To get ALL the news from the Edge of the Frontier, subscribe to NORTHERN HERALD. Details on Home Page: http://members.aol.com/nhrld/index.html ****************************************************************** Copyright (c) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by Northern Herald and Northern Herald Publications, Inc. MEDIA AND OTHER USERS: See Copyright Info and Limited Permission to Use - Revised 9/6/97 - at the end of this file. ****************************************************************** THE LIBRARY - VOLUME 5 - 09/22/99 through 09/13/00 THE NORTHERN HERALD LIBRARY OF ARCHIVED ISSUES ************************************ FULL TEXT FOLLOWS TABLES OF CONTENTS ************************************ There is no index, nor is one needed. If you are researching a particular subject, or person, use the FIND utility in your browser's EDIT menu (at top of your screen) to locate stories dealing with your topic. Contents are in order - are not hypertext - just SCROLL DOWN to find what you want - this file is cumulative and voluminous - you may find it expeditious to FIND (from your EDIT menu on Explorer and certain other browsers) for a keyword in the headline (as listed in these Contents), or to download and then search): CONTENTS - BY ISSUE (DESCENDING): -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 09/13/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 14 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism BEMIDJI MAYOR PLATFORMS CONTRAST AT DEBATE The Bemidji Mayor's Race OUR EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENT: TERRY MELCHER Leading Edge Journalism 4A REP. DOUG FULLER, WIFE, PETITION AGAINST NATIVE AMERICAN "PEOPLE'S CHURCH"; MEDIATION REPORT ORDERED PHOTO CAPTION: RED LAKE POLICE SOBRIETY CHECK SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM FUNDING SUSPENDED A SOURCE OF CORRUPTION PHOTO CAPTION: THE FRIENDS OF ITASCA PARK PHOTO CAPTION: A & E PRODUCE PHOTO CAPTION: BUT HE PROBABLY ISN'T VOTING FOR HIM. PHOTO CAPTION: HYPNOTIST SAMI DARE AT BSU CONSUMER CORNER IF YOU'RE BUYING PROPERTY, BE REPRESENTED DIAMOND, BEAN, CERTAIN OTHER MATCHES UNSAFE -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 08/16/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 13 -------------------------------------- THE HEART OF CORRUPTION ----------------------- The Bemidji City Council MEETING OF 8/7/00 BEMIDJI CITY COUNCIL DESTROYS HISTORY, HOUSING Fighting Bemidji Corruption - And We're Winning ATWATER ENDS CORRUPT COUNCIL CAREER MEN FILE ANTI-SHELTER SUIT STOCK MARKET GLOSSARY In Focus COWBOYS RIDE THE STAMPEDE Advertisement BEMIDJI MAYOR CANDIDATES' DEBATE AND PUBLIC FORUM At Backus, The Hub Of Northern Minnesota BACKUS HOLDS CORN FEST 2000 FIDDLES, FOOD, NEW ORLEANS BANDS ROCK CAJUNFEST IT'S BLUEBERRY FEST AT LAKE GEORGE! WHITE OAK RENDEZVOUS MAHNOMEN MI-GWITCH POWWOW AT BALL CLUB REIF PRESENTS REPERCUSSION'S ROMEO AND JULIET -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 07/19/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 12 -------------------------------------- Fighting Bemidji Corruption - And We're Winning SELBY & SELBY CHARGED POW-WOW AT CASS LAKE MUSKIE HAS HIS DAY AT NEVIS In Focus THE 4TH AT DEBS BEMIDJI ART CENTER'S ARTS IN THE PARK GNATS SWARM LAPORTE MOONDANCE 2000 DOPSIE SWEEPS MOONDANCE, WILL HEADLINE AT CAJUNFEST !! ERIC BURDON PRODUCES NEW ANIMALS; WILL RELEASE BOOK The Voice of the People - Letters to the Editor READER BLOWS WHISTLE ON COLUMBINE ANTI-GUN PROPAGANDA BUCKING STOCK READY AT NORTH STAR WHITE OAK SCHEDULE DAVE AND EARL'S IS COUNTY MARKET NOW! -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 06/21/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 11 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- Bemidji Corruption - The Beltrami County Attorney TIM FAVER: 60 DAYS APPROPRIATE FOR ASSAULT WITH GUN But Bagley Court Sentences Hastings Cop to 30 Days on "Bracelet" MOONDANCE CREWS READY FOR THE CROWDS REPERCUSSION'S "ROMEO & JULIET" IN GRAND RAPIDS, 7/23 MEDIA ARTS WORKSHOP IN TRF DEALS ON MEALS RHAE HAS DREAMS FOR BEMIDJI ARTS Advertisement DEEP-DISCOUNT WHITE OAK TICKETS FOR NORTHERN HERALD READERS In Focus "OLD TIMERS" REUNITE AT BACKUS BEMIDJI WELCOMES NEW POSTAL MANAGER WHY YOU CAN'T FIND THEM IN (photo caption - photos in print edition only) THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN WALKER!! PHOTOGRAPHY BISTRO & GALLERY OPENS OPEN WATER IN SECOND YEAR PEG TOP (photo caption) DEBS - THE PLACE TO BE ON THE 4TH EFFIE READIES FOR RODEO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A READER DISCOVERS THE NH SITE IS JOE SIXPACK IN BEMIDJI? A VERY LONG LETTER -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 05/24/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 10 -------------------------------------- CRAIG WILLIAMS DENIES WRONGDOINGS AT BEMIDJI DOWNTOWN MEATS Leading Edge Eournalism - Follow-Up ITASCA CO. HEAD JAILER RETIRES MEDURE ADDRESSES ROMANCE ALLEGATIONS GIBSON BRINGS U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN TO THE NORTHLAND COHASSET FIREMAN'S FEED (Picture captions - photos appear only in print edition) ENGELKING GROUP TO OFFER NEW HELP IN FINDING AN ATTORNEY THE FIREMAN'S BALL CANDIDATE SUES; CLAIMS REPUBLICAN 8TH CONG. DIST. CONVENTION HIJACKED BY CHAIR In Focus WHERE TO GET SMELT BOY SCOUT SMELT FEED AT WALKER (Picture caption - photos appear only in print edition) DOPSIE TO HEADLINE AT MOONDANCE Editorials CAROL PRIEST MAY BRING BUMS AND DRUNKS TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONERS BURN BELTRAMI COUNTY ASSETS WOMEN MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR GUN CONTROL BAREFOOT AND PREGNANT Contemporary Ladies' Perspective, Advice and Tips by The Lady Steele THE NESCO ROASTER-OVEN WATERFOWL ASSN. MEETS AT WALKER -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 04/26/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 9 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism WAS WENDY CARLSON FORCED TO HAVE ORAL ROMANCE WITH ITASCA CO. HEAD JAILER? Leading Edge Journalism HOMEOWNER HIT BY VANDALISM AT BENA The Session NEW LAW GIVES START TO REMER SUNKEN LOG/ARTIFACT RECOVERY BUSINESS LEGISLATION LIMITS INSURANCE-COSTLY AUTO GLASS REBATES SPRING CHORALE CONCERT AT PARK RAPIDS, MAY 5, 7 MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL SYMPOSIUM In Focus SCOTTISH HERITAGE AT DULUTH!! MISSISSIPPI RIVER OFFERS PARKS PASS Editorial WHY ARE WE GLORIFYING THE WRONG THINGS? Letters to the Editor WHITE EARTH CANDIDATE DOYLE TURNER DEBUNKS MYTHS THINK OF US WHEN YOU DO FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR Consumer Corner A GOOD CIGAR ISN'T CHEAP DEALS ON MEALS SO YOU AIN'T GOT TIME TO READ IT? LEADING EDGE JOURNALISM - WHY YOU FIND MORE OF IT HERE. -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 03/29/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 8 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism SCHOOL TREMORS QUAKE DEER RIVER ENGLISH TEACHER DISMISSED OVER SEXUALLY-EXPLICIT STORY WORK WITH STUDENTS NORTH ELEMENTARY AIDE DROPPED WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE 4A REFORM PARTY BACKS BROWN, POWELL FOR PRES JERRY BROWN WHERE TO WRITE - PRESIDENTIAL NONCANDIDATES JERRY BROWN GEN. COLIN POWELL INDEPENDENCE PARTY CHAIR ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING; INTERFERES WITH CAUCUSES CONSUMER CORNER Bemidji Retail Games BEMIDJI FOOD4LESS BAITED MORE THAN JUST THE TUNA THOSE CREATIVE JOHANNESONS CELLULAR TELEPHONE CORDS CORRECTION (Picture Caption - photos in print edition only): SAFE SWIMMING. For Accountants Only by Adam Steele, CPA TAASC SIMPLIFIES TAX SOFTWARE MAZE In Focus KALLBERG WORK APPEARS AT BSU TOUCHE GALLERY WOMEN'S CLUB TO MEET AT BACKUS (Picture Caption - photos in print edition only): BSU STUDENTS GET A LESSON IN CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. Editorial ARE BEMIDJI ROTARIANS THE NEW AMERICAN NAZIS? Letters to the Editor PARENTS DEMAND CHANGES; NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL ACTIONS REGARDING STUDENTS Letters to the Editor A SMOKING ISSUE: READER CHALLENGES ETS CLAIMS -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 03/01/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 7 -------------------------------------- IT'S CHILI AT REMER Recipe Box ---------- Roberta Pepin's People's Choice Award Winning NORTHERN MINNESOTA CHILI REFORMERS CALL CONVENTION TO DECIDE SPLIT-OFF BSU BRINGS JAZZ TO NORTHLAND DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ FREE TOURS OF STATE CAPITOL MN DOR HELPS AGAIN WITH TAX TASK HARDER FILES FOR PRESIDENCY Advertisement VERY EXPENSIVE TAX SERVICE In Focus SCOUTS SERVE AT NEVIS! BRAINERD MAN TO AIR COMPLAINT OVER POLICE CONDUCT Editorial HUNT HAS DONE GOOD JOB AT LEECH LAKE Letters to the Editor VOTE THEM ALL OUT! DEALS ON MEALS Some of the best Dining Values in the Northland ---- CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER A Northern Herald Book Review by The Lady Steele Robert Morton's Family Journal SCHOOL VIOLENCE DECREASE BLURRED BY NEW TWIST -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 02/02/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 6 -------------------------------------- BSU TO HOST 27TH JAZZ FESTIVAL FEB. 5 Dr. Jeffrey Macomber, and guests, conducted January Concert Leading Edge Journalism DEER RIVER SKATING STAR DEPARTED AT 38 BULLOCK TO HAVE HELP OF NEW COUNSEL ON APPEAL 1999 STEELE SPHERES GO TO NEURURER, VENTURA NTC COLLEGE AT RED LAKE ON TARGET LACK OF WORK INTEREST STYMIES ANDERSON FABRICS/RED LAKE PLANT PROJECT BAGLEY SCHOOL TO BRING KURTZ PARK RAPIDS FLUTE WORKSHOP In Focus BACK TO HACK ! Editorials - Opinion GOVERNOR'S PLAN OR NOT, NORTH STILL GETS A LOT OF $$$S Letters to the Editor SHOULD U.S. PAY METRO WAGES IN GREATER MINNESOTA? RALLY FOR RURAL AMERICA MEETINGS SCHEDULED STATEWIDE YANISCH ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY CASS CONSERVATION EASEMENT BEMIDJI PARENT COMPLAINS OF SCHOOL BUS POLICY FASCISTS GET GRANT, WILL PUSH FOR MINNESOTA RESTAURANT ANTI-SMOKING LAW. Consumer Corner TAX SOFTWARE - 2000 CAVEATS Direct Answers from Wayne and Tamara INFIDELITY, LIKE PHYSICAL ABUSE, IRRETRIEVABLY BREAKS MARRIAGE -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 01/05/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 5 -------------------------------------- NORTHLAND WINTER FESTIVALS TO FILL JANUARY PRESSURE ON TO LABEL, REMOVE GENETICALLY-ALTERED FOOD Consumer Rejection May Cause Lower World Farm Prices for Crops Grown From GMO Seed KINKEL WALLOPS PETERSON/ BATCHELDER TEAM Bemidji Mayor Loses in All 5 Bemidji Wards BELTRAMI COUNTY OFFICES CLOSED FOR NON-HOLIDAY Consumer Corner CHASTITY BELTS - MANUFACTURER'S CLAIMS, PRICES COMPARED Northern Herald's DICTIONARY OF CHRISTIANITY In Focus BIELOH FEEDS CROWDS AT ANNUAL GAME FEAST (Picture caption - photos only in print edition): Letters to the Editor CHRISTIANITY AND MARRIAGE - BEMIDJI STYLE WE'RE ALWAYS GLAD TO GET STUFF LIKE THIS! Eventide - Arts & Literature ROUGHING IT by Mark Twain ------------------------------------ ISSUE OF 12/08/99 - VOLUME 5 NO. 4 ------------------------------------ SENATE 4 CANDIDATES DEFINE PRIORITIES AT CASS LAKE FORUM Election-Related Stories: Editorials - Opinion Our Editorial Endorsement: TONY KINKEL SENATE 4 - THE MOST CORRUPT CAMPAIGNS IN RECENT HISTORY (graphic caption - illustration in print edition only): DECEPTIVE REPUBLICAN ADVERTISING HOW CAN THESE GUYS EVEN TALK ABOUT "CHARACTER" ? SEEING LAWLESSNESS IN THE MAKING (photo caption - photos in print edition only) Letters to The Editor THAT COLORFUL AND WILY DOUG PETERSON FAMILY Leading Edge Journalism FAMILY, FRIENDS AWAIT BULLOCK APPEAL DEER RIVER POLICE SHOOT ROTTWEILER With a Grain of Sand IT'S ALL A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE CITY OF BEMIDJI RESTRAINED BY UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT; SUED FOR $600 BILLION CHIEF JUDGE CITES MISCONDUCT BY JUDGE HOLTER Letters to the Editor MINETTE ON SCHOOLS ------------------------------------ ISSUE OF 11/03/99 - VOLUME 5 NO. 3 ------------------------------------ GOVERNOR VENTURA SPEAKS AT BRAINERD SCHOOL THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS STUDENT QUESTIONS NOV., DEC. PRINT SCHEDULE BEMIDJI CRIME-RIDDEN WITH SEPT. AUTO THEFTS But in County, Sheriff Mounts Aggressive New Plan - Turns In Best "Solved" Rate in Years Advertisement THE BELTRAMI COUNTY SHERIFF WILL WATCH YOUR CAR Held on $1/4 Million Bail HANSON COMPLAINT INCONSISTENT WITH WITNESS STATEMENT AND WE HAVE A WINNER! - Bear False Witness BEAR contest Advertisement BRING BEMIDJI-STYLE CRIME AND CORRUPTION TO ST. PAUL? Particularly If You Drive a Caddy WHEN YOU COME TO BEMIDJI, BEST LEAVE YOUR HOOD ORNAMENT AT HOME ARTIFACTS SURFACE AT BEMIDJI DIG WINNIE STORE ENDS CREDIT ACCOUNTS ------------------------------------ ISSUE OF 10/13/99 - VOLUME 5 NO. 2 ------------------------------------ HACKENSACK CELEBRATES FALL THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE MILLENNIUM by Vi Hagford US WEST SUED Lawsuit: US West put local service last By Andrew Backover and Anne Colden Denver Post Business Writers Reprinted from The Denver Post of October 3, 1999 with permission. COMPETITIVE GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR CHILD SERVICE PROVIDERS Editorial WILL $250,000 BAIL HOLD MISS HANSON? Editorials - Opinion THE THUNDERBIRDS AND THE SEABEES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GOVERNOR TO MAKE JUDICIAL ANOUNCEMENT AT MIDDLE SCHOOL The Adventures of Felix ----------------------- BEMIDJI MAN REFUSES TO BE INFORMANT, CHARGED WITH DUI, REFUSAL TO TEST Acquitted, recently gets license back after 1 year DPS may still keep license after not guilty finding ------------------------------------ ISSUE OF 09/22/99 - VOLUME 5 NO. 1 ------------------------------------ LEADING EDGE JOURNALISM ----------------------- Marriage, Bemidji-style EDWINA GOLDEN ARRESTED FOLLOWING KNIFE INCIDENT Husband, 3 Kids Take Refuge at Motel After Wife Goes Berserk Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUND BEMIDJI METH BUST Defendant Claims that She Was Set-Up Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up ----------------------------------- EPA, DNR EXAMINING SUNSET VIEW Itasca Co. Takes Easement over LL Reservation Allotment PARK SERVICE PLANS EVENTS STUDENT ART ON DISPLAY AT FORT SNELLING SINGING RANGER, CHARLIE MAGUIRE, TO RELEASE CD STATE'S FIRST SHORELAND CONSERVATION EASEMENT AL HOOVER HONORED CORRUPTION GETS SETBACK AS SHAFFER LEAVES ITASCA CO. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE Editorials - Opinion NAZIISM SPREADS TO BLACKDUCK Letters to the Editor DON'T EXPECT HIGH CHANGES IN LOW STANDARD OF NORTHLAND TELEPHONE SERVICE ART STUDENTS: DRAW THE "BEAR FALSE WITNESS" BEAR Win Art Supplies For Yourself and Your School. A Northern Herald Book Review ----------------------------- "The Last Toast to Lutefisk" authored by Gary Legwold, Minneapolis, MN A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO ADVERTISERS ROBERT MORTON'S FAMILY JOURNAL by Robert Morton M.Ed., Ed.S. Our Democracy Must Not Forsake Education for Training ****************************************************************** TEXT OF ARCHIVED ISSUES BEGINS: -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 09/13/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 14 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- The pre-primary Bemidji Mayor Candidates' debate and forum was convened and sponsored by Northern Herald and Charter Communications BEMIDJI MAYOR PLATFORMS CONTRAST AT DEBATE BEMIDJI -- Bemidji Mayor candidate Corey Bailey said he'd bring jobs to Bemidji by annexing all of the county land in the 36 square mile Bemidji Township, building a civic center and promoting the construction of a 500-800 room hotel where the defunct Georgia Pacific plant now stands on the Lake Bemidji shore, and, in interview, after the debate, proposed to bring new residents to Bemidji to fill the $15-$20/hour jobs that, purportedly would be thereby created. Terry Melcher expressed disapproval with current city management, including City Manager Phil Shealy and City Attorney Alan Felix, both of whom serve at the will of the City Council and Mayor. He said he'd be inclined to look for outside talent to fill the Bemidji Police Chief's position which will open in January, strongly opposes increased city taxation, and stresses community involvement as a cure for Bemidji's municipal woes, advocating more housing, and refurbishing the sentence-to-serve program. Allen Weber spoke of people-oriented civic goals, such as better public safety, rentals, more actual person-to-person goal-oriented involvement by human services, downtown revitalization and services to the elderly. So went the spirited Sept. 7th Bemidji Mayor Candidates' Debate and Forum, sponsored by Northern Herald and Charter Communications. The debate was attended by the three candidates, the other two, incumbent Bemidji Mayor Doug Peterson and Councilman Richard Lehmann declined to attend. The debate called for each candidate to address a primary issue, with rebuttals and closing; afterward, the candidates answered questions in forum style. Corey Bailey, an Internet web site operator who has done some lobbying and is seeking real estate and securities licenses, introduced his primary topic as Jobs In Bemidji, and said that the "economic boom still hasn't happened here." He said that Beltrami County has the highest AFDC rate in the state. Bailey spoke of creating jobs by "marketing the Bemidji economy the rest of the United States." "Annexation is most important in marketing Bemidji to employers," said Bailey, who advocated annexing the entire Bemidji township. Allen Weber said "We need more professional people downtown to draw people into our downtown ... It's becoming desolate," and proposed a moratorium on new building in favor of rehabilitation of existing structures. "I think we need more full-time employment - not service companies, but manufacturers, because the service companies only give part time employment and no benefits. Terry Melcher said that he agreed on a need to increase the jobs in Bemidji. He said, "... we need to find more ways to bring in more companies to keep our workers here." He cited that many college graduates now leave Bemidji after graduating. Allen Weber had chosen the topic of Getting Rid of Corruption in Bemidji, and addressed it by speaking on a variety of issues. He said that he believed in public safety, and specifically said that there needed to be more neighborhood crime watches, that they "brought the neighborhood together more to cooperate," in fighting crime. He said he favored less taxes and spending, "Everybody's crying for more - Citizens want more services, that costs money. In our own homes we can only go so far because we have a limited budget. Why can't the [City] do the same?" Weber said he opposed the proposed 1% sales tax because it would turn people away from Bemidji. Weber recognized the large amounts of spending done in Bemidji by the neighboring reservations, which he said, "probably spend more money in our town than anybody. ... They help us a lot." He stressed less emphasis on tourism saying, "If the college wasn't here, if the schools weren't here, if the Indian Nation wasn't buying here, I think our town would have collapsed a long time ago, because it's not the tourists that are helping us." Weber encouraged people to "Take pride in Bemidji," by shoveling their sidewalks and cleaning up. Weber advocated that Bemidji, "get our nose out of this Georgia-Pacific thing," and seemed to advocate leaving the site to private interests, rather than the City paying the high clean-up costs of the old plant. Weber criticized prejudice in Bemidji, "The countries I come from, I'm German, Russian, Bohemian and Jewish, people are blood. We have to make up in our own minds that prejudice stops [here] ..." Terry Melcher, reflecting on Weber's topics and earlier remarks, indicated disagreement with the notion of corruption in Bemidji, "I don't think the town is that bad," he said adding, "I don't know how much corruption," there is. Melcher, however, agreed with Weber's position on rentals and the need for more housing. Bailey responded by again saying that the answer to Bemidji's problem is primarily economic. "Bemidji is an isolated region ...," he said, reiterating the high AFDC rate and said, "it all comes down to jobs." Terry Melcher introduced himself as a 23 year old 4th-year BSU student with a daughter and a fiancee whom he plans to marry next year. He came to Bemidji in 1997. Melcher served a year and a half in the Army after high school, then being placed in inactive reserve, and has recently re-enlisted in National Guard. "A lot of questions may arise as to my age," he said, "but I've lived a long time for my age." Melcher said he is a double-major in political science and mass communications, and has served on the Student Council for all 4 of his university years, also serving as Student Senator, MSUSA cultural diversity representative and MSUSA campus representative. Melcher said, "I've traveled out to Washington D.C. three times to lobby on behalf of students, so, when I get into a job, I believe in it and I do it well. Melcher outlined his first principal topic as taxation. "The tax increase that they are proposing, I'm totally against it. I think that [tax increases] are something that our leaders always fall back on. I think we need to find alternative ways that ... keep our services high and keep our taxes low." Melcher stressed his second topic, community involvement, as one way to keep taxes down. He spoke of present programs where plumbing, construction and electrician students get credit for home building, and that the City might work more with BSU and Northwest Tech to utilize student services in constructing more low-income housing. Melcher advocated using industrial technology majors to help revitalize parks and playground equipment. "I think there are so many alternatives out there that we need to look into them. Melcher also addressed the matter of downtown revitalization, which had also been raised by Weber. "I think that we have the potential to have the best downtown in America. ... Our downtown is located right on Lake Bemidji, yet all of our businesses are going up west-town, nobody is putting any money into downtown - I think we need to do that." Corey Bailey responded by saying that he hadn't really thought about revitalizing downtown, "I think Bemidji should grow in all directions," he said, reiterating that if Bemidji would annex the entire township, "we could grow in all directions." Bailey said, though, that first, you have to have jobs. Allen Weber said that, for three years, he took care of "the trees, the flowers and picking up the trash," for the Downtown Merchants Association. Weber said that he took pride in what he did for downtown, but now, "It doesn't seem right that the merchants are so lazy that we don't do something, to improve downtown." Melcher addressed Bailey's remarks, "Theoretically, to grow in all directions would be nice, but we can't really do that; it's not fair to, at the expense of downtown. You talk about jobs and want to keep increasing jobs; and one of the biggest industries in Bemidji is tourism, and I think that's what's going to keep our tourism is [to] revitalize downtown." Corey Bailey, who had worked on the 1997 civic center proposal, advocated building the civic center as a way of drawing more tourism. Questions. The Pioneer asked how the candidates would handle the city's current budget situation. Weber said, "I'll try to do better than we're doing now.... It bothers me that we can spend all this money and still not have enough." Weber said he opposes the proposed 1% sales tax and said he wanted to see more sidewalk ramps "so people could ride their bicycles ... develop more bike trails and walking places." Weber stressed conservation efforts in the new Bemidji waterfront developments and change in Paul Bunyan Drive. Melcher said that he didn't know the exact ins and outs, but he didn't like to see cuts in programs that have "been funded in the past." Melcher said, "We need to find new alternatives ... My number 1 answer ... is just community involvement." Melcher encouraged more participation in service organizations such as the Jaycees, Masons, etc. "The Jaycees ... they fund that water carnival every year, they make about $20,000 off of it, they put that right back into the community." He said that there are about 70 student groups that want to do community service. "I think the alternatives are there ...," he said. Bailey said that Bemidji is a growing economic area. He spoke of more demand on city services, criticizing the cost of fire calls outside of the city as an example, and again strongly suggested annexation to increase the City tax base. Lakeland Television News asked what are current issues before the City Council and do the candidates agree or disagree with the Council. Melcher said that the council wasn't taking the right aspect on the proposed tax increase. "They're finding ways to spend this money, but they're not finding alternative ways to get this money," he said And Melcher criticized the Bemidji Liquor Store as a revenue source in the face of the alcohol and DWI problem, calling it a conflict of interest. Corey Bailey said that the Council should not be dealing with issues not related to macro-economics. He cited tax increment financing as the "# 1 thing" with which he disagreed, asking, with relation to TIF financing of Westridge Center, "For What?" Allen Weber criticized the Council for paying themselves too much. He said he wished the citizens would vote out the whole City Council ... "and start anew." Weber criticized the Council for it's involvement in the People's Church Special Use Permit "I think that was for the people to settle, not the City." Northern Herald asked the candidates what they thought of Al Felix as City Attorney and Phil Shealy as City Manager. Corey Bailey responded that he had no problem with Al Felix. He criticized Shealy for his actions regarding the Westridge development, saying "Lack of vision is one thing the City Manager shouldn't have ..." Allen Weber didn't address the question directly, but said he thought everyone was trying to do the best they could. Terry Melcher said that he "had the pleasure of dealing with these individuals, just as a regular citizen, and ... I was very unimpressed with both of them." He cited that Shealy, "Wouldn't listen to anything I had to say, didn't work to get to the root of the problem, didn't accommodate in any way." Melcher said that he happened to deal with Mr. Felix twice, and the first time Felix "treated me the same way Mr. Shealy did," although he said that the second time Felix was more civil. An audience member asked what should be done with the Georgia-Pacific property, including the pollution clean-up. Weber, primarily, criticized the past pollution and said that something should have been done previously. Melcher said that the cleanup would be a good opportunity for volunteerism, and supported the buy-back effort so the lakeshore property could be usable by all citizens, rather than for a housing development. Bailey said that the location would be good place for the civic center, and suggested that the lakeshore site might be used for a 500-800 room hotel. Asked what specific life experience best qualified the candidates to be Mayor, Bailey said that he was on the Bemidji civic center committee and had proposed the civic center idea to Mayor Peterson. Weber said that "Everyday I deal with the unknown ... and that, I think, is what the mayorship is about .... I like the challenge." "Why is Bemidji caught between the Bible and the bottle?" he asked. Melcher spoke of having grown up in an abusive household without much money; and that joining the Army was the "number 1 defining experience in my life. ... It taught me ... that I should believe in myself. ... It makes me want to do things for the community. Mostly I just want to make a good life for myself, my fiancee, my daughter; I want my daughter to be proud of her father and I think this is the best way I can do it. Lakeland News asked the candidates, in the last 10 years, what issues did they feel were not dealt with properly by the City Council. Allen Weber spoke of the need for rental housing, and the failure of Human Services to teach an illiterate man to read and write. Terry Melcher criticized Bemidji housing citing that some people are living in housing that "is just falling down." He called this unacceptable. Melcher said there was a need for more rehabilitation of criminals and to reestablish the Sentence-To-Service program which he said is "in shambles." He said that the Council erred in diluting the student vote by splitting the university campus into 3 voting districts saying that he thought it tended "to keep students away from the voting booths." Bailey criticized zoning saying, "Before you can annex ... you have to have the zoning for tourism." Northern Herald asked the candidates, regarding selection of the new police chief, whether they'd look for applicants from outside the department or promote from within. Terry Melcher said that he'd look outside the department, "You can't get somebody who really thinks outside the box pulling from the people who have been led by the current police chief." Bailey said he wouldn't favor either alternative, but said "It would be who is best qualified." Allen Weber said that he agreed with both other candidates. Last Words. Corey Bailey closed by saying "I've lived here ... for almost 23 years. Not much has changed. .... With proper management, influence and leadership Bemidji can be one of the ... [best] cities in the United States." And Bailey said that jobs are the issue that would improve it. Weber said, in closing, "Remember, get out and vote. This is your city. Help us to make changes by your vote. Vote! Vote! Two or three times if you can," he said. Terry Melcher said, "I want to publicly state my extreme disappointment for the final two candidates [Peterson and Lehmann] not showing up for this debate. ... This is a public debate and all five candidates should have been here. I think that it shows a lack of respect for our city; I think that it was unacceptable for them to not show up .... It's the only time the five of us get together and actually talk about issues that help out this city and their complete disregard for it is atrocious. Another thing I want to touch on is, Richard Lehmann is running an ad in The Pioneer right now that says, 'It's a new voice for Bemidji' and I just want to say that it's not a new voice for Bemidji. His voice is basically the same as Mayor Peterson's; if you look at the voting records, it's almost the same as Mayor Peterson's. ... And so I hope voters don't get pulled in .... I have the dedication, I love this City and I know I'll do a good job. And I hope the voters do turn out on Tuesday, and furthermore in November, and I'll personally see if the American Dream is still alive." ---------------------------------------------------- The Bemidji Mayor's Race OUR EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENT: TERRY MELCHER Our endorsement is based upon candidates' answers to questions posed at the debate, in personal interview, other information known about the candidates and our overall assessment of their credibility based upon their responses to further questioning regarding how they would propose to implement the goals they outlined, whether they were coherent and conversant, or conversely, evasive, on related topics, and general demeanor. Candidates who refused to face the public and press in debate, namely, Doug Peterson and Richard Lehmann are excluded from consideration. What may lie in the agendas they will not discuss is likely far worse than the worst of any candidates willing to be forthcoming. In our opinion, Corey Bailey is dangerous. He proposes to force urbanization down Bemidji's throat whether the people want it or not, because he believes it's best for the economy. Still, he proposed to bring in workers from out-of-town who would be qualified to fill the high paying jobs he said he'd create. When asked how that would help present Bemidjians, he didn't have a coherent answer. And he proposes lavish things like a 500 - 800 room hotel on Lake Bemidji, without a satisfactory answer as to how he'd fill it, or what that would do to existing innkeepers businesses which, even now, find it hard to stay full. We think Mr. Bailey may have spent too much time in St. Paul, because he's full of political buzz phrases which do not endure questioning as to how the goals would be implemented or why. We wonder why he's running for Mayor of Bemidji, and not New York where his plans would be more at home. At the debate, Allen Weber made a lot of good points. At least one spectator said that his answers "made more sense" than the other two candidates'. And, occasion-ally, Weber didn't mind declining questions to which he didn't have an ready answer, rather than try to fabricate one. His approach was refreshingly candid and at the end, he proposed tar and feathering current Bemidji officials, and attorneys, a thought that might be dear to many. Unfortunately, Mr. Weber's Achilles Heel lies in availability, organization and implementation. In ways, the problem with Bemidji government is that it's been like reaching a broken answering machine that plays a message, asks you to state your business, and then doesn't record it. Bemidji's council and agencies alluringly invite citizen comment and participation, but the results are not there. In the end, as if the citizens had been talking to the wall, the Bemidji officials make their decisions irrespective of what has been said by their constituents. Throughout his campaign, Mr. Weber has been virtually uncontactable, and actually has an answering machine broken as described above. He doesn't know when you called, you'd only speak to him by telephone if he happened to call you to discuss his good ideas. He is obviously not interested in what you might call to say. This, a good public official, does not make. In the end, Weber is an excellent choice to not be there for Bemidji. He has some very good ideas, a mostly reasonable perspective and an open mind. He has done some fine things, on his own schedule. But he is not dependable and sometimes forgets appointments and work commitments. Public service means being accessible to public input on a day-to-day basis, and productivity means establishing goals and envisioning improve-ments (the fun part) and then implementing them - doing the very methodical work to bring those things about. The work may involve playing telephone tag, it may be cumbersome paperwork or it may involve just being at scheduled meetings and appointments with "homework" done so one is ready for them. Whatever it is, it is very routine and mundane and necessary to bring plans to fruition so they're more than just good ideas. This, the implementation, is Mr. Weber's weak area. As far as public accessibility goes, it's not a high priority with Mr. Weber. When asked if he had a phone number where constituents with questions couldn't contact him, he said it was 218-444-WOOD; but it should be 444-NOT-IN. Mr. Weber is affable and would not be dangerous to Bemidji, but we don't think he'd presently get the things done that people expect of their Mayor. Given his keen perception, and with work on consistency and availability, Mr. Weber may become an excellent candidate in future years, and, at present, may be suitable for certain civic appointments which do not require as absolute reliability, on a tough schedule, as does the Mayor's job. Though inexperienced, Terry Melcher is less dangerous than Bailey, and has some excellent perspectives. In our opinion, it is just a matter of inexperience and naivete that, following Weber's mention of Bemidji corruption as a topic, caused Melcher to, effectively, in a general statement of perspective, deny it, as, perhaps he didn't recall or visualize the problem. But later, when asked about specific current Bemidji officials, Melcher's mind jogged and he said, straightforwardly, that he wasn't impressed with them and further said that he'd go outside of Bemidji Police Department to find a new Chief because one wouldn't expect to find a better alternative to Chief Tell in the department that was hired and trained by him. Melcher's comments regarding Chief Tell and other officials belies that he does understand the shortfalls of certain personnel when put in specific terms, rather than generalities, and he does not hesitate to criticize these powerful officials when warranted. Additionally, he seems to be ready to shirk off political pressure and good 'ol boy politics to find realistic long-term solutions to internal problems, even where it means making tough decisions. Melcher was conversant and had a good, resolute stand on taxation, a positive approach to downtown revitalization, community work, volunteerism and refurbishing sentence-to-service to better serve the community, and also, in interview, reasonable position on annexation, the rights of existing property owners as opposed to prospective developers, and constitutional issues. We think his inexperience and blue skies naivete will subside after a year or two seeing Bemidji politics from the inside, and his responses indicate that he may well have some good answers to the problems posed. As to credibility, we are cautioned by Melcher's previous heavy experience in university politics. He probably would know how to say, pretty much, what people wanted to hear. Still, there's no outward evidence of insincerity on his part - only time in office, with a chance to respond to the public, will tell. There are no messiahs, these days. No candidate was wholly beyond reproach. Things seldom go perfectly - if they go at all, though, you can be ahead of the game, and that's pretty good. Terry Melcher is not, in all respects, the "perfect" candidate. But we have to choose from a field of five, one of whom will be Bemidji's Mayor for the next two years. Of the five candidates for Bemidji Mayor, Terry Melcher gets our nod as the best choice. A couple of years will tell if he's as good as he sounds, and if he'll do what he says. ---------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- 4A REP. DOUG FULLER, WIFE, PETITION AGAINST NATIVE AMERICAN "PEOPLE'S CHURCH"; MEDIATION REPORT ORDERED BEMIDJI -- A petition, filed last May, spearheaded by Doug and Jeri Fuller, 817 & 821 Minnesota Ave., Bemidji, and aimed at the predominantly Native American attended People's Church, at 824 America Ave., resulted in the matter being referred for mediation between the church and the neighbors signing the petition. The action came at the August 28th meeting of the Bemidji Planning & Zoning Commission (P & Z), with follow-up and report to P & Z in time for its November 27, 2000 meeting at which time the matter will be reconsidered. Dougs. Doug Fuller is District 4A (Southern Beltrami and Northern Hubbard Counties) State Representative; his campaign was managed in the 1998 elections by Bill Batchelder, operator of Bemidji Woolen Mills, and who also managed the unsuccessful campaign of Bemidji Mayor Doug Peterson in his bid for State Senate last fall. In the election, which seated Tony Kinkel, Peterson lost in all 5 Bemidji wards. The signatures of Doug and Jeri Fuller appear as signatures 2 and 3 on the original petition; Doug Fuller has been present during hearings on it this summer before the Bemidji City Council and P & Z Commission. The Petition. The petition asks that the City Council "revisit" the Special Use Permit under which the People's Church has operated, and that "if the original intent of the use of this facility cannot be followed, we ask the council to close the facility (People's Church). Specific objections to use of the Church, cited in the petition for intervention and possible closure of the Church included, "7. ... tobacco use on the property" (tobacco is important to Native American culture; they sometimes use it as a part of certain worship ceremonies; Doug Fuller, however, is an official of the American Cancer Society which fanatically opposes tobacco in any form). Further Church practices objected to included, "8. Use of the property as a ... homeless shelter. ... 10. Free noon meals provided Monday through Friday ... 11. Nursing service ...." And the petition further alleged complaints of loitering, garbage, increased traffic (the Church, on the edge of downtown, is about 3 blocks from the Beltrami County Building, and one block from the Human Services Building parking lot), children smoking and there during school hours, "Use of the property to run a roofing business which includes drop-off and pick-up of employees" [Well, do we want people back to work, or what? -- Ed.], "unsupervised" after school activities, and unsupervised children. Pastor Bob Kelly responds. Peoples Church Pastor Bob Kelly also owns Pinewood Shingling, a roofing business which he bases at his home in Pinewood. "There isn't a day goes by that someone doesn't ask me for work," said Pastor Kelly, who said that he hired the people that he could. Regarding the allegation that he was running the business from the Church, Kelly said, "It's an exaggeration," and explained that some of the people, without vehicles, who worked for him and lived near the church, would meet Kelly there to get a ride to the work site. Due to the petition, though, Kelly has discontinued the practice. Pastor Kelly acknowledged that Peoples Church, like many other churches, has a parish nurse, a public health nurse who volunteers without pay to deal with health needs of low-income people without cost to them. It is not known why that is objected to in the petition; nor is it known why providing meals, as do other churches, is a subject of the complaints. Kelly said attendance of the free noon meals was still going strong, "particularly at the end of the month, when peoples' resources tend to be dried up." The Pastor said that he knew of no loitering off of church property, and acknowledged that people do meet on the rear deck of the church. "It's a place where people meet each other and help each other solve problems; transportation problems, housing, food, child care," he said. Similarly, Kelly said, as regards complaints of children's activities, that there are a lot of children in the neighborhood; prior to the petition, he had never received any complaints regarding the conduct of parishioners' children on or near the property. In fact, he said, the only notice of any complaint he had was just before the petition was brought before the City Council. "Mrs. Fuller called the Thursday before the Monday the petition was presented. I wasn't convinced that everything she was saying was true. ... She didn't want to talk about it ... she couldn't perceive another point of view," he said. As an example of the exaggerated, almost paranoic perception of the petitioners, at one time, People's Church was allowing beds to be donated to be given away to people who didn't have one. "One woman who got a bed had been sleeping on the floor for six months," Kelly told Northern Herald, "she was so happy she could hardly speak." But when Peoples Church began to store the beds, they were accused by the petitioners of creating a dormitory, and when they moved the beds out to give them to recipients, they were accused of trying to conceal them. Kelly said that the beds were only stored, not used, at the Church. Donators of the beds included Pastor James Vadis of First Lutheran Church and Don Connors, an elder at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. In the past, the Church had welcomed homeless people, who, Kelly said, were given access to a telephone and calling card, and transportation to try to secure housing if it was available. "We counsel them on money ... all of the things that go to solve the problem of being homeless," Kelly said. The Church also allowed people to stay overnight, if necessary, until the City of Bemidji forbade it. Kelly said that even now, though, if House of Hospitality is full, church members sometimes invite the homeless to their homes for the night. "If I was building a church," said Kelly, "and soon we may be, I'd want to build on some efficiency apartments for homeless people." And Kelly is presently building a cabin in Pinewood where homeless people from Bemidji will be allowed to stay. Regarding children smoking on the premises, Kelly said that it was no different than any other place, even schools, where children might try to sneak a smoke behind the building; the practice is not encouraged by the Church. Kelly answered complaints about children being there during school hours by stating that some of the children are lawfully home-schooled and are not truant, and others are children of homeless persons being served by the church. "People who are homeless have a very difficult time getting their children to school." Responding to the complaints of debris on and around the property, Kelly said that the complaint arose in the spring, when the snow melt, as elsewhere, exposes things that had been thrown in the snow over the winter; and that it had since been cleaned up. "I'd invite anyone to drive by and assess it," he said. Asked about possible motives for bringing the petition against the church, Kelly said that he was puzzled by them and didn't care to interpret them. On September 7th, 2000, Northern Herald inspected the premises of People's Church and found no debris on the property. Asked if there had been past problems with the Church, Faron Morin, neighborhood resident at 809 America Ave., said, "I have no problem with it at all ... there's people there a lot of times, but they never bothered me at all." Asked specifically if he had observed unusual loitering, disorderly conduct, intoxication or drug use, Morin, a father of four small children said, "No, I haven't seen no problem at all with that. Every once in a while I see people wandering up there [to the Church] and sometimes late at night, but they don't seem intoxicated to me. Morin, who said that he, personally, has never gone to the People's Church, said that he didn't regard the Church, a half block away, as a security problem or a bad influence on his young children, "No, not at all," he said. At the Church, Carol Kelly, wife of Pastor Bob Kelly, told Northern Herald that Peoples Church is a Christian (Lutheran - ELCA) church. Churchgoer Roger Roberts, of Wilton, said, "This is a Christian church that is honoring the Native American traditions." ELCA has advised Kelly that they may have an interest in this as a First Amendment legal case should the City of Bemidji try to shut the church down. (The City of Bemidji, and some of its citizens, have not, historically, had much respect for constitutional rights which are freely and flagrantly violated here. In an unrelated matter, there is currently a $600 billion federal suit, by Northern Herald, pending against the City of Bemidji, and certain others for First Amendment violations). The Hearing. The matter came before the Planning and Zoning Commission, comprised of Chairman Joe Vene, Richard Slinkman, Nancy Erickson, Rita Rabe, David Landgrebe, Elaine Peterson and Roger Hellquist, as an annual review of the Special Use Permit issued to the People's Church in August 1997 to operate the church in an R-3 residential zoned neighborhood. The building had been historically used as a church building before Peoples Church took it over. Prior to the hearing, Peoples Church had agreed to enter into professional mediation with the Fullers and other neighbors; the mediation is being conducted by Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center. P & Z Chairman Vene stated at the start of the hearing that its subject would be whether there were activities that were contrary to the particulars of the Special Use Permit, such as overnight boarding of people, and people giving the church address as their home or mailing address and whether there had been any disruption of the tranquility of the neighborhood; and said, of continuing accusations made, "we've heard about people at this location being stared down, neighbors afraid to come out of their houses. I'm just telling you what has been heard - I'm not being conclusory about anything." Vene acknowledged a letter from the Director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America expressing support for the Peoples Church. The Commission heard from Curt Oakes, Bemidji Planning administrator, several persons speaking on behalf of the church, and some of the neighbors who had signed the petition. Oakes reported that there was a concern over small children playing in the front yard of Peoples Church, and to solve it, Bethel Lutheran Church had assisted in funding a fence to be installed in the back yard next month. Barbara McGregor, a neighbor residing at 904 America Avenue, spoke to the Commission, hurling a barrage of accusations against Peoples Church parishioners, including loitering, people being outside during the early morning hours, noise pollution, kids using a wooden handicap access ramp as a skateboard ramp, throwing rocks at cars, and loud and vile language. "I feel you have a right to be safe and secure in your own home," said McGregor, "no one should be able to make you feel vulnerable, intimidated or fearful." McGregor further complained about Kelly's roofing workers congregating at the church in the morning, to be taken to their jobs, being returned there in the afternoon, and that, in inclement weather, when they couldn't work, they were at the church all day. McGregor complained about a rock being thrown, August 27th, into her backyard, but did not state that it necessarily originated from Peoples Church, or its parishioners; she asked who was legally liable for Peoples Church, and Chairman Vene responded that, as regarded allegations of unlawfulness by individuals, possibly churchgoers or their children, that it was those individuals, not the church, who were responsible. McGregor also asked the Commission whether it was permissible to operate a business at the church location under the Special Use Permit. Chairman Vene answered that it wasn't, but, "First of all, it has to be established whether a business is being operated." A question may exist as to whether merely meeting workers to give them a ride to the job site constitutes operation of a business, but the Commission did not attempt to answer that question at that hearing. Another neighbor similarly complained of people congregating near the church from 7:30 in the morning to 7:30 in the evening; that the Peoples Church grounds were an eyesore and that the fellowship had promised to improve the grounds, but had not done so. (There did not appear to be debris on the grounds when Northern Herald inspected them - we saw no "eyesore"). The neighbor insisted on a tobacco-free environment. Pastor Steve Peterson, who is on the Peoples Church Advisory Board, and also helps with some of the activities, took the podium to explain the mediation process, which would begin with the first meeting August 30th. "Each of the parties ... the concerned neighbors and people from the Peoples Church ... will be meeting with someone from Upper Mississippi who is skilled in mediation," and Peterson explained that at the first meeting, each party could air its concerns. "And then they will come together," he said, in a process with ground rules designed to resolve the differences. Commissioner Slinkman said, "Firstly, I commend the Church for what you do," then suggested that in the church's zeal to attain their goals they may have overlooked the necessity of doing no harm and being a good neighbor. He said that the concerns of the neighborhood should be addressed by the Church and could be handled. "I don't think I want, as Commissioner, to sit down here and say what those things should be. I would like for the Church and the neighborhood to get together and come up with what both of them could live with." Sammia Braddock, a Peoples Church member who also conducts women's taking circles there, testified before the Commission as to what the Church had done for her. A single parent of five, Miss Braddock said that she came from a dysfunctional family, and was associated with gang members. She said that since "I passed by there two and a half months ago, [with] no where to go," her children had been baptized and had become better disciplined. "They listen now ... Pastor Bob and Carol - they've given me more life ... [the Peoples Church] has given me direction. ... My children feel safe at the Peoples Church," she said. Commissioner Elaine Peterson responded by saying, "Here's somebody taking responsibility [for herself and her children] ... I think that's all the neighbors are asking." Following the speakers, and discussion by the Commission, Commissioner Slinkman moved that the annual review of the Special Use Permit be continued to November 27th to permit the mediation process to proceed, with a report of the mediation to be delivered to the Commission by November 13th. The motion passed unanimously. Said long time Bemidji area resident and businessman Richard Chernugal, following the hearing, "Two groups of people of good will [are] getting together to solve an issue. ... With the mediation on a timetable, I'm not certain that a timetable is a good thing for a mediation; it has to be ongoing, but I think it's good that the Planning Commission is going to get an update in 90 days. (Photo captions - photos are not shown in Library edition): Feron Morin and his children at their residence at 809 America Ave., about a 1/2 block from People's Church. Morin said he had not seen unusual loitering or disorderly conduct on the Church grounds, and that the Church did not present a problem to him or his family. A packed house attends the August 28th Bemidji Planning and Zoning Commission meeting considering closure of Peoples Church. 