Distracted by Paris

Sunday, November 15, 2015. Yesterday and today were the good sort of autumn days: clear skies, sunshine, highs around 60. Coming next: about three days in the mid-40s, with rain.

It could be worse. There was the 1991 Halloween blizzard, and the Armistice Day Blizzard in 1940. I don't remember that one, but my folks talked about it: and the big one in 1888. More recently, we've had November winter storms or blizzards in 1975, 1981, and 1988, and the 1991 Halloween blizzard lasted until November 3. (MN DNR)

A few days of rain doesn't look so bad now.

I thought I'd have more to say, and show, but Friday's attacks in Paris distracted me. That was a very sad situation.

Here in Sauk Centre, though, life goes on. Maybe next week I'll have my ducks in a row: or at least near each other.

Blue Skies, Fog, Wind, and Christmas Decorations

Sunday, November 17, 2013. "Thor, the Dark World," is playing at Main Street Theatre downtown, along with several other movies. #1 daughter and I went to the matinee this afternoon: and enjoyed ourselves enormously.

It's been a foggy few days here, and a windy Sunday. That's quite a contrast to how the week started, but I'm not complaining: at all. Folks Illinois and Indiana are cleaning up after tornadoes: and some didn't survive.

On a happier note, I took some photos of this week's pleasant weather.
Sauk Lake Park's gazebo. November 13, 2013.


Birds on Sauk Lake, Wednesday afternoon. November 13, 2013.


Same birds, a closer look. November 13, 2013.

The service I use to get my webcam and the Internet on speaking terms has been telling me that either the the Internet connection or my computer is slow. I've checked, and it's not my computer. The household's connection is a bit below-par now and then: mostly, apparently, after rain: or mist; or really heavy fog.

I tried reducing the video's quality, which kept 'we've got trouble' messages from coming quite as often: but also resulted in a view like this:


My webcam's view out the north window. November 11, 2013.

The picture's not bad, but it's not good either. the sky outside never has that pattern of little squares you see. So I put 'quality' settings back to something that looks presentable. Most of the time.

I'll be back next week, with something else. One of our neighbors has most of their Christmas display out, so I won't be lacking things to show. Now, if the sun will come out for a few minutes when I have a camera handy - - -

Bright Blue Afternoon Today, Inteterstates Closed During Storm

It's a bright blue winter afternoon here in Sauk Centre, Minnesota:


Image from my webcam, Small Town America: Central Minnesota. (February 13, 2013, 4:31 p.m.)

Sunday was a different story. Interstate highways were closed: I29 was closed from Watertown, South Dakota, to the Canadian border; I94 from Alexandria, Minnesota, about 20 miles northwest of here, to Jamestown, North Dakota. I stayed inside and enjoyed not having to travel.

In the news:

"Part of Interstate 29 closed; storm strands UND hockey team in South Dakota"
Associated Press, via The Bismark Tribune (February 10, 2013, 2:16 p.m.)

"The University of North Dakota hockey team is stranded in South Dakota after officials closed a portion of Interstate 29 because of a winter storm.

"The the team and many fans were on their way back from a weekend series in Omaha, Neb., when officials in South Dakota closed Interstate 29 from Watertown to the North Dakota border....

"...Terry Woster with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety says Interstate 90 is closed between Wall and Chamberlain. Interstate 29 has been closed from Watertown, S.D., to Fargo, N.D.

"In North Dakota, officials have issued a no travel advisory for the southeast portion of the state."

---

"I-29 closed from S.D. to Grand Forks; US 2 closed Grand Forks to Crookston"
Grand Forks Herald (February 10, 2013, 10:00 p.m.)

"A major storm swept through the Red River Valley on Sunday as Blizzard Cooper dropped heavy snow and blew in high winds that closed interstates and other roads, cancelled events and left some travelers far from home.

"About 8:30 p.m. today, U.S. Highway 2 was closed from Grand Forks east to Crookston as more snow wrapped around to the northern Red River Valley and winds increased.

"The Herald is naming the storm after media personality Anderson Cooper, who befriended local columnist Marilyn Hagerty after she went viral in 2012.

"The Grand Forks area remains in a winter storm warning until Monday morning, while the southern Red River Valley remains in a blizzard warning.

"Snowfall from Cooper varied throughout the region - between 2 to 6 inches was forecast for Grand Forks, while Fargo, Jamestown and southeastern North Dakota had the most snowfall, with about a foot reported in Fargo and 14 inches at Colfax, N.D., the National Weather Service said Sunday. Snow totals increased as the storm moved east; some parts of the Minnesota lakes area were expected to get as much as 16 inches.

