

Just follow the trail of debris. August 11, 2007.

Finding where the bits and pieces of building came from wasn't very hard. A neighbor of mine pointed out where the most damage had been, but I think I'd have been able to follow the trail of broken trees, crumpled metal, and cracked timber.

That tipping light pole at John Weis Ford is no optical illusion.
August 11, 2007.

Seeing what happened to the trees, I'm glad the event missed the houses and housing in that part of town. I've heard two explanations of what happened: it was a small tornado; or it was straight-line winds, something like a downburst. Just how the storm re-arranged part of Sauk Centre will be discussed for a while, most likely.

.
Around 10:30, cleanup and repair were underway. August 11, 2007.

The worst damage seems to have been at a car dealership, John Weis Ford.

• Mr. Weis's new body shop lost part of its roof
• Light poles are bent - one all the way to the ground
• Quite a few vehicles are damaged
• His lot won't be ready for use until the mess is cleared away

That pole was bent, not broken. August 11, 2007.

Window glass for vehicles is tougher, and safer, than when I was young. August 11, 2007.

A tree down, but apparently no broken windows. As I said before, it could have been worse. August 11, 2007.

Meanwhile, just west of the car dealership, folks one of the apartment buildings on Fairlane Drive were driving around a tree that had tipped onto about half of a driveway.

Looks like the roof was either peeled off, or fell inside Either way, it's a mess to clean up. August 11, 2007.

Back on the south side of John Weis Ford, the new body shop obviously needed 'body work' itself. It looked like a work bay on the east side was still in working order, happily.

Friday night, a trampoline. Saturday morning, lawn art. August 11, 2007.

There was some damage in the residential areas. That modern art sculpture, behind the pool in a back yard near Lake Wobegon Trail, was a trampoline yesterday. Again, it could have been worse. Another few yards to the east, and those folks would have had more fresh air in their house than they'd want.

By the way, have you noticed how much those new above-ground pools look like the old-fashioned cloth-bottomed ash trays?

A few minutes after 7, Saturday evening. Those clouds are about a hundred miles away, near the Twin Cities. Beautiful from here, dangerous when they're overhead. August 11, 2007.

Whatever roared through town was very selective. Some folks who live on the west side said that they hadn't noticed anything (not surprising, considering the hour), and that there was no damage in their part of town.

Considering the thousand-foot swath of destruction, Sauk Centre as a whole came away with very little damage. Apart from the Ford dealership, of course. Whatever went through "picked" one of the few open areas in town, this side of the Interstate.

I'm looking forward to see what the Sauk Centre Herald has to say about the storm, and the cleanup. I didn't see any damage elsewhere, but I didn't cover the whole town.

The Our Lady of the Angels parish is having another bake sale, raising money for a new dishwasher. I think it's the third one for that project.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007. The price of gas has been going down since around Independence Day. It's still not what I got used to, back in the sixties, but it's better than it's been.

Time to give the green dinosaur some screen time. August 8, 2007.

Flags flew at half-staff at the Minnesota State Capitol complex today, on the order of Governor Pawlenty, in remembrance of the people who died when the 35W bridge in Minneapolis went down. The governor encouraged people across the state to do the same. One place in Sauk Centre did, that I saw.

I'd guess that the rest didn't hear about the Governor's request. I had to stop in at this outfit to find out why they had their flag and half-staff. They said it had been on the radio all morning. I'm glad someone was listening in Sauk Centre.

I-35W bridge collapse: in memory of the victims. August 8, 2007.

On a much happier note, Fitness Guru, next to Wal-Mart, had a sign in the door last week, letting folks in the military know that they could have free workouts this month. The sign, and the offer, are still there.

That's a nice touch. Good business, too, I suspect. August 3, 2007.

A household in south Sauk Centre must have wanted to make sure that their yellow ribbon got seen. It may be the biggest one in town.

That's one big yellow ribbon. August 8, 2007.

I see in this week's Sauk Herald that Sauk Centre is looking at a major project on Ash Street, repairing the street and putting in a sidewalk to connect the existing one on the west side to Lake Wobegon Trail.

Some of the services under the street are about 40 years old. Hmm. That's about how old the 35W bridge was. This might not be such a bad idea. My family and I live on Ash, so this is going to make life very interesting.

Sunday, August 5, 2007. The folks at a couple parishes got their deacon back when Deacon Kaas started assisting at Mass, earlier this week. It's pretty good news for the extended family that I'm part of, too.

The 35W bridge collapse is still in the news. Happily, there don't seem to be local connections to this disaster.

The Sauk Herald cleared up why an ambulance wove its way through the parade route after the Sinclair Lewis Days parade this year. A 7-year-old Melrose boy jumped off a float a little early as the parade units were going into the Stearns County Fair grounds.

The trailer rolled over his leg, giving him really bad road rash. He was taken to St. Mike's, then to St. Cloud hospital. Six days and three surgeries later, he's back home: and hoping to walk to school this fall.