4A State Rep. Doug Fuller, (front row left and at inset) was present at the meeting, but did not address the issue. Fuller was also present at an earlier Bemidji City Council meeting on the same topic. Peoples Church member Sammia Braddock, holding eagle feather, prepares the table for the daily offering and cleansing with sage. She said the tradition was, "To reach our ancestors ... guiding us ... [and it's to get out] to the youth, so they can know where they can go to the creator, God, have guidance, and ask for protection ..." --------------------------------------------------------- (Photo caption - photos are not shown in Library edition): Red Lake Police operated an unannounced sobriety check Sept. 1st on the east edge of Redby. Conservation Officer Kevin Spears directs cars off of Highway 1 and into the Red Lake Fisheries parking lot where officers Jason Lawrence, Criminal Investigator, Red Lake Dept. of Public Safety, and Robert Van Wert check for license and sobriety, while Criminal Investigator Donovan Wind and Conservation Officer Jeff Pierre do a quick trunk and vehicle check for contraband. The Red Lake Nation is dry - alcohol of any type, open or not, is contraband. A drug sniffing dog was also present. Lawrence said that the checkpoint was part of Red Lake's strengthened efforts to make the highway safe and would be done periodically. "We'll arrest any intoxicated drivers, or anybody that has a warrant," he said. In the hour that the check operated that afternoon, "We've had only 3 vehicles come through with alcohol, had one warrant arrest, and about 12 vehicles with no D.L. [driver's license]; and the ones with no D.L. get parked right there and they walk from here," said Lawrence. The random checkpoint is permitted under the laws of the Red Lake Nation, which, though contained within Minnesota, is a sovereign nation. ---------------------------------------------------- SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM FUNDING SUSPENDED ST. PAUL -- In past years, the 76 individual coalitions which comprise the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) have been known for promoting false charges against men, costing them time and money, and sometimes their freedom. In recent years, so-called date rape charges have been as ludicrous as one brought by a Bemidji co-ed against her illicit lover where she claimed that, on a certain evening, the first time they had unholy and out-of-wedlock romance it was consensual, but the second time was rape (the case ended in acquittal). Governor Jesse Ventura placed the sexual assault programs, which previously had been largely autonomous and thusly unaccountable for their actions, under the auspices of Minnesota's Department of Public Safety. On June 14th, 2000, Public Safety Commissioner Charlie Weaver charged that MCASA had violated federal and state agree-ments by reverse discriminatory practices and suspended funding of the organization. It is expected that the suspension may affect payments of fourth quarter, 2000, and all of fiscal 2001 grants, totalling $265,000. The suspension stemmed from MCASA'a May, 2000 service providers conference, which involved a Women of Color Institute that, allegedly, prohibited white women from attending its gathering. "We wanted to send a clear message that we will not tolerate discriminatory behaviour," said DPS Commissioner Weaver. --------------------------------------------------- A SOURCE OF CORRUPTION BEMIDJI -- The 8/16/00 issue of Northern Herald reported the demolition, by the City of Bemidji, of a $7,800 tax-forfeit house, which could have been sold at auction. The demolition came at a public cost of $2,275, bringing the total public loss to $10,075. (See Bemidji City Council Destroys History, Housing, in NH of 08/16/00, available at our web site - address: page 5.) Per new information which surfaced at the Sept. 5th meeting of the Bemidji City Council, it appears that the demolition, which was strenuously supported by City and County authorities, even in the face of a legal challenge, was done as a favor to Linda Lemmer, resident at 143 Gemmel Ave., Bemidji. She had asked the Council, earlier this year, to demolish the valuable property because it didn't meet her aesthetic tastes for the block. Post-publication note and correction, not in original edition: It has come to our attention that the building that Linda Lemmer requested be demolished was NOT the one (at 200 Gemmel Ave.) which was the subject of the story. She requested that a house which she owned, at 150 Gemmel Ave. be demolished. At this time, it is still not known, then, why the City of Bemidji undertook the costly and wasteful destruction of the home at 200 Gemmel Ave. ------------------------------------------------------- (Photo caption - photos are not shown in Library edition): The Friends of Itasca Park have lunch during their annual meeting Sept. 9th, 2000 at Itasca. The Friends, many of whom are park volunteers, work regularly with DNR park management to preserve and protect Itasca State Park's rich heritage and ecological diversity. Persons interested in being a Friend of Itasca Park may contact President Tim Holzkamm at 218-573-3442 or tholzkam@wcta.net --------------------------------------------------------- (Photo caption - photos are not shown in Library edition): A & E Produce is open for the season! Featuring their own farm-fresh and home-grown produce, on the North side of Highway 2 between Shevlin and Bagley. Unlike some veggie stores, the Erickson's A & E produce has only fresh-picked locally grown product. So they're only open from the start of harvest through late autumn. Would you drive all the way to Shevlin for produce? Well, if you wanted a couple pounds of fresh beets for 75 cents, or a pound of tomatoes that was just picked that day for $1, well, you just might. -------------------------------------------------------- (Photo caption - photos are not shown in Library edition): But he probably isn't voting for him. Last week, a lot of Peterson signs popped up blanketing major Bemidji streets. Shown (print edition only) is Bemidji Mayor candidate Terry Melcher, with the Peterson sign Melcher found planted in his front yard. People often assume that campaign yard signs are a sign of support by the people living there. The more signs, the more support. And that's what campaign workers would like people to think. Surprised by his opponent's sign in his front yard, Melcher inquired of the other tenants of the apartment building. None had authorized the sign. On checking with Peterson, though, he was told that the sign was placed, allegedly, because Melcher's landlord, a friend of Peterson's neighbor, had OK'd it. ------------------------------------------------------------ (Photo caption - photos are not shown in Library edition): On Sept. 4th, hypnotist Sami Dare entertained at Beaux Arts Auditorium at Bemidji State University. An entire stagefull of volunteers, hypnotized at once, are told they're driving a race car. Later, the hypnotic suggestion was given that they're all ballet dancers. As they danced upon the stage, suddenly, they're told, by the hypnotist, to "Freeze!" and are suspended in mid-step. The program was part of campus-based HUPB's regularly scheduled events. ---------------------------------------------------------- CONSUMER CORNER --------------- Readers are invited to submit consumer complaints or compliments to this column, and to our Auto Service Forum. Send info c/o this paper, P.O. Box 1535, Bemidji, MN 56619 IF YOU'RE BUYING PROPERTY, BE REPRESENTED Generally, when people buy real estate, they just call the broker who has the sign in front. That broker then handles all of the details of the sale. In real estate parlance, this is called agreeing to "dual agency." It means one broker represents both the buyer and the seller. This is very much like suing someone in court, and agreeing to let his attorney handle your case too. The funny thing is, it costs no more for the buyer to be represented, if he knows what to do. Despite the representation that, under dual agency, one realtor represents both parties, the seller's agent's duty is, technically, to the seller, not the buyer. In reality, most real estate agents are loyal to neither the buyer or the seller - agents are independent contractors who do what they think is best for them. Still, a buyer can put the odds more in his favor by having his own representation. Here's how it works: When you find a property you're interested in, instead of contacting the seller's agent, contact your own real estate agent to act as "buyer's representative" and make the offer. It is important to do this before you sign a purchase agreement. You pay nothing extra for this - the fees that the seller's agent would normally receive are simply split between the two agents. And that way you have someone representing you in the transaction who doesn't have obvious conflict of interest. Caveat: A seemingly simple real estate negotiation, particularly for first time buyers, is more complex than it seems and there are pitfalls that can cost you thousands of dollars. Having a buyer's rep, who knows the law, real estate ethics and realtors' negotiation techniques, is good advice in any transaction. We particularly advise people to use one when dealing with Paul Bunyan Realty, Bemidji. In our test scenario, we were able to catch their agent, Sharon Hunt, acting as a "dual agent," in many lies and unethical practices, including legal bluffs and scare tactics, which were designed to be to the detriment of the buyer. DIAMOND, BEAN, CERTAIN OTHER MATCHES UNSAFE "There is no product that someone cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper. Those who consider price alone are this man's lawful prey" -- Some wise person said this. For several years now, the Jaffrey, New Hampshire firm of D.D. Bean and Sons has produced and mass marketed a substandard book match which often fragments upon striking, resulting in possible clothing damage and injury. There has been at least one case, of which we are aware, where, in normal use, a burning piece of D.D. Bean matchhead, from a book of matches marketed under the famous DIAMOND brand, landed in a user's eye. A Minnesota ophthalmologist said that such injuries from matches are not infrequent. In the reported case, neither D.D. Bean, nor Diamond Brands (Cloquet, MN) have, to date, cooperated in responding in damages. Possibly because Bean's matches have become known to consumers as inferior, they are now sold under several other brand names, including Diamond. Boxes of match books generally contain no indication that they came from the Bean company. The substandard Bean book matches generally have white, rather than red or blue heads. Diamond formerly marketed a red-tipped book match, which was sturdy and did not have the fragmentation problem. Somewhere down the line, possibly for cost-control and better profit, they began, instead, marketing the inexpensive Bean product, packaged and labeled as a Diamond match. A quality control employee of Diamond was informed, in early 1999, of the defect in and potential hazards of the matches they were selling, but maintained that the fragmentation which had then been observed was an isolated occurrence. Unofficial information has recently been received that Diamond may soon scrap the Bean product and begin making their own book matches, but for now, consumers may want to avoid the Diamond, and other book matches with white heads, which may be the substandard Bean product. OHIO BLUE TIP, though hard to find in the Northland, appears to be a safer, more dependable brand. -------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 08/16/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 13 -------------------------------------- THE HEART OF CORRUPTION The Bemidji City Council BEMIDJI -- One of the residents who came from Bemidji's Jefferson Woods neighborhood on South Lake Irving had only one eye. Still, his sight was better than the Bemidji Council's hearing (not even the best Beltone® hearing aid would have been sufficient to correct it) when the residents presented concerns over their home values should the Council undertake proposed action. And with this, in two separate actions, August 7th, the Council made love over two separate groups of persons who had invested in Bemidji homes, either costing them additional money now or lowering their property values by proposing expense upon eventual sale. The actions follow a long-standing history of the current Mayor and Council to view, with contempt and disregard, people's property investments here, in favor of sweetheart contracts with construction interests, such as Ron Cuperus of Cuperus Construction, and similar crooks. (Ron Cuperus was one of the three-member police commission that returned Police Chief Robert Tell to his job after he was found to have wrongfully taken money from the City. Although not criminally punished, when found out, Tell repaid the money which he had received on phony travel vouchers (see The Robert Tell Accounts in Living on The Edge archives from the main page of the Northern Herald website)). JEFFERSON WOODS. In the first action, August 7th, the Council unanimously voted to shaft property owners (Res. No. 4756) in Jefferson Woods by proceeding with a final feasibility report on putting in city water and sewer, unneeded by many, and forcing owners, including those with new septic systems, to hook-up on eventual sale of their properties at a cost of approximately $12,000. PUBLIC "HEARING": Sept. 18th. There will be a public hearing (pardon the irony of the term) on Sept. 18th, 7:30 p.m., at Bemidji City Hall where residents can air their concerns which will probably be ignored by the Council. But they can do some talking about it and will be on TV, and so should dress well for the occasion. THE ETTESVOLD CANCER. The 8/7 meeting was paused for a moment to allow developer Mike Ettesvold to bend over so that the Mayor and Council members could kiss his behind; and as to 24-year homeowner Richard Riley, the Council just asked him to bend over (both figuratively, of course). This type of scenario has been a not infrequent occurrence ever since the Council first TIF-financed Ettesvold's Irvingboro project, on the far side of Lake Irving, many years ago. Ettesvold's gold mine - Irvingboro - met a critical City need for moderate to high income waterfront marina housing. The first single-family homes started at about $140,000. But Ettesvold didn't stop with the original Irvingboro tracts. Like a cancer, one after another, Ettesvold's projects have spread, cannibalizing everything in their sprawling path on Lake Irving's East shore, and becoming a nuisance to long-time area residents through Ettesvold's proposed "improvement" projects, to pretty-up the high income Irvingboro neighborhood, that pre-existing residents neither want, nor can afford, and which the City Council almost always lets Ettesvold have, at the expense of those other long-time residents. Ettesvold, who refused to speak to Northern Herald, earlier told other reporters, "It's basically cleaning up an area and putting a final touch on it." THE "IMPROVEMENTS." Under the measure (Res. No. 4758), which passed the Bemidji City Council 4-3 (ayes: Oberg, Atwater, Zachman, Mayor Peterson; nays: South, Lehmann, Moen), Roosevelt Road from Irvingboro's Irving Beach Dr. SW, south to the cul-de-sac by Ettesvold's new Lakehaven condos, would be widened from 24 to 32 feet, and repaved, adding sidewalks, curbs and gutters. The cul-de-sac was created last year, also for Ettesvold's benefit, in a controversial action which closed Carpenter St. and widened Rako St. over strenuous objections of long-time homeowners there. The widening destroyed front yards and practically eliminated lot setbacks. "There are a couple of homes that are 15 to 20 feet from the road now," said a neighborhood resident. High income housing needs pretty sidewalks. Richard Riley said of the proposed new sidewalks, "[It's] for these people that are living over here [in Ettesvold's developments] to walk up to Lueken's," and said that it wouldn't be a convenience for him or his wife. Chuckling, Riley said, "I don't even walk; I can hardly walk, so it's not going to convenience me in the least; it's not going to bring up my property value at all," and Riley said that he wouldn't recover the additional cost if he eventually sold the property. Of the street work, Riley said that it isn't needed; that the present road is new asphalt, built recently when the old road was torn out to make city sewer and water available to Ettesvold's projects. "This new asphalt, they're digging it up again, and repaving it," Riley said. The street project was initiated under the guise of a petition signed by owners of five of the six (the Rileys did not sign) affected property parcels. Of those five parcels, three are owned by Ettesvold or interests directly connected with Ettesvold's developments, another signer is an Irvingboro homeowner who was promised a "break" in his assessment, and one signature was by a nonresident under power of attorney for the disabled man who actually owns and lives in the property. Over the years, since 1976, that the Rileys have been in the large house at Carpenter & Roosevelt, they had sometimes taken in renters, but the Rileys converted the old rental units two years ago, and now use the property only as their family homestead. Richard and Joan Riley had objected, in writing, to the street project when it came before the Council in July, and Richard said they were told that "Somebody was supposed to get together with me," to discuss the matter. But, instead, prior to the August 7th meeting, Riley was told by Councilman Herb South that the project wouldn't pass, and so Riley did not attend the 8/7 meeting. Richard Riley said he was told, "it was a done deal - they wasn't going to go through with it. And I imagine that was just to, you know, keep us away ... from the council meeting; because they pulled that same deal ... last year with the people over on Rako [St.]. ... I think [Councilman South] was duped himself" into believing that the project would not be passed. Riley stated that, per South, the Mayor had told South, just before the 8/7 Council meeting, that Ettesvold, not the pre-existing homeowners, should be paying for the proposed improvements. Riley said the passage, with Mayor Peterson's "yes" vote, then, came as a surprise to him, and learned of it when a friend read about it in the paper and telephoned Riley. Riley stated that Ettesvold, in promoting his Irvingboro and other development plans, originally told residents that, "There wasn't going to be any cost to any of the residents here [for] improvements. ... Then ... last year or the year before, Ettesvold gave us this ... plan for this here road ... and he said my share would be $18,003. ... and I wasn't supposed to tell anybody about that." Riley said that Ettesvold told him the figure in an effort to get Riley to sell his property to Ettesvold. Since Irvingboro, Ettesvold has bought up many of the area properties for his sprawling new developments. He had approached the Rileys with a purchase offer that Richard Riley said was too low and would not accept. "[Ettesvold] ... warned me ... 'You'll get taxed right out of here,'" Riley recounted, and added, recalling the Bemidji City Council and Mayor's recent action, "They can just come and legally steal something from you and you can't do nothing about it." Riley also believes that a useful bridge on South Lake Irving Drive was taken out as a concession to Ettesvold to reduce traffic near his Irving lakeshore housing developments. EDITORIAL ANALYSIS: As stated, this follows a long standing tradition of the Council and Mayor to discount the interests and investments of those who have already built and bought here, in favor of new construction and interests which may be very adverse to current residents and other property holders. The lesson to be learned is simply: Don't invest in Bemidji. The Council neither respects, nor will protect your investment and will, in fact, erode it, turning a deaf ear to affected property owners. MENARD'S is an excellent business that has made its reputation on simple clean dealings. Good products at good cost. A few years back, MENARD'S, considering a location here, got a taste of dealings with the Johannesons (Bemidji's Marketplace Foods) and with Bemidji, and in the end "just said no" to Bemidji. Their lead may well be followed by others who care about their home & property investments, and have mistakenly considered investing in Bemidji. Ultimately, Bemidji's actions keep Bemidji small, and that's the way a community run by hayseed* mentality, irrespective of peoples' rights and property interests, should be. * As used herein, "hayseed" does not refer to farmers, most of whom are intelligent, honest and prudent businessmen. It refers to about 60% of Bemidjians, and their elected Mayor and Council, who are not. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Adverse interests. The Richard Riley home is to be assessed about $13,000 for cosmetic street "improvements" to benefit Ettesvold's Lakehaven Condos. Richard Riley, retired after a printing career for The Pioneer and Arrow Printing, sorts his fishing tackle on the back porch of his, and his wife's, 24-year home. ----------------------------------------------------------- BEMIDJI CITY COUNCIL DESTROYS HISTORY, HOUSING BEMIDJI -- The history is not pretentious, it's subdued, rustic and understated. The homes are small, serene and real - not lofty. Many of them were occupied by workers of the old Crookston Mill nearly a century ago when Bemidji was a timber boom town. The stone house at 203 Gemmel Ave. belonged to one of the original settlers, an artisan in the lost trade of stone masonry. Many abstracts go back to the original turn-of-the-nineteenth-century Bemidji Township Company. And the houses are still useful and inhabitable. It's living history and it doesn't cost $1.3 million (i.e. the tax-paid cost of the new Bemidji Historical Center) to preserve it. All it takes is the City and County staying the heck away from Gemmel Ave. and not destroying what is there. But as part of its corrupt long term "under the table" plan to make housing less affordable in Bemidji., which has involved the acquisition, by purchase, condemnation or otherwise, and subsequent demolition by the City of many of the low to moderate income rental and salable homes, Bemidji destroyed another substantial home by Lake Irving August 9th. Had it not been demolished, the tax-forfeit property at 200 Gemmel Ave. would likely have sold, at auction, to home buyers for about $9,900., its appraised value. Despite lip service to same, particularly as an excuse to draw federal and state grant funding, through the history of the present mayor and council, the City has tried to eliminate affordable housing, and has favored developers of high-income projects, such as Irvingboro's Mike Ettesvold, with tax breaks and subsidies such as TIF (tax paid) financing of their projects. The City paid Magnuson Trucking and Leasing $2,275. for the demolition. Magnuson also operates the Beltrami County solid waste transfer station. Said a local resident, "They're [the Bemidji Mayor and Council] in the business of taking state and federal funds to remodel and build new housing and they're in the business of tearing down housing" to create demand and space for tax-funded housing. He added, "Me and my wife have been looking for [a reasonably priced] house to buy for some time. ... [Bemidji] tore 2 blocks of houses down. ... I wonder why the City of Bemidji is taking federal money for housing when they're tearing down housing." (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Author William Kirtland last week relived boyhood memories of the '30s by his old former home at 169 Gemmel Ave. Just a few days and a few houses away, down the historic avenue, at 200 Gemmel, the corrupt Mayor and City Council of the City of Bemidji were having heavy machinery, visible in the upper right corner of the photo, reduce another historic home to a pile of rubble at a public cost of about $2,275. The property, shown in late spring, on its wooded lot, typical of the avenue, and with it's decking, paneled interior and terraced steps leading to its backyard view of Lake Irving, might have sold, at auction, for about $9,900, its appraised value. The demolition was performed by Magnuson Trucking and Leasing which also operates the Beltrami County Transfer Station.The City incurred the cost of destroying the historic home under a stated intent to then give the land to a favored charity (not a "public use" per Minnesota Dept. of Revenue (DOR) officials), Habitat for Humanity, but as the City acquired the tax-forfeit property, then controlled by Beltrami County, under a shady "purchase" (with a selling price of zero) rather than the usual "public use" conveyance, possibly to circumvent DOR review of the intended use and acquire the property no-strings-attached, in the end, the valuable lakefront land may end up going to another Mayor/Council favored entity for that entity's, and the corrupt officials' own purposes. ----------------------------------------------------------- Fighting Bemidji Corruption - And We're Winning ----------------------------------------------- ATWATER ENDS CORRUPT COUNCIL CAREER BEMIDJI -- Bemidji City Councilman Bruce Atwater announced last month that he will not seek re-election. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK. Outgoing Bemidji Councilman Bruce Atwater (back of head in foreground) meets with son, Beltrami Deputy William Atwater, outside courtroom. William Atwater was charged in the 1998 Bemidji police prostitution trials, receiving a long county-paid vacation (suspension with pay) from duty during the trial, before being returned to duty. (This telling photo, taken in 1998, could not have been taken under the present prohibition of cameras in the Beltrami County Courthouse). ----------------------------------------------------- MEN FILE ANTI-SHELTER SUIT LAKE GEORGE -- In past years, mens' efforts have resulted in significant legislative strides toward relaxation of gender bias. One example is joint custody, which, instead of sole custody with visitation, is now commonplace in Minnesota family courts. One of the leaders of mens' organized efforts is Frank Solchaga, director of R-KIDS, a Twin Cities based organization (www.r-kids.org) which, for years, has aided fathers in protecting custody rights and striving for judicial equity. Due to the educational work of R-KIDS and others, scientific studies confirming that women initiate family violence at least as often as men are now common knowledge. At his Lake George retreat, Solchaga announced that, on July 17, 2000, R-KIDS' Legal Action Committee commenced a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court to strike down the Minnesota Battered Women's Act because it discriminates against men. Solchaga said that, among other things, the Act directs public money to Women's shelters, but there is no parallel funding of shelters or advocacy for men. In a release, R-KIDS said, "The purpose of this suit is to cut off the main source of public money which fuels sexist bias against men in our family court system. The plaintiffs also hope to reveal the basic facts about domestic violence, and in this way to promote real solutions to this social problem. The case (No. 00-CV-1672 MJD/JGL), entitled Scott Booth [et.al.] vs. Sheryl Ramstad Hvass [et. al.] is brought against four state agency defendants: the commissioners of Corrections, Human Services, Public Safety and Children, Families and Learning. Plaintiffs include 11 named individuals, "and all others similarly situated." Attorneys for Plaintiffs are Mark A. Olson, of Burnsville, and former Crow Wing (i.e. Brainerd) County Attorney John Remington Graham. The complaint alleges jurisdiction under 28 USC 1331 and 1343, 42 USC 1983 and 1988, and under the 14th and 19th Amendments to the United States Constitution. The Minnesota Battered Women's Act, which the suit seeks to hold unconstitutional, is codified as Sections 611A.31 through 611A.36 of the Minnesota Statutes (The text of all Minnesota Statutes is available on the net:.http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/statutes.htm). The suit claims that public funds are used to employ advocates, who, although not licensed to practice law, regularly appear in state courts to secure, for their female clients, ex-parte Orders For Protection which cause the husband, or male cohabitant to be immediately evicted from his home, and lose custodial rights, without due process of law. The suit also alleges that the publicly funded shelters "also publish fanatical, irrational, hysterical, sexist literature which maliciously and falsely defames and seeks to generate social and political hatred against men in general, portraying them as the basic cause of all domestic violence ...," and, in this, particularly cites a circular, funded under the Act, and published by the "Domestic Abuse Intervention Project" in Duluth. ------------------------------------------------------ STOCK MARKET GLOSSARY Averaging down: A strategy commonly-used by sophisticated investors. When the investor realizes the stock he bought is on the downslide, he buys more at the bargain price. Then, when the stock finally hits rock-bottom, he sells it all and loses all his money at once. ------------------------------------------------------ In Focus COWBOYS RIDE THE STAMPEDE (IN FOCUS is primarily a pictoral feature; photos, however, appear only in our print edition.) EFFIE -- It was a hot Saturday, July 29th, at North Star Ranch's 45th Annual Stampede, but the bucking stock, raised for the purpose at North Star, didn't seem to mind, and neither did the crowds - the stands were full and Chief Ramrod Howard Pitzen announced that Friday nights' attendance had set a new record. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Pony cart rides were provided by Pennie Moes, Willow River Ranch, Gheen, Minn. Right, rodeo clown Randy "Slipknot" Scheidler entertains and helps keep fallen cowboys intact. Greg Harms, Brainerd, ropes his calf in 30.68 seconds. Ross Nevala, Bay Minette, Alabama, wrestles his steer. Best wild cow riding went to Buddy Ostland, Effie; the cowboy below preferred to ride it sideways. Christine Sutton, of Buffalo, Minn. had Saturday's best barrel-racing time with 15.915 seconds. Sooo Close. Troy Promersberger, of Littlefork, scores 83 points for his wild bull ride. Chad Kenney, Pillager, had Saturday's best ride with 85. That's Gotta Hurt. Neither team was able to complete the Wild Horse Race. Here, a rider, um, dismounts. ------------------------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who won't do anything about it." -- Albert Einstein The Public and Voters are invited to the BEMIDJI MAYOR CANDIDATES' DEBATE AND PUBLIC FORUM 7:30 P.M. THURSDAY, SEPT. 7th, 2000 - BEMIDJI CITY HALL This debate is sponsored by Northern Herald and Charter Communications which will provide live broadcast of the event on their Bemidji cable Channel 2. The event will be moderated by the distinguished Dr. Roy Blackwood, BSU Dept. of Mass Communications. ADVERTISEMENT --------------------------------------------------------- At Backus, The Hub Of Northern Minnesota ---------------------------------------- BACKUS HOLDS CORN FEST 2000 BACKUS -- When Backus has a fest, it's worth coming to! Besides its highlighting Corn Feed, Corn Fest 2000 featured parade, lots of flea market merchandise, games and plain fun. Cloie Smith, Coordinator and American Legion Auxiliary President, thanked the community for all the help she received and said, "The kids seem to be really happy with the games this year." 1st Place parade awards went to Dick Anderson, Hackensack (originality); Backus Locker (theme); Pine River Journal (best musical) and American Legion Mahtomedi Post 507 (patriotic). Color Guards included American Legion posts of Hackensack, Nisswa, Pine River and Mahtomedi and the Pine River Boy Scouts. Per Smith, next year's Corn Fest will feature a "Queen For A Day," in which women over 50 can compete, and planning is already under way for Centennial Year 2002 activities, which will include an Alumni Prom, complete with tuxes and limos, at the All School Reunion at Backus Old Timer's Weekend in May, and, at Corn Fest, the largest parade ever and old-fashioned games like 3-Legged Races, Mustache and Beard Contest, Log Cutting and Grease Pole climbing. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Brittany Spears, Watch Out! Because Jr. Miss Backus, Jaclyn Sherseth is going places! Sherseth was sponsored by Connie's Salon. Cass County Dairy Princess, Tiffany Neumann and Jr. Princess, Jenny Leverington Air Rides were offered at Backus International Airport There are a lot of good reasons to come to Corn Fest, but for a lot of people, one of the best ones is the Corn! People line up for the Fire Hall Corn Feed. Each year a Pine River farm grows a special crop of this exceptional quality and very sweet corn exclusively for Corn Fest, planting per the Fest date, so the corn is at its freshest. Enjoying the corn are Randall Arezklau, Pine River; Howard Ellis, Buffalo, Minn., Jason Gilles, Marvel Gens, Vernon Center; and Paul Burth of Post 507 of the American Legion at Mahtomedi. Barb Zempel, of Backus, displays her ceramic crafts at the Corn Fest Flea Market June Lach, 79, of Backus, can be counted on to be clowning around at each year's Corn Fest. Dick Anderson with his 1st prize winning Backus School float. Kids lined up to try their hand at the Dunk Tank, but on this hot afternoon, the longer line was kids waiting to be dunked. New Jr. Mister and Miss Backus, Colton Cook and Jaclyn Sherseth, and runner-up and talent show 1st Place winner, Tara Pollock. Talent 2nd Place went to Crystal Nieman, Talent 3rd, Michelle Breccia. The talent and Mr. & Miss Backus competition judges, The Lady Steele, Betty Zaffke, Debbie Grimler, perform their solemn duty. Standing is Cloie Smith, Coordinator. ---------------------------------------------------------- FIDDLES, FOOD, NEW ORLEANS BANDS ROCK CAJUNFEST WALKER -- If you couldn't get to New Orleans this year, this was the next best thing. Even for those who did, who enjoyed the Louisian' style cusine, music and hospitality down south, CajunFest brought some of it right home to Northern Minnesota. This year's food line was excellent. The planeload of Louisiana cooks flown in for the event prepared Gumbo, Shrimp Creole, Red Beans with Sausage and Rice, Blackened Chicken, Jambalaya, Alligator Sauce Picante (very good), and Voodoo Shrimp. Also, New Orleans-style crawfish was available from Tom's Crawfish Boil, of Remer, who had a table in the food tent. And unlike some fests, it's a good deal. As little as $3 a serving; if they wanted to splurge, two people could sample many foods and get a varied and sumptuous family-style Louisiana meal - more than they could normally eat - for about $21, including crawfish. Curtis Coubello, one of over ten musical attractions on the two stages, is known for playing fiddle upside down, behind his back, and sometimes by letting someone else hold the bow, while Coubello plays by moving the fiddle body. Coincidentally, world-toured Coubello, native of the Kinder, Louisiana area where Zydeco originated, now lives in Walker, Louisiana. "I'm a fourth generation fiddle player," said Coubello, who has been playing since he was eight. Coubello will soon release his fifth album. This is his tenth CajunFest. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): At far left, headline act, Rockin Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters bring the house down at CajunFest 2000. Dopsie will soon star in a Warner Bros. movie about the life of James Brown. At near left, Curtis Coubello plays fiddle following Mardi Gras. Festgoers dance to the Bourbon Orleans Dixieland Band's Mardi Gras Mambo Below, Laura Binkley, Brookings, SD, has her hair beaded at CajunFest by Heidi Stromberg, of Heidi's Bazaar, Park Rapids. Below, the nightly masked Mardi Gras parade dances through the tents. Tom of Tom's Crawfish Boil, Remer, Minn. --------------------------------------------------------- IT'S BLUEBERRY FEST AT LAKE GEORGE! LAKE GEORGE -- Each year, when the blueberries come into bloom, so does this pristine lake community about 15 miles southwest of Bemidji and just east of Lake Itasca. This year's fest, their 17th annual, July 28th-30th, featured a Little League tourney, wilderness voyager canoeing, square dancing, 3 feeds, games, comedy and musical entertainment, and, of course, lots of blueberry pie. Parade winners included, in the adult division, Carol's Country Greenhouse, Forest Issue by "The Ladies", and Blue Moon Saloon. In the kids' division, the Lake Alice Aloha Wagon, Dannheim Berry Farm and Blueberry King floats took awards, with honorable mention to KFC's Kentucky Fried Car. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Pulling for Lake George! The Lake George team drags away Hubbard's in the Tug 'O War The Park Rapids Friendly Squares dance in the street. The Blueberry Squares dance at the Fire Hall "Forest Issue" took Second Prize What it's all about. Festgoers gather for ice cream and blueberry pie at Bonnie's Boutique Pine Country Cafe hosted a BBQ, and live music country social. ----------------------------------------------------------- WHITE OAK RENDEZVOUS DEER RIVER -- The White Oak Society, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Minnesota Historical Society, again threw open their stockade gates and took guests back to the romantic days of the voyageurs and the Northwest Trading Company at their 12th annual Rendezvous, August 5th and 6th. White Oak is dedicated to preserving and reenacting these historical times and also operates the White Oak Learning Centre for school children on their commodious grounds. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): THE FANCY DANDY BLACK POWDER SHOOT AT WHITE OAK RENDEZVOUS. The gentlemen's spouses are an important part of the Fancy Dandy Shoot. The number of shots each contender is allowed is determined by his lady's answers to a set of questions earlier posed. The ladies enjoy tea while the men sport. This day, though, a clumsy servant spilled tea on a lady; fortunately, another servant was at hand, with knife, to dispatch the first who was then carted off to have his pockets picked and be buried. In time, Sir Allester and his entourage arrive to observe the black powder competition. Would he be shooting? "Certainly not," said Sir Allester, "the black powder may soil my clothing." Mr. Hayes presented the award plaque to Chris Cheney, winner of the Fancy Dandy Shoot. In the fur post's bourgeois quarters, Mr. Edwards, a wintering partner, displays a feathery - a golf ball of the period, made from rawhide, stuffed with about a "top hat full" of goose feathers and then compressed. It is said that Tiger Woods hit one of these about 200 yards, but such talk is questionable as Tiger Woods hasn't happened yet. Anthony Hare, Jr., 5, helps load the black powder cannon at the Canoe Landing, prior to firing. Guests peruse the very good buys on Trader's Row, including mocs and leather goods by Espeseth Furs, Aitkin, Minnesota. Amy Ollila, Grand Rapids, does her time in stocks for the offense of talking too much. Children and adults enjoy a magic show at the Faire Wynds tent. Faire Wynds also featured storytelling and skits. A brief rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd who turned out to hear the very unique and very excellent original folk ballads of the Canadian band, Tanglefoot, although some preferred to watch from the main stage tent. Above, the camp of New Hampshire Cpt. Jeremiah Lauters of Col. Blanchard's Colonial Militia ------------------------------------------------------- MAHNOMEN MI-GWITCH POWWOW AT BALL CLUB BALL CLUB -- The Powwow at Ball Club's annual July Mahnomen Mi-Gwitch Days drew over 29 drum groups, including Duluth Traditional, Swamp Lake Singers, Wigwam Bay, Hope Lake Singers, Loud Eagle, The Kingbird Singers (Ponemah), Red Feather (Thunder Bay, Ontario), All Tribes, (Winnipeg), Southern Comfort (Oklahoma) and host drums, Leech Lake Intertribal and the Cass Lake Singers. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Loud Eagle drum group performs Korean War veteran Leo Donnel, of Ball Club, carries the Stars and Stripes in the Honor Guard. Sherry Peterson, of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, residing in Duluth, displays the ladies' jingle dress. --------------------------------------------------------------- REIF PRESENTS REPERCUSSION'S ROMEO AND JULIET GRAND RAPIDS -- The renowned Repercussion Theatre of Montreal brought their interpretation of the epic, Romeo and Juliet, to Reif Center for the Arts, Grand Rapids, July 23rd; and in so doing, titillated the packed playhouse by, while remaining true to the writing, producing a delightful lighter side environment, set in 15th century Spain, for this Shakespearian tragedy, and during which performance, an aura of twittering and giggling was audible from the audience. Repercussion's performance, combining dancing and gaiety in the first act when love is in bloom, followed by the deadly seriousness of its consequences in Act 2, was excellent. Said Director Cas Anvar, "We try to reach as many people from as many walks of life as possible and bring them the genius of Shakespeare." -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 07/19/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 12 -------------------------------------- Fighting Bemidji Corruption - And We're Winning ----------------------------------------------- SELBY & SELBY CHARGED BEMIDJI -- The Bemidji counseling firm of Selby & Selby, comprised of Terry Selby and his wife Judith, have been charged in Ramsey County court with a total of 26 counts, including theft by forgery, false representation and medical assistance fraud. The counselors allegedly had charged medical assistance for services that were never provided, and allegations include that the firm billed Medicaid for client appointments during a time when the Selbys were actually in Australia. A complete report of the charging can be found in The (Bemidji) Pioneer of July 12th, 2000. Judith Selby is also Executive Director of April's Shelter, an unwed mother's home in Bemidji, which derives substantial funding through federal, state and other grants. In past corruption, the Selbys filed a supporting legal document in Connie Johnson's false charging of Bemidji chiropractor Gregory Fors, D.C., (See Fors: Only Abuse Was of English Language - NH of 05/19/97; Fors' Motion Challenges Accusations, NH of 04/01/98; A Synopsis of the Fors Matter, NH of 11/25/98), and concealed lawfully releasable evidence in that case. A motion filed in that case alleged the Selbys had solicited "victim" clients for counseling, and that one of Selby's patients was receiving funds from medical assistance while, at the same time, getting money from the Crime Victim's Reparation Fund. The Selby firm had also assisted Bonita Jones in making her false charges against illicit roommate Jeffery Hubbard. Jones subsequently confessed to perjury. Back issues of Northern Herald, cited, are available in The Library, at our web site main page. -------------------------------------------------- POW-WOW AT CASS LAKE CASS LAKE -- The Stars and Stripes flew at half-mast, honoring departed American veterans, over the Veterans' Memorial Grounds at Cass Lake for the traditional three day powwow from July 2nd - 4th. The reason was that it was the memorial flag of WWII and Korean veteran John Dunn, a Cass Lake tribal member, contributed by his brother Ernest. This powwow traditionally accords particular and proper recognition to the contributions of the veterans, including many tribal members, who have died abroad defending our liberty. Performing at the powwow July 2nd, which featured a rare fancy feather dance, were 16 drum groups: The Cass Lake Singers (host drum), Grassy Narrows from near Kenora, Ontario, Leech Lake Intertribal, Inger Boys, Oak Point Singers, Spotted Eagle Singers, White Feather, High Eagle, Anashinabe, Yellow Feather, Red Cedar, Hummingbird, Sugar Bush, Ka Ka Bi Kong (Minneapolis), Eagle Talon, Little Spirit Wind and Wigwam Bay (Mille Lacs). (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Dennis Mosher, of the Rainy River First Nation Band of Ojibwe, near Ft. Francis, Ontario, displays traditional Grass Dance dress. Bug-O-Nay-Gee-Shig School Junior Princess Leah Mesa wore the traditional jingle dress at the pow-wow. --------------------------------------------------------------- MUSKIE HAS HIS DAY AT NEVIS NEVIS -- Yep, on July 7th - 9th the Muskie was commemorated at Nevis's 50th annual Muskie Days with parade, music, great Muskie burgers (they taste kind of like disheveled Josephs) and all sorts of goings-on! (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): In the parade, the Kentucky Fried Chicken mini-car. The Sather's Store & GFWC Nevis Study Club float. Willie Walker carefully chooses his buffalo pie in the chip throwing contest, sponsored by Dave and Pam Johnson's Northland Bison Ranch, and John Durham throws at right. Winners were, in the Bulls division, Andrew Luetger (1st), Ron Sundheim and Mike Lanegran. In the Cows division, Sue Raber (1st) took honors, as did Arlene Hukki. In Calves, awards went to Kayla Lerum (1st)with 62 feet, and Alyssa Andrews. County 20 performs in front of the Big Muskie for the crowd some of which took to dancing in the street. Co. 20, comprised of Dean and Dale Westby, Rick Amsberry and Jeff Lindstrom, books discretionarily. To apply, music-lovers may call Dale at 218-732-0292 -------------------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- THE 4TH AT DEBS (In Focus is primarily a pictoral feature; photos, however, appear only in our print edition.) DEBS -- The big Debs Fourth of July parade and festivities were held, this year, on July 4th. Each year, this community, about 30 miles Northwest of Bemidji, is packed on July 4th as thousands come for the huge parade and events. Following the parade, the year 2000 Fourth at Debs featured men's and women's bowsawing contests, egg tossing, water balloon tossing competitions and other games for young, old, and young-at-heart, alike. Parade awards went to: Cathy's Critters (custom chainsaw carvings) (best commercial entry); Ron Brown (best musical entry); Randi Stein (best horse entry); Molly and Lady Sarah Ferguson (most unique entry); Future First Responders Emily and Katy Dalby and Aaron and Adam Bartlett (funniest); Terry and MaryAnne Hanson (best antique vehicle); Dustin Maddox, Brenda and Mike Pederson, Paul Pederson, and Jason and Tyrel Kaasa, all representing Budweiser of downtown Bemidji (best hardluck float); Arvid Dalby (best float overall). (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): A Kool-Aid I.V. was just what the doctor ordered for the patient on stretcher on the Future First Responder's float, which took the award for most amusing "Thank a vet for this holiday - keeping us free" was the message of Harley-driving former Navy Seal, Bill Lamphere, below Keith Sims and Molly Miron with 2nd place ribbons from the Jack and Jill Bowsawing competition. Keith came 1,500 miles, from Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend The Fourth at Debs. Kids compete in the gunny sack race. ------------------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- BEMIDJI ART CENTER'S ARTS IN THE PARK (In Focus is primarily a pictoral feature photos, however, appear only in our print edition.) Among over 100 juried exhibits and booths, not just traditional visual arts were on display at the Arts In the Park, July 15 & 16, at Bemidji. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Rug making was demonstrated by Mark L. Bernstein of Walcott, No. Dakota. John Cartwright, of Shoreview, Minn., paints watercolor studies of Minnesota towns and has a complete file. Scrimshaw is demonstrated by Jerry Wiese. BSU Jazz Director, Dr. Steve Konecne, performed with the Bemidji Jazz Quartet in the music booth sponsored by KAXE. The exhibition also featured fine jewelry, glasswork, very attractive ceramics and traditional art. -------------------------------------------------------- GNATS SWARM LAPORTE LAPORTE -- There was so much scoring in this open field, you'd think you were in a Bemidji bar as on Sunday, July 2nd, the LaPorte Gators got a piece of the leading team, the Nimrod Gnats in a spellbinding double-header at LaPorte. The first game ended 14-8, Nimrod, and the second was 19-9, Nimrod. The Lake and Pine League gives the viewers big time baseball thrill, at a fraction of the cost. You can enjoy a good big brat and soda for $1.50 with the game, and you don't have to strain to see. Said LaPorte Manager, Gus Forseman, of his team in its maiden year, "We get better every game. It's a real competitive league." (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): LaPorte ace hitter and pitcher, Mike Nelson LaPorte scores off of the Nimrod pitcher, bringing two men home. ------------------------------------------------------- MOONDANCE 2000 It's the personal involvement of creators Kathy and Bill Bieloh that sets their Moondance and CajunFest apart from other concerts. They can usually be found on the grounds during the fests. Mr. Bieloh takes a hardline stand on underage drinking that has given other concerts a bad name. One of Mr. Bieloh's creations that is sure to catch on at other fests is the $3 beer token. At hot times at the bar, it's sometimes hard to keep track of who's buying drinks. But customers have to produce ID at a separate table to buy these tokens. One of the Moondance staff members said simply, of underage drinking, "There's gonna be none," at Moondance. And he added that if any minors somehow slip through the cracks and are found drinking, "They're gonna be evacuated from the concert," and would lose their $100 admission bracelets. DOPSIE SWEEPS MOONDANCE, WILL HEADLINE AT CAJUNFEST !! WALKER -- More than an accomplished musician, Grammy-winner Rockin' Dopsie Jr. is a showman and an entertainer. When he performs, it's more than just great (and very dancable) Zydeco music - it's just plain fun. We couldn't catch it all with the camera - you have to be there. Dopsie has his own way of interacting and establishing rapport with the audience while visually treating them to brake dancing and other unexpected on-stage antics that made him the crowd-pleasingest favorite act at last year's Cajunfest, and got his Zydeco Twisters invited back for all four days of Moondance Jam, on the main stage opening night (Wednesday) and in multiple performances on the beverage tent stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In the past year, Dopsie's very successful tour took him the White House where he performed for the President and he has been working, in New Orleans, with Cyril Neville. Following Moondance, Dopsie will be appearing at Boston, New Orleans and Cape Cod, returning to Walker for Cajunfest August 11th - 13th. They'll be on Saturday Night Live, Sept. 21st., with Dan Akroyd, who Dopsie met at the House of Blues in Chicago. Dopsie's new CD, "Zydeco Man" will be available at CajunFest. Fans can also follow Dopsie on the web: www. tipitinas. com (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Rockin' Dopsie Jr. (with washboard) and the Zydeco Twisters on the Moondance main stage. Later in the performance, Dopsie and Bill Bieloh, Moondance creator, threw free strings of Mardi Gras beads to the audience. Rockin's brother Anthony Dopsie Keyboard player Kim Phillips Jammers dance in the sand to Dopsie in front of the main stage. Darwin Perkins warms up before the show in Dopsie's trailer --------------------------------------------------------------- ERIC BURDON PRODUCES NEW ANIMALS; WILL RELEASE BOOK WALKER -- Yep, they weren't exactly on the Ark and they didn't come from a test tube, but, as promised, hit tune legend Eric Burdon introduced his New Animals to a rousing crowd July 12th on the main stage at Moondance. After the set, and given an encore by the enthusiastic fans, Eric Burdon and the New Animals, performed their 30+ year favorite, House of the Rising Sun. It's actually common, in music, for members of a hit team to change. After the show, Burdon explained that the "old" Animals were the same ones for only about two years after Rising Sun's landmark hit. At Moondance, Burdon and the New Animals entertained cheering fans with favorites such as CC Rider, We Gotta Get Out of This Place and Paint It Black. "Sit ye down lad; pull up a chair and I'll tell you some weary wayfaring tales," said Burdon as he opened the interview. Coincidentally, Burdon originated, in 1941, in the village of Walker in Northern England. He began playing music as early as 1948, and had his first national hit, Baby Let Me Take You On in the U.K. in 1964, later releasing the international hit, House of the Rising Sun. The current Animals have recently been on tour in New Orleans, Arizona and elsewhere just before Moondance, "We just tour constantly," said Burdon. In addition to his world tour schedule, Burdon has just completed a 3-year literary work to be released in 2001, presently also entitled, "House of the Rising Sun." Burdon preferred not to give away the story line of the book before release, but said that it was a philosophical non-fiction work and hinted, "America has no experience in this...but, the first thing, when a country is occupied, the first two elements of society that come together are the two ... that would never speak to each other under normal circumstances. ...The Church and the houses of prostitution are the first line of defense against an oppressive government. That's what happened in France, Belguim, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland. The church and the hookers get together to create an underground to whisk people out of the country and out of danger." And Burdon spoke of a Colombian political writer who lived in a house of prostitution and learned to write listening, through the walls, to the conversations between the prostitutes and the high ranking politicians who were seeing them. Following Moondance, Burdon and the New Animals went on to appear at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and by August will be touring in Long Island, playing Germany by year end. They'll release a CD of totally new material in October. In a closing word of advice to readers, Burdon said simply, "Don't take no ... [stuff] from nobody." (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): Eric Burdon, at right, on the Moondance Main Stage "New Animal" violinist and keyboardist, Martin Gerschwitz ------------------------------------------------------------ The Voice of the People ----------------------- Always had it - always will. Find more COMMUNITY ACCESS in the Northern Herald than any other major area paper. Letters to the Editor --------------------- READER BLOWS WHISTLE ON COLUMBINE ANTI-GUN PROPAGANDA This was published in the [Bagley, Minn.] Farmers-Independent. ... [A major Bemidji newspaper] would not publish it. The original transcript came from Congressman [Collin] Peterson's office. ... The following article was given to me, and I thought it should be published. President Clinton wants to add more gun laws on top of the more than the 2,000 already on the books. The testimony of Darrell Scott should be given serious consideration. Where is the media on this one? Maybe it was because it didn’t fit their pattern of thinking. -- H.A. Larson, Shevlin, Minn. On Thursday, May 27, 1999, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colo., was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript: "Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter, I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder, I would be their strongest opponent. "I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy - it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much. of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today: "Your laws ignore our deepest needs Your words are empty air You've stripped away our heritage You've outlawed simple prayer Now gunshots fill our classrooms And precious children die You seek for answers everywhere And ask the question "Why" You legislate restrictive laws Through legislative greed And yet you fail to understand That God is what we need! "Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. "When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual influences were present within our education systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries, this is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in doing so, we open the doors to hatred and violence. "And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs, politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to eroding away our personal and private liberties. "We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! "We do not need more religion, we do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million-dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. "We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God! "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School -- prayer was brought back to our schools. "Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violated your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine Your own heart before casting the first stone! "My daughter's death will not be in vain. The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!" The editor of the Bagley Farmers-Independent, which earlier printed this, added: "In light of the little attention this speech received, we checked to see if Mr. Scott did, indeed, make this address. It is, in fact, part of the Congressional Record of May 27, 1999." ------------------------------------------------ BUCKING STOCK READY AT NORTH STAR EFFIE -- As the last weekend in July approaches, residents of the Big Fork valley, just North of Grand Rapids, are gearing up 45th annual go-round of the North Star Stampede, the oldest open rodeo in Minnesota. An open rodeo is one where contestants are not restricted by organization or association. Each year, the North Star rodeo draws cowboys and cowgirls from across the United States and Canada. This year, well over one hundred are expected to compete. In past years, North Star has been known for its "Wildest Ride" contest in which, unlike the other events, points are not awarded. The wildest ride overall takes all. "The bucking stock is in top shape and raring to go," said Howard Pitzen, Chief Ramrod at North Star. In addition to using the stock for their own event, North Star also leases some stock out for other rodeos, but brings it back for the Stampede. In addition to bucking horses, North Star acquired from Swede Hansen, at Miles City, this year, a top bull which will be used in the North Star breeding program. The bull, named "Scrap Iron," is looking forward to it, and will also debut his talents (for riding, that is) at the Stampede. Back by popular demand this year will be rodeo clown Slip Knot Schiedler, who has clowned rodeos throughout the midwest. Also on hand will be D. W. Koss and his Concord stagecoach to add color and tradition to the stampede. The stampede will be July 28th - 30th. As usual, the Friday (7/28) performance, which starts at 5 pm, is family bargain night with reduced admission. Pitzen has announced that there will be extra events for the kids. Also as usual, parking and camping is free, and campers are advised to bring their own drinking water as there is no deep well on the rodeo grounds. ------------------------------------------------------- WHITE OAK SCHEDULE DEER RIVER -- The White Oak Society is comprised of people who not only remember history, they live it. And again this year, at the 12th annual Rendezvous, August 5th & 6th, they'll throw open their stockade gates to the public who want to relive the times of the Voyageurs at a Northern Minnesota fur post. A day before Rendezvous, Friday August 4th, in connection with White Oak Learning Centre, a day of public workshops ($10 for the day) will include: 10:00 How to make a powder horn; Doll making with wool; Nature trail walk 10:30 Primitive Skills; Beadworking 11:00 Blacksmithing 12:00 Black powder shooting; "Receipt" exchange 1:00 Fibre Arts; Quill making; Becoming a character 2:30 Flute making 3:00 Shooting an 18th century cannon 3:30 Entertainments of the 18th century Discount advance tickets and camping reservations are available at 218-246-9393 ------------------------------------------------ DAVE AND EARL'S IS COUNTY MARKET NOW! PARK RAPIDS -- Although, here in Northern Minnesota, their construction period open-frame barn-door look was rustic and appealing, it's all gone now as Dave and Earl have finished the store's makeover and held, in June, their Grand Opening as a new County Market. Said owner, Dave Bergman, of the new digs, "We doubled the size. There's heavy emphasis of the Fresh Focus look. The emphasis is on ... produce, bakery, deli and meat." Dave and Earl's [former] Country Store has always been a place where Park Rapidians could find value, and moreover, scarce among Park Rapids grocers, an integrious place where they just felt good about doing business and getting the benefit of the bargains. Now, Bergman said, the expansion and joining of the County Market chain will improve customer service and customers being able to find more of what they're looking for. "There's a floral department that we didn't have before," said Bergman who added that the store's new buying power means weekly specials will be hotter and better than before, so area shoppers might want to check their weekly flyer (ad) in the local paper before they shop. The store features packaged meat, and also a live butcher to custom cut meat to the customer's preference. -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 06/21/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 11 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- Bemidji Corruption - The Beltrami County Attorney TIM FAVER: 60 DAYS APPROPRIATE FOR ASSAULT WITH GUN But Bagley Court Sentences Hastings Cop to 30 Days on "Bracelet" BAGLEY -- On November 3rd, 1999, a Clearwater County Grand Jury at Bagley indicted David William Larson, a 37 year old Hastings, Minn. police officer, who lives in Farmington, Minn., for offenses including Assault in the Second Degree [with a firearm] (M.S. 609.22 Subd. 1, also M.S. 609.11) for an incident July 24th, 1999, when Larson allegedly threatened, with his semi-automatic handgun, 2 young men, who were talking with his 15-year old daughter at a wedding reception at Angelina's, Bagley. The officer, in Bagley for the wedding, was not on duty at the time, and it is not known why he was carrying his gun while, allegedly, consuming alcohol. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) reports contain conflicting accounts regarding just how far the officer removed his gun from his waistband during the parking lot argument. But what happened that night in Angelina's parking lot, however, will never be fully known and, if the crime was committed, stringent firearms crime provisions will never be invoked as conflict prosecutor, Beltrami County Attorney Tim Faver agreed, on May 30th, 2000, to dismiss the more aggravated firearms charge, returned by the Grand Jury (Clearwater Co. Case Nos. K4-99-344 & 345), and allow Larson to plead guilty to a "lesser included" offense of Making Terroristic Threats (M.S. 609.713 Subd. 1) Defense attorney was James Ventura. Judge Rasmussen had originally been assigned to the case, but was removed by Ventura and the Honorable Judge Benshoof was appointed December 17, 1999. At the May 30th plea hearing before Benshoof, Faver argued for a 60 day sentence, but the Court imposed 30 days of house arrest with electronic monitoring, $733 fine, including costs, and 4 years' probation, with conditions including a no-drink/no bars order and that Larson must not possess or use firearms. During the investigation of the alleged crimes, Larson had been suspended with pay from the Hastings Police Department. He had been with the department for seven years. A letter from his sergeant, dated May 24th, 2000, was submitted to the Court prior to sentencing, as was a petition by fellow officers. Alleged victims of the firearm threats were Gary Halverson, 18, and Dan Labs, 20. They were attending the wedding of Halverson's cousin as guests of the bride's family. Per a filed report taken by Deputy Harmon, of the Clearwater Co. Sheriff's office, when Labs and Halverson summoned police shortly after the occurrence, the victims both claimed that "an adult male [Larson] approached them and began verbally challenging, threatening and harassing them after they had been in a conversation with ... [Larson's] daughter.... During the confrontation ... [Larson] reached behind his back and pulled out a black semi-automatic handgun, pointing the weapon at the two individuals while making verbal challenges and threats towards them." Per the report, as substantiated by statements of Labs and Halverson to BCA, they fled the area in their vehicle, but returned a short time later and found Larson gone. They went back into the reception and told their parents, and Angelina's management, what happened, and 911 was then called. In his statement to BCA Special Agent Eric Knutson, Halverson said that, while he and Labs were listening to music in Halverson's vehicle in Angelina's parking lot, Elizabeth Larson, 15, who had been sitting on the bumper of a van parked there, walked over to Halverson's vehicle and introduced herself. Per the report, Halverson stated that David Larson approached Halverson's vehicle and asked Halverson and Labs, "If they were tough," then started "yelling obscenities" at them and "he pulled out the handgun from behind his back" and "he heard the gun being cocked... Halverson stated ... he watched Larson as Larson was holding the gun with two hands, pointing it at Labs." Per the statement, Larson continued yelling obscenities and ordered them to leave the area, which Labs and Halverson then did. The BCA statement taken from Labs is essentially similar to Halverson's, except that Labs said that he noticed in the parking lot that Elizabeth Larson was drinking a can of beer that, per the statement, she got from her father, and notes, that, regarding the confrontation with David Larson, "[Labs] could smell alcohol on [David Larson's] breath." Per the BCA report of the statement of Larson, he denied pointing the gun, but said he "lifted up his shirt, told the two males that he was armed, and then showed [them] ... that he had a weapon ...he may have pulled the weapon up and out of his waistband far enough that the end of the barrel may have been exposed." In his BCA statement, Larson accused Halverson and Labs of giving his daughter Apple Schnapps, and yelling obscenities at him; he stated that he was concerned for his and his daughter's safety. Larson stated that he'd consumed "4 to 5 beers" during the two hours prior to the incident. In Analysis: It was not wholly the judge's doing that this light sentence was imposed. The Honorable Judge Benshoof was limited in that he could only sentence for terroristic threats. In this, the sentence was not necessarily unreasonable. As to the alleged assault, it will never be known whether Larson actually drew and pointed his gun, nor whose story, or which parts of each, are factual, as these things would have to be determined by a jury, which, now, will not happen. In his decision to accept the plea to the terroristic threat charge and dismiss the felony assault with a firearm, Beltrami County Attorney Tim Faver overrode the will of the Grand Jury, which indicted for same. The mandatory penalties for a crime committed with a firearm were circumvented by Faver's dismissal of that charge. These mandatory measures don't work where the prosecutor is allowed to dismiss the charge carrying them, in favor of a lesser plea. Equal Justice. A question for readers: If it had been a Native American from Red Lake who got drunk and, reportedly, pulled a gun on someone, how likely is it that he would only get 30 days on the bracelet? --------------------------------------------------------- MOONDANCE CREWS READY FOR THE CROWDS WALKER -- Among summer song festivals, Moondance has always stood out as particularly well organized and convenient for guests. Despite enormous turnout each year, the very adequate, blaze orange or other fluorescent-uniformed staff makes sure there are no long waits and people get what they came there for. It's just first-class all the way. As with most large fests, there have to be remote parking facilities. But at this one, shuttles are "right there" to express eager listeners to the grounds, pretty much, no matter when they arrive. Said one driver last year, "I started at 10 o'clock [a.m.], and we're running until they tell us to go home." He said that he expected to be there until 2:30 in the morning. Acts this year include Eric Burden and the New Animals, and grammy winner Rockin' Dopsie Jr. and his Zydeco Twisters, who will bring his world-toured Zydeco sound straight from Lafayette, Louisiana, where it started. "It's probably the best lineup the jam has ever had," said Mark Ricci, Moondance 2000 marketing mgr. Last year's heavy rains and mud posed a bit more sport for some attendees, so this year, "the grounds crew has turned the facility upside-down," said Ricci, who said that the grounds now boast drain tiles and all-weather roads, as well as re-seeded lawns, that will keep guests from inconvenience should the weather not cooperate. Ricci added that Moondance has well become the music festival of the area, and a very major midwest music event, "The amount of corporate sponsorship that has come this year is excellent - big companies have jumped on Moondance Jam and we thank them for their support," he said. (photo caption - photos in print edition only): Melanie Moffit, below, flew in from Sacramento for the 1999 Moondance Jam. -------------------------------------------------------- REPERCUSSION'S "ROMEO & JULIET" IN GRAND RAPIDS, 7/23 GRAND RAPIDS -- David Marty, Executive Director of Reif Center, received confirmation last week that the renowned Repercussion Theatre Company, of Montreal, would, indeed, come to Grand Rapids July 23rd to perform Shakespeare's greatest epic, Romeo and Juliet, at Shakespeare Under the Stars at the Riverboat Landing. Tickets to this classic performance will be $16 per. The Repercussion company has proven itself not only faithful in their renditions of classic Shakespeare, but versatile as well as proven by their performance, last year, of Comedy of Errors, at the landing. In Romeo and Juliet, directed by the talented and visionary Cas Anvar, who also directed Errors, Repercussion sets the epic romance in 16th century Spain. In their release, Repercussion said, Our twist on the popular Shakespearean play will pull you into the throes of true love, and then dazzle you with fiery swordplay. This age-old tale... will grip your heart and leave you spell-bound with the story of two ill-fated lovers attracted to each other in spite of the dictates of their families. Brimming with passion and packed with action, Repercussion Productions' Romeo and Juliet has something for everyone. ------------------------------------------------------ MEDIA ARTS WORKSHOP IN TRF THIEF RIVER FALLS -- Northwest Service Cooperative will host Sound, Image and Movement, a summer workshop for artists and educators by Intermedia Arts and Perpich Center for Arts Education. The video production workshop will be held at Lincoln High School, Thief River Falls, MN on July 10-14, 2000 with instructor Kristine Sorenson. During the 5 day workshop, participants will engage in video making, presentations on media literacy curriculum development and assessment strategies, critical analysis and interpretation of media art. Graduate credit is available from Hamline University. Registration ends June 30, 2000. For more info, call Theresa Shultz, Education Coordinator 612-874-2813 or email: theresa@intermediaarts.org. -------------------------------------------------------------- DEALS ON MEALS: Sunday Brunch, and Taco Day have returned to Emmaville! Both are all you can eat, in elegant country atmosphere, at $4.95, or $2.95 for kids. The brunch is Sunday from 9-12, Taco Night is Wednesday, 5-8. -------------------------------------------------------------- RHAE HAS DREAMS FOR BEMIDJI ARTS BEMIDJI -- On June 1st, 2000, Suzi Rhae, after 3 years with the Western Colorado Center for the Arts at Grand Junction, and an internship under previous Bemidji Director Marlon Davidson, was named Executive Director of the Bemidji Community Art Center and has definite plans for enrichment of the arts in Bemidji. Rhae, enthused with the new challenges her position poses, looks to promote expansion of current projects, such as the winter People's Art Festival held at Bemidji State University, while at the same time developing new projects such as community outreach and bringing greater arts awareness to the schools. She projected developing a high/middle school art show within the next two years, and said that her goal would be a combined area show, open to Cass Lake and Red Lake, as well as Bemidji, and encouraging traditional (classic), indigenous, and contemporary art. Rhae stresses community access. Of the current Carnegie location, she said, "This site is limited in parking and handicapped access, so we're looking to develop ways to increase community access to the arts and awareness.... I want to offer programming for people with disabilities," she said. "It's nice to be back," said Rhae, who is originally from Bemidji. "The people are fantastic," she said. ---------------------------------------------------- Advertisement DEEP-DISCOUNT WHITE OAK TICKETS FOR NORTHERN HERALD READERS who are quick like a rabbit! These are (normally $8) adult day passes that you can get for $4 each. But you have to be fast - we only have a few at this price - when they're gone, they're gone. COD is ok, so is prepayment (save the fees). To order yours call 218-759-1162. Advertisement ------------------------------------------------------- In Focus "OLD TIMERS" REUNITE AT BACKUS (Our In Focus feature is priimarily pictoral - photos, however, appear only in the print edition) (photo captions): Memorial Day weekend found Backus holding its annual Old Timers Days, which draws former Backusites from as far as the Pacific Northwest, and abroad. Above, Mike McCormick, Judy Inger McCormick (Class of '62) and Diane Ryder Gahagan (also '62). The oldest Old Timer this year was Rose Smith Uhlig, 93, of the Class of '26. --------------------------------------------------------- BEMIDJI WELCOMES NEW POSTAL MANAGER BEMIDJI -- Corruption got a setback last March when Dallas Radel, Bemidji Postmaster, went on what is thought to be an indefinite medical leave and the post office was put in the charge of Pine River Postmaster, Steve Stephan, left. Stephan is experienced in implementing the new DBCS sorting machines which will be used in Bemidji. --------------------------------------------------------------- (photo caption - photos in print edition only): WHY YOU CAN'T FIND THEM IN. Beltrami County Administrator Greg Lewis happily leaves his office to attend his son's birthday party. Trouble is, it's a little after three in the afternoon on a weekday. --------------------------------------------------------------- THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN WALKER!! PHOTOGRAPHY BISTRO & GALLERY OPENS Primo Equipment, Supplies, Workshops and Photo Art WALKER -- You have to walk barely off of Walker's main drag (Hwy 371) at Minnesota Ave. and go 2 doors west to find award-winning photographer Mike Peterson's new Wild Light Gallery, which, in addition to being an avant-garde exhibit of photographic art, including old-style tintypes, also has a wide variety of films, equipment and supplies for shutterbugs from novice to pro. Reprints of any size can be made from existing photos or slides on the self-service machine. (photo caption - photos in print edition only): Peterson tints a black-and-white photo using a kit he sells. Peterson is now conducting workshops in Darkroom, Photo Tinting, and Basic Photography. OPEN WATER IN SECOND YEAR Sports/Men's Goods/Picture Framing/Fine Cigars WALKER -- Yep, it's an odd mix, but in this arty, ambient and eclectic community, This is where you go when you want a good cigar, or for professional picture framing, mementos of the area, men's accessories or clothing of your favorite team. Owner Jim Flesch said the maiden year in Walker was "Great!" and that this year the shop has broadened it's selection of pipe tobacco, and has also become the official source for clothing for the Walker and Laporte high schools. Open Water has also added clothing from Minnesota Wild, the Green Bay Packers (you don't have to actually be a Packer to wear it) and the Minnesota Timberwolves. (photo caption - photos in print edition only): Peg Top, playing variety with a slightly Celtic sound, entertained May 28th on the patio at Giulliana's, Walker, which will feature live music most weekends this summer. ------------------------------------------------------------ DEBS - THE PLACE TO BE ON THE 4TH DEBS -- With it's one convenience store and cafe, the population of this northern Minnesota community, about 25 miles north of Solway, swells to overflowing each July as it goes all out for it's annual celebration. This is the one that you may have seen, in past years, photographed in this, and other, northern newspapers. This year, the Debs 4th of July Parade will kick off festivities at 1 pm, with lineup at 12:30. Following, there will be the lawn mower race, log sawing contest, and a jam session under the tent - all musicians are welcome. Free space is available for flea market and crafts (but not food stands) - just bring your table and come. Throughout the day, there will be raffles, games for the kids and door prizes, as well as the chance to vote for the Debs King, Queen, Prince and Princess. Official Debs T-shirts, which say, "Big Hospitality in a little One-Horse Town," caps and postcards will be on sale. --------------------------------------------------------- EFFIE READIES FOR RODEO EFFIE -- Each year, from across the nation and Canada, the toughest cowboys reunite in the little town of Effie, about 46 miles N of Grand Rapids, and 30 miles East of Northhome, and people come from all over to see the annual North Star Stampede. Howard Pitzen has announced that this year's stampede will be July 28-30, "Rain or Shine," as always. -------------------------------------------------------- Letter to the Editor A READER DISCOVERS THE NH SITE I just discovered your Website while looking for Online Newspapers in Minnesota. What a delightful site you have... and [I] laughed out loud with the dry wit I found to be in so much of it. Loved it, loved it, loved it!!!... so much in fact, I placed your home page on my desktop for easy access, and will browse it at leisure when I have more time than I do right at this moment. Judith A. Schneider Park Rapids, Minn, -------------------------------------------------------------- Letter to the Editor IS JOE SIXPACK IN BEMIDJI? According to a recent Associated Press article, Mark Yudof, President of the University of Minnesota, referred to Northern Minnesota males as "Joe Sixpack of Bemidji." This offensive remark by the head of political correctness is stunning. At the university, the language of faculty and students is monitored and the use of offensive language towards women or minorities is chastised, as was the case for statesman contributors a few years ago. However, when offensive language is directed at males, especially European-Americans, the university administration remains silent, as when a women's publication at UMD ridiculed the Promise Keepers. In regard to President Yudof, there is simply no acceptable excuse for stereotyping white males as sixpack toting drunk bums. Everyone knows that "Joe Sixpack" does not refer to Asians, but rather to European Americans., possibly Scandinavians, and thus it is a racial and ethnic slur as well as a sexist remark. An apology to the men of Bemidji may be in order. Yolanda Jenny Duluth We reply: Your concern for the men of Bemidji is appreciated and acknowledged, but as one of them, your editor requires no apology. Firstly, the tag wasn't directed at men generally - it was toward men of Bemidji, for many of whom Joe Sixpack might be an OK moniker It is true that there's a double-standard. If someone referred to some of Bemidji's ample female bar tramps as "two-bit Bettys" (hypothetically, of course), they might catch some flak, and I wouldn't want to be around when someone advertised the United White College Fund. It's unfortunate that it has come to this - that people can't speak their minds for fear of making someone uncomfortable; in society, what is unsaid, but accepted "under the table," including strong hate, prejudice and malice, is usually far more dangerous than any language might be. It is unfortunate that in a university, students and faculty have to walk on eggshells; that UMD doesn't allow free speech, but then a lot of people have forgotten the importance of it; of simply communicating and communicating simply. Finally, in the context in which it was said by Yudof - (he said "I'm just telling you that what I'm hearing from 'Joe Sixpack' in Bemidji is they are very concerned about it [about the possibility of rehiring university V.P. McKinley Boston])" - it doesn't seem he meant it in a disparaging manner. He was voicing concern for the opinion of the "Average Joe." Yudof didn't imply it, but in reality, in Bemidji, the Average Joe might be toting a sixpack. That doesn't make him a drunk bum, but, in Bemidji, in a lot of instances (check out our downtown bars sometime) he is. In short, we don't think Yudof meant it that way, but if he did, he'd be right, in many instances, anyway, and there's nothing wrong with saying it. We should be able to be as frank with all genders and all issues. One of our local radio DJs used to go by the handle "Joe Sixpack." That might have made the term more familiar to some. On behalf of men, your concern is appreciated; but semantics are not the issue - there are far worse things as shown by the next letter. These are the things we need to worry about. -- Ed. ------------------------------------------------------- Letter to the Editor A VERY LONG LETTER JUDGES IN GRAND RAPIDS DIVORCE COURTS ARE LEGALIZED THIEVES IN ROBES, ALSO THE WOMEN'S ADVOCATE GROUP, AND WOMEN AND MEN ATTORNEYS ARE JUST AS BAD AS THE JUDGES. This is a story of what actually happened to me [the sender]. A little about my ex-wife and how she uses the court system. We were only married for five and a half years and no kids involved - She had a house in Wisconsin which she got by having her ex-husband thrown out and owed him 7 thousand dollars, so she gave her house to her daughter and boyfriend and they sold it and gave her $22,000 that way she got out of paying her ex. Then she puts the money in an IRA in the Credit Union. She works for home Health Aid out of the Grand Rapids Hospital but never helped with any of the bills - When I asked her to, she said, "use your own money I will not help at all." So I ended up using over 5 thousand dollars of premarital money to get our house at 105 Ethel Street in Marble, MN. Because [of] Judge John R. Hawkinson and Ellen E. Tholen, her attorney, I had to go by the tax record of the value of the house on record as being ... [$32,000] because they refused to make my ex turn over all my records to show that it was worth more. After the divorce I was able to get records showing that it was [worth] $37,000 ... I had to make all house payments until the divorce was final which left [$]22,000 ... [owing] on the house. So the equity in the house was 15,000 ... plus over 5,000 ... I paid of non-marital moneys to get the house. That leaves 7,500 plus over 5,000 more I should have gotten in equity. Also I had over 13,000 ... dollars of non-marital money put into the house and the judge said I get nothing out of the house. He is going against State Law which says I am entitled to my equity. I had an account in the Credit Union in my name only and all house and home improvement loans were paid out of my pension through the credit union which I showed the Judge and he said that was no proof that I made the payments. If this is not being crooked than what is a crooked judge? I did appeal this with Judge Lang and she is just as crooked as the rest of them. One thing to remember is never get an attorney in the same town you have to go to court in because they will not file any complaints against judges they have to go up in front of again. This I know for a fact, because [in] my last divorce in Virginia, Minn., years ago, my attorney came right out and told me I was getting [made love to] ... by the judge and he could not go against him because he lived there and had to face the judge again and he would not win any more cases if he bucked the judge. People have to file complaints against these crooks and you can; it does take time. I have filed complaints and they are being looked into. Nothing can be done if we the people do not say we are fed up with these thieves. We can also vote them out of office, I will give you a list at the end of this true story where you can write to because they sure do not want you to file anything against them. Four of the Biggest complaints the people in Grand Rapids have against the justice system in Divorce Court are: 1. Women's Advocates who have women file false charges against a man to have him thrown out of his own house so they can get control of all records so you cannot prove your case. That is a violation of your constitutional rights. They have the power to have a judge sign a false order without any investigating at all to have you removed from your own home. This is supposed to be America but Itasca County makes their own LAWS. 2. They strip you of all your assets so you have no money left to appeal your case to a higher court - that way they protect their ... [a word for the ends of cigarettes]. 3. They do not follow the Laws of the State, They make laws and decisions [based] on who you are. If you stand up to them you do not stand a chance in their COURT. 