"But snow wasn't Cooper's only problem; high winds caused widespread white-out conditions and forced officials to close Interstate 29 from the South Dakota border to Grand Forks and Interstate 94 from Jamestown, N.D., east to Alexandria, Minn.

"Snow and wind gusts approaching 35 mph stranded the UND hockey team and many fans returning from the games in Omaha on Friday and Saturday. The UND hockey team took shelter in Sisseton, S.D., and a bus full of fans stayed at the Summit, S.D., community center, where area residents made them welcome and even cooked for them...."

---

Somewhat-related posts:

• "Winter Storm"
  (February 10, 2013)
• "Garlands Downtown, Slick Streets, Blizzard: Fairly Routine"
  (December 9, 2012)
• "Father's Day, 2012: Picture Postcard Weather Yesterday"
  (June 17, 2012)
• "Three P.M. Rush Hour, Autumnal Weather, and Yet More Storm Photos"
  (September 18, 2011)

Influenza: It's Nothing to Sneeze At

Sunday, January 6, 2013. Epiphany. I spent quite a bit of the weekend being with family, and wasn't feeling as chipper as I like during the week. Still, as we say here in Minnesota, 'it could be worse.' For many folks it's a great deal worse.

This winter's flu encouraged the nursing home to not allow visitors. That's been going no for weeks now. Happily, we've got telephones: so it's possible to 'visit' without actually visiting.

I heard on the radio that a hospital somewhere in Minnesota had a 'no visitors' policy now, again because of the flu. They were probably talking about the Sleepy Eye Medical Center: or some other place.

I found quite a bit of news about the flu outbreak, including these items:

"Flu death toll rises to 4 in Minnesota"
AP, via KEYC-TV, Mankato (January 6, 2012)

"State health officials say the number of flu-related deaths in Minnesota has risen to four...."

---

"Flu Season Hitting Hard"
Molly Miles, KEYC-TV (Updagted January 6, 2012)

"There's more evidence today of how dangerous the flu can be. The state's latest flu-related death, a 17-year-old boy who died in a St. Paul Hospital....

"So how do you avoid it? [Dr. Chris] Callahan, says for starters, get a flu shot, even if you don't think you are very susceptible....

"...After that, use fervor to avoid the fever.

"Callahan says, 'Wash your hands, good personal hygiene will go a long way in decreasing the transmission from people to people.'

"And if you aren't feeling well, stay home...."

---

"Sleepy Eye Medical Center Restricting Visitors for Flu Concerns"
Dan Ruiter, KEYC-TV ()

"The Sleepy Eye Medical Center has taken the rare step of restricting visitors because of the flu outbreak. That's according to the Sleepy Eye Medical Center CEO Kevin Sellheim.

"Sellheim told News 12 that the measure implemented this week is similar to what the Medical Center did back in 2009 during the H1N1 outbreak. That means until further notice, only immediate family is allowed to visit patients in the hospital...."

---

For more 'official' information about this year's flu:

• "Weekly Influenza & Respiratory Activity: Statistics"
  Minnesota Department of Health
• "2012-2013 Influenza Season Week 52 ending December 29, 2012"
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Apart from that, there's a nice white blanket of snow. Skies are bright blue, except when they're not, and another year has gone by without the Christmas tree in Our Lady of the Angels church falling over. (December 25, 2005)

Mother's Day, 2012

Sunday, May 13, 2012. Once again, for reasons I may never learn, Mother's Day and the first weekend of Minnesota's fishing season are synchronized.

This is another week where 'all I know is what I read in the papers.' Or paper, in this case: the Sauk Centre Herald. There's a pretty good op-ed titled "Heroes and role models," discussion of parking restrictions at a city council meeting made above-the-fold front page, and so did concerns about Sauk Centre's evolving downtown: that last is the "Downtown bar owners express..." item.


Sauk Centre Herald: Another week in small town America. May 13, 2012.

Charlie Company is still home, for which we're all grateful. And this week there weren't any tornado warnings: which I don't mind a bit.


Saturday afternoon. May 12, 2012.

Things at my household haven't been as uneventfully serene as that photo of Saturday afternoon might suggest. #2 daughter and son-in-law and #1 daughter were here for the weekend - and Mother's Day. I've re-arranged my schedule to make room for a new project or two: more about that will be in tomorrow's post on Apathetic Lemming of the North. Nothing spectacular: but by life hasn't been dull, either.

Bad Check, Bad Idea; and Soo Bahk Do

Sunday, January 22, 2012. As I've said before, Minnesota doesn't have a climate so much as it has weather. So far this month, we've had sub-zero temperatures, a high around 55 degrees, clear skies, dull gray overcast, and several varieties of precipitation.