One of the stereotypes of  "Small Town America" is that it's an idyllic backwater, untouched by time and crime. This week's Sauk Herald demonstrated that Sauk Centre, at least, is keeping up with the times. Someone carrying 15 pounds of contraband mushrooms, wrapped as birthday presents for the most part, a little marijuana, and $10,000 in cash, was ki-yaying down I-94 at 85 miles an hour, 15 over the speed limit. On top of everything else, the driver had a suspended license. Sure, the two in the car were from Myrtle Beach, Oregon: but they were right in this area!

Come to think of it, that's more like the sixties than now.

The Sauk Herald also has an article of the Little Red Schoolhouse down by the Interstate. The piece will be online at least through tomorrow.

What with one thing and another, I didn't get much done on the Sauk Centre Journal since Thursday.

Check back, though: By Wednesday, there should be something new.

Thursday, August 2, 2007. The news is still full of the 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis. I put some toll-free numbers and websites handling blood donations in yesterday's entry.

I'll repeat my comment about "Minnesota Nice." All accounts so far tell that when folks in that part of the Metro saw the bridge go down, they rushed to help people get out. Even some of the people who went down with the bridge stopped to help others get off.

Back to Sauk Centre.

There's still activity at the old Super America store location, across from Holiday at Main and south 12^th. I understand that there's going to be a new fitness outfit there: open 24/7/365. Or thereabouts. I somehow misfiled and/or lost my notes on the place (embarrassing). Didn't lose the photos, though. There hasn't been much change outside, but trucks with different materials and equipment have been outside off and on for the last several weeks.

Activity at the old Super America building. July 10, 2007.

Coming: a new fitness center. July 18, 2007.

With all the brouhaha over Charlie Company's homecoming, let's not forget that other folks from Minnesota are still over in Iraq, or headed that way. Some one made sure that we'd have a reminder, by putting another sign on the Lake Wobegon Trail bridge over Main.

Personalized signs were up at least a week ago. July 23, 2007.

I've been noticing more personalized 'welcome home' signs lately in Sauk Centre.

Shear Paradise welcomes Chad home from Iraq. July 31, 2007.

Sauk Herald made sure that Todd, Brent, and all Charlie Company knew that they were welcomed home. July 31, 2007.

The Diversicom / Mainstreet Communications sign on Main announced that they had Welcome Home Charlie Company DVDs for sale. I haven't seen their DVD, but I'm sure it's a good, professionally done presentation - and taken from better vantage points than the hour of video available in four parts on Central Minnesota Theater. On the other hand, the Central Minnesota Theater video is free.

Charlie Company DVDs for sale at Diversicom. July 31, 2007.

All that was left of the Stearns County Fair midway earlier this week were two trailers and a few trash cans. Most of the rides and concessions moved on to their next destination Sunday night. As usual, quite a few went past our house.

The once and future midway, Stearns County fairgrounds. July 31, 2007.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007. The I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed a few minutes after 6:00 today. At this time (about 10:00), rescue and recovery was still going on. Trauma personnel in the Metro area have been called in. It's going to be a long night there.

I've heard that they're going to need blood. In case you're in the Metro area, interested, and able, here are some places to donate: Memorial Blood Centers / Where to Donate: Twin Cities Locations

The Red Cross Twin Cities Chapter says that eligible donors can "call 1.800.GIVE.LIFE" (1.800.4483.5433) "or go online to givebloodgivelife.org to learn more about blood donation and to make a blood donation appointment. A blood donor card or driver's license are required at check-in. Donors must be at least 17 years old and must weigh at least 110 pounds."

This is obviously a very bad situation. A sort of silver-lining aspect of this is the way that "Minnesota Nice" happened. All accounts so far tell that when folks in that part of the Metro saw the bridge go down, they rushed to help people get out. Even some of the people who went down with the bridge stopped to help others get off.

I was rather distracted this evening, and don't have my regular Sauk Centre Journal entry ready. Getting those numbers and website addresses out was more important, anyway.

I'll be back, tomorrow morning, with today's Journal entry.

Sunday, July 29, 2007. The Stearns County Fair ended tonight. It's been an exciting weekend here. I live on the other side of Lake Wobegon Trail from the fairgrounds, and as usual, we've had vehicles parked in front of the house since the fair opened.

Nobody parked across our driveway this year, happily.

I spend a couple hours Saturday night, calling numbers at the Knights of Columbus Bingo booth. One of my daughters participated in what I understand was the Stearns County Fair's first Karaoke night. I didn't get to hear it, or take part, but I've been told that the Karaoke extravaganza was still going strong after 11:00.

The first of three short videos about the Stearns County Fair is on Central Minnesota Theater. Two more should be ready tomorrow night. (The first one takes about about four minutes to run.)

There's been more happening around Sauk Centre than the fair,