4. Attorneys are afraid to file complaints against the judges for their wrongdoings because they have to live there and they will never win any more cases if they do. So, if there is an attorney who believes in right from wrong and not just to see how much MONEY he can get out of a person, LET HIM STEP FORWARD. My ex also has Manic Depression Syndrome, some day she will hurt someone really bad or even kill them, I have seen this in her and she hides her condition very well. I have called the cops on her for physical abuse on me several times for hitting me in my private area, throwing food, milk, and water in my face then taking the glass and breaking it on the floor next to me, also threatening me with knifes. This all happens out of the blue. One minute she could be real nice and the next she would be hitting and scratching you with out warning. I would ask her why she does that and she would say because [she] ... felt like it. The cops only put on their reports that I wanted a divorce. She even admitted that she did this in front of the cops but they would not let me file charges against her. Yet she could turn around later and say things that were not true while I was in North Carolina at my brother's house and filed a false report so when I got back to Grand Rapids I was unable to go home. In Court, her attorney made sure she used my ex-wife's size, she is small, ... saying, "do you think a woman this size can abuse a man that big?" If I was abusing her, as she falsely said, I would not have been the one to call the cops. Is there a manual that states an abuser has to be a certain size? She even told the court that I ran off to my brother's house in NC for three months but she did not tell them that my brother's wife had died and she told me to stay with him at least until after the holidays ... [so he] would not be alone in his time of need. Remember, men, if you call the cops or Sheriff's department on abuse from your wife make sure they put down what you called about, otherwise you will not be believed if you go to court. Remember, these crooked judges do not believe women can also be abusive to men. I also went to the local newspaper and found out that Judge John Hawkinson has had a lot of complaints against him. They also refused to print any editorial against these judges. DOES THIS TELL YOU SOMETHING? Make sure you file your complaints outside of Itasca County. This will be e-mailed to all the TV networks and newspapers in the State and around the country, so people will know what's happening in the corrupt divorce courts of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and they will also see how the politicians turn their backs on what's happening. I am on total disability and unable to work yet my ex has been working through the marriage and is still working. She got the house, [$]560.00 a month plus I have to leave my life insurance in her name until she is 62. The judge did not follow the law when he made his decision. The judge used his power as a judge to intimidate, and he intentionally depleted me of my assets so I could not afford to appeal my case to a higher court, and ... he did this to protect himself from being charged with unethical behavior. A judge can be punished and even removed from the bench if he is found to be violating the Code Of Judicial Conduct. Now in the judge's MEMORANDUM he states, the Court had difficulty with my testimony as to recalling what sources of funds paid for a variety of payments or improvements. What the judge does not say is both I and my attorney, John W. Hayes, asked both her attorney Ellen Tholen and the judge for my records [from] the house and they refused to make her do so [release his records]. Also ... the judge states that both parties disclosed all income; the judge LIED. I had to show all my income records and we also asked for her credit union statements to show she had thousands of dollars in that account yet Ellen and the judge ... still refused to make her show the court her statements. My attorney, John W. Hayes, was useless, I could have done the same as he did for me without him. If he would have done the things I asked him to do - about talking to the cops with me there, things would have turned out different. All he said was he did not think he would need them [until] after it was too late. A good attorney always prepares ahead of time, remember this. We all know [that] when judges refuse to be equal to each party in court, then he is using his power to STEAL from one party to give to the other, he is NO better than a THIEF. If you need help filing a complaint against these judges you can contact me at: Corrupt Judges, General Delivery, Marble, MN 55764 These are the places to file your complaints to. Make a copy of your letter and at the end put cc to: and list all the places you sent your letters. This way they will get more attention because they will know the other agencies that are looking at your complaints also. Remember we only have these corrupt judges because we turn our backs on what they do, the pen is mightier than the sword. So get the word out to everyone you can, that way it will weed out the corrupt judges along with the corrupt attorneys. Honorable Janet Reno, US Attorney General, Dept. of Justice, Roorn 4545, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20530-0001 Board On Judicial Standards, 2025 Centre Point Boulevard, Suite 420, Mendota Heights, MN 55120 Human Rights, 190 E. 5th St., Suite 700, St Paul, MN 55101 Senator Paul Wellstone, 2550 University Ave., St Paul, MN 55114 Rep. James L. Oberstar, Chisholm City Hall, 316 Lake St., Chisholm, MN 55719 Lawyers Board, 25 Constitution Ave., Suite 105, St Paul, MN 55155 ACLU, 1021 West Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411 Attorney General, [Mike Hatch], 102 State Capitol, 75 Constitution Ave., St Paul, MN 55155 Rep. David Tomassoni, 593 State Office Bldg., 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155 [name and address withheld by request] Editor's Note: As with all letters, the opinions expressed herein are solely those of the letter writer. It is our job to allow a forum. About the problems, the writer told Northern Herald, "None of the politicians even want to listen to it." -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 05/24/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 10 -------------------------------------- CRAIG WILLIAMS DENIES WRONGDOINGS AT BEMIDJI DOWNTOWN MEATS BEMIDJI -- Rumours abound, but mystery surrounds exactly what happened at Bemidji Downtown Meats about the time of the termination of Craig Williams's employment there. Mike Nickerson, owner of the store, as well as of Smiley's pub in Bemidji, would not disclose the reason for the termination, and Williams said only that he and Nickerson "just had a disagreement." After contacting several sources, what is most apparent is that there was an irregularity at the meat market, possibly in the nature of theft, and official sources in Bemidji, as well as Williams, Nickerson and other close contacts, for whatever reasons, have put the lid on the information and it's tighter than a drum. Williams is a Bemidji Alumni Jaycee; his wife of 20 years, Rochelle, is a Bemidji Law Enforcement Center dispatcher. Per Nickerson, on initial interview, nothing unusual happened just prior to Williams leaving his employ at Bemidji Downtown Meats; but in follow up, Nickerson said that something happened, but he would not disclose what or who was involved. Another source, close to Bemidji Downtown Meats, when asked about allegations centered on Williams, said, "There's no proof that he did take any of the money." But when asked about the specific nature of what happened, said, "I don't even know if I should be talking about it," and referred further questions to Nickerson. The investigation of a theft from Downtown Meats did not appear to be on the computers at the offices of Tim Faver, Beltrami County Attorney, and at Bemidji Police Department, Det. Jerry Johnson refused to comment on the case. Meanwhile, in the absence of official information, rumours continue to circulate, including one that the theft was in the nature of customers' checks, endorsed by Rochelle and deposited. In this version, the aggregate amount was speculated to be about $20,000. Certain persons have reported frequently seeing Rochelle at Cass Lake's gambling Palace. Craig Williams confirmed the existence of these rumours, which he said were being passed through bar talk, but said he hadn't heard that one before. Asked if he took anything from Downtown Meats, he was adamant and said, "Absolutely not." "I've been tried and convicted," by the speculation, he said. "I've handled thousands of dollars raised (at Jaycees Water Carnivals) for this community," said Williams, "we have perfect credit, a perfect reputation in the community." Regarding the speculation, he added, "There's so much garbage going around right now, and it's not only humiliating, but it hurts so much when you've done so much for the community. . . I will be vindicated and I will be a better person because of it." Still, Williams would not comment on what the subject of the controversy (i.e. the nature of the crime that he didn't commit) was. Related stories: The owner of Gene's Place, predecessor to Smiley's, was recently convicted of embezzling about $29,000 in pull tab receipts, as reported by The (Bemidji) Pioneer. For the exclusive (then) breaking report of the bust at Gene's Place, see Northern Herald of 8/26/98 in The Library, accessible from our main web page. ------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Eournalism - Follow-Up ----------------------------------- ITASCA CO. HEAD JAILER RETIRES GRAND RAPIDS - Itasca County Jail Administrator David Sigfrinious retired April 28th, 2000. ------------------ MEDURE ADDRESSES ROMANCE ALLEGATIONS GRAND RAPIDS - On April 28th, 2000, Itasca Sheriff Pat Medure addressed allegations of misconduct by Jail Administrator David Sigfrinious (See Was Wendy Carlson Forced to Have Oral Romance with Itasca Co. Head Jailer? - NH of 04/26/00) saying, "I looked in the jail logs on the time period you're talking about; there was nothing in the record that indicates that Mr. Sigfrinious had the opportunity for any contact with Wendy Carlson." At presstime, David Sigfrinious has made no statement in regard to the uncorroborated allegations, which are based upon statements, implicating Sigfrinious, that Wendy Carlson purportedly made to her ex-husband and her parole officer prior to her suicide last year. --------------------------------------------- GIBSON BRINGS U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN TO THE NORTHLAND BEMIDJI -- In a media blitzkrieg last week, James Gibson, candidate for Independence Party endorsement for U.S. Senate, brought national issues, primarily fiscal, to Northern Minnesota. Gibson is running for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Rod Grams. Grams also had appeared in Bemidji in 1984, when he misled voters as to the effects of his pet child tax credit which has since resulted in a dispropor-tionately high tax for seniors, singles and childless couples. Gibson takes an unusual approach to federal budget surpluses. As a priority, he said that he was the only major candidate who favored using any budget surplus for pay-down of the high interest national debt, not tax cuts. A concern of Gibson's is misreporting of the national debt by excluding the part owed to trust funds, and said that federal budget surpluses, as presently reported, include amounts in trust funds such as Social Security. "Politicians have gotten in the habit of stating this whole number because it makes it look like we have less of a budget problem," he said. Gibson wants to see Social Security maintained as a true trust fund, rather than have benefits paid by current workers' income, and eventually privatized by mandatory personal "IRAs." He also addressed foreign trade and finance. Due to trade deficits, he said, "we've gotten to the point, now, where we owe more to foreigners than foreigners owe to us." Gibson said that his other priorities include education and the environment. --------------------------------------------- (Picture captions - photos appear only in print edition): COHASSET -- If anyone went away hungry, it was their own fault! Because the Cohasset Fire Dept.'s fundraiser offered all the good B-B-Q one cared to eat. The volunteer firemen, led by their chief, Denny Lemler, below left, expected to raise at least $2,500 for new equipment including the thermal imaging camera shown at left, used in fire-fighting and also to find occupants of burning buildings. Firemen Denny Madden, Bill Peltier and Brian Ingvaldson man the B-B-Q. ------------------------------------------------------- ENGELKING GROUP TO OFFER NEW HELP IN FINDING AN ATTORNEY ST. LOUIS PARK -- Citing growing specialization in the legal field, and that Minnesota's over 20,000 practicing attorneys in various fields can be "very confusing for the potential client," a new legal association, headed up by Matthew Engelking, J.D., proposes to "take the stress out of finding an attorney," said Todd Bertrand, General Manager of the firm, Engelking Group. Matthew Engelking was formerly with the well-known Twin Cities firm of Meshbesher & Spence. In a release, Engelking Group said that, after a no-charge initial consultation with people seeking an attorney, the firm will either offer in-house services, or be able to provide referral to an attorney who has been pre-qualified by the firm and found to be acceptable in the specific area of law needed. After the referral, Engelking Group maintains contact with the client to "assess the compatibility of the client-attorney relationship and suggest alternatives if necessary." "Virtually all lawyers will agree that the most successful and well-respected lawyers practice law within specialized fields," stated Engelking, "We take the hassle out of researching each lawyer's achievements, reputation and fee plans by offering the services of these pre-qualified attorneys to prospective clients." Per their release, methods used for screening and pre-qualifying attorneys for referrals include research and information gathering to select competent and successful attorneys, face-to-face interview with the prospective attorney and review of incidentals which can be important to clients, such as the attorney's office administration and malpractice insurance. Engelking Group has asserted that only those attorneys who are a cut above the rest are asked to become pre-qualified members of its referral base. Engelking Group was incorporated as an S corporation in November, 1999 and Bertrand said that the referral concept has "been getting well received." Matthew E. Engelking, Esq. received his Juris Doctorate from Regent University Law School and has taught Media Law and American Political Systems at North Central University. He is admitted to practice in both Minnesota and federal courts. -------------------------------------------------- THE FIREMAN'S BALL Walker volunteer firemen held their annual ball and fundraiser at the Red Barn Saloon, Walker, May 6th. Fire Chief Scott Bruns, said that proceeds of this year's very successful event will be used for equipment, including breathing apparatuses. "Everyone is supposed to have a breathing apparatus and we don't have a breathing apparatus for every fireman on the department," he said. The breathing apparatus can cost as much as $2,000 each. Fireman Dan Gendron said of his 4 yrs. in the volunteer unit, "I love it." In interview, the firemen thanked former fireman Bill and Kathy Bieloh for their continued support of the Department. "They've donated a lot to the community, a lot to the Fire Department." Specially recognized at the ball were Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Ramp, of Howard Lake, who will be celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary this November. The Ramps have 12 grandchildren, 10 of whom have already attained college degrees. ------------------------------------------------------ CANDIDATE SUES; CLAIMS REPUBLICAN 8TH CONG. DIST. CONVENTION HIJACKED BY CHAIR RUSH CITY -- Michael Darling, an accountant for Rainbow Foods, Twin Cities, and candidate for U.S. Congress from Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, has filed suit in Minnesota District Court at Chisago County (Case No. CX-00-726) seeking a temporary restraining order to block an attempt by the Republican Party to deny his endorsement and hold a new endorsing convention. Darling's attorney, Thomas Mongomery, St. Paul, said that at the 8th dist. convention, the chair unlawfully failed to move Darling's endorsement even though he was the only candidate passed by the nominating committee. A motion to endorse Darling came from the floor, but the Chair blocked the motion. The delegates then moved and voted unanimously to support Darling. Named in the suit are 8th dist. Republican party officers Dolly Zitur, Nancy Evans, and others. --------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- (Note: our In Focus feature is primarily pictoral. Photos, however, appear only in the print edition.) WHERE TO GET SMELT BACKUS -- Backus volunteer firemen held their annual all-you-can-eat smelt and fish feed at the Backus fire hall, May 6th. This event is always well attended, and this year, although it started at 4 pm, people were still arriving and there was still a fast-moving line at almost 6. The event featured exceptionally excellent fried cod, as well as smelt, and a host of side dishes including potato salad, pickled beets and other vegetables, cole slaw, baked beans, gelatin and home-baked pastries and buns. Napkins were furnished by the Bank of Walker. Diner Ron Crimmins preferred smelt. "Yeah, that's what I come for," he said, adding that this year's was "real good." The event raised about $3,500 for equipment for the 18 fire-fighters. (Picture captions - photos appear only in print edition): Ron Crimmins enjoys smelt at Backus The feed was well attended and cars lined the parking lanes North Ambulance, Pine River, was on hand just in case anyone ate too much smelt at the AYCE feed!. ---------------------------------------------------- (Picture caption - photos appear only in print edition): WALKER -- Walker area Boy Scouts held their 53rd annual Smelt and Fish Fry May 5th at the American Legion, Walker. Vaughn Loomis, Neville Eclov and Jamie Munson serve fried smelt, Alaskan Pollock, side dishes, beverages and dessert. The hall was full and Assistant Scoutmaster Don Hoppe, now in his 9th year of working the annual Scouts feed, was pleased with the turnout. Hoppe said that they expected to make $1,200 to $1,400 to be used for the Scouts' summer camp. ------------------------------------------------ DOPSIE TO HEADLINE AT MOONDANCE WALKER -- After bringing the house down, with the floor filled with ballroom and swing style dancers at last year's CajunFest, Rockin' Dopsie Jr. and his Zydeco Twisters will be headlining at this year's Moondance Jam with performances all four days. Dopsie will be on the Main Stage, opening day, Wednesday, July 12th, and fans of great Zydeco music can see him on the Beverage Tent Stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday. So what is Zydeco? You've probably heard it, but didn't know it. The sound has been borrowed for many commercial and broadcast presentations. It's the unique creole of Caribbean music with the blues sound - upbeat - usually featuring guitar, washboard and accordion. And it's very dancable in styles approximating swing. Last year's CajunFest was enjoyed by many members of the Twin Cities based Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association, who came up to hear and dance to Dopsie and the other performers there. Zydeco originated near Lafayette, Louisiana. And for Grammy-winner Dopsie, from Lafayette, it's a legacy. His father pioneered the sound, and Dopsie, Jr. has taken it around the world, performing from New Orleans, to New York, to Italy and Europe. Dopsie recorded the Graceland CD with Paul Simon, and the Old Mercy CD with Bob Dylan. -------------------------------------------------- Editorial --------- This is Bemidji CAROL PRIEST MAY BRING BUMS AND DRUNKS TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BEMIDJI -- Yes! Some lucky Bemidji neighborhood that now has a shortage of bums and drunks may win a fresh supply in the Sands residence sweepstakes, now before the Bemidji Planning Commission. The Sands project is being spearheaded by Carol Priest, of Solway, who is also a supporter of Bemidji's People's Church, residents in the vicinity of which went to City Hall for the May 1st City Council meeting to air their complaints of disturbances and possible unlawful activity allegedly brought to their neighborhood by the church. Priest made her presentation of the project to the Beltrami County Board on May 2nd, and to the Bemidji City Council on May 15th. It calls for the building of Sands, a permanent residential center for chronic alcoholics. These are alcoholics who are not recovering or rehabilitating, but just need a place to live. They would be allowed to continue using alcohol, but not on the premises. And although no location was formally announced for the project at either meeting, residents of Bemidji's quiet and picturesque Gemmel Ave. neighborhood, where Priest had been making property inquiries, turned out in force to voice their strenuous opposition to the project being located there. Apparently Gemmel residents felt that they had an adequate supply of drunks and bums and that there was, perhaps, a more deserving neighborhood for this bequest, that perhaps something this wonderful, with all of the attributes that Miss Priest ascribed to it, belonged, instead, on Birchmont Beach Drive. Among objections to the center were increased traffic from visitors, trespassing as the center residents walked through yards to get to liquor and convenience stores, adverse influence on the neighborhood children, security, and the fact that the alcoholic residents, who would not be permitted to drink on the premises, might have to drink, instead, on the public street or area parks. At the Beltrami Board meeting, Cmmr. Steven Booth heard Priest's presentation of the planned project and expressed that he hoped in designating a location, local governments would first allow full hearing of the concerns of local residents of whatever neighborhood was selected, as the Board had that evening. At the May 15th City Council meeting, following Priest's presentation and hearing from two Gemmel Ave. residents, one of whom presented a petition signed by most of the block, Mayor Peterson announced that there was no action before the council to locate the center, and before it would be located, there would have to be public hearings at which nei-ghborhood property owners could again be heard. Many Gemmel Ave. residents have also signed a petition requesting rezoning to single family residential only. It has since been reported that Priest is looking at other Bemidji locations, particularly the Mississippi Avenue community, near downtown, which have the R-4 zoning required for the center. ------------------------------------------------- Editorial --------- COMMISSIONERS BURN BELTRAMI COUNTY ASSETS Affordable housing is often said to be lacking in Beltrami County, and is often the cause for publicly aided projects to provide same. And Beltrami County often seems in need of money, particularly when appropriation bills are considered in St. Paul. Still, in Bemidji, several of the limited number of houses, on Beltrami tax rolls, and suitable for low-to-moderate income households, have been burned or dismantled in the past few years. The Beltrami County Board decided, May 2nd, that a tax-forfeited house, assessed at $7,800, would somehow be of more benefit to the county were it burned, and the land, valued at another $2,100, given to Habitat for Humanity, or used for an HRA project; rather than the house being sold at bid, as is customarily done with tax-forfeit properties, with the proceeds of roughly $10,000 then going to the county. With that, the Board acted to recommend that the property, which is in need of fix-up, but is otherwise sound, at 200 Gemmel Avenue, be transferred to the City of Bemidji for land use by Habitat for Humanity or HRA. Commissioner Audrey Richardson added the provision that the City could destroy the $7,800 house immediately and before the transfer was even final. Habitat for Humanity is an excellent charity. But it is not the job of the county to support any charity with taxpayers' funds and property. The rationale of the county board that a new house built on the land might provide more tax revenue is flawed. Even if a $50,000 house were built, it would take about 15 years for the annual taxes to replace the $10,000 or so which could likely be derived from the sale of the property. The sale of public tax-forfeited lands at public bid is an important revenue source replacing the delinquent taxes and is generally the only public use which benefits the entire county; generally, any other disposition by the County Board is imprudent and poor public policy. And the county has no business going to St. Paul with its hand out when it's burning its salable assets. --------------------------------------------------- WOMEN MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR GUN CONTROL WASHINGTON, DC -- Thousands of women attended a Mother's Day march on Washington to encourage gun control. This comes, coincidentally, during a period when, in recent years, the effect of the NRA has been diluted as more women have attained executive ranks within the organization and certain functions, such as its endorsement of candidates, have been done without regard for the original goals of the organization. ------------- "This year will go down in history. For the first time a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future." --Adolf Hitler, 1935 -------------- "It's hard to believe. In our complacency, in only four short lifetimes, it is as if we've totally forgotten that our nation's founders put those safeguards in place, that we might never have to endure what they just had. The notion may have been their folly; because it also seems as if, every few hundred years, blood must be shed, if for no other reason, to remind us of the cost, and the value, of our liberty." -- Adam Steele, 2000 ---------------------------------------------------- BAREFOOT AND PREGNANT Contemporary Ladies' Perspective, Advice and Tips by The Lady Steele A great cooking discovery has actually been around for years. It's seldom advertised, as knowledge of the versatility and usefulness of this appliance is frequently just passed down from mother to daughter. The NESCO Roaster-Oven now comes in a 6-quart size that gives you the big roaster features in a family-size appliance - just the right size for a roast, a few days' dinners or even a cake. The versatility of this appliance became apparent, a few months back, when the Chateau's regular oven went on the fritz. And there was no microwave (it produces poor baking results, so the Chateau refuses to have one taking up space). The NESCO Roaster, though, was perfect for, literally, everything that I would have put in the oven during its hiatus (the larger sizes can even handle a whole turkey). After 3 hours in the NESCO roaster, the basic beef roast, made with onion soup mix, was so tender that you could cut it with a fork. The appliance, equally capable as a slow cooker, can also be used for warming up leftovers (like you'd do in a micro - only tasty.) For chilis, thick soups and similar dishes, this appliance is preferred by good cooks for its precision temperature control. It's amazing all of the things this roaster can do! Turning the internal roaster rack upside down (like shelves), you can actually bake two things at once - or heat up two different meal courses, by stacking them. Two big baked omelettes can be made using two 7" pie tins - one on the roaster bottom and one on the rack. Apply cheese and set on 350o for 30 minutes. They'll be perfect. I also found that two pie tins stacked this way made reheating food very easy. This stacking can also be used for baking foil-wrapped potatoes, on the upper rack, over the meat cooking below; and it instills the good meat flavour into the potatoes. Pies, buns, cakes, - even frozen foods - anything else you'd put in the oven will cook well with finer temperature control in this roaster. And, for comfort, it's the thing to have in summer heat - unlike a conventional oven, the roaster puts the heat in your food - not your whole house. The NESCO 6 qt. roaster oven, with their new non-stick inner tray, has been found at Pamida for $69.99 and Target at $59.99. The model with the regular (not non-stick) inner tray can be found at Wal-Mart for $39.99. Either inner tray lifts out and doubles as a serving piece. This means that, if you're preparing a casserole, hotdish, or chili, you can cook it and serve it without using another bowl. You can make it, bake it, and serve it all in the same utensil! ---------------------------------------------- WATERFOWL ASSN. MEETS AT WALKER WALKER -- The new Leech Lake chapter of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association held its fundraiser May 5th at Walker, featuring a banquet at the Grain Bin Restaurant, with raffles and silent auction. The Association's Executive Director, Mike McGinty, of Long Lake, said, "we're real excited about our first event in this area," and he was pleased with the room-filling turnout of about 100 people. McGinty said that about $8,000 would be raised, and it "stays in Minnesota," he said, adding that the money is used for both education and conservation projects. The Association just completed a major project in the Caribou Wildlife Management Area and is working in the Grand Rapids area to create better habitat and possibly more public hunting. The organization is now taking applications from landowners interested in having Canada Geese relocated to their properties. There is an existent chapter of the Association in Grand Rapids, and the new Leech Lake chapter will be meeting monthly in Walker. Persons interested in joining or more information may call 612-922-2832, or Steve Baker at 218-547-1319. -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 04/26/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 9 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- WAS WENDY CARLSON FORCED TO HAVE ORAL ROMANCE WITH ITASCA CO. HEAD JAILER? GRAND RAPIDS/MINNEAPOLIS -- New uncorroborated allegations have surfaced to the effect that, before her death, Wendy Carlson told her ex-husband, Joe Burns, of Minneapolis, and also her parole officer at Minneapolis, of being required to perform oral romance for the Itasca County Jail Administrator David Sigfrinius as a condition to receiving her medication or other consideration. And at Grand Rapids, authorities are being tight-lipped regarding questions surrounding the alleged incident. Sigfrinius, finally contacted on April 26th, refused to answer any questions or make any statement and referred the matter to Pat Medure, Itasca Sheriff. Medure was cooperative in answering questions regarding Carlson's dates of incarceration (relevant to other allegations, post), but would not address the possibility of misconduct by jail staff, except to recommend that Carlson's survivors, if they suspected same, lodge a formal complaint directly with the Sheriff's Office. Background. Wendy Carlson was charged, in 1998, with having had 3rd degree criminal romantic contact, beginning, per the filed complaint, on or about November 17th, 1997, with the then 17-year old son of the owner of the Deer River home where she was renting a room (See Deer River Skating Star Departed at 38, NH of 02-02-00). Represented by Grand Rapids attorney Michael P. Gallagher, who is said to have strongly encouraged a guilty plea, she ultimately pled guilty, on Sept. 8th, 1998, to 4th degree, and was given a stay of imposition of sentence, with 5 yrs. probation on conditions, including that she not drink. By the time of that sentencing, she had already served 90 days in jail pending trial. She had also been jailed, during 1997 for nonpayment of old traffic-related fines. On January 22, 1999, she was found intoxicated at a McDonalds® restaurant in the Twin Cities and was arrested for violation of the no-drink order. Sentence was imposed and Carlson was sent to the Women's Correctional Center at Shakopee; she was released later in 1999, and rejoined her ex-husband, Joe Burns, Minneapolis, until late September, 1999 when she committed suicide by taking an overdose of pain pills. The Allegations. Wendy Carlson's ex-husband, Joe Burns, has, since the suicide, consistently maintained that harassment by Itasca County authorities, leading to her incarceration at Shakopee, was a cause of the depression which eventually contributed to the suicide. Also alleged are other improprieties in regard to Carlson's charging, representation and conditions while jailed. Burns has alleged 1) that Carlson confided to him, and also told to her Hennepin County Parole Officer (in Burns' presence), Sharon Southard, that she was caused to have oral romance with the jail administrator while she was in the Itasca County jail as a condition for receiving her medication or other consideration; notwithstanding the statement to Southard, there has, apparently, never been an official investigation of this claim; 2) that SSI checks sent to Carlson while she was in jail, which she was not entitled to receive while there, were caused to be endorsed by her over to the jail, possibly for credit to her account to pay for the costs of her medication while jailed. Burns said that Carlson, following her release, received a letter from SSA seeking repayments of the benefits paid for the time she was in jail; and 3) that the representation by Gallagher, then a public defender, was ineffective. Among other things, Gallagher should have noticed that the complaint specified that the first incident of the criminal romantic contact with the 17-yr. old was alleged to have taken place on or about November 17th, 1997; Carlson had been in jail, for inability to pay for the old traffic violations, on that date. Gallagher had not raised that defense. Our investigation - undisputable facts. A review of the complaint, and inquiry made of Itasca Sheriff Pat Medure, have disclosed that, in fact, the third allegation is correct. The complaint does give November 17, 1997 as the date on or about the criminal romance first occurred. Jail records confirm that Wendy Carlson, though, was in the Itasca County jail from November 10, 1997 through December 1st, 1997, at which time she was transferred to the St. Louis County jail, possibly due to overcrowding at Itasca County. Official disposition on remaining allegations. Asked about the allegations with regard to the SSI checks, and the claim of oral romance with the jail administrator, neither Sigfrinius, the administrator, nor Medure would comment, not even insofar as to deny the allegations. Southard, contacted at Minneapolis, also would not confirm nor deny what Carlson allegedly told her, and made no comment. Southard said that she would check with her supervisor and get back to us on the matter by 4/27, but failed to do so. But Medure said that his office would take a complaint for formal investigation, particularly involving the oral romance matter, if Carlson's survivors cared to make one. Since contacted with this information, Burns has indicated that he intends to make such a complaint. Burns has also been in contact with attorney Richard Morris, regarding alleged legal improprieties in Gallagher's handling of the case. "We're perplexed, to say the least," said Morris, in a telephone interview from his office in Minneapolis, "we've found out now that on November 17th, and for a period of about three weeks afterward, from 11/10 through 12/9/97, she was in jail, so it would have been hard for her to have had ... [romantic contact] with this 17 yr. old on that date." Morris said that Gallagher seemed to "take the path of least resistance" instead of aggressively defending his client's rights; "Why is it that it takes Joe Burns to find this information, instead of [Wendy Carlson's] ... court-appointed attorney?" he asked. Morris also addressed the SSI matter, "They [Itasca County authorities] would require her to turn over her ... check to them." He said that this was improper - that she shouldn't have even gotten SSI while jailed. Morris added that, on at least one occasion, authorities actually took Carlson to the bank, where she cashed the check and gave the money to Itasca County authorities. Investigation remains open. Northern Herald's investigation of possible improprieties at the Itasca County jail is continuing. Persons with information regarding same are encouraged to contact this newspaper. Failed FOI. The Itasca County jail had recently failed a Freedom of Information (FOI) (actually, Minnesota Data Practices Act (MDPA) - FOI is federal, and doesn't apply to state and local agencies, but the MDPA requires certain information to be public) survey conducted throughout Minnesota by the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists (MSPJ).* During the survey, the representative met with resistance when he tried to obtain public information regarding jail logs, and ultimately, was denied access to the information at the Itasca County jail, which is under the direct control of Pat Medure, Itasca County Sheriff. * For the full and very comprehensive report on the MSPJ survey, in which many northern counties fared poorly (i.e. not in compliance on public info requests), see The (Bemidji) Pioneer of April 23, 2000. Of the survey, said a Reporters' Committee rep, "It's one of the first indications you are in a police state when they won't tell you who is in custody." Post Publication Note: Itasca County Head Jailer David Sigfrinius retired on April 28th, 2000; coincidentally, the day this issue went to press. ------------------------------------------------------------ Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- HOMEOWNER HIT BY VANDALISM AT BENA BENA -- Former Bena resident Mabel Young, now living in Barnesville, Minnesota, said that she sustained property damage during April, and named as a suspect a person to whom she had sold a mobile home to be moved from the property. When she left the property, on April 3rd, the mobile home, in which she had lived, had been sold and was to be moved in her absence. But when she returned, later in April, she found that a locked outbuilding, used for storage, had been entered. "He busted in right there," she said, pointing to the lock, and Young, a widow since 1994, said that personal items were missing. Additionally, Young said that in moving the mobile home, two of her trees had been cut, and an adjacent structure built onto the mobile home (but not sold with it) had been demolished in the move. Apparently, a window had also been ripped out of another building on the property, but Young said that that may have been a separate, unrelated, incident. Young said that she reported the theft and property damage to Deputy Karbowski of the Cass County Sheriff's Office, but she said that she was told that, in order for that office to act, "I gotta have a witness, and find the stuff that he stole," Young said. Addressing the report to Karbowski, Chief Deputy Randy Fisher, of the Cass Co. Sheriff's Office at Walker, said that "The Sheriff's Department does not have an active investigation" on the matter. He said that, as he understood it, Young had telephoned Karbowski, informally, at his home, seeking advice in a dispute with the buyer over some lumber and that Karbowski had recommended that Young discuss the matter with the person who bought and moved the mobile home. Fisher said that Young could make a formal complaint for criminal investigation, if she chose to do so. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): This pile of rubble was all that was left of a structure attached to, but not sold with, a mobile home at Bena. The owner of the property suspects that the unnecessary damage may have been done by a buyer of the mobile home when he removed it. This window was ripped from another building --------------------------------------------------------- The Session ----------- NEW LAW GIVES START TO REMER SUNKEN LOG/ARTIFACT RECOVERY BUSINESS ST. PAUL -- The senate version of a bill, first introduced in the Minnesota House by Rep. Larry Howes (R-4B), and supported in the Senate by Sen. Bob Lessard (D-3), has spurred on a new business in Remer, Minnesota which will deal with the recovery of large old growth logs and other treasures sunken in Minnesota rivers and lakes. The Senate bill (SF 2546) was chiefly authored by Sen. Stevens, who was joined in authorship by Lessard, Pariseau, Stumpf and D.J. Johnson. In the House, Howes was joined in authorship by Reps. Davids, Hackbarth, Tinglestad and I. Anderson. The Senate version was signed into law by The Mind on April 6, 2000. Under the new law a person seeking to recover logs sunken below 20 feet shall apply for a lease, with an application fee of $500 for Minnesota residents, or $2,500 for non-residents. Each application shall relate to only one specific river or lake, and no more than 3 leases may be held at any one time. In addition to the application fees, 25% of the value of logs recovered will go to the State. Application fees will be credited to the General Fund; the 25% state share of recoveries will be credited to the Game and Fish Fund unless the recovery area is on permanent school land, in which case they will benefit the Permanent School Fund. The law also includes liability insurance provisions, and conservation provisions designed to protect the waterway bottom and other material resting upon it. Craig Waddell is a Grand Rapids native now living just south of Remer in a second growth red pine log home that he built himself from logs he found in the forest. He now works for Gothmann Excavating at Remer. Waddell, in conjunction with his State Rep. Larry Howes, helped draft the new law, and the law has enabled a new sunken logs recovery firm that Waddell will headquarter at Remer. Waddell praised the law because not only will it allow the recovery of large old logs, the timber from which, he said, was very valuable and, oddly, largely undamaged by their long underwater rest, but also historical artifacts important to the reconstruction of Minnesota's heritage. When found, these artifacts will be turned over to the Minnesota Historical Society, which will, in turn, make them available to the local historical societies where the artifacts were found or originated. Waddell expects exciting discoveries due to the new technology which will be used, "No one in this state has run side-scan sonar to any [significant] degree," he said, and said that he knew, for example, of some horse-drawn drays that are "down there" and might be recovered. Waddell's first recovery vehicle will be a 20 foot Forester pontoon platform with winch capable of recovering up to 15,000 lbs., out of water. The building of the vehicle, sponsored in part by Forester Pontoons of Hill City, began mid-April. The sonar side scans, he said, are the same devices that have been used to recover airplane black boxes and can be used to recover corpses and other items important to law enforcement. Waddell said that his vehicle will be available to Sheriffs' Departments for such purposes. Waddell's wood-recovery enterprise found support and backing from Woodland Bank, Remer, (they make excellent chili, too - see NH of 02/02/00) and Waddell is looking for other backers - interested parties may contact Brian Nicholson of Woodland Bank, Remer. Also, persons knowing of sunken logs or artifacts are encouraged to contact Waddell directly at 218-566-3305. "Down the road," Waddell said, "we're looking at a processing facility for these old-growth timbers." Of the new law, Waddell said, "it was well-organized - the DNR has a lot of control." And he lauded the legislative process as demonstrating that a citizen, seeking to start a needed business, but requiring legislative approval, can have it drafted and done in a single legislative session. "Rep. Howes put a lot of work in on this," he said. LEGISLATION LIMITS INSURANCE-COSTLY AUTO GLASS REBATES ST. PAUL -- You saw them all the time on TV. Ads that promised up to a $400 U.S. savings bond if you have your insured glass replacement done at a particular shop. But who paid for these lavish rebates? Well, the consumer, of course, in higher insurance premiums that ultimately buy rebates, not glass. The problem is a double-edged sword. On one hand, a consumer has to have the right to replace glass at a shop of his choice. The shop that gives the insurance company the best deal might, for instance, skimp on things like caulking, which the consumer is entitled to have done right. On the other hand, given this right to choose the shop for insured work, some companies have abused it, and the current rash of advertising perks was spurred by last year's Minnesota Appellate ruling that "reasonable costs" of glass replacement, which insurers are currently required to pay, included whatever freebies that the glass companies offered to attract business. But this came to an end on April 6th when Governor Ventura signed into law HF2656 which now limits glass replacement incentives to $35 value, or $17.50 redeemable cash value. Chief sponsor of the bill, Rep. Ken Wolf (R-Burnsville), said, "This is the peace treaty in the auto glass war." The measure also establishes an annual study, which is hoped to be voluntarily funded by insurance and glass companies to establish the average cost of glass replacements. The study, at an estimated cost of $35,000., will be coordinated by the Minnesota Dept. of Commerce and Wolf said that if the companies don't volun-tarily contribute, they will have violated the law and the legislature would revisit that issue next year. Consumers will still have the option of replacing glass at a shop of their choice - the bill, primarily, just limits the non-glass related incentives and buy-downs of deductibles that shops can offer to draw them in. Prior to the passage of this measure, Minnesota had the highest cost in the nation for glass replacement, 69% over the national average. Locally, auto glass specialist Jay Landes (The Glass Doctor, Bemidji) hailed the legislation as putting the emphasis back on quality glass service in a consumer's decision as to where to get insured replacement done. He didn't view the law as restricting his options - Landes said of the big cash rebates that drive up insurance costs, "I wouldn't be doing that in the first place." Regarding the possibility of self-inflicted damage by some car owners, in order to cash in on the rebates, up to $200 cash, that other glass firms offered for insured repairs, Landes said, "In fact, that's what was happening." Landes said, "I think the legislation is going in the right direction," and added that the abuses were hurting "all of us" because independent glass proprietors, such as his shop, were getting a bad rep by getting lumped in with the abusers. Regarding the $35,000 annual price tag of the auto glass cost survey, Landes said "I don't know where they're coming up with those figures, and anticipated that it was based on a salaried position to create the survey. He said that the cost, though high, would be well spent if it curbs overbilling of the insurance companies, which may even be happening locally. State Farm Insurance offers, in Minnesota, a no-deductible 100% glass coverage option (a good idea in Bemidji) on their auto policies. State Farm agent at Bemidji, Mark Gazelka, also praised the law saying that the outlandish rebating "definitely has an effect - it's going to get passed on to the consumer." He said that State Farm's glass program encourages competition among vendors. As to the $35,000 study cost, Gazelka said, "We [at State Farm] monitor the glass reasonable prices anyway," and he was not sure that it was necessary for another legis-latively mandated study to be done. Source (in part): Session Weekly, the official publication of the Minnesota House of Representatives. For more info on pending or passed legislation, see the Minnesota Legislature internet page, accessible from the Northern Herald main page. --------------------------------------------------------- SPRING CHORALE CONCERT AT PARK RAPIDS, MAY 5, 7 PARK RAPIDS -- The Park Rapids Classic Chorale will be presenting a spring choral concert on Friday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, May 7, at 3:00 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. A variety of musical styles, with composers and arrangers spanning over four hundred years of music, should provide listening pleasure for all musical tastes. Featured in the modern era are Broadway musical selections and compositions by Rene Clausen, Paul Christianson, and several others. Representing the turn of the century is a piece called “Ching-a-Ring Chaw”, by Aaron Copland, whose one hundredth birthday was celebrated this year. Also included are 16th Century Psalms and pieces by Bach, Schumann, Williams and other earlier composers. Garrett W. Lathe, choral director for the Staples/Motley High School, will be directing his final performance with the Classic Chorale at this concert. Concerts are free and open to the public with refreshments following both performances. A free will offering is requested. ---------------------------------------------------- MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL SYMPOSIUM EVELETH -- The International Society for Measurement and Control, Lake Superior Section, will hold their 35th annual Symposium & Exhibit at the Eveleth Inn, Eveleth, Minn., May 10th & 11th, 2000. Persons wanting to attend or needing info or wanting something measured (Does that gallon jug really hold 1 gallon?) can call Bob Stevens, President, 218-744-7490 ------------------------------------------------------ In Focus SCOTTISH HERITAGE AT DULUTH!! (Note: our In Focus feature is primarily pictoral - photos, however, appear only in print edition) DULUTH-- North Shore dwellers were treated to a rare public perform-ance of the Duluth Scottish Heritage Pipes & Drums, April 6th, in downtown Duluth. The celebration commemorated the passage of a Senate resolution declaring each April 6th as Tartan Day, in remembrance of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath April 6th, 1320. The Duluth Scottish Heritage Association offers membership, as well as instruction in piping, including bagpipe, drum and highland dance. Interested persons may contact Pipe Major Bouschor at 218-724-7761. (photo captions - photos appear in print edition only): The Duluth Scottish Heritage Pipes & Drums performs, April 6th, before City Hall in Duluth's government complex, and afterward, marches to the Duluth library for another performance of Scottish music, including bagpipe, and Celtic folk dancing. Pipe Major, and retired Judge, David Bouschor, plays outside the Duluth library while other members of the troupe dance on the sidewalks. Later that afternoon, the Association operated an information table at Barnes & Noble, Rockridge Mall. --------------------------------------------------------- MISSISSIPPI RIVER OFFERS PARKS PASS ST. PAUL -- The U.S. Dept. of the Interior has announced that their new National Parks Pass is now available for purchase at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area headquarters, St. Paul, Although the National Park Service does not charge to enter the Mississippi National River Area, 70% of proceeds from sales there will benefit that project. The $50 annual pass provides entrance to all 379 National Parks. -------------------------------------------------------- Editorial WHY ARE WE GLORIFYING THE WRONG THINGS? Steele's Third Principle of Human Behaviour: When the male of the species is brought into the presence of the female in heat, breeding will generally occur. This is pretty much established. Kind of like the fact that when the air becomes moisture-laden, it will rain or snow. We don't usually glorify those things, unless you drive a snowmobile and it has been a wanting winter like the last. But for some reason, we glorify the common act of breeding, even when it is in unhealthy and self-destructive circumstances. We are familiar with a husband of 27 years who achieved particular prestige and "large guy" status among his blue-collar coworkers simply by establishing breeding with a common bar tramp. Why did this qualify him for this status? This is not a particularly difficult feat - bar tramps are plentiful, and periodically in heat. This isn't at all difficult or noteworthy. It also wasn't productive for anybody. The male, now with his marriage ruined, will simply dig himself a burrow in the ground where he will deteriorate and die, leaving his progeny with a splintered home of origin. Is that something co-workers should celebrate? Humans, as the lowest species, must have some innate masochistic tendency that causes us to celebrate self-destruction; it would be like higher animals, the lemmings, celebrating their suicidal run to the sea. Wouldn't it have been more appropriate if they had first noticed and elevated, before the illicit breeding occurred, his (then) successful marriage of 27 years? This is much more worthwhile and harder to achieve. That was something worthy of note, reverence and celebration. And, given as common and, for all other purposes, useless as they are, why do we elevate bar tramps? We see them on pin-up calenders, men's magazine foldouts, women's (e.g. Vogue) magazine covers, and promoting every conceivable product on TV. Do we really think a Pam Anderson type, generally, would really make a good wife? Can she make a good hearty ranch breakfast? Does she even cook? Does she knit? Given filmmaking, how much time does she have to devote to homemaking? And the models get paid a pretty penny for this (the calendars and ads) - and for what real achievement or contribution to humanity, except briefly, to help the decor ?!!? It this that important? Far better would be to celebrate and revere the more substantial women of the world who have made fine homes for their husbands and families, enabling the guy to be at his most productive (a man's lot) and ensuring healthy progeny. On the leading edge, of course, we'll do our part. Future issues (starting with this one - print edition only) may include community calendars with a cheesecake hang-up pic of a worthwhile woman, (not the kind you usually see on these). And if husbands have a particularly good shot of their wives preforming worthwhile womanly functions around the home (good taste, please - we're not talking about those other important functions), we invite their submission for future calendar pages. Please provide length of marriage. This is not to demean the purpose and necessity of bar tramps. There will always be some; they will always have a purpose. It's like frozen pizza. If you haven't yet gotten the barbecue out and put together a Chateaubriand, you might have, for tonight anyway, a frozen pizza. Frozen pizza has a purpose and probably will be with us for a long time. In a sense, we need the frozen pizza. But, rightfully, we exalt the Chateaubriand, not the frozen pizza. The frozen pizza is plentiful and easy to achieve; the Chateaubriand is what we want to achieve so we give it its proper place in our epicurean reverence. We've never seen a gourmet show devoted to frozen pizza, nor do we see it on the covers of food magazines. ---------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor WHITE EARTH CANDIDATE DOYLE TURNER DEBUNKS MYTHS Open Letter to White Earth Enrollees: I would like to take time to address the rumors that are being spread around to try to discredit what I am doing. The positive vision is much bigger than the rumors that are being spread, but you need to be made aware of the truth behind the rumors. 