Interesting as all that is, it doesn't photograph well, so I dug through the archives and found this set of photos from about two years ago (January 20, 2010):


Fog and frost: on just about everything. January 15, 2010.


Frost. Lots of really delicate frost. January 15, 2010.


Around 11:00 a.m., clearing. Not much wind, happily. January 15, 2010.


County Road 17, near the Sauk River. January 15, 2010.

Someone tried passing a bad check at the Palmer House: which was very imprudent, since the person was already wanted for several serious felonies. The police came, made an arrest, and life went on. This week's Sauk Centre Herald has more about that: also high school guidance counselor Bryce Zieman's resignation; and other news.

My wife is practicing for her black belt in Soo Bahk Do. It's actually a midnight-blue belt, but that takes longer to say. She's with the local Soo Bahk Do group this evening, along with my son and #3 daughter: and, I gather, some of the younger students who are testing for their white belts. I think I got that straight.

First Winter Weather; 50-Vehicle Pile-Up on I-94; Nobody Hurt

Sunday, November 20, 2011. Sounds like some folks weren't quite ready for winter driving:

"Saturday's wintry weather is wreaking havoc on some of Minnesota's major roads.

"The Minnesota State Patrol said westbound Interstate 94 near St. Cloud closed Saturday afternoon due to several crashes. The closure spread from St. Cloud to Albany and Freeport. The interstate was closed around 3 p.m. and reopened at 4 p.m. ..."
(I-94 Reopened Near St. Cloud: State Patrol," CBS Minnesota (November 19, 2011))

I heard that about 50 vehicles were involved in the Albany-to-Freeport pile-up. Definitely not good. That CBS Minnesota article has more about yesterday's weather and traffic, and says we had 200 crashes in the state yesterday. The good news is that apparently nobody got seriously hurt: or killed.

Remember that photo I showed, last week? The one that showed a little bit of snow from a Thursday-morning shower?


Snow on the ground, Thursday morning: not much; and gone by the end of the day. November 10, 2011.

We've got a lot more than that, now. This isn't official, but I'm pretty sure Sauk Centre got four inches by the time the snow stopped.


Green grass, and folks already have Christmas decorations out? Maybe they heard the weather forecast. November 18, 2011.


An inflatable turkey. There's a joke about low-calorie holiday eating somewhere here: but I can't quite find it. November 18, 2011.

I spent as much of Saturday inside as I could. Which is saying something, since I generally am out grilling burgers around noon on weekends. It wasn't entirely the weather: I'm not a 40-year-old kid any more, and decided to be sensible.


Cat. Window. Snow outside. "Tranquil" - that's the word I wanted. November 19, 2011.


Mid-afternoon in the back yard. It's Minnesota, so we might be using that table again by next Thursday. November 19, 2011.


Walmart parking lot, Saturday afternoon. Between plows and wind, there wasn't all that much snow to deal with. November 19, 2011.

Today was a beautiful wintry day: bright blue sky, sparkling snow, the works. If the five-day forecast is even close to accurate, that's going to change pretty soon. Which is no surprise. It's like you've heard before: In Minnesota, we don't have climate. We have weather.

Sauk Centre Storm July 10: No Power, No Internet, No Injuries

Tuesday, July 12, 2011. A bit after 8:00 p.m., Sunday evening, the lights went out at my house, here in Sauk Centre. That would have been about 8:15 p.m., according to a KARE article. Power was back about 5:20 p.m. - more or less - so we were without power for only about 21 hours.

Folks east of Ash Street had power restored many hours earlier - which is just as well, since that's where Coborn's is. I was there, buying 40 pounds of ice, yesterday - and my wife was back for more, later in the day. Refrigerators and freezers have good insulation these days - but not that good.

Storm, straight line winds rip Sauk Centre (KARE)

Warning Sirens Silenced by Storm in Sauk Centre (KSTP)

A KSTP Television truck was in Sauk Centre yesterday afternoon. KARE may have had a team here, too - they've got two pretty good photos.

So do I, but they were in my camera until power was back, Sunday night: and I had some catching up to do, from those 21 power-free hours.

I'd have written something about this, and gotten it online, yesterday evening - but this house didn't get a data connection (telephone, television and Internet) until somewhere between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. last night: at which point my #2 daughter and son-in-law phoned in, and I did catching up with him until my brain turned to tapioca. At which point I got some needed sleep.

Sauk Centre's missing hundreds of trees, and there's a fair amount of property damage - but as far as I've heard and read there were zero injuries and zero deaths. That's incredibly good news, considering how many trees came down on houses or vehicles.

Those photos I took? I've got them in my computer now - but each takes a little fixing before it's ready to put online, so it'll be later today - at the earliest - before I get those out. I've got a little video, too - but that'll have to wait, too.