1. The rumor is still going around that I am for Chip Wadena. I need to tell you that this is an old and tired rumor. It is left over from the 1996 election. It wasn’t true then and it isn’t true today. This rumor has been used to justify firing a lot of people. YOU the people of White Earth are who I AM for. Remember, my vision is all of us working together for a better future for White Earth. 2. The rumor is going around that when I am elected in June I have picked out people for key staff positions and that I have a list of people who will be fired. This is not true either. I do not believe, as others do, that your job depends on who you vote for or who you know. When I am elected in June, everyone will have an equal chance for work. 3. The rumor is going around that I masterminded a take over at White Earth. This is not true either. Ask the people who were there who masterminded the takeover. I believe that taking over steals the power of our voice and vote. I did send a fax in to those gathered there asking them to leave before someone got hurt. I believe there IS a way to change a tyrannical government. You change systems not by using force, but by the wishes of the people using your voice and vote. The primary election proves that this is your wish. It can be done, but we need to turn out every local and absentee voter on June 13, to make this change. Rumors and lies separate people and keep us fighting, when what we need is to work together for a stronger and more positive future for us all. Are we people of rumors or are we people of vision? If you have any questions about what you hear please check them out with me. Thank you, Doyle Turner, Rt. 2, Box 283 Waubun, MN 56589 (218) 734-2339 ------------------------------------------------------------ Tooting Our Own Horn -------------------- THINK OF US WHEN YOU DO FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR Last issue carried a report of a merchant often being "out" of advertised goods. Since then, the store ran another ad, and again, not nearly enough of the merchandise (a particular brand of canned vegetables) had been ordered. But this time, shoppers weren't disappointed. A sign was prominently posted allowing them to substitute any other brand, even premium brands. Coincidence? Who knows? We commend the merchant, though, for improving his marketing practice. When a special is run, shoppers coming for that, should be able to buy it. -------------------------------------------------------------- CONSUMER CORNER Readers are invited to submit consumer complaints or compliments to this column, and to our Auto Service Forum. Send info c/o this paper, P.O. Box 1535, Bemidji, MN 56619 A GOOD CIGAR ISN'T CHEAP So you'll pay a little over a dollar a copy (50 for $68) for these Honduran longfiller Regents from Thompson Cigar Co. In your editor's opinion, in side-by-side comparison, these compared favorably with the current Cuban Montecristo®, and you won't go to jail for smoking them (except in some restaurants). In the mail-order cigar business for over 80 years, Thompson, of Tampa, Florida, has other fine imported tobacco cigars as low as 150 for $60, - we're talking guilt-free smoking here, about 40¢ a cigar - but the Regents are a favorite (they're not in the catalog - you have to ask for them) and cost a bit more. No, you can't try Thompson's cigars before you buy, but they do the next best thing - effectively, you can try two free. We like Thompson's no-fooling guarantee of 100% satisfaction. If you're not satisfied after smoking two of the cigars, you can return the rest within 30 days for a full refund less shipping. If you've smoked more than two, the refund is reduced by the number smoked over two. If you enjoy a good cigar, you can get a free catalog, or order, by calling 1-800-237-2559, or (faster) on the net at http://www.thompsoncigar.com --------------------------------------------------- DEALS ON MEALS Some of the best Dining Values in the Northland If you thought you were too late to get a good pizza lunch buffet, you might want to try Sammy's, Grand Rapids. They do it from 11 until 2 pm. And on Monday nights, they do it again for dinner, from 4 - 9 pm. The lunch buffet is $5.89, dinner is $6.89. Sammy's is atmospheric, with tasteful background music and murals depicting the canals of Venice and other old country scenes. The lunch buffet includes salad bar, chicken drummies, dessert, and, of course, all the pizza one can eat. Our taster found the drummies excellent, the cucumbers fresh and crunchy, and the pizza very good, particularly for those who prefer thin & crisp crust pizza. --------------------------------------------------------- SO YOU AIN'T GOT TIME TO READ IT? No problema. Jesse Ventura's I AIN'T GOT TIME TO BLEED is now available on tape at the Bemidji Public Library. This is a great way to "read" a book while on the daily commute or other driving! This one is worth reading or listening to - and it's free from the Bemidji, and other, libraries. ------------------------------------------------------------- LEADING EDGE JOURNALISM - WHY YOU FIND MORE OF IT HERE. In order to publish, each paper has to amass a certain quantity of news. An easy way to do this is to just read something someone else has written in another paper, and rewrite it. Almost all papers do this, and we, too, will do it under the limited circumstances where 1) The story is important to our geographic area, but has not appeared here, or 2) The story has appeared in another paper in our area, but was not fully or accurately presented there, or an angle wasn't covered; or (rarely) 3) The story has appeared here, but is important enough to warrant saturation coverage in Northern Herald. Otherwise, we tend not to use material that has already been written somewhere else. If you read the story somewhere else, you don't want to read it again. So, if a story we're working on appears in another major paper within our region, we'll usually deep-six it. Because our paper is smaller than some, we don't need filler - we can devote our limited space to what's new and important. We, mostly, develop our own stories from local happenings that are important to people who live here; we don't subscribe to the wire services that you read elsewhere. We develop important local news. That's why many other papers and broadcasters have gotten major leading stories from the Northern Herald - not the other way around. And it's why, when you read Leading Edge Journalism, often, you'll read it first in the Northern Herald. -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 03/29/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 8 -------------------------------------- SCHOOL TREMORS QUAKE DEER RIVER Leading Edge Journalism ENGLISH TEACHER DISMISSED OVER SEXUALLY-EXPLICIT STORY WORK WITH STUDENTS DEER RIVER -- What started as a seemingly innocent literature writing exercise for high school extra credits exploded under the English teacher, littering ISD #317 with pieces of him, when the district found the sexually-explicit and seductive fictional copy he was sending the students to be inappropriate for the students, one of them a 15 year old girl. The instructor, a 33 yr.-married Grand Rapids man, has denied inappropriate motives, but regretted that he did not first get the parents' consent to the controversial work. The material, written by the teacher of a tenth grade speech/composition (writing) class, and the students, contained few dirty words, and, by usual standards, probably would not be considered obscene; a sampling of it read much like the mass-produced detective, romance or mystery paperback novels sometimes seen in drug and grocery stores. Many parents, however, might not find that suitable reading material for their children, and ISD 317 administrators decided that having students work on such material as an extracurricular task was not appropriate for the school; at presstime, ISD 317 had suspended the teacher, Richard Petrich, indefinitely. At least one parent was outraged by his 15 yr. old daughter having been exposed to the material as part of her schooling, and upon discovering it, consulted with police and Itasca County prosecutors who brought it to the attention of the school authorities. "It was morally and ethically wrong, and in my mind, it constituted sexual assault," the girl's father said. Private letters, sent between Petrich and the student, and transmitting parts of the fictional story being written by each, contained explicit descriptions of violent acts and steamy context, written by Petrich, such as, "I then went into the other bath area with two other girls and they bathed me - one did more than that of course - I needed to spend my desire on another so I could control it with Mitsuko," and "It seems old Naza is not ... [having romance with] ...her.... I will get to violate her for the first time. ...It will be great fun to slowly seduce her...." The father said that Petrich had, in February, 2000, offered his daughter, a straight-A student, extra credit to write a "Japanese mythological" story with him over the course of about a week. The work was conducted by sending their respective writings back and forth, in letters, with all of the letters then kept in a larger envelope. On February 16th, the parents noticed that their daughter was acting upset and under strain. She confided to them that she was upset because she thought that she might have put the envelope containing the co-worked writings in the wrong teacher's mail cubby at the school. The 15 yr. old girl was concerned that someone else might get the letters and misconstrue them. Her father asked to see the letters. "I made the determination that this ain't Kosher," he later said. On February 17, the father and daughter picked up the envelope from the school. Apparently, each writer had a story character whose part they were writing. The father was alarmed to see that "there were sexual connotations" and writings of her character pleasuring his (Petrich's) character; and very explicit violence. On February 21st, the parents went to the office of the Itasca County prosecutor (Jack Muhar), to ascertain if the teacher's actions, which tended to undermine the ethics and morality which they tried to instill in their home, might constitute a crime. As police departments generally investigate possible crimes prior to referral to the District Attorney, Muhar's receptionist directed them to firstly make a complaint with the Deer River Police Department, for investigation to ascertain if a chargeable crime had been committed. "The Deer River Police Chief, Vic Williams, has been outstanding in his treatment of this," the father later said. He added that the Chief was upset by the letters shown to him, and subsequently took the matter up with high school Principal Jack Gunderson. Gunderson, per the father, was "really upset about it; he said he'd investigate," and by February 25th, Petrich was advised of the investigation. During the following week, school authorities inspected Petrich's computer at the school and determined that there were 6 other students involved with Petrich in similar activity, as well as a college student with whom Petrich had been corresponding via e-mail. That week, Petrich, who is said to be about 2 years from retirement, was relieved of his teaching duties but allowed to remain officed at the school. The parents of the student, however, believed that Petrich's continued presence in the school posed a danger to their daughter and other students and took their concerns to Superintendent Ray Pelton and Gunderson; on March 9th, in an emergency meeting called to address the matter, the ISD 317 School Board placed Petrich on paid administrative leave. The decision of whether to fire him is, at presstime, pending before the Board. Meanwhile, the parents of the student are consulting with an attorney who, they said, will assist them in filing a Human Rights complaint, and, following the investigation of same, a civil suit is being considered. The Itasca County prosecutor declined charges as he didn't believe the teacher's conduct, while possibly inappropriate in the school, amounted to a chargeable crime. Petrich's Statement. Richard Petrich, interviewed at his home by telephone March 30th, attributed the problem to a misunderstanding as to the motive of his actions, and he accepted responsibility for not getting the parents' consent to the students' participation, which he said he had usually done for this type of project, during the 25 years that he has taught at Deer River High School. He said that this type of exercise is not new; that he has, over the years, used it as a "challenge" project in addition to the regular classroom work, "Where a person's talents reach a point where I think it would be beneficial," he said. The teacher, who also teaches 10th - 12th grade creative writing, said that sometimes he has suggested the writing exercise (not necessarily on the same theme as here), and in some cases, a student has requested it. "Anything like [this exercise] is always an attempt to get kids thinking ... some people don't think that teachers should do that." He said that the activity was purely academic and denied any romantic interest in any of the students, which have been both boys and girls. As to the context of the specific stories written, Petrich said, "It varies, ... I don't dictate the direction" of the fantasy. Petrich said that the context is not always violent or romantically explicit, but "it's not the first time," and that it depends on the characters that he and his students choose to write. Of his romantically-explicit and violent writing in the character of the specific story of which complaint was made, Petrich said of the fictional character he created, "I created a rather despicable character, intention-ally," to elicit appropriate creative response from the students. Petrich admitted that his direction was not just on writing and literature, but also, "I was trying to show that bad males, such as this character, were dangerous. ... I'm trying to show [the students] that this kind of person [i.e. like the fictional villain] does think in these terms," and to familiarize students with the fact that there are such people in real life, and how they think, that students may be wary of them; in addition to it being a literary exercise. "You see that kind of character in literature," said Petrich. Values, however, are unique and subjective; some parents prefer to teach values in the home, objecting to this type of values-oriented training being added to the strictly academic in the school, and Petrich admitted, "I also made a mistake in not contacting the parents in advance, because I usually do." He said that he usually asks parents first to make sure that the activity will not conflict with home values, adding, "Had I known [that it would], I certainly wouldn't have proceeded." As to parents who believe the work is too controversial for their children, Petrich said, "I'd much prefer parents that are being too strict [in watching what their kids are doing] than neglectful." Petrich said, "I think some people misunderstand fiction," and drew an analogy that if a writer were like his characters, or writing out their own fantasies, then authors such as Steven King would be potential mass murderers. "My characters have nothing to do with what I am," he said. Petrich, in his fifties, admitted that he may have been grizzled and weathered some by a lifetime of experiences and that his standard of what is shocking may be different from others'. Regarding some of his steamy writing, he added, "I am a Vietnam vet who spent a year picking up bodies," and acknowledged that his standards might differ from some parents, "To me, obscenity has a different meaning than it might to the average person. ... I may have crossed some boundaries [in the student exercise] ... I think the parent has a right to pick and choose [what their children learn in school] and my mistake was not contacting them." Petrich said that the things he considers as foremostly obscene are, for example, the types of things that happen in war. The 15 year-old student's father said that the exercise interfered with values that he and his wife have tried to teach in the home, and has had a disillusioning effect on his daughter, as regards her perception of the integrity of the educational system. "We've tried to raise her right her right ... she loved this class ... she's decimated," he said. Note: The subject matter of this story is that to which was alluded in the Western Itasca Review (March 16, 2000) front page article, in which parties were not named nor specifics given. There is a discrepancy as to dates of certain occurrences, and we believe that the dates given here are correct. -- Ed. --------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism NORTH ELEMENTARY AIDE DROPPED WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE DEER RIVER -- Certain school districts sometimes tend to be political, hiring or dismissing personnel without objective cause, sometimes to the detriment of the students. North Elementary School substitute aide Sherri Warr, who has worked for the school since 1994, has been dropped from the school's seniority list and she doesn't know why. Most school officials won't talk about it. One recommended that Northern Herald's reporter look into her work habits; but the only objective evidence that was forthcoming, of Warr's work habits, came from the parents of a student that she had taught. They had asked that she be allowed to continue teaching their handicapped son and said her work habits were excellent. School policy calls for subs being called to work, when needed, in their order on the seniority list. Not being on the list, essentially, precludes the sub from being asked to work. Warr has not worked at the school since she was removed from the list last November. She was sent a letter, dated November 19th, and signed by Ray Pelton, ISD #317 Superintendent, which informed her of the removal and said, "We understand that you wish to work for the Deer River Schools, but we feel it is in our mutual best interest that you pursue employment elsewhere." Asked about the matter, Pelton refused comment. Warr worked under a school employee's union (AFSCME Local 498 - not the same union as the teachers') agreement which includes part-time employees such as subs; Article 8, Section 3 of that agreement specifies that employees who have worked "in excess of 67 working days in any calendar year, in any single classification, shall be placed on the seniority list ..." Warr qualified for, and was placed on, the list in November, 1998. Following notification of her removal a year later, and in a letter dated November 30th to Pelton, Warr said, "I tried to contact you several times at the beginning of this week and have not received any response from you so I am requesting that you provide in writing to me the reason for this action. A copy of this letter is being sent to the labor board." But Warr still received no reply, and, when contacted by Warr, Jim Peters, president of the employees' union and janitor at North Elementary School, failed to take action on her behalf upholding the labor agreement. Interviewed at the school, Peters refused comment, saying, "I don't discuss union members' business with anyone else." Warr indicated that, in addition to removal from the list, she had somehow also been blacklisted by Pelton; that a teacher had asked her to work, but later, "she [the teacher] told me that Pelton told her that she'd have to find somebody else to sub, with no explanation." School Board member Eric McFadden believed that "the Superintendent (Pelton) was within his legal rights to do what he did," but said, "I did agree with her that she should have been given a reason for being taken off the list ... that's the decent way to treat any employee." Warr stated that last spring she had worked as a special ed aide with blind students. Due to the tedious nature of the work, she didn't want to continue, but stayed on at Pelton's request. The parents of one of the students said that it's difficult for their son to adapt to a new teacher and of Warr, "We asked the school to keep her ... [Pelton] said that there was nothing we could do about it. ... She did a wonderful job with my son ... her work ethics were not the problem ... we were told that the school union bumped her, that's what happened, somebody with more experience came in and took the job." Said Warr, "It's typical of the school to want to cover up things and not comment. ...The kids are what's important in the school; I was always there to help the kids. I feel I'm being treated very unfairly." -------------------------------------------------------------- 4A REFORM PARTY BACKS BROWN, POWELL FOR PRES BEMIDJI -- Discounting the announced presidential candidates, one of whom (Pat Buchanan) may have been a cause of the recent split-off of the Minnesota Independence Party from the National Reform Party, the Leg. Dist. (LD) 4A Reform Party caucus, at Bemidji, March 7th, drafted, in their presidential straw vote, a team comprised of Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. for President and Ret. Gen. Colin Powell as V.P. Brown is the current Mayor of Oakland, California, and Powell leads a youth organization known as America's Promise (addresses, pg. 4). Somewhat confusing to 4A reformers, there appeared to be two Reform caucuses in Bemidji, one convened by the LD 4A chair (Adam Steele, your Editor), per state statute, an another pretended caucus which was organized by Independence Party leadership Rick McCluhan and Buford Johnson, contrary to state law which states that the LD executive committee (in this case the chair), and not state party officials, shall call the caucus. McCluhan had furnished the named convener of the unlawful caucus with the password to the Secretary of State's straw poll site, accounting for erroneous information appearing there. In other action, citing corruption within the Minnesota Independence Party, including failure of party leadership, the 4A caucus 1) resolved to disaffiliate with the state Independence party (which had, on March 4th disaffiliated from the National Reform Party and changed it's name to Independence Party); 2) affirmed intent to reaffiliate with the national party; and 3) retained the name, The Reform Party of Minnesota - District 4A as it was before the state party split-off. In taking this action, the caucus minutes cited failures of Independence Party leadership (McCluhan) to adhere to the rules, including 1) having tried to unlawfully declare a quorum at the November, 1999 state convention, when in fact, the credentials committee had reported that no such quorum was present, 2) failure to notify party officers and delegates of meetings; 3) the seating of Bill Lawrence (Editor of Ojibwe News, Bemidji) as a delegate when Lawrence had never been elected same at any caucus; 4) attempting to call an unlawful caucus and deceptive acts in dealings with the LD chair with regard to same; and 5) other alleged wrongdoings including financial misdealings. The minutes reflected, "... it appears that said [Independence Party] leadership has become highly corrupt." (Picture Caption - photos in print edition only): Bemidji's Bill Lawrence was seated as a C.D. 7 delegate at the March Reform Party convention at St. Paul. Lawrence had never attended a caucus at which delegates are elected. ---------------- JERRY BROWN Edmund G. Brown Jr., known as Jerry, was born in San Francisco on April 7,1938. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in that city, studied at the University of Santa Clara and for the Catholic priesthood at the Sacred Heart Novitiate, a Jesuit seminary. He received his B.A. degree in Latin and Greek from the University of California at Berkeley in 1961, and graduated from Yale Law School in 1964. In 1969, Brown was elected to the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees. In 1970, he was elected California Secretary of State. Four years later, he was elected Governor. He was reelected in 1978 by the largest vote margin in California’s history. As governor, Brown presided over a state where 25% of the nations new jobs were created. He established the first agricultural labor relations law in the country, started the California Conservation Corp (CCC), enacted into permanent law the California Coastal Protection Act, successfully pushed for the country’s first building and appliance energy efficiency standards, halted nuclear power development and made California the leader in solar and alternative energy. He brought more women and minorities into high government positions than any other chief executive, including the first woman, African-American and Latino to the California Supreme Court. Brown also legalized the practice of Acupuncture and strongly supported the rights of chiropractors, osteopaths and lay midwives. Finally, Brown restructured the California Arts Commission so that it was composed of practicing artists and increased funding by 1300%. As governor, Brown signed into law the removal of criminal penalties for sexual acts between consenting adults. After his defeat by Pete Wilson in a 1982 U.S. Senate race, Brown spent six months in Japan and worked briefly with Mother Teresa in India. He practiced law in Los Angeles and in 1989 became chairman of the state Democratic Party. He resigned that position in 1991, expressing his disgust with the growing influence of money in politics, and sought the 1992 Democratic Presidential nomination. During that campaign he refused to take contributions larger than $100 and used an ‘’800" number to raise funds. Despite limited financial resources, Brown defeated Bill Clinton in Maine, Colorado, Vermont, Connecticut, Utah and Nevada during the 1992 Presidential primaries and was the only candidate other than Clinton to receive enough voter support to continue until the Democratic National Convention. Brown began broadcast of his radio program, “We the People” with Jerry Brown on January 31, 1994 and continued until the start of his campaign for Mayor. Brown won his mayoral campaign in the primary with 59 percent of the vote. His strong mayor initiative passed in November with support from 74 percent of voters. For more info: http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/government2.html ---------------- WHERE TO WRITE - PRESIDENTIAL NONCANDIDATES JERRY BROWN One Frank Ogawa Plaza (One City Hall Plaza) 3rd Floor, Oakland, California 94612 (510) 238-3141 http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/government2.html GEN. COLIN POWELL c/o America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, 909 N. Washington Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314-1556 (703) 684-4500 http://www.americaspromise.org/gen_frame.htm --------------------------------------------------------------- INDEPENDENCE PARTY CHAIR ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING; INTERFERES WITH CAUCUSES At their special Independence Party state convention, March 4th, at St. Paul, delegate and LD chair Cedric Scofeld was recognized for his long-standing work in the party over several years. But following the state party split from the national Reform Party, Scofeld and several other long-standing members who opposed the split were "excommunicated" by party Chair Rick McCluhan, of Mankato, who said that they would not be allowed to preside at their precinct caucuses as provided by state law, as reported by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on March 7th. The Star-Tribune also recently carried a series of articles, based upon what appears to be an investigation by KSTP-TV, St. Paul, reporting on various allegations of misdealings by the Minnesota Independence Party chief, including four lawsuits against him in Blue Earth County, which allege that he failed to pay bills. The suits range from $450 to $11,000., the largest being a loan default claim brought by Providian National Bank in Minneapolis. The KSTP investigation also turned up that McCluhan, who owns Express Personnel Services, an employment agency in North Mankato, had settled two sexual harassment lawsuits involving two former employees. The suits included allegations that, at a company party, McCluhan had taken pictures under women's skirts and then passed them around the office, and that he had referred to handicapped people as "critters," KSTP reported. In interview, McCluhan told KSTP that his "character speaks for itself." For additional information, readers are referred to the Mpls. Star-Tribune of 3/3, 3/4 and 3/7/2000. --------------------------------------------------- CONSUMER CORNER Readers are invited to submit consumer complaints or compliments to this column, and to our Auto Service Forum. Submissions must be in writing on paper, and signed. Send info c/o this paper, P.O. Box 1535, Bemidji, MN 56619 BEMIDJI RETAIL GAMES Brought to you by the same town that lures tourists in with its nonexistant "Woolen Mill." BEMIDJI FOOD4LESS BAITED MORE THAN JUST THE TUNA BEMIDJI -- There's and old retail game called "Bait and Switch." It involves luring customers in by advertising one product at a certain price and then being "out of it" and substituting a lesser product at the same price, or a similar product at a higher price. The tuna ad shown below (print edition only), from the Food4Less (Johanneson's Inc.) flyer of March 5th would have been a good deal, if it was real. "White Tuna" is actually Albacore, as shown (print edition only) by the magnified inset of the ad. Many people prefer it because of it's premium flavour and because it's dolphin-safe, usually caught with a hook and line rather than by purse-seining. It often sells for well over a dollar a can, as opposed to "Light Tuna" which actually is tuna, and is usually much cheaper. The White is the premium product, so we're sure many people were attracted by this ad. But when they got to the store at Union Station, what they found were the sale placards pasted on large displays of Chunk Light, not White, tuna. This, and not what was advertised, was what they had "on sale" at that price. We found none of the product advertised. To his credit, in our sample buy, when we brought the discrepancy to his attention, Rich Johanneson allowed the purchase of a similar Albacore product at the same price on a quantity limited (2) basis. He said that someone must have ordered (a lot of) the wrong thing. But, of course, we wonder how many people just saw the display, figured it was what was in the ad, and mistakenly bought it, or who noticed that it was the wrong product, and either bought it instead of the advertised product they came for, or left, ending up having made a trip to Food4Less for nothing. ------------------- Consumer Corner THOSE CREATIVE JOHANNESONS (This article makes reference to a scan of a Food4Less ad for 25% off on fryers - the scan, however, appears in the print edition only) This alluring ad appeared in the (Johannesons') Food 4 Less flyer of March 12th. Great deal, but, 25% off of WHAT?!!? If it was 25% off the marked price (magnified at inset) of .93 a lb., that would be pretty good. Many shoppers may have thrown a bird in the cart thinking that. But not so. When you got to the checkout (and, due to scanning, you might not even notice), it turns out that .93 a lb. is after the 25% mark down. That would make the regular price of these whole fryers $1.24 a pound. Food 4 Less?? You gotta be kidding. (You don't even want to know what was marked as 25% off on the chicken breasts.) ------------- Consumer Corner CELLULAR TELEPHONE CORDS Consumers are advised to be aware of certain cellular telephone adapter cords now being sold by both Cellular One and Cellular 2000. These cords, which bear no marking other than an oval gold sticker which says "Made in China," have been found to frequently contain flimsy and faulty connections which can interrupt service, blow auto fuses and depending upon the installation, potentially short out vehicle wiring causing extensive damage or fire. ------------------ Consumer Corner CORRECTION The seemingly good deal on Copenhagen chewing tobacco at Simonson Market, Bemidji, mentioned last issue, appears to be just another game of Bemidji Bait 'n Switch. Simonson's advertised the price of $2.99 on their marquee, but the store is frequently out of it (even when advertising it) and when they have it, limit purchases to 2 cans per customer. We should know better than to recommend Bemidji merchants. Heck, when we're out of it, we'll sell it for 75 cents a can. --------------------------------------------------------- SHOULD SMALL CLOSED-MINDED RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE A DOGMA POUND? ---------------------------------------------------------- (Picture Caption - photos in print edition only): SAFE SWIMMING. Swimming can make one sick, and the swimmer wouldn't even suspect where he got the bug. But not for those who use the public pools operated by these graduates of John Moorman's Certified Pool Operator (CPO) class taught at Bemidji last week. By law, Minnesota requires public pool and spa operators to have a CPO on-site and CPO instructor Moorman (612-529-8616), who teaches the course nationwide, conducts the classes in the Northland about twice a year. Outside of class, Moorman explained briefly that when pool water makes one's eyes burn, it's often not the chlorine, but rather the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of the water, which, if not balanced, won't let the chlorine do it's job to disinfect the pool. ----------------------------------------------------------- FOR ACCOUNTANTS ONLY by Adam Steele, CPA TAASC SIMPLIFIES TAX SOFTWARE MAZE Corporate raiding within the tax software market has severely limited the choices that professional accountants now have for tax software. There are no real bargains (such as the old Parsons Technology product, raided by Intuit so it wouldn't compete with their high priced professional version of Turbotax.) In the current limited market, one of the best buys going is the TAASC (800-998-9990) product. It's a little pricey, but not so much as some, and for low-volume practitioners, the pay-per-return (PPR) option starts at a little over $300. Because it is very comprehensive, the TAASC product takes a while to set up and learn, but the time investment is worthwhile and tech support, for any snags, is readily available by phone without long waits. Whether one gets their complete "power-bundle," or PPR, a major advantage of TAASC is that you get ALL of the states, so there are no last-minute headaches when a new client walks in with a part-year situation that you didn't expect. Also, TAASC is one of the few that offer DIRECT (IRS and states) electronic filing as part of its basic package. All the practitioner pays for EF is for the phone call to IRS or the state DOR. And either package includes entities (1120, 1041, etc.), both federal and states. TAASC's program was originally platformed on the prior premium (and very expensive) Best Software product, which was excellent. ----------------------------------------------------------- IN FOCUS -------- KALLBERG WORK APPEARS AT BSU TOUCHE GALLERY (Our In Focus feature is primarily pictoral - photos appear in print edition only) Artist and professional cartoonist Doug Kallberg, a Bemidji State University student, displayed his works in BSU's Touche Galley from March 20th - 24th. The exhibit included Kallberg's serious acrylic paintings as well as panels from his comic features. The artist's original sketch books were also available for viewing. (Picture Caption - photos in print edition only): Kallberg's work on display included the self-portait in acrylics at left (some distortion is present due to lighting when the photo was taken) and the comic panel at right. ------------------------------------------------------ WOMEN'S CLUB TO MEET AT BACKUS The Heartland Christian Women's Morning and After-Five Quest Night will be held Monday night, April 17th, at 6:30 pm at the Banquet Room of the Grain Bin Restaurant, located just south of the "Y" of 200 & 371, south of Walker. Dave Hannig, of Willmar, will be the speaker, with music by Gary & Carmen Shimpp of Staples. The special feature will be Preservation of Furs from Past and Present. ---------------------------------------------------------- (Picture Caption - photos in print edition only): BSU students get a lesson in crime and punishment. This photo was taken at about 1 p.m. on a school day in the 1500 block of Calihan Ave., Bemidji. All looks well, except that, due to Bemidji's needless year-around calendar parking ordinance, all of the cars parked on the left side are parked illegally. Many were ticketed. BSU students are often placed between a rock and a hard place, due to inadequate parking facilities, the calendar ordinance, and the need to get to class on time. ---------------------------------------------------------- Editorial ARE BEMIDJI ROTARIANS THE NEW AMERICAN NAZIS? The Rotary Club, a fraternal service organization, has done many fine acts and their basic fundamentals embody many fine principles. Apparently though, at least among the Bemidji chapter, the upholding of the fundamentals of our nation and individual rights guaranteed by our American Constitution are not, in those Rotarian principles, paramount. This is unfortunate because it now seems that some Rotarians believe that they are self-appointed censors for everybody else; that their own Rotarian creed of self-conduct now takes precedence over our nation's creed and can be imposed upon others at will. This is dangerous. In their answer, filed by Bemidji attorney Carl C. Drahos (Drahos, Young & Kieson, P.A.) to the pending $600 billion federal lawsuit by Northern Herald against William Batchelder (operator of Bemidji Woolen Mills), the City of Bemidji and 28 other defendants (Case No. 99-1862 RHK/RLE), for attempted suppression of distribution of the Northern Herald in Bemidji, including conspiracy to deny First Amendment rights, Batchelder and other defendants attempt to justify their action, in part, by stating that, prior to a retailer's (Palmer Berg's) cancelling of selling the Northern Herald, "Batchelder specifically recalls showing Palmer Berg a copy of a Rotary Four-Way Test ... and asking Mr. Berg whether the Plaintiffs' newspaper (Northern Herald) was consistent with that test." A copy of the "Four-Way Test" was attached as an exhibit. It read: "ROTARY - THE FOUR-WAY TEST of the things we think, say or do - first Is it the TRUTH? second Is it FAIR to all concerned? third Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? fourth Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?" Well, these are generally admirable goals to which the Rotarians might try to adhere. But trying to impose them on others, under threat of concerted boycott, and with the Rotarians setting themselves up as the judges of the subjective matters such as what is fair and beneficial, goes too far. Particularly bothersome is the part about the things we think. This brings to mind visions of pre-WW II Germany, and more recent Soviet policy. The answer also alleges that Berg and Batchelder were both Rotarians, which may have been a factor in Berg's participation in the concerted action to blackout the Northern Herald in Bemidji. How many of the other defendants are also Rotarians is unknown. It has been said that The Bible provides all of the spiritual guidance that one's neighbor might need. And we wonder if the Rotarians take this approach. Tyrants have historically enacted creeds to be enforced against others, to which they themselves were exempt. Do they somehow believe that using coercive tactics to prevent people from being able to get the news, and in the process attempting to damage a newspaper, will be beneficial to all? It reminds us of the "militant pacifists" of the '60's. Their outlook was that they believed in peace and they'd kill anyone who didn't. And of the reader who tried, under false pretense, to get confidential information regarding a person who'd advertised in our personals; his deceptive letter came on Masonic stationary. Again, the Rotarian goals, as to what they do, are laudable. But you can't report the news that way. In reporting the news, a conscientious paper tries to ensure that it's printing the truth; its credibility depends on this. It also tries to fairly report each story. Whether it builds goodwill and better friendships depends on the story; certainly a reader would not want a valid story suppressed because someone might take umbrage with it; there are few stories that aren't controversial. And as to the fourth test, well, we don't suppose that, for example, our disclosure of Bemidji Police Chief Tell's taking of city money, which some say brought him to trial, was especially beneficial to him. Are the Rotarians saying that that type of news should be suppressed? Actually, few stories will be beneficial to all concerned; they're still news and need to be reported. A newspaper could simply report events and festivals, but we don't think that's all that conscientious readers want. And even that might not, in all cases, build goodwill - a rival town might object to our reporting of an adjacent town's event. In response to being sent a copy of the legal complaint, Batchelder initially responded by sending us a copy of the four-way test. Despite their lofty goals of self conduct, and some of the things Rotary has done, it speaks very ill now of the Rotarians that some of them now seem to be setting themselves up as self-appointed censors of what others may buy and read. Our nation wasn't built on any four-way test, it was built on its laws and the Constitution. The Rotarians would behoove themselves to become as familiar with those. ---------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor PARENTS DEMAND CHANGES; NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL ACTIONS REGARDING STUDENTS JUST SAY NO We are tired of the few individuals, known as trouble makers, who have nothing to lose, antagonizing students who have no choice but to tolerate it even when it is and has been reported to the administration, which takes no action on our behalf. Students, citizens of the United States under the constitution have the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is the goal of a terrorist, bully and a habitual trouble maker to undermine the above. If we run and hide from one trouble maker this week, you can be assured you will be running from many more next week. We demand the constitutional right of self defense without retaliation from the administration, with an adult supervisor supporting and presenting our individual side during an investigation; versus flagrant violation of policy 700-400-3, which says, "Parents or guardians will be informed of their right to be present during questioning of students." We the students and parents realize that in some cases the antagonist may be difficult to distinguish, we suggest that strive room accommodations are enacted, therefore the bully, with nothing to lose, does not get out of school; and this allows a conscientious student to stay current with academics. This, versus habitual violation of Minnesota Statutes 121A.45 by Dist. 31 administration, ("No school shall dismiss any pupil without attempting to provide AEC before dismissal.") The strive room should only be implemented when the antagonist, in a multi-party conflict, is non-discernible. Dist. 31 administration has stated it supersedes parental rights and control during school and transportation to and from. This unacceptable socialist government control of our children and young adults must immediately cease and desist. Dist. 31 is henceforth obligated to conduct its policy according to the wishes of parents and allow students to address the problems of social intimidation, without Dist. 31 administration punishing those who are tired of running. Further Dist. 31 will implement statute and policy holding administration personnel accountable for their actions. Minnesota Statute 121A.48, "good faith exemption," has been used and abused by Dist. 31 long enough. It's time their totalitarian organization, manipulating authority, and policy is held accountable, both civilly and fiscally (as per the heating and cooling taxpayer liability - compliments of Rollie Morud) giving parents a peaceful means to resolve an issue. Are you aware of the cultural revaluation on going in this country? Our school systems being the trigger finger, the bulls eye plan, and destined to undermine that which made this country; with a trajectory leading toward a socialist society and police state. If Dist. 31 refuses to conform to our wishes as parents, we can bend their knees by pulling our children out of school, resulting in a loss of revenue, which is Dist. 31's only concern. If you are tired of Dist. 31 leading you around by the nose, and you want control, sign our petition, [below this letter] or continue tucking your tail between you legs. There are many concerns which need to be addressed. I feel that the above listed are a solid place to start. Plant your feet, brace yourself, support the above issues. We have the necessary leverage to ensure victory. For your kids’ sakes and the future of America as we remember it, get rid of the yellow and simply tell Government intervention and Dist. 31 "NO." John Pulczinski Bemidji, Minn. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT PETITION We the undersignedjust say NO. We the undersigned demand Dist. 31 conform to the wishes of the parents as outlined per the Letter to the Editor (JUST SAY NO); compliance with policy 700-400-3, State Statute 121A.45, and implementation of policy holding Dist. 31 administration liable for civil and fiscal discrepancies overriding statute 121A.48. Cut this ad out, sign and send to the address below. Better yet, attach a copy of the Letter to the Editor (JUST SAY NO) to a signature sheet, circulate it for support, and then send it to the address below. _____________________________________________________________ Send to: Just Say NO, 6717 Radar Rd NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 ADVERTISEMENT --------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor A SMOKING ISSUE: READER CHALLENGES ETS CLAIMS OPEN LETTER TO PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE In the fall of 1993, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report stating that secondhand smoke (a.k.a. Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS) was a Class A human carcinogen. That report has an interesting history. Here are a few salient points: Soon after its release it was roundly discounted by several reputable newspapers, the Wall Street Journal and Investors Daily Report among them. The Wall Street Journal found it based on what has become known as "junk science," an assessment to be reached by many others. Although the report was a lie it received enormous publicity and, in an effort to promote hysteria favoring their agenda, public health officials and rabid anti-smoking crusaders in general immediately latched onto it as a scare tactic using such phrases as, "Smokers are not only killing themselves but those around them!" in an attempt to frighten the lay public into believing that, even if they did not smoke themselves, those who did constituted a serious threat to their health and well being. An investigation by the Congressional Research Service - an independent arm of congress with a sound reputation for accuracy and impartiality - found many flaws in the report's scientific procedure which seriously undercut its validity. It has been refuted by numerous more objective studies, including one sponsored by World Health Organization (WHO) in a large study known as MONICA (for MONItoring CArdio vascular disease) which, in ten years of investigation, failed to prove a link between ETS and heart disease. Another extensive study also sponsored by WHO concluded that not only did ETS not cause lung cancer but might even have a protective effect. Because it reached conclusions so contrary to those desired, WHO suppressed the report for years until it finally came to light in 1998. Of it, the Wall Street Journal commented, "It is now obvious that anti-smoking activists have knowingly overstated the health risk of secondhand smoke." In contradiction to the EPA report a study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer also found no statistically significant risk from secondhand smoke. Finally, in 1998, the EPA report was struck down by a federal court in a decision which found among other faults that it was based on poor science, statistical juggling and selective omissions of data contradicting its desired conclusion. The court stated that, "EPA publicly committed to a conclusion before research had begun." This "politically incorrect" finding received nowhere near the publicity accorded the original report. And the EPA's response? To appeal the decision because "everyone knows that secondhand smoke is dangerous." Or so they were told anyway. In short, the 1993 EPA report was thoroughly fraudulent when it concluded that exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke was responsible for 3,000 deaths annually; yet, somehow, over the years that figure has magically grown from 30,000 to 35,000 to 62,000 to 400,000 at the latest retelling! Parroting the fiction that ETS is dangerously toxic is a thoroughly contemptible disservice to the public. To continue at this late date to promulgate this lie can be explained in only two ways: [1] profound dementia which prevents one from grasping reality or, [2] such fanatical obsession with anti-smoking's spiteful crusade that truth and facts are washed aside in favor of out and out propaganda. Continuing to carry on such deception not only impugns your ethics and integrity but indicates your blatant disregard of the law. The public deserves better. We challenge you to withdraw these false claims and return to reason. Felt Lair CAGE Moderator Phone: 612-341-9231 Email: decage@hotmail.com -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 03/01/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 7 -------------------------------------- IT'S CHILI AT REMER REMER -- Yep, there wasn't enough snow for the sled dog race, nonetheless it was a chili day February 5th at Remer, Minnesota, particularly at the fire hall where the Remer Chamber of Commerce produced their Annual Chili Cook-Off and Bake sale. The environment was festive and friendly, the Chamber was hospitable to those who prefer to smoke as well as those who don't, and a spirit of competition was in the air pending the announcement of the best chili. Of course, from the visitor's perspective, the room lined with entrants meant that his $5 all-you-can-eat ticket meant what it said - we're not sure Paul Bunyan himself could have tried all of the entries at one sitting. And then there were the excellent home-baked productions for sale at the bake table... Among celebrity entrants were Dennis Stefan (Don's brother) who reformed the chili making process. Clearly, the judges had a tough job as all of the entries were very good. Woodland Bank, to our palate, produced a particularly excellent product, with just the right amount of heat, good color (predominantly red), well cooked beans and a full-bodied chili taste that one expects from chili. Habenero sauce was available, but with this chili, one didn't really need it. Many of the entrants provided condiments such as fresh onions, cheese, crackers, and even fry bread with which to cleanse the palate before trying the next chili. The chilis were widely varied and exhibited an abundance of exotic components. It was chili the way chili was meant to be - all very good and lots of it. Most of the entries were mild. Some, such as Pam Zobava's robust chili, were made with chunks of meat, rather than the ground variety. The taste of celery was prominent in Sue Passard's chili which visibly contained pieces of the vegetable. Gina Campbell's was a particularly meaty and full-bodied concoction, in which swam tasty pieces of stewed tomato and which, also, was made with wild rice. Campbell served the chili with finely shredded cheese. Howard Knight's chili had a distinctive licorice-like taste, but in interview, he denied that it contained anise. Whence the 2nd place winning flavour came remains a mystery. (picture captions - photos in print edition only: A hot bowl of chili was just the thing for Dale Peterson and Bridgette Susalla, left Below, winning chefs, from left, Roberta Pepin (People's Choice), Howard Knight (2nd place), Pam Zobava (3rd), Sue Passard (1st) Below, Woodland Banks Chili Chefs, Gwen Padgett, Teri Williams and Kevin Ardolf Sombreros took the place of judicial robes as Judges, from left, Bob Bruckbauer, Jeanette Bruckbauer, Shirley Perkins, Arlene Gross, Carol Parent, Diana Slagle and Juan Gonzales did their solemn duty. RECIPE BOX ---------- Roberta Pepin's People's Choice Award Winning NORTHERN MINNESOTA CHILI 1 lb. ground beef 1 cup chopped onions 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 green pepper (chopped) 1 cup celery (chopped) 1/4 cup water 1 can (16 oz.) whole tomatoes 1 can tomato soup 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. brown sugar 2 tbs. chili powder 1 can dark red kidney beans Brown the beef with the onion and garlic, while separately sauteing, over low heat, the green pepper, celery and water. Add to the ground beef mixture the tomatoes, tomato soup, salt, brown sugar, chili powder and the sauteed green pepper and celery mixture. Simmer 1 hour, then add the kidney beans. ------------------------------------------------------ REFORMERS CALL CONVENTION TO DECIDE SPLIT-OFF March 4th Convention in St. Paul To Determine if Minnesota Goes It's Own Way ST. PAUL -- In the only state which has elected a reform candidate to it's highest office, the Reform Party of Minnesota has issued a call to delegates and will meet in special convention Saturday, March 4th, at the Metropolitan State University in St. Paul to consider resolutions 1) to disaffiliate from the national Reform Party; and 2) to readopt the name Independence Party of Minnesota. Commenting on the proposed split from the national party of Ross Perot, and on the change of positioning that has also affected the Republican Party, Rick McCluhan, Minnesota Reform Party chair said, "I think it's the best move the Minnesota Reform Party's made. ...The national reform party's becoming a very Christian religious-right party." McCluhan did not see a problem in coordinating election activities coming from the possible split, and reflected on discord within the national party, "I think you are going to see independent parties pop up in every state in the union," he said, adding that they may back presidential candidates such as McCain or John Anderson, rather than the Reform Party frontrunner, Pat Buchanan. McCluhan said that the national Reform Party may cease to exist after this election cycle, and a new independent party may emerge from independent parties in the several states. ------------------------------------------------------- BSU BRINGS JAZZ TO NORTHLAND BEMIDJI -- There's lots of music in the Northland, but really good jazz from top performers is a rare commodity, and up here a little hard to find if one doesn't know where to look. Unlike urban centers, in the Northland, it's not usually at nightclubs which specialize in the sound; in the North, the name for good jazz is the highly polished BSU Jazz Bands I & II. And each year, the BSU music department, under the direction of Dr. Steve Konecne, brings to Bemidji famous jazz celebrities the likes of which many would never have a chance to see. Such is as it was this year, when Konecne brought jazz trumpet player Jay Coble and trombonist Tom Garling to BSU's 27th annual Jazz Festival, which featured 2 days of student workshops with BSU and 18 other participating school bands, and concluding with the public Jazz Concert at the old Bemidji High School Auditorium the evening of February 5th. Coble, who has recorded professionally for such popular television shows as the Tracy Ullman Show and The Simpsons and with Natalie Cole and the late Mel "Velvet Fog" Torme, said of the Northland experience, "We just had a great time here, Tom and I both did; the level of musician-ship [by the students] was very good...." Said Garling, who worked extensively with Maynard Fergeson, as well as with Sinatra, Gillespie and other music legends, "It was really a pleasure... the bands were good... and it was just a lot of fun...." The event was sponsored by SAFAC and United Musical Instruments. (picture captions - photos in print edition only: BSU Jazz pianist Eric Barnum entertains with the celebrity clinicians at the Jazz Fest Concert, Feb. 5th, at Bemidji. Jay Coble and Tom Garling perform at BSU's Bemidji Jazz Fest Concert with Dr. Steve Konecne, conducting. BSU tenor saxaphonist Luke Probst, of Littlefork, cranks it up along with celebrity clinicians Jay Coble and Tom Garling, Mary Jo Vene and the BSU Jazz Band I. --------------------------------------------------------------- DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ BEMIDJI -- (photo in print edition only) Not at Bemidji's SMOKE SHOP, near Union Station, anyway. The BASIC(R) cigarettes advertised at .99 (a pack?) were actually $22.49 a carton. A customer reported that the sign had said $21.99 (per carton) for about a week, when the cigarettes were actually being sold inside for $22.49. When she (the customer) protested, a surly clerk began an argument, and, apparently later, simply removed the "21" from the sign. The Cigarette Nazis. In interview, when asked about the specific price of BASIC®s, and how long it had been that way, the apparent proprietor of the store said, "Kiss my ... [the end of a cigarette]." The proprietor, who appeared to be middle eastern, eloquently added, "I will take an assault [charge] just to beat your ... [donkey] ... up." ----------------------------------------------------- FREE TOURS OF STATE CAPITOL Edward E. Ness, of Akeley, is inviting citizens of the 4th Minnesota Legislative Districts to accompany him on an unofficial tour of the State Capitol. The district includes an area encompassing Akeley, Bemidji, Cass Lake, Longville, Nevis, Park Rapids, Pine River, and Walker. Ness is currently living in Minneapolis during the 2000 Minnesota Legislative session and doing work that places him in the State Capitol every day. "The official tour is very good," Ness said, "if you want to learn about the history, architecture and decorations of the building. If you want to learn about the architecture of government, how the legislature really works, then take the unofficial tour." There is no charge for either the official or unofficial tour. The offer is open until the Legislative session ends, which is presently estimated to be around the Easter weekend. Meetings with District 4 State Senator Tony Kinkel (DFL - Park Rapids), District 4A State Representative Doug Fuller (R - Bemidji), and District 4B State Representative Larry Howes (R - Hackensack) may be possible if their schedules allow the time. To arrange for an unofficial tour by Edward, Colin, Forrest or Charles of the Liberty Warehouse staff, call (612) 349-4630 and leave a message giving the date and time you will be at the State Capitol. ---------------------------------------------------- MN DOR HELPS AGAIN WITH TAX TASK ST. PAUL -- Hats off again to the guys at the Minnesota Dept. of Revenue who, again this year, helped ensure that your accountant has the forms he needs to prepare your taxes by sending all practitioners a free two CD ROM set containing many of the federal and all of the Minnesota forms and publications. This set, which comes into frequent use, compares with commercial items priced at about $99 which many tax offices wouldn't otherwise routinely stock. Your accountant's having the Minnesota DOR set may expedite your preparation, particularly if unusual forms are needed. ----------------------------------------------------- HARDER FILES FOR PRESIDENCY CROWN POINT, IN -- Former university professor and Indiana resident, Dr. Heather Anne Harder has announced candidacy for the Democratic nomination for U.S. President. She is running on a platform which includes defederalized education, and support of national public referendums. ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT This ad conforms to Minnesota Board of Accountancy Rules, 1100.5700, which prohibits misleading advertising by CPAs. VERY EXPENSIVE TAX SERVICE Questions and Answers Q: Who needs Very Expensive Tax Service? A: It is unfortunate that people have to pay anything to file forms that are required by the government. At one time we proposed that these fees be a credit, so the government would pick up the tab for this. That went over like a lead balloon. Hopefully, your taxes are simple enough that you can do them yourself without error. But there are tax law and form changes that are hard for a taxpayer to keep up on, and sometimes, new ways and strategies to save money on tax. Unfortunately, for both simple and complex returns, a person may need Very Expensive Tax Service to avoid paying too much. Q: What is Very Expensive Tax Service? A: It is tax service that is very expensive. Simply put, Very Expensive Tax Service costs more than other kinds of tax service, which we'll call "Cheap Tax Service." If you feel that you will do as well with Cheap Tax Service, you should probably use it. Q: How expensive is Very Expensive Tax Service? A: Very. But we’ll give you a written estimate before we do any chargeable work. When, at your initial appointment, we explain your filing options, you can decide if you need Very Expensive Tax Service. Q: Where can I get Very Expensive Tax Service? A: In the Northland, you get it from Adam Steele, Certified Public Accountant. We’re located in Bemidji, but we also do on-site remote service at your location (within reasonable limits in Northern Minnesota). This, however, is very expensive. Q: Can I smoke when I am receiving Very Expensive Tax Service? A: Yes. Anyone who is paying that much has a right to be comfortable, in hospitable surroundings. Besides, we kind of like it when people smoke in our office. Q: What assurance of accuracy do I have with Very Expensive Tax Service. A: 19 yrs. experience, including work with state and federal government regarding tax law and forms. We guarantee that your return will be accurate and show the lowest legal tax. Q: What kinds of returns qualify for Very Expensive Tax Service? A: Almost everything. All individual and business returns, every state and some Canadian provinces. A side specialty is Estate & Trust; (Adam Steele, CPA, was the referral accountant for Senior Financial); these returns, however, are very expensive. Very Expensive Consultation-Only appointments are also available. Q: How do I make an appointment to see if I qualify for Very Expensive Tax Service? A: Call 218-759-1162 Q: Are there people, locally, who can give a "horse's mouth" evaluation of your service? A: Yes. Unfortunately, by law, we can't tell you who they are. Many have been coming here for many years. There may be a reason. Q: Is Very Expensive Tax Service fast? A: No. It is slow and painstaking. The idea is to save you every dollar possible on tax. If this could be done faster, it would be cheaper (see Cheap Tax Service, ante). Q: Wil you do electronic filing? A: Yes, by mid-March, we'll be electronically filing direct to both IRS and Minnesota. Q: Is it expensive? A: Yes. Office in Bemidji - Expensive remote on-site service available throughout Northern Minnesota ADAM STEELE, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT 218-759-1162 ADVERTISEMENT ----------------------------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- Note: Our IN FOCUS feature is primarily pictoral. Photos, however, appear only in print edition. SCOUTS SERVE AT NEVIS! NEVIS -- The Lovebirds, Brian and Jo Pels, of Walker, entertain on guitar at the Valentine's Dinner thrown by the Troop 56 Boy Scouts at Nevis, February 13th; and the scouts themselves do a little picking for the crowd. The dinner was at Bethany Lutheran Church and raised money for scouting activities, including their summer camp and Boundary Waters trip this summer. 4-year Scoutmaster John Smith, who also serves as a District Court Judge at Walker, said that, including rose sales, they expect to raise about $900. Through March, the troop will be selling roses, for delivery in spring, at $10 a dozen (This is a deal - compare to your florist or grocer! --Ed.). Scoutmaster Smith said that they can be ordered from any Boy Scout, or by calling Linda Olson at 218-652-4028. The Scoutmaster said that his troop includes 8 Life Scouts, as well as 2 Eagle Scouts. "It's the highest rank ... and only 1 to 2 percent ... ever attain that rank." Scouting is generally open to youth who have completed 5th grade, through age 18, but Eagle Scouts get to retain their designation afterward. There are also co-ed Venture and Explorer programs for young men and women from 14-18. There is a Venture program in Nevis. Said Smith, "Scouts always appreciate people supporting their activities; it's a great program for kids and it's a great way to help keep kids on the straight and narrow. ... They are involved in a lot of activities, we do a lot of outdoor stuff; last year, we went to Colorado and climbed a 14,000 ft. mountain, went whitewater rafting... bike trips, hiking trips, we do a lot of camping, so it's a real opportunity for kids to see the out of doors and get away from the television." In addition to their other activities, the troop sometimes performs color ceremonies for pro sports, including at last year's St. Louis Cardinals/Colorado Rockies game. Young men interested in Scouting may call Scoutmaster Smith at 218-732-3247 for more information. (picture caption - photo in print edition only: Below, the Troop 56 Nevis serving crew: Kyle Thomas, Reed Nicklason, Chef Al Huesman of Nevis, Ryan Loomis, Scoutmaster John Smith, Chris McAllister, Ken Trehus and Brent Nicklason. The sumptuous Feb. 13th dinner included Roast Pork Loin with Apples, Kolkanens Potatoes, Green Bean Almondine, a relish tray, roll, beverage and dessert. ----------------------------------------------------------- BRAINERD MAN TO AIR COMPLAINT OVER POLICE CONDUCT BRAINERD -- Robert Booth, of Brainerd, said that he was driving his van eastbound on Laurel St. at about 1 in the afternoon last October, when a police vehicle, without using siren or lights, "ran a stop sign and nearly collided with my vehicle." Booth was later told that the officer was on his way to a burglary. Booth will apear before the Brainerd City Council Monday, March 20th to air the grievance which centers not just on the driving, "but primarily on the conduct of the [police] Captain" who took the initial complaint, which, says Booth, was "never fully investigated." ----------------------------------------------------- Editorial --------- The Man from Onigum HUNT HAS DONE GOOD JOB AT LEECH LAKE A number of years ago, in our first volume, June, 1996, we were able to run the headline, "It Was The First Truly Open Meeting in 25 Years." The headline was a quote by on of the tribal members about the new Chairman Eli Hunt's first RBC meeting and reflected that it was the first meeting which was open to the public and where tribal members could speak without fear of reprisal. One of the first changes Hunt made was semantic. He didn't want the Reservation Business Committee (RBC) referred to as the Reservation Tribal Council (RTC); the emphasis of the four elected representatives was to be more on attending the business matters of the reservation, and less intervention into people's lives. So it became called the RBC instead of RTC. From there, Hunt has constantly sought input and a dialogue between tribal members and their elected officials. The difference between Leech Lake before Hunt, and after, was as that of night and day. Hunt's popular election brought to a close the old shrouded Finn/Pemberton era of the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa. But the changes didn't come overnight. Initially, Hunt tried to bring progressiveness to tribal administration, but he was held back - there were still 4 RBC members from the old era with whom he had to deal. He had a vote, but though Chairman, he was still a minority on the RBC. Actions were stalemated and some then-RBC members, still taking questionable advances of money from the Leech Lake accounts, didn't bother coming to some meetings called by the Chair. Staying with his strategy of allowing the people to take back the reservation through more dialogue and organized effort and going back to traditional Chippewa law, Hunt encouraged the formation and regular public meetings of local councils throughout the reservation. A General Council, comprised of the officers of the local councils, began to meet at Cass Lake to bring the voices of the tribal members to the fore. Through recall action, former Secretary-treasurer Dan Brown was removed for his crimes, but it was 2 more years before elections would remove Alfred Fairbanks, Jr, Jack Seelye and Myron Ellis, the last three remnants of the old Finn/Pemberton era from the RBC and Hunt could then administer the Leech Lake Band in a businesslike and cooperative atmosphere. Recently, Hunt made history with his State of the Band address; four years before, Hunt said, at his acceptance address, "Some say that I am idealistic. I believe that one must ... bring to fruition the hope of our people. I take my victory as a mandate for many reforms and I accept that responsibility." Hunt promised and saw to reforms in accountability, standards for public employees, prioritizing of public needs, constitutional rights and the right of referendum. He said, "We must lead by example. This means that, as leaders, we must be willing to listen and learn by what you tell us." This year, for the first time, the Leech Lake government has released, for public input, before enactment, a draft budget ordinance. This is to assure full disclosure to the tribal members as to how the money will be spent and allow their participation in the decision process. He said recently, "We really are making an all out effort" to identify and meet unmet needs that have fallen through the cracks of past program practices. Some of the things of which Hunt originally spoke have not yet been completed. He spoke of a new health facility, more housing and greater cultural programs as well as better youth programs, elder services and education. Looking back, great strides have been made, but these are ongoing needs that will have to continue to be served in future years. Hunt recently said, "We have added on significantly to the hospital," but he believes that full replacement is a long-term necessity. He spoke of the approximately $200,000 by which scholarship aid has increased, and of a new program to fund scholarships in critical professions, such as accounting and business administration within the Leech Lake Band. Leech Lake Tribal College has recently added a law enforcement program that qualifies students for POST (Police Officers' Standards and Training) certification. And Hunt anticipates a partnership with HUD to make affordable mortgage programs more available to people at Leech Lake, as well as possible use of gaming proceeds to expand the reservation land base for more housing and business opportunity. He spoke of continued revitalization of reservation industries, such as Ojibwe foods, which is now working on a catalogue that will contain reservation products such as canned fish, preserves and birch bark products. "Not everyone wants to work in gaming," he said, recognizing that the future of that industry may be uncertain and that there is a need for diversification into other tribal member owned businesses. Said Hunt, "I still have a vision for the reservation to prosper," and recalling the past four years, "I think the most important thing is that we have improved the trust for tribal government." It's been a good four years, and hopefully, we'll see four more. ------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor --------------------- Note: We print virtually all responsible letters for which we have space. Letters to the Editor, however, do not necessarily represent the position of this paper. VOTE THEM ALL OUT! Tribal elections are coming up soon for the Chairmanship and one or two District Representatives on each of our six MCT Reservations. Many of our Chairmen and District Representatives have stated their intentions to seek reelection. They state or will state that they want to continue the grants and contracts and projects, currently in progress. They will suggest or infer that to change Chairmen and District Representatives now would throw current programs and projects into disarray. NOT TRUE! Most programs and projects are funded by Federal and State grants and contracts. Federal and State requests for proposals require that certain guidelines be met in order to be funded. New Chairmen and District Representatives would not jeopardize these grants and contracts. So they would continue. Other sources of funds for the RBCs are ... hunting and fishing license returns; state sales tax, cigarette and liquor returns, and casino revenues. Most of these funds are obligated to programs and projects by contract. New Chairmen and District Representatives would not break these contracts and waste the funds already obligated to partially completed programs and projects. So they would continue. Unobligated funds would range from a few dollars to many, many thousands of dollars. The RBCs have never revealed to the MCT members their revenues, expenditures or salaries. You won't get these figures from the incumbents unless you ask them now, while they are seeking reelection. Ask for their salaries, then ask if they get any other non-salary income as RBC members. Ask them if that is the same amount they report on their income tax form If they tell you it is none of your business, they are lying, because it is our money they are getting! If they don't tell you, don't vote for them! As one individual MCT member, I am in favor of voting out all the incumbents running for reelection! Every reservation should have candidate forums or community meetings in each of their reservation districts. Every candidate should be asked tough questions. For instance: How do you feel about our unconstitutional police force and court system? Don’t you believe that any program, project or system which affect the MCT members should first have the approval of the MCT members, by referendum vote? Do you need personal security forces and why? Will you abide by the MCT Constitution in the upcoming election, in membership requirements; in financial reports, etc.? We need new blood; a fresh perspective, on our RBCs. One, two, or three new faces on our RBCs may affect the way our RBCs treat the MCT members. We are not children who do not know how to tie our shoes. You are not fathers who have to make every decision for your little children. We are voting adults who want a say in any program, project or system which affects us. "Wise men argue causes, and fools decide them," (Anacharsis) Vote the incumbents (fools) out! Elect new faces! Sincerely, Violet Annette Harper, MCT Member enrolled at White Earth Cass Lake, Minn. --------------------------------------------------------- DEALS ON MEALS Some of the best Dining Values in the Northland ---- In Northern Minnesota, we like to eat, a lot; and we like to eat a lot. So, more fine restaurants now offer better and varied All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) specials. (four stars) Just south of Walker, Arthur's Ten Mile Lake Inn, depicted above, offers AYCE steak (yes, you read that right) on Friday nights through the winter season. It comes with all the trimmings for $9.95. Other evenings, there are similar AYCE dinners, at varying reasonable prices, of Bourbon Marinated Pork Chops (Wed), BBQ Ribs (Th), and Fried Shrimp (Su). Arthur's boasts an elegant, lightly nautical, atmosphere; they are hospitable both to smokers and non with the best seating in the smoking optional area. For those who enjoy a true Brunch, the Oasis, Park Rapids serves it 'til 2 pm Sat. and Sun. We're talking premium plump links, blueberry hot cakes, homemade beef hash, chorizio style sausage - one of the best brunches around, for $5.95. We just wish they'd have a smoking area. Lunch at Pizza Hut's buffet remains a great dependable bargain. Their Caesar Salad alone, with lots of fresh bacon, is worth the price. But additionally, the pizza and pasta just keep coming. Even dessert pizza. The Park Rapids Hut allows smoking, the Bemidji Hut doesn't. (picture caption - photo in print edition only: Nina Burke on piano during Arthur's Fri.& Sat. dinners --------------------------------------------------------- A Northern Herald Book Review by The Lady Steele ------------------ CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER Author: Joanne Fluke The first in her new Hannah Swenson Mystery series, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is the work of 35-novel veteran author Joanne Fluke, who sets her novels in the open environs and small towns of greater Minnesota where she grew up before being transplanted to Granada Hills, California. The book will be released by Kensington Publishers, in hardcover ($20) in April, 2000 with a paperback release in 2001. Kensington plans to publish her next work, Strawberry Shortcake Murder, also in 2001. More info and monthly recipes can be found at Fluke's Murder She Baked mystery website at http://www.murdershebaked.com. Crime can happen anywhere, not just in big cities, and Fluke's current work, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, illustrates this by being set in central Minnesota. The book is one which keeps the reader in suspense from beginning to end. In a style pioneered by author Kurt Vonnegut, the plot of the novel is interspersed with seven good cookie recipes and even teaches the reader how to make homemade brown sugar. It is one of those books that is hard to put down, concluding with an ending that the reader might not expect. --------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Morton's Family Journal SCHOOL VIOLENCE DECREASE BLURRED BY NEW TWIST Dear Mr. Morton- I have heard much conflicting information about the violence in our schools. There are stockpiles of information on the topic online, but the statistics on its occurrence conflict and experts disagree as to the causes and what to do about it. I don’t even know how concerned I should be about the safety of my children. Where can one obtain reliable data online? -- Concerned Parent. Dear Parent- If people preach that our classrooms have gone from safe havens to potential war zones, don’t believe them. American parents send 50 million children to 80,000 schools each day, and the chance of one becoming a fatality to violent crime in or around a school is roughly one in a million. Nationally, the number of students killed by violence has not increased, staying at about fifty-five each year over the last decade. The total number of firearm events has decreased steadily since the 1992-93 school year, due to intensified security precautions. Few of us are pacified, however, because of the new twist in the nature of this diminishing deadly violence. We are upset by the increase in the number of multiple victim events. During the past three school years, an average of five multiple victim events per year occurred, up from only one per year from 1992-95. No longer does a enraged student single out a specific victim when his anger boils over. These days, the violence is aimed at multiple victims in some broad division of the student body, and includes bystanders caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Prevention of school violence begins at home, and parents and school administrators must communicate. In 1998, fifty-seven percent of elementary and secondary principals reported at least one crime serious enough to summon the police. Be thankful if your principal doesn’t have his/her head stuck in the sand. These websites offer well-researched information on school violence: (1) http://www.dumfries.com/caddigan_speaks_out_on_scho ol_vi.htm (2) http://www.ncpa.org/pi/edu/march98m.html (3) http://www.ncpa.org/pi/edu/pdedu/pdedu173.html Robert Morton, M.Ed., Ed.S. is a school psychologist for Fremont City Schools and educational instructor at Bowling Green State University. Write him about family or educational concerns at the Child Study Center, 501 Croghan St., Fremont, Ohio 43420 or Email: Rsmcoping@nwonline.net -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 02/02/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 6 -------------------------------------- BSU TO HOST 27TH JAZZ FESTIVAL FEB. 5 Dr. Jeffrey Macomber, and guests, conducted January Concert BEMIDJI -- In Northern Minnesota, the name for Jazz is BSU. The renowned Bemidji State University Jazz Bands feature a wide professional repertoire and a performance that brings, contemporarily, to listeners, the polish of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. Continuing in an annual tradition, the BSU Jazz Department, under Dr. Steve Konecne, will host the regional jazz festival, including 2 days of workshops for jazz students from the U.S. and Canada, many regional and remote bands, two celebrity clinicians and concluding with the Saturday (Feb. 5) evening concert at 8 p.m. This year's event will feature clinicians Tom Garling and Jay Coble, who will perform with the BSU Jazz Bands at the public concert, which will be opened by the best other student bands. Of the featured celebrities, Konecne said, "Tom Garling... is a wonderful trombone player from Chicago; he's probably best known for having played trombone with Maynard Ferguson's band for six years and he was music director of that band for four years. He also has performed on all of Frank Mantooth's CDs, and he played with Buddy Rich when he was a very young man - I think 20 years old or something like that ... Jay Coble ... is on the faculty at the University of Southern Florida; he's a trumpet player," and added that much of Coble's professional work has been for the west coast TV studios performing the famous and familiar themes and music of broadcast television. The hour and a half (approx.) concert is expected to include an up-tempo jazz rendition of Doris Day's My Secret Love; Tom Garling's own arrangement of Just Friends; Tears in Her Eyes, a Bossanova; and Matt Harris's arrangement of It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing, with Mary Jo Vene sitting in on voice, and both celebrity clinicians. Dr. Jeffrey Macomber showed off this year's BSU Band (not the same as BSU Jazz Bands, although some musicians may play in both) in their January 27th performance of Winter Wonderband - Pops in the Year 2000, at BSU's Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex, which also featured several guest conductors. The light and lively program had many tunes including Alfred Reed's A Celebration Fanfare, Serenata by Leroy Anderson, and selections from Les Miserables and others. After the concert, Dr. Macomber seemed pleased with the students' work, which was excellent, particularly given the short time to prepare and rehearse. "We've been working on the music very seriously since ... we started rehearsal the first day of classes [about Jan. 13th], and, although we had read some of these selections last semester, we didn't really rehearse them," he said, adding, "They're a very talented group of young people, and they work very hard; they played very well and I couldn't be happier, particularly with the [more serious and difficult] second half of the program." "We appreciate the support of live music and music in our schools and we would hope for the continued support of this very important endeavor. Whether its at the public school, at the grade schools, at private schools or at universities, music is a very import thing and the support of this endeavor is a most worthwhile thing for the young people involved," said Macomber. Dr. Macomber will now be taking the his Band on tour, at public concerts in schools on Feb. 10th at Mahnomen (9 am) and Walker (2:25 pm); Feb. 11th at Cold Springs (9:15 am) and Annandale (1:30 pm); Feb. 12th at Pine River/Backus (7:30 pm); and will finish with a tour finale concert at BSU's Bangsberg Main Theatre Feb. 13th at 3 p.m. -------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism DEER RIVER SKATING STAR DEPARTED AT 38 DEER RIVER -- In late September, 1999, a few days before her 39th birthday, about a year after she left the Deer River area and while living at the home of Joe Burns, her ex-husband, near Lakeland, Wendy Joan Lessard Burns-Carlson left a note, then took an overdose of the pills which had been prescribed for her degenerative back condition and other pain. Known in the area simply as Wendy Carlson, she was born October 7th, 1960 at International Falls, the daughter of Robert and Carol Lessard. Her name became Carlson when her mother divorced and remarried. She attended Jackson Jr. High at Champlain, and Anoka Sr. High School. Burns describes her grades, from old report cards in her belongings, as mostly A's & B's, with teacher's comments such as, "participates well, shows initiative, good attitude, works independently, shows leadership." Early in life, Wendy developed an affinity for ice skating. Teen years would see her take silver and then gold at the Manitoba Invitational in 1976 and 1977, respectively. By 1979, she was invited to join the Ice Follies and toured for a season. 1981, the year Wendy and Joe were married, found her in the Twin Cities, where she was employed to lead the skating-tot program at Edina's new rink. Joe said that she'd get up at 4:30 on icy mornings to go to work. In later years, Wendy would go on to teach power skating to team players for the Minnesota North Stars, the St. Paul Vulcans and the Minnesota Gophers. Present Gopher instructor, Mike Guenzel recalled her work with the Vulcans in the early '90s. She also taught at power skating at clinics run by Dennis Maruk, and instructed the kids of well known people such as the Mark Dayton children. Wendy and Joe had a son, Erik, who is now 18. In 1986, Wendy's marriage to Burns officially ended, although they continued to see each other for the remainder of her life. A frail 5' 7" and 115 lbs, Wendy had a degenerative disk condition, aggravated by skating injuries. She retired from skating in 1993, and by 1996, moved to the Grand Rapids area. By the time of her death, she had undergone a spinal fusion; there was a rod in her shoulder and also metal in her hip. One lung had been collapsed. Wendy's life in Itasca County was complicated in her last years by clashes with domestic authorities here. By 1998, Wendy was a tenant in the home of Gary Mallum, Deer River, and his 17 year-old son, Travis. Per Burns, she would later tell him she was frequently provided alcohol there and that Gary had tried to rape her. And in 1998, Itasca County authorities brought charges against her, based on Travis's statement that she had had physical romance with him. Persons close to Wendy and familiar with the situation believe that Travis's mother, Alice Wigand, of Cohasset, may have encouraged the statement in order to have Travis removed from the Gary Mallum home. And, it has been speculated, that there may have also been coercion by Itasca County Authorities based upon an alleged juvenile record that Travis may have had. No public statement was available from the alleged "victim," now 18, as his mother intercepted Northern Herald's call, which was not returned. Wendy continually denied the allegations. But Joe Burns related that Wendy had, nonetheless, been encouraged by her public defender, Michael P. Gallagher (also public defender for Richard Bullock - see Family, Friends Await Bullock Appeal - NH of 12/08/99) to plead guilty to the charge. According to Burns, who became involved in Wendy's defense, Gallagher told him that there was no way of opposing the teenager's testimony, so Wendy might as well plead guilty. "If you don't plead guilty, they're [the jurors] going to believe the kid," Burns claims Wendy was told by Gallagher. Faced with the threat of a long sentence if the matter went to trial, Wendy eventually pled guilty and, in early 1999, was sent to the Women's Correctional Facility at Shakopee. She was released later that year, but, per Burns, the charging and incarceration had a lasting effect which added to Wendy's painful physical problems. She had to register, and "couldn't live with being considered a sexual predator," Burns said, adding that after a career of working with kids, she now wasn't supposed even to speak with a person under 18. Recalling her skating work with the kids at Edina, Joe said, "Wendy had great, great patience with the little ones; she was out there in the cold on her hands and knees teaching the little ones, rather than sitting on boards." (photo captions - photos in print edition only): Dist. 3 Senator Bob Lessard reflects on his daughter's accomplishments, "I know that I'm a high profile person and I get caught up in a lot of issues ... but when things like this happen, it's a reality check and you find out what is important and what isn't. ... It's a real wake-up call." At 37, Wendy Carlson was troubled by chronic illness, and charges brought against her by Itasca County. -------------------------------------------------------------- BULLOCK TO HAVE HELP OF NEW COUNSEL ON APPEAL LAKE GEORGE -- The family of Deer River resident Richard Bullock, presently serving time for allegedly having had physical romance with his step-daughter, which both he and the family, including the girl's mother, have continually denied, has obtained new counsel for his appeal. Following his charging, Bullock had volunteered to take a polygraph test, but none was offered. (See Family, Friends Await Bullock Appeal - NH of 12/08/99). On February 3rd, former Crow Wing County Attorney and former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice candidate John Remington Graham agreed to take the case, saying, "I have met with Ruth Bullock (Richard's wife), certain members of her family, and certain friends and I will be giving her some assistance and working cooperatively with [present] counsel for Richard Bullock. [John S. Lind, Duluth] ... I feel that there are some hopeful signs here. Graham, added, addressing a systemic problem in criminal justice, "There has been an hysterical atmosphere developed around the subject of sex crimes and this hysterical atmosphere has deprived the administration of justice on objective and impartial approach. And I'm afraid that the subject of sex crimes has also been used politically to create a diversion of public attention from other, more serious, criminal wrongdoing including very substantial drug trafficking which has been conducted in such a way as to compromise a number of public officers who are involved in the administration of justice. The best known, in this part of the country, of course, is the case of Tom Keyes, who was the County Attorney in Bemidji who died of cocaine ... but there are others, and in the process, a good many innocent people have been convicted and punished for sex crimes that they did not commit." ----------------------------------------------------------- 1999 STEELE SPHERES GO TO NEURURER, VENTURA Each year, Northern Herald awards the Steele Spheres for exceptional valor both within and beyond the call of duty to public officials and others who demonstrate particular courage, particularly in the face of adversity. Past awards have gone to Dale Page, former Bemidji Finance Director who reported unlawful receipts by police chief Robert Tell, populist reformist Chairman Eli Hunt of the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa, and former Hubbard County Commissioner Ed De La Hunt (no relation to the Chairman). This year, we had to issue two sets; as the many acts of Governor Ventura were significant enough to "throw off the curve," making the Spheres otherwise unattainable by normal people. The first set went to Robert Neururer, whose cool head and quick thinking helped defend his property and rid Grand Rapids of one thief preying on unattended businesses. On Sept. 26th, 1999, Neururer shot burglar Brett Larson, who had broken into Neururer's business, RC's, in the small hours of the morning, and held him until deputies could arrive (for full report, see Grand Rapids Herald-Review of Sept. 29, 1999) Steele's Law In legal parlance there is a doctrine known as Assumption of Risk. When a person forcibly or otherwise unlawfully enters the property of another, he assumes the risk that he may not walk out in precisely the same condition as he walked in. Among Ventura's accomplishments, cited is his February, 1999 response urging personal responsibility, before an annual students' demonstration at the capitol to lobby for more educational and other benefits. A single mother shouted out a complaint. Ventura said, "I don't want to seem hard core, but why did you become a parent? It takes two people to parent. It takes two." When another woman shouted, "Sometimes one of them walks away," Ventura responded, "You're asking government to make up for mistakes. Is that government's job, to make up for your mistakes?" When students chanted, "Lower tuition is our mission," Ventura suggested, "Then maybe your professors ought to take a pay cut." (See the Associated Press report of Feb. 11, 1999) Due to the Governor's scheduling requirements, Ventura's award will be physically presented in February. It sometimes takes Steele Spheres to run the State, or even a business, and these guys have 'em. -------------------------------------------------------------- NTC COLLEGE AT RED LAKE ON TARGET BEMIDJI -- The joint Northwest Technical College (NTC)/Red Lake program to operate a satellite college there is running on schedule and NTC Vice-President Vern Treat said last week that the interior finishing is just now being done on the building, located at Redby near the very successful manufactured home plant and the site of the future bottled water plant, and that the school is projected to be open by about March. Initially, the 2-year college will offer four degree programs: Construction/Electrician; Heavy Equipment; Carpentry and Clerical Assisting; and Treat said that a professional Child Care worker's program is proposed for the fall semester. Treat said that the Governor's proposed bonding package would not affect the completion or operation of this facility. Said Treat, "It's going to be a benefit to the Red Lake educational program, the community itself, and, hopefully, even K-12 students. ---------------------------------------------------------- LACK OF WORK INTEREST STYMIES ANDERSON FABRICS/RED LAKE PLANT PROJECT BLACKDUCK -- It looked like a much needed economic boon when, last year, Anderson Fabrics and Red Lake administration embarked on a joint project to bring new industry and good paying jobs to the Red Lake Nation. Per Dr. Arlan Kangas, at Minnesota Community Development, Detroit Lakes, half a million federal and state dollars were approved by the legislature and the Governor to help fund the work facility. But now, Ron Anderson says that the project died due to a lack of people willing to work in the positions, which were entry-level at $8 an hour. "The biggest issue was people," he said, "we couldn't seem to find the 30 people we needed to run it." And due to high employee turnover, he said that, actually, 60 people would have to be hired to keep the thirty jobs filled; it was determined by consultants that, due to lack of interested, steady employees, the Red Lake plant wasn't a practical thing to do. Anderson said that he also experiences high turnover and absenteeism at his Blackduck plant, which employs over 400, starts at $8 an hour and has a firm-subsidized on-site day care facility. "We're running 5-8% absenteeism at that plant now," he said. Anderson said that when he went to Red Lake to recruit employees, he offered $500 a month to fund an employee bus to take them to the proposed plant. He said that, in the past, when he's tried to recruit workers for his Blackduck plant, obstacles such as transportation and day care have been raised. So he tried, as he put it, to "bring the work to the people," but when this was done, he said that an adequate 30 person work force, at Red Lake, could still not be found. Anderson said "I think it's due to decades of non-working;" that the problem had nothing to do with race; regardless of colour, "If they've been on generations of welfare, it's hard to get them off of it." Red Lake Chairman Bobby Whitefeather failed to return a call regarding the project; Beltrami Commissioner Sandra King, who was also involved, could not be contacted by presstime. ------------------------------------------------------------ BAGLEY SCHOOL TO BRING KURTZ BAGLEY -- With a Region 2 arts grant, Bagley School District (#162) will be bringing author Jane Kurtz of the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, to Bagley. Kurtz, the author of children's books, such as Pulling the Lion's Tail, will speak and sign books at the Bagley Public Library on Monday April 10, 2000, at 7 pm. The evening event is sponsored by Clearwater County Friends of the Library, said Karen Swanberg at an orientation meeting held in January at The Villages, Bagley. ------------------------------------------------------------ PARK RAPIDS FLUTE WORKSHOP PARK RAPIDS -- Per a release, a flute clinic for flutists of all ages and ability levels will take place at Riverside United Methodist Church in Park Rapids on Saturday, February 12, starting at 10:00 a.m. The workshop is sponsored by The Gemeinhardt Flute Co., Inc., Eckroth Music and by the Park Rapids Area Community Band. Flautist Richard Hahn from the University of Idaho will be the featured guest clinician. A "hands-on" workshop will take place in the morning, followed by a catered lunch from the 3rd Street Market in Park Rapids, and an afternoon Master Class. The day will conclude with a flute recital at 2:30 p.m. Workshop fee is $12.00, including lunch. The recital is free and open to the public. For registration forms and more information, call 732-1381. ---------------------------------------------------------- In Focus BACK TO HACK ! (Our In Focus feature is primarily pictoral - pictures appear in print edition only, photo captions follow): HACKENSACK -- As Lucette looks on, a cheery bonfire and wiener roast welcomes visitors to the annual Back to Hack, January 14th - 16th. Free hot dogs were provided by the Northwoods Trail Runners. Radar runs are held on Birch Lake, while Lars and Ole (the horses) take guests on a rustic Saturday afternoon tour of Hackensack. The horse drawn cart rides were conducted by Rob Immonen, of Moondance Ranch stables at Walker. Bird feeders by Richard Lorentzen, of Guthrie (218) 224-2186 wild bird@paulbunyan.net Craft fair shoppers sort through the quilts, loon pillows and other emboidery and needlework, by Rosemary True of Backus, and Lee Schmidtke. As they do each year, the American Legion Chili Crew, from left, Keith Kyle, Melodee Collison, Barb Kyle, and Larry Collison, cooked up a heaping pot of their specialty which warmed the afternoon for the many guests who packed the hall for the feed, like LouAnn Blanchard, Hackensack, shown at right enjoying a fine bowl of red. An Economical and Gastronomic Nearby Vacation. To best enjoy Back to Hack, it's best to stay there, even if you're nearby. Once you've paid the reasonable lodging, much of the good food is free or cheap. Local restaurants offer fish frys, or deals like 16 oz. Porterhouse for $9.95. It's a mid-winter Minnesota Getaway value. Robin Cousins, of Laporte, makes Barbie doll tents and also has a selection of painted sawblades that she brought to the Back to Hack craft fair. Back to Hack featured chainsaw carving at the waterfront; also a kids' Treasure Hunt, Open Skate, Torchlight Parade, Fireworks, Family Dance, Karoke, and a Cash Drawing at the Pancake Breakfast. There were more Lions than there were in a zoo, and lot of hungry eaters at the Back to Hack Lions' Pancake Feed in the Community Building Sunday morning. Little Miss & Mr. Hackensack ---------------------------- Saturday afternoon saw the annual pageant and coronation convene at Pauly's River House. New Hackensack Royalty Stephanie Stine and Jake Young display trophies and $100 bond certificates; entrants Natalie Stine and Brittany Navarra receive roses. After a years' fine service, outgoing Mr. Hackensack, Eric Monson, crowns the new Little Mr. Erin Johnson was runner-up and will fulfill the duties of Little Miss Hackensack should the winner become unable. Natalie and Stephanie Stine in Talent Competition. ---------------------------------------------------------- Editorials - Opinion GOVERNOR'S PLAN OR NOT, NORTH STILL GETS A LOT OF $$$S Why? ... Should the State pay for a vehicle cold-weather testing facility at International Falls? If the auto manufacturers think cold weather testing is so important, let them pay to make it cold here. Next thing you know, they'll want to test snow tires and expect the State taxpayers, in lean years, to pay for making snow.... -- Ed. In recent weeks, the Governor's bonding proposal has met with liberal criticism over having seemingly left out Northern Minnesota. Who kidding who here? Bemidji was practically built on welfare, tuition and government grants. In the 90s, when other Greater Minnesota towns were stagnating, Bemidji's economy was buoyed up by a disproportionate amount (per capita) of this external wealth finding its way into the local economy through faculty salaries (paid by government subsidized tuition) at a large state university here, food stamps, medical assistance, and direct welfare and capital grants for local government and the many non-profits. Despite producing little for export out of the region, Bemidji's tax-funded prosperity has been very visible in new construction and services. Last year, the city undertook a 1.3 million project to renovate Union Station. We just built a new $75 million high school and the middle school isn't very old. The winter lights of the "First City on the Mississippi" are still on the trees, soon to be cut down and discarded to be replaced next year. City and county employees got a pay hike. We're not exactly hurting for cash. Welfare reform is taking a while here, but is coming; this will help employers who are now having trouble finding willing workers, and that industry growth will then spur the economy. The University will always be an asset. And for now, the Northland, including its other less affluent counties, will continue to receive its annual growth boost through the influx of state and federal funds. The Governor's bonding package does what many politicians have been unwilling to do. It says that the state coffers are not a bottomless well. It draws the line on what the state will fund for the good of all of its residents, and devotes public funds to areas of the state which, although they provide much of the revenue, haven't, historically, received as much of the pie as we have. If the Northland wants heightened capital growth, it's up to the Northland now to do the things that bring it about. To be industry-friendly, keeping our minds and eyes open, welcoming new views, and new competition; to encourage work oriented individuals; to realize that when you educate welfare recipients, after a point, you just get very knowledgable welfare recipients; to realize that people need to be trained in more than just grant-writing; to be progressive, not provincial; and to promote the kind of local policy that spur the tax base and economic growth. As a region, we have to stop looking to the state to throw money at our problems (or what we perceive as economic woes). To a large extent, we are supported by the Metro area. We need to offer a hand to St. Paul instead of always going there with our hand out. The Governor is doing his job to secure needed state services for Minnesotans at the lowest tax cost - and he's already returned some of the money saved. As to overall public aid, we still get more than our fair share of the pie. -------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor SHOULD U.S. PAY METRO WAGES IN GREATER MINNESOTA? [The U.S. 2000 Census is] a job that pays well unless you happen to live in northern and western Minnesota. People working in Moorhead, Breckenridge and East Grand Forks or anyplace in northwestern Minnesota are paid $1.50 to $2.00 per hour less than the same job in eastern North Dakota. They are not allowed to get the better paying jobs in North Dakota because you have to live in the area you work in. The pay differential is even worse when comparing Minnesota locations. A person doing field work in Moorhead, Crookston or Alexandria gets $8.50 per hour. The same job in Minneapolis, St. Paul pays $12.75. A crew leader in western Minnesota makes $10.00 per hour, in Minneapolis, St. Paul $14.25. In Moorhead an office clerk makes $6.50, compared to $10.50 in the Cities. Don't people in this area of Minnesota deserve the same economic opportunities as the people in Minneapolis, St. Paul or Fargo, ND? I think so. It is unfair and immoral that the census bureau is trying to take advantage of economic hard times in rural areas by paying less because people are desperate. Rural Minnesota people are just as good and important as the people in North Dakota and Minneapolis-St. Paul and deserve to be paid accordingly. [Name and address withheld by request] We reply: It costs a lot to live in New York City. Just an apartment there can cost well over $1,000 a month. Competitive wages have to be higher there, otherwise people wouldn't work, and couldn't afford to live there. Does this mean that a federal employer (in other words, the taxpayers) should pay New York City wages for work done in Arkansas? No nationally-operating business would do that. The government should be a good employer, but doesn't have to be the best in town. There is a lot of wisdom in paying the prevailing local wage; not some arbitrary wage geared to a wage/price index somewhere else. Remember, as a taxpayer, you're not just getting it, you're paying it too. -- Ed. ---------------------------------------------------------- RALLY FOR RURAL AMERICA MEETINGS SCHEDULED STATEWIDE ST. PAUL -- Per a release, citizens from throughout the nation will gather in Washington, D.C., on March 21st to call upon Congress to address the crisis gripping rural communities from the farm gate to faith community. The Rally for Rural America is an opportunity for farmers, bankers, church leaders, business owners and others to speak with one voice. Minnesota Farmers Union is taking the lead on a state level to coordinate organizations and activities for the event, and is part of the larger, national effort being coordinated by the National Farmers Union. Among the changes for which citizens will call include: labeling of genetically-modified organisms, country-of-origin labeling, a "living wage for farmers," increasing the marketing loan rate, extending the marketing loan period; facility loan programs and creation of a farmer-owned grain reserve. Informational meetings will be conducted throughout the state during February to explain the event and to enlist citizen participation. MFU is encouraging all of its members to participate and help spread the word. Upcoming meetings Early February meetings have been held in Thief River Falls, Detroit Lakes and Staples. Upcoming regional informational meetings are scheduled as follows: Thursday, Feb. 10, Granite Falls: 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the 95th Club; Worthington: 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn. Friday, Feb. 11, Austin: 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Austin Public Library; Mankato: 2-4 p.m. at the in the Mankato Room of the Mankato Best Western motel. For more info, contact: Pete Takash, MFU public affairs director, at 651-639-1223 ----------------------------------------------------------- YANISCH ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY EAST GRAND FORKS -- Rebecca Yanisch announced her candidacy, February 3rd, for the DFL nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Rod Grams. She joins James Gibson, who announced last summer that he would oppose Grams and is seeking the nomination of the Reform Party. ------------------------------------------------------------ CASS CONSERVATION EASEMENT WALKER -- The Leech Lake Watershed Foundation, a non-profit organization for conservation, has sponsored and supported purchase of a conservation easement on one-half mile of natural shoreline on a Lake in Cass County. The Tri-County Leech Lake Watershed Project (TCLLWP) announced that the private lands will be protected in a natural state in perpetuity. In other news, TCLLWP honored Ronald Harnack, Exec. Dir., Minn. Board of Soil & Water Resources, for his work in lakes management and conservation. ---------------------------------------------------------------- BEMIDJI PARENT COMPLAINS OF SCHOOL BUS POLICY BEMIDJI -- The father of an ISD 31 drivers' ed student has complained about the lack of public school transportation for students taking that course, which he said, can keep the student at school until 5:30 p.m. The father said that the school's activity buses no longer serve driver's ed students who have to stay after normal hours. "I work at night and my wife works at night and he's got absolutely no way to get home," the student's father said, adding that the family paid $225 in additional fees for the drivers' ed course. ISD 31 is just now finishing construction of its new $75 million high school near 5th St. under an approved bond issue. Rollie Morud, ISD 31 Superintendent, refused to return phone calls for information on the school bus policy and the matter of needed, and possibly required, transportation for the drivers' ed students. ------------------------------------------------------- FASCISTS GET GRANT, WILL PUSH FOR MINNESOTA RESTAURANT ANTI-SMOKING LAW. Headed by groups opposed to American freedom of choice, and business owners' property rights, a movement is now afoot to introduce a west coast style anti-smoking law in Minnesota. In California, smoking is not permitted in any restaurants or bars. In Minnesota, the first target is the restaurants. On January 12th, the Blue Cross Foundation gave a $50,000 grant to lay the foundation for legislative action. The Northeast chapter of the American Lung Association announced that the grant money will go to the legislative purpose and will involve a campaign known as the Stop Teen Tobacco Organizing Project. It is expected that, while the purpose is to discourage freedom of choice as to whether or not to smoke (by adults), as with other measures, a legislative attempt would probably be founded upon a guise of reducing teenage tobacco use (which has nothing to do with any restaurant ban); and employee's health (many of them smoke anyway). Pat McKone, senior director of the American Lung Association said, "it's about public health." Although some blame second-hand smoke for about 3,000 to 5,000 lung cancer deaths a year, it is not known how many of those persons would have died anyway, within a short time, from cancer or other complications had they not been exposed. On the other side of the coin, a few years ago, a leading epidemiologist and state medical officer (Idaho) said that with all of the other pollutants in the air, if all secondhand smoke were removed immediately, the public health effect would be "zero to nil." When restaurants go non-smoking, they alienate about 25% of their clientele who often find somewhere else to eat, so some owners of restaurants which have chosen to go non-smoking, apparently, have opted to take choice away from their patrons and are now backing a measure making all restaurant smoking unlawful in order to draw back customers who have chosen to eat elsewhere where they may now smoke. The subject matter of this story was originally reported in the Duluth News-Tribune of January 14th, 2000. For more info, readers may wish to see that article. ---------------------------------------------------------- Consumer Corner --------------- Readers are invited to submit consumer complaints or compliments to this column, and to our Auto Service Forum. Send info c/o this paper, P.O. Box 1535, Bemidji, MN 56619 TAX SOFTWARE - 2000 CAVEATS This is the time of year that both accountants and consumers buy software to prepare their, or others', taxes. Recent buyouts have narrowed the choices and two firms have come to note of which purchasers should be aware. Universal Tax Systems, Inc. of Rome, Georgia markets a seemingly attractive professional product known as TaxWise. An aggressive marketing strategy encouraged orders for their pay per return system (starts at $239). But on January 28th, they notified accountants who had ordered and paid for that system, that Universal was unable to timely deliver, and a shipping date certain was unknown. This is unacceptable to most tax practitioners, considering that they've got a 4 month revenue season. Additionally, the Universal personnel, aware of the software market bind created by shortage of competition, may be particularly arrogant and not oriented toward the purchaser. Although coming off, when they're trying to get your business, as professional and soft spoken, if a customer complains of their lack of diligence in filling the orders, they may simply cancel the order which he has placed and for which he has paid. H & R Block markets a popular low-cost consumer product known as Kiplinger TaxCut which starts at $14.95 with a rebate and free electronic filing offered. The software may be adequate for many individuals to prepare their own returns. But research has shown that if a person has a question on the use of the product, he may have problems getting through on their Consumer Service lines, which appear to be inadequate for the tax season. It is not known whether their electronic filing lines can be easily accessed. As always, consumers are cautioned about the use of do-it-yourself tax software. It prepares the forms, but cannot render a professional opinion regarding specifics, such as deductibility of items or tax-saving strategies. In some cases, this may make it surprisingly easy to prepare an incorrect return! -- Ed. ----------------------------------------------------------- Direct Answers from Wayne and Tamara ------------------------------------ INFIDELITY, LIKE PHYSICAL ABUSE, IRRETRIEVABLY BREAKS MARRIAGE No Excuses In December, 1998, my husband confessed to me that he had an affair with a younger woman. To this day I still find it hard to "be with him." He told me so many lies and deceived me so often, how can I ever trust him completely again? He did this to me at Christmas time, so this year I found it hard to celebrate Christmas but I got through it! Whenever we are "together," I find myself picturing him and her and I end up crying. Since the affair happened I have been on medication for depression, and I am still on it today. We have gone through counseling and neither the counselor nor my husband can figure out why he did it! Shouldn't there be an answer to why? We hadn't even been fighting when he had the affair. I thought everything was going great. Do you have any advice for me? -- Piper Piper, the one thing that makes marriage different from all other relationships is fidelity. It is the sign you are united mentally and physically with someone else. Having an affair reduces intimacy to just having sex, and that is why you keep seeing your husband with the other woman. Your husband did what he did intentionally. He won't give you an honest explanation because he knows how you would react. Perhaps you should be grateful your counselor hasn't offered psychological alibis to excuse his behavior and obscure the issue. In a sense, there is nothing to counsel. What he has done, can't be undone. You can't unbake a cake. Now you have to decide what is right for you. No "why" will make what he did acceptable. -- Wayne & Tamara Northern Herald adds: Infidelity, as well as physical abuse, destroys the trust implicit in the marriage covenant. It's like taking a fine watch and smashing it with a sledge hammer. A skilled jeweler might be able to put the pieces back together, but it will never again run the same or as well as it once did. -- Ed. Wayne and Tamara Mitchell are the authors of YOUR OTHER HALF (www.YourOtherHalf.com). Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or e-mail: DirectAnswers@echowork.com. Northern Herald is pleased to welcome and now include, on an occasional basis, Wayne and Tamara's nationally-syndicated Direct Answers column. -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 01/05/2000 - VOLUME 5 NO. 5 -------------------------------------- NORTHLAND WINTER FESTIVALS TO FILL JANUARY BEMIDJI & HACKENSACK -- Snow or no, Northland winter festivals get under way in January, with two annual events kicking the season off at Bemidji and Hackensack. Bemidji's Polar Days will commence the weekend of the 15th. Per a release, the 27th Annual Pepsi/Nei Bottling Paul Bunyan Sled Dog Races will return to the Beltrami County Fairgrounds on January 15 & 16. The races, a Bemidji tradition for over a quarter century, are the first professional sled dog races in the Midwest scheduled for the year 2000. According to Race Director Kathy Lussier, "It is only fitting that the oldest continuous sled dog race in the Midwest should be the first to welcome the new Millennium." In addition to the traditional professional and amateur 4-, 6-, and 10-dog teams, skijoring, and junior classes, this year's millennial extravaganza will feature a weight pull, mutt race, sponsors' race, dual starts, and a winter craft fair. On Saturday, a weight pull, co-sponsored by the Tri-State Alaskan Malamute Club, will feature canines of all sizes pulling loads weighing up to a thousand pounds. On Sunday, the 2nd Annual Hometown Sponsors Race will pit local businessmen and women against the clock as they compete for the coveted Paul Bunyan Sled Dog Races Traveling Trophy. Also on Sunday, the one-dog Mutt Race will give local children with their favorite pet a chance to go for the gold. New this year on both days will be the exciting "dual start" format, where racing teams leave the starting chutes two-at-a-time as they race "head to head" as well as against the clock. In addition, the races have added a new Klondike Kraft Fair, featuring woodcrafters, furriers, skijoring equipment, and exotic animals. Admission is free, parking is convenient, and hot food will be available at the 4-H booth. Racing both days begins at 10:00 A.M. Volunteers are needed - interested persons are encouraged to meet Jan. 12th at 7 pm at the Bemidji Library. Each year crowds flock to Hackensack as the town fills up for Back to Hack days. Some make their lodging reservations a year in advance for the event, January 14th through 16th. In addition to convenient in town lodging at the Owl's Nest (218-675-6141), visitors will find good food at Hack's many fine restaurants, including The Yukon, River House, Up North Cafe and Deb Rateike's new Trailside Deli, at 1st & Whipple, which stays open late and features Italian style sandwiches, Gyros and Vienna dogs. Unfortunately, Deb's is hospitable only to non-smokers. The lineup of events at this year's Back to Hack include: Friday 7-8 pm Bonfire & Hot Dog Roast at City Park Saturday 10-4 Kids' Treasure Hunt; Woodcarving Exhibit & Concessions by Birch Lake; 9-3 Winter Flea Market at the Community Bldg.; 10-1 Open Skate at the Skating Rink (w/warming house); 10-3 Radar Runs on Birch Lake; 12-4 Chili Feed at American Legion (don't miss this); 12-3 sleigh rides on Birch Lake; 4 pm Little Mr. & Miss Hackensack Pageant at the River House; 5 pm Torchlight Parade; 6 pm fireworks; 7:30-10 pm Family Dance at the Community Bldg.; 8:30 pm Karaoke at American Legion. Sunday 7:30-11 am Lions' Pancake Breakfast at the Community Bldg.; 11 am Cash drawing at the Community Bldg.; 1 pm Birch Lake Ice Racers (ice permitting). -------------------------------------------------------------- PRESSURE ON TO LABEL, REMOVE GENETICALLY-ALTERED FOOD Consumer Rejection May Cause Lower World Farm Prices for Crops Grown From GMO Seed FAIRFIELD, IA -- A few years ago it was hailed as a major breakthrough when insulin, previously obtained from animal glands for persons with life threatening diabetes, could be cheaply produced in quantity by genetically modified bacteria. Today, though, with more laboratories and agricultural firms "playing God" with the food we eat, there is mounting consumer pressure to ban, or at least label, genetically modified foodstuffs, and here in Fairfield, the firm of Genetic ID, whose owner, John Fagan recently appeared on Nightline, is offering concerned consumers a certification that certified foods are, to a scientific standard, free of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Genetic modification means that a microscopic gene from another (donor) plant or animal has been inserted into the food plant (or animal) which causes it to grow, or produce chemicals as would the donor plant. To give an example, some plants produce their own natural insecticide. To produce a corn plant more resistant to agricultural pests, a gene was inserted into a corn plant and seed was produced that would grow into more insect resistant mature corn crops. But there may be unknown side effects. In this case, it was discovered that pollen from the GM corn was toxic to the larvae of the Monarch butterfly. Similarly, Turning Point Project recently wrote, "A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that when a gene from a Brazil nut was engineered into soybeans, people allergic to nuts had serious reactions." Other objections have included possible toxicity, antibiotic resistance, increased risk of cancer and immuno- suppression. The greatest threat is that genetics alter the chemicals that living cells produce. Ingesting the wrong gene could, theoret-ically, cause body cells to produce toxic chemicals, inducing disease to which humans or other animals have no natural resistance and to which no cure may be known. And these threats are compounded by the fact that, at present, there are no U.S. labeling requirements for GMOs - a person literally can't know what he's eating. Agricultural impact. Genetic ID's Jeff Smith stated in interview that a proposal to label GMOs, in Europe, is scheduled to be ratified later this month. He anticipates that consumer rejection of GMOs may cause export problems and lower world farm prices for crops containing them. Smith said that 60-75% of the foods, and even more processed foods, sold in the U.S. now contain GMO ingredients. "The prolifer-ation is enormous," he said. Turning Point's recently published partial (very) list of common items that contain unlabeled GMOs included such common items as Fritos(R) Corn Chips, Kellogg's(R) Corn Flakes, Total(R) cereal, Quaker(R) Granola Bars, Ball Park(R) Franks, Duncan Hines(R) cake mix, Aunt Jemima(R) pancake mix, certain Morningstar Farms(R) products, Jiffy(R) Corn Muffin mix and McDonald's(R) McVeggie burgers. Processed food ingredients likely to contain GMOs include soy flour; canola oil; lecithin; corn flour, starch & oil. Acknowledgments (and for more info, see): Genetic ID (515-472-9979) (http://www.geneticid.com); Turning Point Project (http://www.turnpoint.org); Mothers for Natural Law (http://www.safe-food.org) ---------------------------------------------------------- KINKEL WALLOPS PETERSON/ BATCHELDER TEAM Bemidji Mayor Loses in All 5 Bemidji Wards Following a Dist. 4 State Senate campaign keynoted by charges of deceptive advertising on the part of the Republicans and their Senate candidate and long-time Bemidji Mayor, Doug Peterson; his opponent, former 6-term Representative, DFLer Tony Kinkel took an easy victory across the five county area which comprises the district and finished with 51.1% of the vote, with Peterson at 37% and Don Stefan, Reform Party, at 11.7%. Peterson's campaign had been managed by Bemidji businessman and Republican Bill Batchelder who operates a concern which advertises to unwary tourists as Bemidji Woolen Mills; except that there is no present mill, as most would understand the term, and the business is primarily a retail store which sells wool shirts made elsewhere and "private-labeled" as Bemidji Woolen Mills garments. At last inspection, they also sold a lot of synthetics. Kinkel was called upon, many times, to answer Republican charges and scare tactics surrounding the recent Twins stadium proposal, "I never voted for your tax dollars [to be used] for a Twins stadium ... you've been deceived," Kinkel said during the campaigns. And Peterson's campaign repeatedly stressed that lower taxes were his main priority notwithstanding that Bemidji taxes have risen steeply in his recent years as Mayor. Of the three major dist. 4 counties, the Peterson/Batchelder team were able to sell their tax talk best in Hubbard, where Peterson got 1,756 votes (38.6%), compared to 2,681 (49.5%) for Kinkel. But voters in Bemidji, where Peterson is better known as Mayor, didn't buy it. In all five Bemidji wards he was soundly defeated; Bemidji totals were Kinkel: 1150 (57.1%), Peterson: 697 (34.6%) and Stefan: 164 (8.1%); with the greatest margin found in the tax-conscious Bemidji Ward 1, where Kinkel clobbered Peterson by 310 (63.8%) to 150 (30%). District-wide vote totals were Kinkel: 8239, Peterson: 5966, Stefan: 1885, write-in: 27. --------------------------------------------------------- BELTRAMI COUNTY OFFICES CLOSED FOR NON-HOLIDAY BEMIDJI -- While the Post Office and many banks remained open for customer service, the over-tax-paid employees of the pork-laden Beltrami County payroll decided to take the day off on December 31st, a day which is not a generally recognized holiday and on which some wanted to pay their 1999 taxes to keep property off the delinquent rolls. Those taxpayers were generally allowed to come in Monday and pay without additional penalty and the treasurer reported that several of them did so. In Beltrami County, the employees are represented by the AFSCME, a particularly strong union to which the commissioners have, historically, been reluctant to stand up. Editor's Note: This is a small county. If we'd simply cut the payroll (number of county positions) by about half, there might be enough work to keep the employees busy so they wouldn't have to take so much time off. City of Bemidji too (have you ever glanced around City Hall on a Friday afternoon?) --------------------------------------------------------- Consumer Corner Readers are invited to submit consumer complaints or compliments to this column, and to our Auto Service Forum. Send info c/o this paper, P.O. Box 1535, Bemidji, MN 56619 CHASTITY BELTS - MANUFACTURER'S CLAIMS, PRICES COMPARED You couldn't enforce adultery laws in Bemidji - It would be too tough on Bemidji Men. Too many of their wives would be in jail too much of the time. -- Ed. Spring weddings are just around the corner! Given the realities of today's female social trends, a prospective groom, particularly if marrying a Bemidji bride, will want to consider, along with a pre-nep and Swiss bank account to protect his assets, one of the many fine chastity belts now available. The better belts are custom designed to the wife's measurements for comfortable fit, and, it has been reported, can be worn for extended periods of time (i.e. days, weeks or longer) when the husband is away. Many uses. As well as its traditional use to protect the integrity of the marriage and health of the family, the female chastity belt, today, also has other benefits. It is a strong deterrent to rape, and may be of benefit not just to spouses, but also to parents sending their daughters away to BSU's, or other, co-ed dorms where students sometimes have overnight "visits" in each others' rooms. Not just for newlyweds, these belts may be of use to couples moving to Bemidji from elsewhere; who have had a sound marriage for many years that they want to keep that way. The belts may offset the acceptance, considerable peer pressure and sometimes even alleged condonement from the clergy, for women here to engage in promiscuity and adultery. Types of Belts. Contemporary belts are predominantly made of either leather or stainless steel. Leather belts can be had for well under $100, but many are only a seal - that is, in a moment of temptation, some can be easily cut off with a pair of scissors. Their purpose, then, is primarily to let the husband know (by their absence) that a breach has occurred so he can move his wife's belongings to curbside. Also, the less expensive leather belts may not be as well (if at all) designed for normal hygiene, and so may not be suited for long term wear. These specifics should be discussed with the manufacturer before ordering. More appropriate, in the rugged Northland social environment, are the stainless steel models (generally lined for comfortable wearing) of which three manufacturers are listed. These are not cheap. They run $350 and up, but this still compares favorably with the costs of divorce, shattered families, homes and lives. The stainless steel belts can, with tools, generally be removed in an emergency (as with any security device, no belt is indefeatable), but are less likely to otherwise be violated, in a moment of indiscretion, than the leather belts. Of long-term wear, Jan Thor (http://www.janthor.de/guide.html) wrote, " ... it seems quite credible that several people wear them for several months. I never heard of anybody wearing it for years but this should be technically possible." Of the steel belts, there are two primary designs, connecting at the rear either by 1) a single G string, or 2) with two straps in a "V" shape. For obvious reasons, the latter is better suited to comfortable long-term wear, and so is the design priced here. The following list of products is not all inclusive. Some other manufacturers, as well as further information, may be found on the net, at: http://www.janthor.de/khgaddresses.html and http://www.tpe.com/~altarboy/f-index.htm The following information is solely per manufacturer's representations; because we have not independently tested samples of all of the products, we can make no representation as to their fitness for any particular use, comparative quality or recommendation of any particular product. The models listed appear streamlined and attractive enough for everyday casual or formal wear. The reader should be aware that tastes differ, however, and it is advised that a photo of the product be viewed before ordering. As the better belts are custom-made to measurements, they generally cannot be returned. Leather. The lowest priced leather belt surveyed is $59.95, from JAMIN', 4015 Hwy 501, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 (843-903-3936) (http://www.leathercat. com). This belt, however, has no hygienic accommodations, and so is probably not suited for any but very brief wear with the keyholder present. A better adapted leather belt is made, for $118.50, by Noir Leather, 124 W. 4th St., Royal Oak MI 48067 (248-541-3979). Noir's belt is not custom made, and is in stock. Paul C Leather, 2421 W. Pratt St., Suite 959, Chicago, IL 60645 (773-508-0848) custom designs the female belt from stronger "chap" leather, lined with soft pigskin, for $135. A turnaround time of 6-8 weeks should be allowed for delivery. Stainless Steel. All of the following steel belts listed are custom-made to measurements. One of the best-known belts is made by Access Denied, 568 W. Hoffman Ave., Lindenhurst, NY 11757 (516-226-7935) (http://www.chastitybelt.net/home.html) Their basic belt, in satin finish, is $375. They also offer a higher priced adjustable belt. Turnaround is 6 weeks. The fashion-conscious lady may, instead, prefer the classic lines of the well-established European Tollyboy belts which start at L.250 Sterling, or about $409 U.S. Order from Tollyboy, P.O. Box 27, Dronfield, Sheffield, S188DN, United Kingdom (phone: 44(0)870-164-0008) (http://www.tollyboy.com) Turnaround: 6 weeks. A third maker of the stainless steel belt is a firm known as Reliable Spousal Security (RSS), which advertises a belt for $350 with custom design options (e.g. a row of little hearts, etc.) at no extra charge, and engraving available. A caveat is appropriate: The firm advertises that it has only been around since summer of '99, and we have inquired, but have been able to determine no permanent address or telephone number. As a reasonable sum of money is involved, (and really, when buying anything) a consumer would want to establish these things before buying, in case adjustment after the sale is required. We would never buy from someone we could not speak to in advance, and you may want to buy from one of the more established firms. RSS (http://www.respsec.com/female.html) can be contacted only by e-mail at rss@respsec.com Editor's Note: It is generally unlawful to put a chastity belt on anyone without their consent. Of course, if your wife or daughter objects to wearing one, that should tell you something of her intentions, and you can plan your life accordingly. ------------------------------------------------------ Northern Herald's DICTIONARY OF CHRISTIANITY Understanding Christians made simple St. James version - Installment I "WHAT GOD WANTS": Christians have precisely the same quantity of notion as to what God wants as anyone else, which is none. In actuality, God does not want at all - he simply does his will. In this, it's fundamental to understand that a guy who could create the heavens and the earth in six days is pretty capable - our best and most expensive contractors can't duplicate this feat, even at sweetheart government contract rates. God doesn't have to want. This, then, is a handy phrase used to justify any action or omission on the part of and at the sole volition of the Christian, particularly where it is contrary to the rights or desires of others. Sometimes, Christians even use this handy phrase to deceive themselves, or each other. Because it actually is intended to justify what the Christian wants, or has done, it is the most profound form of taking the Lord's name in vain. Oddly though, when the phrase is used to describe events already happened, it is nonetheless always almost true (it would be perfectly true if you substituted the word "wills" for "wants") as God's will is always done. It would have been equally true if the events had happened in the opposite. Example: "I was going to set fire to the building and shoot the occupants as they came running out, but it wasn't what God wanted, so I didn't." Note 1: If the building housed an abortionists' convention, then the Christian might change the negated verbs in the above example to positive, and the conjunction "but" would then properly be changed to "and." Note 2: The fact that the eventual outcome was, in fact, God's will, neither justifies, nor excuses either the criminality (under man's law) or the sinfulness (under the Bible) of a criminal or sinful act, nor the further sin of taking the Lord's name in vain. For further clarification and resolution of this apparent paradox, see "WE ARE ALL SINNERS" in a future installment. "FORGIVENESS": An appropriate remedy for any transgression on the part of the Christian doing the speaking. A Bible verse or sermon part containing this word should be recited. "CONSEQUENCES": An appropriate remedy for any transgression on the part of anyone else, including another Christian, which offends the Christian doing the speaking. A Bible verse or sermon part containing this word should be recited. Any person who believes that they will ultimately be forgiven for any transgression against another, no matter how severe, is inherently an untrustworthy and potentially dangerous person. Note: This is not to demean the fundamental teachings of Christianity - only the distorted way that those teachings are sometimes preached and practiced. -------------------------------------------------------- In Focus (The IN FOCUS feature is primarily pictoral; the photos, however, are only in the print edition) BIELOH FEEDS CROWDS AT ANNUAL GAME FEAST (picture caption - photos only in print edition): WALKER -- Each year, after the hunt, Bill Bieloh, owner of Bieloh's Family Foods at Walker, shares the harvest with shoppers and others who drop in for his complimentary game feed. At this 9th annual feast, December 16th, 1999 in the store's sit-down deli restaurant, with extra tables, due to the turnout, overflowing to near the aisles, diners were treated to excellent and hearty venison stew, venison meatballs, goose, and pheasant. Said Bieloh, of the bounty, "and this year my wife helped contribute to it." Also served were wild rice, potatoes, a vegetable tray with dip and assorted bars for dessert. Bieloh said it's "Customer Appreciation Day to thank everybody for past business," and that there would be another feast next year. Said diner Walter James of the food, "It's very good and I really appreciate the opportunity to get to eat here." -------------------------------------------------------------- (Picture caption - photos only in print edition): A comedian performs at La Rosa Mexican Restaurant and Lounge in the Rainbow Inn complex, Grand Rapids. The lounge now features stand-up comedy on an occasional basis with the next perfomance on January 15th. --------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor CHRISTIANITY AND MARRIAGE - BEMIDJI STYLE This letter is to inform the local area that we have a rotten apple in one of our churches. His name is Mr. Arlo Feiock, he does not deserve the right to use the word "pastor" or "reverend" let alone the use of Mr. as he is no gentleman in my thinking. This man has openly lied under oath about a great many things! I have the affidavits to prove this. He has and still is trying to cause undue stress to myself and my children by interfering in personal matters. I always thought that a "Man of God" was supposed to help both parties of his congregation and not to take sides. Well, he has taken a very strong side in my separation and divorce proceedings. How can this "Man of the Cloth" condone and aid someone in the act of lies, theft and adultery?! How can a "Man of the Cloth" go to a mediation meeting, to which he has no business being at in the first place, and out and out try to bring about a blackmail situation?! How can this "Man of the Cloth" bring about a legal proceeding, an Order for Protection, when there is absolutely no basis for this action and he knows that?! What person of God, let alone a layman, would keep calling day and night and even going so far as to invade a person's home when he knows that he is to stay away?! In fact, he tried to pay us visit this morning knowing that he was to stay away. How can a "Man of God" come right out and threaten a person that if he doesn’t do something, that he will go to jail, knowing that the situation is already on a tight rope?! How can this so called "Person of God" help get a person kicked out his home so that the other side could go in and steal?! Why should two children be so afraid of a "Man of the Cloth!" You should ask yourself what has he done for this to come about. These are just a few of things that this man has done to my family. I would like to know how he can justify his actions to his congregation, himself and to God. In my mind this is just a sinful man and somewhere down the line he will have to answer for his actions because they will definitely be called upon for answering. For this man to use the White Collar in the way that he has been doing is a great disrespect for the teachings of God. I believe that you all need to be aware of a man like this and the need is there to do a background check before putting your faith on the line with him. Please beware of this man wearing the White Collar! Jim Allen Cass Lake, Minn. Editor's Note: Per Mr. Allen, he found his wife of 23 yrs., Brenda, with a New Mexico man, at a Bemidji motel in July, 1999. Jim Allen stated that shortly afterward, Pastor Feiock, of Bemidji's Bethany Free Lutheran Church, counseled her, advising her to go to the outlaw and corrupt "battered" women's shelter at Bemidji where she was then counseled to swear out a false application for an Order for Protection forcing Mr. Allen from his home so that the other man could move in and Brenda could remove jointly-owned goods, subsequently taking them with her to New Mexico. Allen has claimed that then, in divorce proceedings, Feiock submitted a false affidavit on Brenda's behalf. Among other things, Mr. Allen takes issue with Feiock's statement that the Allens have lived apart many times; "I have never, prior to July, been separated from my wife," said Mr. Allen. Some of the problems may have been induced by certain drugs, speculated to be, sometimes, abusively prescribed in this region.. Mr. Allen said that his wife was on prescribed anti-depressants, and had regularly been using, "for many years," what is normally a short-term pain reliever, with codeine. Allen characterized the 23 year union as "a good marriage." Pastor Feiock has been offered the opportunity to publicly respond to this letter, but has failed to do so. ----------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor WE'RE ALWAYS GLAD TO GET STUFF LIKE THIS! I am not a regular reader of any paper as I find most of them way too liberal for my taste. Out of boredom while waiting for a meal I grabbed your rag and was genuinely surprised! I did not expect to be presented with a straightforward look at the Dist. 4 senate candidates. Although I vehemently disagree with your endorsement