Sorry about the delay, getting this written - but things have been a little, ah, interesting here.

Still, as we say in Minnesota: It could be worse.

Earthquake in Alexandria, Just Down the Road

Sunday, May 1, 2011. Divine Mercy Sunday. A few snowflakes were coming down this morning when the family went to church this morning. As I've said before, springtime in Minnesota is - different.

My oldest daughter came to visit this weekend, arriving Friday afternoon. As usual, she brought her cat, Twitches, with her. Twitches earned her name - and was even more 'twitchy' and nervous Friday afternoon.

Probably for good reason: #1 daughter told me that she'd heard the early-morning earthquake in Alexandria that morning.

Normally, I'd be writing more about Sauk Centre: but this week I'm concentrating on excerpts from the news about that earthquake:

"Earthquake Hits Alexandria, MN; Very Unlikely in Duluth"
Jacob Kittilstad & photojournalist Jeff Ernewein, FOX 21 News (Duluth, Minnesota) (April 29, 2011)

"Early Friday morning in Alexandria, Minnesota, neighbors had a shakey awakening.

"An earthquake rattled part of the city causing no injuries but leaving some Minnesotans wondering if it could happen anywhere else.

" 'I have never heard of an earthquake happening in the Midwest,' one Duluth woman said leaving the grocery store.

" 'Yeah, it would be weird.'

"But, at 2:30 a.m. it happened the U.S. Geological Survey said. The magnitude reading was a 2.5 in Alexandria where worried phone calls poured into authorities...."

---

"Minor quake shakes western Minnesota"
U.S. News, UPI (April 29. 2011)

"A minor earthquake rattled western Minnesota early Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

"The quake measured 2.5 on the Richter scale, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The epicenter appeared to be on the edge of the town of Alexandria, near the airport.

"John Bellini, a geophysicist with the survey, said about 20 people reported feeling the quake. There were no reports of damage...."

---

"Earthquakes happened in region in 1975, 1993"
Echo Press (Alexandria, Minnesota) (April 29, 2011)

"Keith Brugger, a Professor of Geology at the University of Minnesota, Morris, said he hadn't yet reviewed any information regarding Friday's quake, but added that it probably was an event on the Great Lakes Tectonic Zone.

"West Central Minnesota sits on a 'suture,' or boundary, of the GLTZ. About 2.5 billion years ago, rocks of the Minnesota River Valley, which are 3.5 billion years old, collided with the slightly younger volcanic mass represented by granites and 'greenstones,' Brugger said.

" 'That event happened so long ago and we're still living with its legacy,' Brugger said.

"The greenstones were volcanic island arcs -- such as Japan and the Philippines -- that previously collided and contributed to the formation of North America, Brugger stated...."

---

"Magnitude 2.5 Earthquake Strikes Near Alexandria, Minn."
myFOX9.com (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota) (April 29, 2011)

"A rare earthquake struck western Minnesota early Friday, rattling ceiling tiles and prompting a few curious callers to phone 911 but going largely unnoticed by most of the sleeping public, authorities said.

"The quake, which the U.S. Geological Survey said was magnitude-2.5, struck at 2:20 a.m. and was felt mostly in the Alexandria area.

"Sgt. Tom Egan of the Douglas County sheriff's office said staff at the county's 911 center felt it and took 25 to 30 calls from the public, mostly from people who were just curious. By contrast, he said, county dispatchers typically get hundreds of calls during severe thunderstorms.

"Callers reported some noise and minor movement, including "ceiling tiles bouncing just a touch," Egan said. But he said nobody reported any damage or anyone hurt. Relatively few people in the largely rural area would have been awake at the time, he said.

"He said the department was referring callers to the USGS web site for further information.

"Minnesota gets a 'feelable' earthquake every five to 10 years on average, though that can vary a lot -- and more often than not, they're in west-central Minnesota, said Val Chandler, a geophysicist with the Minnesota Geological Survey...."

Sauk Centre Herald and Dr. Freese

Sunday, January 23, 2011. It's above zero this evening, which is practically tropical compared to the last few days.

Talking with someone at the Sauk Centre herald today, I learned that the Herald owns the Melrose Beacon now. A little more checking, and I found the article I'd missed:

"Sauk Centre partners purchase Beacon, Enterprise"
Dave Simpkins, Sauk Centre Herald (December 28, 2010)

Actually, it's Star Publications of Sauk Centre that bought the Stearns Morrison Enterprise and Melrose Beacon from American Community Newspapers II, ACN, of Plano, Texas. Star Publications of Sauk Centre is what happened, I gather, when the Sauk Centre Herald and Dairy Star merged: and Carol Moorman has gone from being the Herald feature editor to the editor of the Beacon. If you want more, you'll have to check out that article.

I don't want to seem too cocky, but Sauk Centre's doing okay when it comes to its local newspaper. Then there's Main Street Theatre, downtown. I think they're at a half-dozen screens now, with 3D projection equipment for at least one of them.

Not bad for a town of about 4,000.

Dr. Freese has a new diagnostic gadget at Eyes on Main now: a two-laser scanner that gave him a pretty good look inside my eyes - and records the images for future reference. It doesn't replace the older up-close inspection, but that visual record could be really good to have, in case I do develop some sort of eye issue later.

Apart from the industrial-strength prescriptions I use now to see past about 18 inches, that is.

There's more, but it's getting late and I've got a few chores to get finished.

October's Bright Blue Weather, a Fire and Fall Photos

Sunday, October 15, 2010. I'm still looking forward to a clear head, and added a clear throat to the list. Still, it could be worse.

October's bright blue weather turned dull gray today. I'd probably see it a pearly skies without this cold. But enough about me.


Sinclair Lewis Avenue, looking east from Holy Family School. October 12, 2010.

A fire at Centre Square Apartments, a week ago Friday, was top-of-the-front page news in this week's Sauk Centre Herald. That fire was one of four calls the Sauk Centre Fire Department responded to that day. Bad news: folks living there had to get out and stay out. Good news: they could go back in around 1 a.m.: and there's more in the paper.

As a rule, I don't mind publicity. On the other hand, the Sauk Centre Herald's online edition reports that a fellow was caught running naked down Main Street, around where it crosses the Interstate. To top it off, he got belligerent with the police. That's not a reason I'd like to have, for getting my name in the news.


A sign of autumn in Sauk Centre: the Elgin Crosswind street sweeper. October 14, 2010.

On a happier note, I've been hearing the roar of Sauk Centre's street sweeper going past. I took that photo next to my Small Town America:
Minnesota webcam. Now that I've got that shameless plug out of the way, I'm
out of material. For now. I'll be back Wednesday.

End of Summer, Start of School, and 60 Pounds of Butter

Sunday, August 29, 2010. We're a week from Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end of summer. Classes start at Sauk Centre schools right after that, and as someone said, 'all I know is what I read in the papers.'

Speaking of which, if you haven't read what the August 24, 2010 Sauk Centre Herald had to say about Emily Lahr and the butter sculptures: I suggest you look that article up. Turns out that molding a 60-pound block of cheese into a likeness of yourself is part of being involved in the Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition.

Don't worry: the butter gets recycled as food after it's displayed.

Also from the Herald: as of September 1, Wednesday, it's no smoking anywhere at St. Michael's Lakeview Medical Clinic. The idea is to help folks be healthier.

Between school starting and the November elections, I feel like I should have some sort of countdown here. It's probably more trouble than it's worth, though

Tornado Last Week, Installing a Sign, School Opening

Wednesday, August 18, 2010. Thursday evening's storm included tornadoes, one of them near Sauk Centre.

"...The first tornado touched down north of Brooten at 7:35 p.m. Thursday. It was rated EF-1 and followed an east-northeast path over five miles, the NWS reports. It damaged several barns and sheds and blew an empty grain bin for a half-mile, according to the NWS...."
(St. Cloud Times (August 16, 2010))

The Sauk Centre Herald's home page has a photo showing what one set of buildings looked like after the twister rearranged things.

Here are photos from Sauk Centre, of Thursday evening's storm. I'd have had them up on Sunday - but it wasn't until later that I found out about the tornado. Besides, those
pelicans looked cool.


The western sky in Sauk Centre, about 7:40: around the time that tornado was moving away from Brooton. August 12, 2010.


All we got here in Sauk Centre's south side was rain. Quite a lot of rain Can't say that I'm disappointed. August 12, 2010.


Clearing skies after the storm here in Sauk Centre. August 12, 2010, about 8:30 p.m..

As long as I'm doing a sort of retrospective entry, here's something from June 1, 2010: Installation of that new sign at South Ash Street and 12th.


The crew had just gotten the sign upright and more-or-less in place when I took this photo. That's the 'Wal-Mart' stoplights to the right of the crane. June 1, 2010.


One man's operating the crane, the other's pulling the sign into position. June 1, 2010.


A little later, the sign's just about where it's supposed to be. June 1, 2010.

Here we are in the Information Age: and when it comes to a job like this, what works is two guys and a crane pushing and pulling the sign around until they've got it set up straight.

It's been fairly quiet after last week's storms. (August 13, 2010) Hot, at times: but this is Minnesota in August, after all.

School's starting in a little less than two weeks. Or three, depending on what you use as your 'starting time.' The public school's having an open house August 31, with classes starting September 7. Which means that three weeks from now, I'll be seeing high schoolers in cars and elementary kids walking past my north window around 3:00 weekday afternoons.

Minnesota Tornadoes Yesterday, Thursday, June 17

We didn't have much except wind, overcast, and some rain here in Sauk Centre. Other places didn't fare so well. From the news:

"Deadly Twisters in Minn."

CBS, YouTube (June 18, 2010)

"Two were killed and dozens were injured when a string of tornadoes struck Minnesota. Heather Brown reports."

The death toll is three - maybe more.

"Twisters kill three in Minnesota"
CNN (June 18, 2010)

"Deadly tornadoes touched down Thursday in Minnesota, killing at least three people, officials said.

"Minnesota suffered widespread damage and power outages, said Doug Neville, a spokesman for the state's public safety department. He said Gov. Tim Pawlenty was on his way to survey the damage in affected areas.

"The twisters hit the town of Wadena hard, ripping off roofs and damaging schools and stores. Neville said 14 people had been taken to hospitals, 13 of them in critical condition...."

"3 killed, dozens injured in Minn. tornadoes"
The Associated Press (June 18, 2010)

"Police and National Guard soldiers blocked off neighborhoods Friday as city officials organized a cleanup from tornadoes that ripped through the city the night before, part of a turbulent system that fueled twisters across the state and killed at least three people.

"Dozens more were injured in Thursday's heavy weather. The National Weather Service collected 36 reports of tornado sightings, with northwestern and southern Minnesota hit hardest. If the sightings are all confirmed, it would exceed the previous state record of 27 in one day, in 1992.

"In northwestern Minnesota, a woman was killed in Almora and a gas station owner was killed in Mentor. In southern Minnesota, one person was killed at a farm west of Albert Lea...."

Names, places and details don't necessarily fit, from one news account to another: which is fairly normal in situations like this. What is fairly certain is that parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin had really bad weather, several people died, and more were hurt.

Sad.

Accident Near Wal-Mart, Sirens, and Snow in May

Wednesday, May 5, 2010. The sirens went off today, right on schedule, just like they do on the first Wednesday of each month. I did a little checking, and found that quite a bit of the Wikipedia article on "Civil Defense" sirens for America was - several decades out of date. That was a groovy trip down memory lane for me.

Here's information that's from this century: "Preparing for tornadoes and severe storms," Severe Weather Awareness, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. I've glanced over it, and intend to read it later. There's a pretty good description of what to listen for - and when to head for shelter instead of listening.

I haven't heard what happened at the corner of Ash and South 12th, near Wal-Mart, yesterday afternoon. A fair portion of the Sauk Centre Fire Department was out, along with police and at least one wrecker. I'd have gone in asked what happened, but something in the manner with which I was waved off told me that the emergency responders were as focused as they looked.


It took a while to untangle that accident at Ash and South 12th. May 4, 2010.

Which isn't to say that Minnesota is doing entirely well. I checked, and as of Tuesday, the Arrowhead region could still use more water.

I haven't heard what happened at the corner of Ash and South 12th, near Wal-Mart, yesterday afternoon. A fair portion of the Sauk Centre Fire Department was out, along with police and at least one wrecker. I'd have gone in asked what happened, but something in the manner with which I was waved off told me that the emergency responders were as focused as they looked.



April showers bring May snowfall - in Minnesota. May 5, 2010.

Toward the end of the day, today, rain falling on my window was freezing. I checked, and: sure enough. We're likely to have snow Friday.

I'll say this for Minnesota: Our weather is not boring.

A New Bed and Breakfast's Coming; Work on the Interstate; and a Visiting Bear

Wednesday, April 28, 2010. That median project on Interstate 94, between Sauk Centre and Albany (roughly) got started this week. (More in the Sauk Centre Journal Blog, April 18, 2010) It's like the old joke says. Minnesota has four seasons: fall, winter, spring and road work.


One of the first steps is setting out those barrels. This was a mile or three west of Melrose on I94, eastbound. April 26, 2010.

Aside from observing that we've been having (mostly) clear weather, most of what I know about what's happened in Sauk Centre during the last several days is 'what I read in the papers.'

Like the bear that police escorted out of town. That was April 20, 2010: a week ago yesterday. This week's Sauk Centre Herald said that the bear was spotted around Fairlane Drive: which isn't all that far from where I live.

The bruin crossed Main Street, and kept heading westward, more or less. The next location mentioned in the article was the corner of Center Street and the Beltline Road, where police picked up the bear's trail. The critter kept heading west, toward the Interstate.

Then there's Marc'ette Floral, on South 6th and Main. They got a "conditional use permit" that'll let Marc'ette Floral add a bed and breakfast to their operation. The floral and gift shop is in a big add-on to an old brick house: and my understanding is that the 'house' part hasn't been rebuilt all that much. I'm looking forward to seeing what M.F. does with their expansion.

Then there's the group that's going to hang flowers downtown, in baskets about 10 feet off the pavement. It's 'our tax dollars at work' for at least some of the materials - but it sounds like the labor is volunteers.

The price tag is about $1,650: or maybe a fraction of that. I figure that if the expense is spread evenly among Sauk Centre residents, my household's share of the costs will be about $1.65. I think we can handle that.

And like the Herald article said, it'll "spruce up" downtown Sauk Centre. Melrose has had flower pots set out along some of their streets for years. It's not exactly practical: but they look nice.

Valley Forge Village in Sauk Centre, Melting Ice and St. Pat's Day is Coming

Sunday, March 7, 2010. Back to Valley Forge Village, the old Home School property on Sauk Centre's north side, and making use of the place.

The last time I wrote about the Valley Forge Village proposal - in fact, I think the only time I wrote about it - was July 16, 2009. At that time, I'd read in the Sauk Centre Herald

"that something called the Valley Forge Village Project is proposed for the Minnesota Correctional Facility/home school/whatever up on the north side, east of the golf course.

"Reading the Herald's discussion of 'nay saying' and concerns about 'unsavory' people moving in, I did a little checking around. The Valley Forge Village Project is a proposal by the Patrick McCaffery Foundation. The organization's writeup on the project says that they're trying to help vets make the transition between active service and civilian life: '...The primary focus will be on reintegration to family and society in general, family counseling, job training, as well as a retreat for rest and relaxation....'..."

This week's Herald's article says that Valley Forge Veteran's Village is "a veterans transitional housing project". Well, I suppose that would involve "unsavory people." Certainly not upper crust.

I don't have quite the horror of "unsavory people" that I might. Maybe because my family and I have been lived through a few hard times. Judging solely on the household income and the grandeur of our living arrangements, we've been "unsavory people."

Maybe that's not what the person who was quoted last year quite had in mind.

Anyway, From the sounds of it, the Valley Forge Village proposal still makes sense. And, unless something unforeseen comes up, they'll be opening up this summer.

Links to the Valley Forge Veteran's Village Project and their Oak Ridge page.

Springtime in Minnesota isn't about chirping birds, unless you count the overhead honks of Canada geese, and blooming flowers. On the other hand, if you look around there are wonderful sculptures of melting snow and ice.


That bit on the left is a shell, curved like a car's windshield. March 3, 2010.


A touch, and that would crumble. March 3, 2010.


Can't say I'll be sorry to see summer, but I'll sort of miss sights like this. Well, there's next year.. March 3, 2010.

The next big-deal holiday is St. Patrick's Day, a week from Monday. A neighbor has a display up - but I'll save that until the next entry.

Nobody Wants a Rapist Next Door: and More, Mostly About Snow

Wednesday, February 24, 2010. First, the unpleasant news. I've got some nice photos, so stick around. Or skip over the next few paragraphs.

If Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC) information is correct, Dustin Gene Ayres was released on Monday, and has probably moved into town by now. I can't say that I envy him. He's a Level 3 predatory offender: the sort of rapist who'd most likely to re-offend. He's also served his sentence, including whatever extra time he earned by violating parole the last time he was released.

Don't get me wrong. I think that second (third?) chances are a good idea. I also hope that nobody in town gives him a hard time because of what he's done in the past. It's possible that he'll change.

The Sauk Centre Herald had another couple of articles on Mr. Ayres, and related topics, this week. I wasn't pleased to learn that Stearns County is the #1 county for (relocated?) sex offenders, outside the metro area: but there's not much to do about that.

Something I read in the print edition of this week's Herald matches other information I've dug up. The recidivism rate for sex offenders is fairly low. On average. Mr. Ayres is in the category of people who are most likely to re-offend.

But there isn't much, given the way the law works today, that can be done. Apart from what MN DOC is doing: keeping a rather close eye on Mr. Ayres for the next decade, and limiting what he can do. Unless he breaks parole again, he won't just be wandering around town. As I said, I can't say that I envy him.

And - what I think is a very important point - we're allowed to know about him now. I can remember when that wouldn't have been the case. The American judicial system has started to realize that protecting people who don't break the law is important, too: and I think that's a good thing.

More, in "Level 3 Predatory Offender Coming: Photos and Links," Sauk Centre Journal Blog (February 19, 2010).


That Haiti fundraiser's banner is a little dated. It's about something that was scheduled Monday. And yes, that's a snowmobiler. February 24, 2010.

The chain link fence on the Lake Wobegon Trail bridge over Main Street ("Original Main Street" the signs say) is a sort of community bulletin board. Quite a few events get announced there.

Snow. We've had snow this winter. Lots of snow. A drift in my back yard just about covers two lawn chairs - and even after excavations, I have to bend over to reach the grill when I'm fixing burgers on the weekend. I figure I'm standing on at least a half-foot of compacted snow and ice.


The band shell by Sauk Lake. February 24, 2010.

Finding a place to put snow from the driveway and sidewalk wasn't a problem for us. We've got more yard than pavement, so it's just a matter of throwing - or blowing - it onto something that can stay covered until spring.


Snow piled behind Jitters Java, downtown. And two guys on the other side of the street, probably discussing the utility system. February 24, 2010.

The city street department, and many (most?) businesses aren't in that position. There's been a whole lot of snow cleared off streets and parking lots this year: and it all has to go somewhere. In residential areas, at least some of it goes onto that rampart that grows at the edge of the street. Some parking lots have a few spaces piled high with snow. And, since nobody's using the band shell this time of year, a little is piled up on the edge of the parking lot there.

Finding a place to put snow from the driveway and sidewalk wasn't a problem for us. We've got more yard than pavement, so it's just a matter of throwing - or blowing - it onto something that can stay covered until spring.


A Christmas angel, half-buried in snow. This photo is almost crying for a caption, but I can't think of one. February 24, 2010.

I've heard people say that we're always talking about the weather, here in Minnesota. I don't want to disappoint out-of-staters, so: It's been a beautiful day today. Clear blue sky, sunlight sparkling on the snow, and not much wind. A little nippy: 11° below this morning. Fahrenheit. But hey: this is Minnesota!

Mostly About Home-Town Newspapers

Sunday, February 21, 2010. Getting your name in the paper can be good news, bad news, or just plain strange news. Sauk Centre's got it all three ways.

An article on DL-Online (Detroit Lakes) starts with this headline: "Paranormal Files: The Palmer House's ghostly guests" (February 13, 2010).

Then there's this, from KSAX: "Heavy Snowfall Boosts West Central Minnesota's Snowmobile Sales" (February 15, 2010). The connection there is Centre
Sports.

And, there's another KSAX story: "Level Three Sex Offender Moving to Sauk Centre" (February 16, 2010). It's the same information we've been seeing for a while now: Dustin Ayres, a young man who's sexually assaulted underage girls and violated parole before - will be our new neighbor.

Second chances (third, in Mr. Ayres' case) are, I think, a good idea. And, according to the law, he's served his sentence. And will have his activities scrutinized for the next decade, I understand.

I hope he takes advantage of this opportunity, and makes better choices than he has in the past. That's his photo, by the way, from the Minnesota Department of Corrections, via the Sauk Centre Herald (Thanks, to Bryan Zollman, who has been covering the Dustin Ayres story. I read in the online edition that there's going to be more information in this Tuesday's Herald.)

I haven't been out all that much this week, apart from a trip Lakeview clinic, to get an expert opinion on how I feel. No big deal, but I've learned to listen when my wife tells me that the doctor should see me. (More, in a Through One Dad's Eye post.)

So, here's something I've been saving for an occasion like this: three photos of the Sauk Centre Herald. Big deal? If you live in Sauk Centre, yes. After the photos, I'll harangue (briefly) about home-town newspapers.


Sauk Centre Herald front page. February 9, 2010.


What can I say? It's a home-town paper: and pretty good reading. February 9, 2010.


And, like just about any paper, the Sauk Herald has an advertising supplement - the Classy Canary - and a sports section. February 9, 2010.

There's more to a home-town newspaper than being a place to put legal notices. Sauk Centre would probably get along without the Sauk Centre Herald - but I'm pretty sure that we'd miss the chance to read about what's gone on during the week, how the local teams are doing, and how some of our neighbors are doing.

And I'd have had to wait longer to get involved with the Internet. The Sauk Centre Herald was Sauk Centre's first Internet service provider, in the late 1990s. 1997, if my memory serves.

From the Headlines: Weekend Snowmobile Event at the Racetrack

From KSAX:

"U.S. Nationals are Underway in Sauk Centre at the I-94 Speedway"
KSAX (February 5, 2010)

"The U.S. Nationals will be held in Sauk Centre at the I-94 Speedway...."

By now, it's "were held." The snowmobile event ended Sunday.

By the way: I checked the I-94 Speedway website. According to a press release: "The I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre, MN will be temporarily closed during the 2010 summer racing season...." I'm glad to see "temporarily" there. That track's been part of Sauk Centre culture for quite a while.