of yet another liberal democrat I must take my hat off for your balanced, articulate report. Your paper is worthwhile reading. Greg Anderson, conservative Park Rapids, Minn. Editor's Response: Thanks, Mr. Anderson! We'll keep it coming! -- Ed. -------------------------------------------------------------- Eventide - Arts & Literature ROUGHING IT by Mark Twain PREFACE by Northern Herald Although known primarily for his novels, some of Twain's best work was nonfiction. In ROUGHING IT, whence this excerpt is drawn, he describes his adventures traveling, prospecting and reporting in America's mid-nineteenth century West. Chapters of ROUGHING IT are not necessarily presented here in the order in which they occur in the bound volume; each, generally, is enjoyable on its own merits. The complete published volume is available from finer booksellers and libraries. This story takes up during Twain's prospecting days, when the bourgeoise of the era during these flush times of Nevada silver might, by evening, socialize, and trade and bandy about amongst others of the class hundreds or thousands of shares in prospective, but, at the moment, utterly worthless mine holdings; and by day, perhaps, to buy groceries, work in a silver refinery or quartz mill, as it was called, smelting ore from the relatively few mines that were actually producing. The reader should bear in mind, as concerns monetary amounts, that this was written in the late 1800s when a coin was worth something more than now. ROUGHING IT by Mark Twain CHAPTER XXXVI - AT WORK IN A QUARTZ MILL I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it. We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark. This mill was a six-stamp affair, driven by steam. Six tall upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery." Each of these rods or stamps weighed six hundred pounds. One of us stood by the battery all day long, breaking up masses of silver-bearing rock with a sledge and shoveling it into the battery. The ceaseless dance of the stamps pulverized the rock to powder, and a stream of water that trickled into the battery turned it to a creamy paste. The minutest particles were driven through a fine wire screen which fitted close around the battery, and were washed into great tubs warmed by superheated steam-amalgamating pans, they are called. The mass of pulp in the pans was kept constantly stirred up by revolving "mullers." A quantity of quicksilver was kept always in the battery, and this seized some of the liberated gold and silver particles and held on to them; quicksilver was shaken in a fine shower into the pans, also, about every half hour, through a buckskin sack. Quantities of coarse salt and sulfate of copper were added from time to time to assist the amalgamation by destroying base metals which coated the gold and silver and would not let it unite with the quicksilver. All these tiresome things we had to attend to constantly. Streams of dirty water flowed always from the pans and were carried off in broad wooden troughs to the ravine. One would not suppose that atoms of gold and silver would float on top of six inches of water, but they did; and in order to catch them, coarse blankets were laid in the troughs, and little obstructing "riffles" charged with quicksilver were placed here and there across the troughs also. These riffles had to be cleaned and the blankets washed out every evening, to get their precious accumulation -- and after all this eternity of trouble one-third of the silver and gold in a ton of rock would find its way to the end of the troughs in the ravine at last and have to be worked over again someday. There is nothing so aggravating as silver milling. There never was any idle time in that mill. There was always something to do. It is a pity that Adam could not have gone straight out of Eden into a quartz mill, in order to understand the full force of his doom to "earn his bread by the sweat of his brow." Every now and then, during the day, we had to scoop some pulp out of the pans and tediously "wash" it in a horn spoon -- wash it little by little over the edge 'til at last nothing was left but some little dull globules of quicksilver in the bottom. If they were soft and yielding, the pan needed some salt or some sulfate of copper, or some other chemical rubbish to assist digestion; if they were crisp to the touch and would retain a dint, they were freighted with all the silver and gold they could seize and hold, and consequently the pans needed a fresh charge of quicksilver. When there was nothing else to do, one could always "screen tailings." That is to say, he could shovel up the dried sand that had washed down to the ravine through the troughs and dash it against an upright wire screen to free it from pebbles and prepare it for working over. The process of amalgamation differed in the various mills, and this included changes in style of pans and other machinery, and great diversity of opinion existed as to the best in use, but none of the methods employed involved the principle of milling ore without "screening the tailings." Of all recreations in the world, screening tailings on a hot day, with a long-handled shovel is the most undesirable. At the end of the week the machinery was stopped and we "cleaned up." That is to say, we got the pulp out of the pans and batteries and washed the mud patiently away 'til nothing was left but the long-accumulating mass of quicksilver, with its imprisoned treasures. This we made into heavy, compact snowballs, and piled them up in a bright, luxurious heap for inspection. Making these snowballs cost me a fine gold ring -- that and ignorance together; for the quicksilver invaded the ring with the same facility with which water saturates a sponge -- separated its particles, and the ring crumbled to pieces. We put our pile of quicksilver balls into an iron retort that had a pipe leading from it to a pail of water, and then applied a roasting heat. The quicksilver turned to vapor, escaped through the pipe into the pail, and the water turned it into good wholesome quicksilver again. Quicksilver is very costly, and they never waste it. On opening the retort, there was our week’s work -- a lump of pure-white, frosty-looking silver, twice as large as a man’s head. Perhaps a fifth of the mass was gold, but the color of it did not show -- would not have shown if two-thirds of it had been gold. We melted it up and made a solid brick of it by pouring it into an iron brick mold. By such a tedious and laborious process were silver bricks obtained. This mill was but one of many others in operation at the time. The first one in Nevada was built at Egan Canyon and was a small, insignificant affair and compared most unfavorably with some of the immense establishments afterward located at Virginia City and elsewhere. From our bricks a little corner was chipped off for the "fire assay" -- a method used to determine the proportions of gold, silver, and base metals in the mass. This is an interesting process. The chip is hammered out as thin as paper and weighed on scales, so fine and sensitive that if you weigh a two-inch scrap of paper on them and then write your name on the paper with a coarse, soft pencil and weigh it again, the scales will take marked notice of the addition. Then a little lead (also weighed) is rolled up with the flake of silver and the two are melted at a great heat in a small vessel called a cupel, made by compressing bone ashes into a cup shape in a steel mold. The base metals oxidize and are absorbed with the lead into the pores of the cupel. A button or globule of perfectly pure gold and silver is left behind, and by weighing it and noting the loss, the assayer knows the proportion of base metal the brick contains. He has to separate the gold from the silver now. The button is hammered out flat and thin, put in the furnace, and kept some time at a red heat; after cooling it off it is rolled up like a quill and heated in a glass vessel containing nitric acid; the acid dissolves the silver and leaves the gold pure and ready to be weighed on its own merits. Then salt water is poured into the vessel containing the dissolved silver and the silver returns to palpable form again and sinks to the bottom. Nothing now remains but to weigh it; then the proportions of the several metals contained in the brick are known, and the assayer stamps the value of the brick upon its surface. The sagacious reader will know now, without being told, that the speculative miner, in getting a "fire assay" made of a piece of rock from his mine (to help him sell the same), was not in the habit of picking out the least valuable fragment of rock on his dump pile, but quite the contrary. I have seen men hunt over a pile of nearly worthless quartz for an hour, and at last find a little piece as large as a filbert, which was rich in gold and silver -- and this was reserved for a fire assay! Of course the fire assay would demonstrate that a ton of such rock would yield hundreds of dollars -- and on such assays many an utterly worthless mine was sold. Assaying was a good business, and so some men engaged in it, occasionally, who were not strictly scientific and capable. One assayer got such rich results out of all specimens brought to him that in time he acquired almost a monopoly of the business. But like all men who achieve success, he became an object of envy and suspicion. The other assayers entered into a conspiracy against him, and let some prominent citizens into the secret in order to show that they meant fairly. Then they broke a little fragment off a carpenter's grindstone and got a stranger to take it to the popular scientist and get it assayed. In the course of an hour the result came -- whereby it appeared that a ton of that rock would yield $1,284.40 in silver and $366.36 in gold! Due publication of the whole matter was made in the paper, and the popular assayer left town "between two days." I will remark, in passing, that I only remained in the milling business one week. I told my employer I could not stay longer without an advance in my wages; that I liked quartz milling, indeed was infatuated with it; that I had never before grown so tenderly attached to an occupation in so short a time; that nothing, it seemed to me, gave such scope to intellectual activity as feeding a battery and screening tailings, and nothing so stimulated the moral attributes as retorting bullion and washing blankets -- still, I felt constrained to ask an increase of salary. He said he was paying me ten dollars a week, and thought it a good round sum. How much did I want? I said about four hundred thousand dollars a month, and board, was about all I could reasonably ask, considering the hard times. I was ordered off the premises! And yet, when I look back to those days and call to mind the exceeding hardness of the labor I performed in that mill, I only regret that I did not ask him seven hundred thousand. Shortly after this I began to grow crazy, along with the rest of the population, about the mysterious and wonderful "cement mine," and to make preparations to take advantage of any opportunity that might offer to go and help hunt for it. ------------------------------------ ISSUE OF 12/08/99 - VOLUME 5 NO. 4 ------------------------------------ SENATE 4 CANDIDATES DEFINE PRIORITIES AT CASS LAKE FORUM CASS LAKE -- Candidates met Tuesday evening to deliniate issues and answer questions at a forum at Cass Lake elementary school conducted by the League of Women Voters. OPENING STATEMENTS - PRIMARY THRUST OF CAMPAIGNS Kinkel opened by saying that his priorites were reduction of the prescription drug prices paid, particularly by seniors, more technology in the schools, to stop the buying and selling of private data by businesses (which in interview he expanded to also include governmental agency exchange of data), and to lower car license tab fees "in half". Stefan began by saying that he doesn't want to be a career politician. He acknowledged that we're being overtaxed, and said that he supports unicameral government, "I support it in its entirety." He took the remainder of the time to emphasize his membership in the Remer community and his 35 years' experience working for 3M. Peterson said that the state has been overtaxing "in the billions of dollars." He spoke of all of the various taxes Minnesotans pay, summarizing, "we are literally being taxed to death in this state and it's got to stop." Peterson then advocated tougher penalties for criminals "who prey on children," and parroted Kinkel's earlier stand on lower cost prescriptions, and on data privacy. QUESTION 1. DO YOU FAVOR SCHOOL VOUCHERS? Kinkel: "I oppose school vouch-ers," because he felt that it would take money from the public schools. Stefan said, "No Way," adding that he hoped the Remer school bond issue being voted that day passed. Peterson said that he opposed both school vouchers and school tax credits. QUESTION 2. WHERE DOES EACH CANDIDATE STAND ON THE TWIN CITIES LIGHT RAIL PROPOSAL? Kinkel: "I support light rail transit," because it would be cheaper, in the long run, than building new metro area freeways. Stefan said that he opposes light rail because he'd seen money "wasted" on light rail elsewhere. Peterson said that he would oppose money for light rail for the metro area. QUESTION 3. EXPANSION OF GAMBLING Kinkel: "I oppose any expansion of gambling in the state." Stefan said that he supports existing casinos but evaded directly answering the question. Peterson spoke of his meetings with Red Lake Chairman Bobby Whitefeather, and of plans to put a casino at the Bemidji airport, which were scuttled due to negative response; he did not say whether he'd support further expansion now. QUESTION 4. HOW WOULD YOU DISPOSE OF THE TAX SURPLUS? Kinkel advocated using the money to reduce car tab fees; he urged caution in spending the projected surplus now, and spoke of educational needs. Stefan: "It should all go back to the taxpayers." Peterson: "We need to return whatever surplus is there back to the people." But Peterson did not then say whether this would be by way of direct rebate; he spoke of a need for more educational funding. QUESTION 5. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT? Kinkel: "In our state Constitution," the only certain responsibility of the State is to provide a uniform system of public education. "If we do that right, jobs and everything else will fall into place," he said. Stefan emphasized government's showing direction and helping people support themselves. Peterson said that it was to provide services to the people of the State of Minnesota, and gave as examples, roads and education. QUESTION 6. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO HELP THE HOMELESS? Kinkel said that he'd continue to fund the Minnesota Housing Agency, continue to fund Youth Build which builds homes for low income people and work through RDC to get federal and state grants for housing. Stefan: "We have to help people who need help," and he said that he supported giving people education and housing "they need." Peterson said that he supports public/private partnerships such as Habitat for Humanity. He said that he was committed to making sure people had safe homes to live in, but was otherwise non-specific as to how he'd do this in the senate. QUESTION 7. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH FISCAL DISPARITIES (differences between tax bases - i.e. the level of services which can be provided by rich counties vs. poorer counties - across the state)? Kinkel told of his work on Local Government Aid and indicated his support of same. He acknowledged that some say too much is spent on Northern Minnesota, but Kinkel stressed the need for emergency services which benefit all, including vacationers here. Stefan did not directly answer the question, but alluded to continued support of Northern Minnesota by higher tax base areas. Peterson said that he supports Local Government Aid (LGA) as comprising about half of Bemidji's city budget. He said that he would "make sure it stays in place." QUESTION 8. SHOULD COMPANIES ACCEPTING PUBLIC SUBSIDIES BE MANDATED TO PAY A LIVING WAGE? Kinkel: "It's not a good idea to require that ... No." And he said he was strongly in favor of paying pre-vailing wage for state contracting. Stefan: "No." Peterson did not answer directly, but implied a negative answer. QUESTION 9. DO YOU SUPPORT A PUBLICLY-FUNDED SPORTS STADIUM? Kinkel spoke of the Republicans' negative and misleading campaign on this point, and said strongly, "I've never voted for any of your tax dollars to be used for a Twins stadium." Stefan: "No. When tax dollars support private industry, I think that's wrong." Peterson said no, and said that he also would not support a bailout for Target Center. QUESTION 10. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TAX LEVY LIMITS? Kinkel: "I'm going to do anything I can to make sure these tax levy increases are as low as possible." And Kinkel later con-cretely said he supports levy limits. Stefan: "I don't support levy limits." Peterson, in a manner of speaking, contradicted his earlier posturing for lower taxes, saying now, "I will not support levy limits." QUESTION 11. ANNEXATION OF TOWNSHIP PROPERTY? Kinkel: "Orderly annexation works well - we should continue to use that rather than forced annexation." Stefan: "I think that annexation should only take place where ... services are needed." Peterson said, "It's very difficult," and told of what has been done in Bemidji CLOSING STATEMENTS Kinkel thanked LWV for convening the forum and acknow-ledged his opponents, "I think you see three people ... who want the best for Minnesota." He said that in his 12 years in the House, he "worked as hard as I could" to represent the district. Kinkel said that it's been hard to keep a positive view given the [misleading] Republican postcard campaign, but that he'd managed to keep positive anyway. Stefan: "I'm not a politician ... If you want reform, ... a vote for Don Stefan is a vote for reform." Peterson spoke of his experience, of being a parent and knowing how important it is to support schools. He then spoke of his failed restaurant ventures, concluding with, "I know through experience how to make government work." OTHER ISSUES Northern Herald attempted to interview all three candidates after the forum, but REFORM CANDIDATE DON STEFAN hurried away, refusing to answer our specific questions. Apparently, he was meeting Bill Batchelder (Peterson's campaign manager) who appeared to arrive toward the end of the forum (see photo, page 4). In interview, TONY KINKEL emphasized his data privacy thrust saying, "I really oppose large corporations getting hold of [people's] ... personal records without ... permission and buying and selling them on the open market. I want to work very hard on those data privacy issues." As regards exchange of data between government agencies, Kinkel said, " If they're state agencies ... I think that we have too much government in our personal lives and whether it's a state agency or a corporation, we need to do everything we can to make sure our private data is not exchanged without our permission." Unicameral. Kinkel said that he would not support putting a unicameral legislature question to a vote of the people "because we will get outvoted" by the metro area on the question. Tax Rebate. Kinkel indicated that while he favors property and auto license tax relief, he would probably not support another cash tax rebate. Legalization of Prostitution. Kinkel does not support it. Senior's Rx. Kinkel is in favor of implementing a state plan for buying drugs in bulk and selling them to the pharmacist at lowest cost, with savings to be passed on to the consumer. He also urged federal scrutiny of patents and monopolies that have been created. He said, "There is no reason why you can go to Canada and get drugs at half the price when it's the same drug company making the drug." He said that as senator, he would put pressure on the federal government to act on unlawful or oppressive drug monopolies. Permanent Tax Reduction. Don't hold your breath on this (NH's analysis of Kinkel's response). Anti-corruption measures. Kinkel said, of allowing polygraph evidence, "I don't know enough about it... I'm going to learn more about polygraphs." Ah-Gwah-Ching. Asked if he was in favor of saving it, Kinkel said, "Absolutely." He spoke of finding new uses for the facility "if the Walker community will get behind it again." Welfare Reform. Kinkel answered that he does believe that there is a problem in enforcement of welfare-to-work provisions. "We need to have limits and we need to have penalties for people who don't go back to work or don't get training. I think the penalties, actually, probably aren't strict enough; and I would look at, perhaps, increasing those penalties for people who don't comply...." Kinkel added that there needs to be more flexibility for people to seek education, and more help with child care. DOUG PETERSON said that he would put unicameral to a vote of the people. Despite his earlier ambiguous response in forum, when asked specifically, in interview, about a cash tax rebate, Peterson said "send it all back," and said that he'd back a 100% rebate of the surplus. He said that he was against legalization of prostitution. Seniors' Rx. Peterson said that as senator he'd co-author a bill to allow seniors to buy prescription drugs with the same discount that medical assistance now gets. Permanent Income Tax Reduction. Peterson said, "That's exactly what my whole campaign's about." But Peterson acknowledged that Bemidji City taxes have risen 7.8% over last year, and that "City salaries most certainly did go up." Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. Peterson denied that part of the increase was due to the City funding the $1.3 million Union Station renovation, saying that that money is "from reserves that we have." Ah-Gwah-Ching. "There is no way I would allow Ah-Gwah-Ching to be closed," said Peterson. Welfare Reform. Asked if there was an enforcement problem, Peterson said, "I guess I don't have a good, clear answer to that." Crime and Corruption. Peterson said he'd put stiffer penalties on criminals and make sure we know where sex offenders are. Post Publication Note: On December 14th, Kinkel wallopped his opponents with over 51% of the total vote. Peterson lost, severely, in all 5 wards of the City of Bemidji where he has been mayor for over 20 years. -------------------------------------------- Editorials - Opinion --------------------------- Our Editorial Endorsement: TONY KINKEL --------------------------- SENATE 4 - THE MOST CORRUPT CAMPAIGNS IN RECENT HISTORY His Honor, the Governor, has been quoted as saying that politics can be even dirtier than pro wrestling. And when His Honor appointed David Ten Eyck as judge, he set off raging campaigns which may prove, in not just one party, to be some of the most deceptive and corrupt that the Northland has known. Through it all, and even in the face of deceptive and unethical tactics by the Republicans (these are the "character counts" people), DFLer Tony Kinkel has chosen to take the high road - fending off his opponents' misleading statements, but going no further, and continuing to address key issues which face the region, such as seniors' Rx prices, data privacy and Ah-Gwah-Ching. It's the mark of a statesman. Credibility is a key deciding factor in this melee. The weatherman may say there's an 80% chance of rain, but what if the weatherman is only 40% correct in his predictions? Is it going to rain? You don't know. Likewise, what's being said matters little if you can't believe it. In forums, Peterson has read statements, likely prepared for him by the Republicans, saying his major thrust is cutting taxes. But these statements are weak when one looks at the Bemidji budget over recent years; taxes have steadily increased as have city employees' salaries and per diems. This year, Bemidji taxes will go up 7.8%, well over the rate of inflation. In the last 12 months, in addition his to salary, Peterson added $9,546 to the cost of government by his per diems. It would seem hard for him to say that he's for lower spending, even if the Republicans told him to say it. Kinkel wants to reduce license and property taxes. We probably won't see him supporting income tax or major spending cuts; but we don't think we could look for that from Peterson either. It is understandable that Peterson wants the job in St. Paul enough to say whatever his campaign manager thinks people want to hear and tells Peterson to say; Northern Herald has come into possession of documents indicating that Peterson is facing a Federal Tax Lien, filed at Beltrami County, which totalled $12,007.15 in July, 1995, and which may be higher now due to interest and penalties. Peterson may need extra money desperately - this does not a clean elected official make. And Peterson's family problems are a concern, including his son's 1980s burglary of Bemidji High School. Some would say that his children's actions are not a direct reflection on the candidate; but His Honor, the Governor, disagrees, calling better parenting and the teaching of respect for others the best way to make schools safer, and saying at Brainerd, "You will be judged upon what ... [your] children do ... ultimately." The importance of the teaching, passed down in the home, of respect for others and their property, of course, is nothing new to the many Bemidjians who have had their cars stolen, or homes burglarized or vandalized by rampant Bemidji youth. Stefan has not been impressive at forums and debates; unicameral is his primary thrust, and he tries to center discussion on his 35 years at 3M; but he has left many issues unaddressed and was the only candidate who evaded personal interview with Northern Herald at which time his stand certain, if any, on those issues could be made known. Saying simply, as he did in response to a forum question at Park Rapids, "I want reform," is hardly enough. A Republican shill? The circumstances of Stefan's (a recent former Republican) almost summary endorsement by the Reform Party, by a seemingly hand-picked committee, to which the 7th district Reform delegation should have been invited, but wasn't; continue to draw question, and there is serious concern whether Stefan might have sought the endorsement simply to avoid having key issues raised by a serious reform candidate, and, at the same time, to collaborate with the Republicans to avoid having conservative votes drawn by such a candidate. If such is the case, then the party leadership (not Jesse - the party leadership - Chairman Rick McCluhan, etc.) are even more culpable than the candidate for actions which would tend to show the present reform party to be as corrupt as any other, which would be somewhat of a disappointment, given its great start. At any rate, you don't get good fruit from a poisoned tree; we are unimpressed with Mr. Stefan's presentation, and, again, question the credibility of what little is there. Bill Batchelder is a master of deception. He well knows how to place information which will be "misunderstood" without actually being culpable for false advertising. For many years Batchelder, a nephew of the late Richard Morton, former owner of Bemidji's Hard Times Saloon, has drawn his livelihood operating an entity which advertises to tourists as Bemidji Woolen Mills (BWM). Except there is no mill, as most would understand the term. Bemidji Woolen Mills is actually primarily a retail store which, at last inspection, sold shirts bought at market elsewhere and "private-labeled" as Bemidji Woolen Mills garments. There were also a lot of polyesters and acrylics. In fairness, BWM, which produces no fabric, does have a sewing room where they make some of their garments from wool bought on the bolt. Drawing on his business ethics, Batchelder has recently taken a flair for politics, serving as campaign manager to Rep. Doug Fuller and councilman Herb South. His sphere of influence may extend to the Bemidji Post Office, where Herb South also works and which, per a survey, has "lost" up to 5.7% of certain mail; to the Beltrami County Attorney's office, where his BWM flyers have been photographed on display and which office has refused to prosecute theft of stacks of copies of this paper; and to Bemidji alcohol by his relationship to the Morton family. Batchelder has brought his ethic to the senate race as campaign manager for Doug Peterson whose campaign has been marred by deceptive advertising, reported heavy vandalism of opponent Tony Kinkel's signs in the Bemidji area, and two actual confrontations between Batchelder and Kinkel or his supporters while Kinkel was in the course of routine campaigning. In Summary. We believe that the conduct of the Republican Party, their candidate and his campaign manager, in this race for a 9-month temporary senate term, says far more, and far more credibly, than their candidate's words ever could. We do not support the high crime, theft, corruption, vandalism, tax increases, and increased cost of government that have wracked Bemidji during Peterson's long term as Mayor. It would be unfortunate if this went to St. Paul. Given his record, we do not believe Peterson on his tax stand, saying on one hand, he'll cut them while on the other, voicing strong support of Aid to Local Government spending, a major tax cost. We question the integrity of the Reform endorsement and of the Reform endorsee, who was, incidentally, the only candidate who failed to respond to the recent Minnesota Family Council survey, including its question on opposition to tax increases. Key issues to the Northland are crime, corruption, and credible tax relief. Kinkel stands apart offering lower seniors' prescription prices, stronger data privacy, further property tax relief, and clean, open and positive tactics to attain these ends. Clearly, at least for this short 9 month term, Kinkel is the man for the job. (graphic caption - illustration in print edition only): DECEPTIVE REPUBLICAN ADVERTISING HOW CAN THESE GUYS EVEN TALK ABOUT "CHARACTER" ? How can they get away with it? Simple. Election law (M.S. 211B.06) is very specific with respect to false campaign material. It's illegal if it is with respect to the "character or acts of a candidate" and is designed or tends to elect, injure, promote or defeat a candidate. False campaign material which doesn't meet the specific statutory criteria, is not illegal under that statute, still, one might not want to vote for the party or candidate that misleads people. The postcard at left (in print edition only), sent to District 4 voters before the Nov. 23rd primary, clearly represents itself as the OFFICIAL Republican sample ballot. But it's not. The official ballot for the Republican primary had two names on it - not one as was on the reverse side of the card, below. It may have been designed to mislead voters into believing that there was only one Republican candidate. Although blatantly false, as it would be construed by most, this isn't necessarily unlawful because it doesn't speak of the character or acts of a candidate. When one sees things like this though, it leads one to wonder if this party knows the difference between fact and fantasy, or if it cares, in its representations to the public. The small print disclaimer at the bottom of the card says that it was paid for by the Republican Party of Minnesota and "not authorized by any candidate." Among other things, this is to absolve the candidate from accountability, potential liability and adverse effect from the mailing. But if one can't believe the large print, why should he believe the small? Somehow, we think Mr. Peterson, and particularly, his campaign manager, knew that these were being mailed. Another postcard sent by the Republican Party, taking advantage of the Twins Stadium scare, charges that "Kinkel sided with Twin Cities Liberals to spend tax dollars for a baseball stadium, a hockey arena, and a basketball arena." In the Sources section of the card, though, no specific bill is cited, so it's hard to pin down exactly what the Republicans are talking about; Kinkel has repeatedly refuted these charges and has said, "I've never voted for your tax dollars [to be used] for a Twins stadium. ... The bill called for user fees. You've been deceived." And with regard to his vote on a hockey arena, which passed on a 66-1 senate vote, Kinkel emphasizes, "That is a loan - they have to pay the loan back. These stadium issues are a deception to why I'm running." ---------------------------------------------------------------- SEEING LAWLESSNESS IN THE MAKING It is the intent of Northern Herald to ensure that our complimentary drops at Hardee's and Country Kitchen Restaurants, Bemidji, have adequate copies for the anticipated demand between now and election day (12/14/99). If readers observe that copies are not available there, due to theft of stacks, it may be worthwhile for those readers and voters to question what factions may have stolen them. Post-publication note: Stacks of copies were stolen and replaced several times at these locations between the issue date and election day. Fortunately, we printed plenty of copies of this issue. -- Ed. ---------------------------------------------------------------- (photo caption - photos in print edition only): Reform candidate Don Stefan (left arrow) and Bill Batchelder, Republican candidate Doug Peterson's campaign mgr., (right arrow) bolt from the camera when caught in a clandestine meeting after the Cass Lake forum, but are captured by our wide angle lens as Stefan tries to hide behind his van. The meeting resumed afterward and Stefan gave the sign he's carrying to Batchelder. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to The Editor THAT COLORFUL AND WILY DOUG PETERSON FAMILY How could I vote for you again? Mr. Peterson, I called you one month ago and informed you that your son, Dan is having an adulterous affair with my wife. I told you that my 10 year old came home from school one month ago and informed myself and my two other children that mommy (Gloria Dalton Thomas) was dating Mayor Peterson’s son. Mom was visiting Dan, and they spent the night together. Your son is destroying my marriage and committing adultery. When my wife found out that she had been caught, she promptly tossed me on the street November 7, on my birthday, telling me Dan and herself have been seeing each other for almost one month. After 17 years together, I’m in complete shock and total sadness. This week my wife informed me she is divorcing me for Dan (the future senator’s son), that I deserve nothing from our marriage. She is getting a restraining order on me so that I can’t come near the boys. This act of betrayal has put me into a position of almost committing suicide. This weekend, my wife promptly, with Dan's help, had me committed to Brainerd State Hospital for 72 hours against my will. My wife had her own therapist (a psychiatrist) she has been seeing, commit me. Talk about a conflict of interest! In the hospital I was told I'm not crazy or suicidal. I’m just suffering from a broken heart, major betrayal, and total grief. You would think your son would know better than to start an adulterous affair and tear apart a family while his father is running for senator. You raised your son, he's a product of you. I asked you with respect one month ago to help me stop this destructive and irresponsible affair, you did nothing but hang up on me. I will not be voting for you in the future, as you can understand. You've helped by allowing your son to invade and destroy my life. I've told no lies here, this is not slander. I want my neighbors and friends to be aware of the Petersons. I feel destroyed and lost. I wish one month ago you would have done the right thing Mr. Mayor. And Dan, you will pay to a higher court in the future. P.S. Thanks to Doug Peterson (Mayor's Grandson) for informing myself & my kids of this affair. David Alan Thomas, Bemidji, MN Editor's Note: Northern Herald has not been presented with proof that the claimed adultery has actually occurred (though we're not saying it didn't). The letter expresses, solely, the opinion of the writer. -- Ed. ------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism FAMILY, FRIENDS AWAIT BULLOCK APPEAL DEER RIVER -- A number of years ago, a high court set precedent, and essentially overturned conventional jurisprudence based upon preponderance of evidence, in deciding that in certain cases, such as romantic assault, corroborative evidence was not necessary to prove the case - a conviction could be sustained on the word of the alleged victim alone. This decision spawned a flood of "date rape" and other "her word against his" cases where a person could be convicted based only on who a jury thought was most believable. Legally, a jury is presumed infallible. But when DNA evidence was made admissible, across the country hundreds of innocent men were freed from prisons as the latent DNA samples on the physical evidence (garments, etc. which were still being held) proved that the jury that convicted them was wrong. Similarly, friends and relatives, including the mother of the alleged victim, are sure that Richard Bullock, a scrap iron and bait worker of Deer River, was wrongly convicted of fondling his step-daughter, Spring LeFevre, when she was 11 - two years before she made the first complaint of same. Bullock, 37, is currently serving an 86 month sentence in state prison for criminal sexual conduct. Richard and Ruth Bullock were married in 1989. Ruth describes it as a close marriage, where they worked together and were together almost all of the time. Ruth Bullock, Spring's mother, described Spring as an incorrigible child. In interview, Ruth said that in May, 1996, two months before Spring made the allegations, Spring had tried to commit suicide. She was given a psychological evaluation at Miller Dwan Medical Center. Said Ruth, "A report from the psychiatric unit states that she had a very good relationship with her [step] father. They asked her if he ever "touched" her in any way, and she said no, he's the only dad she's ever known and she loved her dad." Ruth said that, at trial, that psychological report could not be admitted into evidence. When Spring was 13, she began secretly seeing a 26 year old man and wanted to leave for New York with him. Richard wouldn't permit this. Spring became angered and Ruth said that neighbors reported that Spring used their phone to call the older man and tell him "that she'd get out of the house, one way or another, if she had to lie and say he [Richard] raped her - and it worked." About a week later, in July, 1996, Wayne Shadley, a family friend, took Spring to see her psychiatrist, Lenore Bransford. She met with Bransford, came out, "they were ready to leave, and the psychiatrist called her back, and that was the last time we seen her [until, much later, visiting her at the foster home]," said Ruth. Said Shadley, who, at the time, didn't know what was happening, "We waited [during the appointment] about an hour, hour and a half extra, longer than I thought we'd have to," then Spring came out and got in the car, "we were just about ready to pull out, when they came out and got her." Shadley recounts that Bransford's personnel told him that he might as well go home, that Spring wasn't going to be able to leave. No authority for Spring's detention was stated. Ruth said, "I called, searching for my daughter and they [Bransford, and then the Sheriff's Office] wouldn't tell me where she was." Later, Ruth was given a statement saying Spring "had accused my husband of touching her." Spring was first taken to a juvenile shelter known as Itaskin House, and eventually to a foster home run by Sharon and Terry Miller at their Hillcrest Resort in Marcell, where she has now resided for 3 years. The Millers, who last year were paid $25,390.35 by Itasca County for foster care, would not allow Spring to speak to the press. Following the allegations, Ruth and Richard gave police statements; in time Richard was sent a summons to appear in Court. Ruth said that Richard requested examination by polygraph to demonstrate his innocence, but authorities refused. Said Ruth, of her daughter's claim, "She said it happened on a couch - we didn't own a couch at the time - I have home video and pictures to prove that - we were not allowed to use that in court." Joe Edminster, Richard's friend and employer, spoke of Richard's character and disposition. He recounted when they were at a hunting cabin and one of the all male party handed Richard a Playboy magazine. "Richard threw it back ...[and said] 'No, Ruth doesn't like me to look at these things' ... It's always stuck in my head because - A guy that thought enough of his wife not to look at a Playboy is going to molest her daughter?" Edminster recounted when, before the accusations, he and the Bullocks were making wreaths; Spring was there also. "She was always hanging around where I was making wreaths and stuff, and my wife came over ... and said, 'You stay away from her because she's trouble' and you could see it, she was flirting and she didn't look like a twelve year old." Edminster said that he would have testified as to Richard's and Spring's character, but Richard's attorney, Michael P. Gallagher, Grand Rapids, never called him. Richard's sister, Lynn Calbery, told of Spring, after being placed in foster care, having, with another foster child, stolen a car. "They rolled the car - wrecked it - neither one of the girls were charged. " Of the accusation against Richard, Calbery said, "I just know my brother - he wouldn't do that." Richard's mother, Bonnie Morris, also spoke of Spring's dishonest ways. She told of a relative's jewelry that would be missing; "then she'd ask Spring if Spring had taken them and Spring says, 'No.' Later on, Spring would end up wearing them." Gallagher refused to allow Morris to testify as to Spring's character at trial. Defense Irregularities. Ruth stated that Gallagher, the appointed public defender, accused Richard of committing the alleged crime at their first meeting, and at trial, refused to excuse a juror who Richard knew and who might have been adversely prejudiced. The Bullocks have retained attorney John Lind, of Duluth, to file an appeal, but in over a year, they have received no word of progress except for a motion for immediate release pending appeal, which was turned down in late 1997. Ruth recounts speaking with Spring at the Millers' foster home, when "she said to me [that] it would be all over if she just told the truth. And so, I says, 'why don't you do it now,' she says, 'because I don't know what's gonna happen to me'" (photo caption - photos in print edition only): Richard Bullock's friends and family can't understand how such an injustice could occur. From left, Bonnie Morris, Richard's mother, Wayne Shadley, friend, Lynn Calbery, Richard's sister who lives in Bovey working for Bovey Video. -------------------------------------------------------- DEER RIVER POLICE SHOOT ROTTWEILER DEER RIVER -- Police shot and killed a Rottweiler belonging to Tracey Ross, of Deer River in October. Per Marge Ross, Tracey's mother, the dog was at large while the Rosses were in Duluth because, she claimed, vandals had opened the kennel door and released it. But Deer River Police Chief Victor Williams said that he could recall three or four prior occasions when the dog had been loose. He said, of the shooting, that the dog could not be approached such as to impound it, and, "The dog had officers held inside the vehicle ... [it had] chased two women ... we've had several confrontations with this particular dog ... Brian [the police officer] couldn't even get out of the squad car and had to dispatch the animal." Deer River Animal Control had tried, unsuccessfully, to impound the animal about a week before, Chief Williams said, adding that he'd spoken to Marge Ross about the animal about two weeks prior to the shooting, and advised her that the animal had to be kept restrained. Chief Williams said that police regretted having to shoot the animal, but, "sometimes circumstances dictate it." He said that public safety was at issue here. Chief Williams said that he is working with Itasca County to see if there might be feasible alternatives, such as a tranquilizer gun or netting, when an incorrigible and potentially vicious animal needs to be impounded. ---------------------------------------------------- With a Grain of Sand * IT'S ALL A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE Dear Editor: Our cat died last week. Do cats go to Heaven? -- Virginia, Eveleth, Minn. Dear Virginia: Of course they do. In fact, there's a special place in Heaven for cats. A wide open field where cats can romp and run and chase furry little grey field mice - all the things that cats like to do. The mice, of course, think that they're in Hell. -- Ed. * With a Grain of Sand is satire. It should not be confused with our regular reporting of straight news, which is funnier and less believable. -------------------------------------------------------- CITY OF BEMIDJI RESTRAINED BY UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT; SUED FOR $600 BILLION ST. PAUL -- In Case No. 99-1862, filed late Friday, November 19th, 1999, before the United States District Court at St. Paul, Adam Steele and Northern Herald Publications, Inc. have sued the City of Bemidji and 28 other named defendants for Deprivation of Civil (First Amendment) rights under Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 1983; Conspiracy to Interfere with Civil Rights (42 USC Sec. 1985); and, as regards Beltrami County Attorney Tim Faver, Neglect of Action to Prevent Conspiracy (42 USC Sec. 1986). The suit asks total damages of $600 billion against the City and the other defendants which include William Batchelder (operator of Bemidji Woolen Mills who is also campaign manager to Bemidji Mayor Doug Peterson in his bid for State Senate), and several Bemidji retailers. Since 1998, Northern Herald has been prohibited, by The City of Bemidji, under Mayor Doug Peterson, from distributing its newspapers in Bemidji public areas, and has been refused by many retailers' newsstands. Order Issued. In initial action Friday, with Bemidji City Attorney Alan Felix opposing the order on behalf of the city, the Court immediately issued an order restraining the City of Bemidji from further interfering with public distribution of Northern Herald on its streets, sidewalks and public areas. In issuing the order, The Honorable Judge Rosenbaum of the USDC cited the "high degree of probable success," on its merits, of the case against the City, and said that "the public interest is very high," in the ability of the press to be free and available. Further action against the various defendants, for monetary damages, will now proceed in the United States District Court. Editor's Note: The 12th Article of the Virginia Bill of Rights of 1776 said, "freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained except by despotic governments." Clean government has nothing to lose by freedom of the press and people being informed - so suppression of the press is one of the hallmarks of corruption in government. Where the press is free, the people soon will be, too, as corruption, like a vampire, can only exist in the shadows of misinformation; it perishes in the light of day. Northland corruption and its accompaniment of crime can be and is being fought and eliminated. I want to remind everyone to vote December 14th. --A. Steele ------------------------------------------------ CHIEF JUDGE CITES MISCONDUCT BY JUDGE HOLTER GRAND RAPIDS -- In the case, State of Minnesota v. Thomas Gordon Newman (Case No. 04-99-T8-1200) Ninth District Chief Judge Lois Lang, in an order issued October 13th, 1999, found that Judge Terrance Holter, who sits at Bemidji, had violated Canon 3(A)(7)(a) of the Minnesota Code of Judicial Conduct by holding a closed meeting, on Newman's case, in chambers, and failed to notify Newman of same. The closed meeting was attended by Beltrami Asst. Co. Atty. Eric Schieferdecker, and Chief Public Defender Kristine Kolar. Kolar was not representing Newman at the time. Holter had denied a previous request, by Newman, that he remove himself from the case. --------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor MINETTE ON SCHOOLS Symbolism vs. Substance. About 3-4 weeks ago the Pine River Journal asked for input concerning the two school bond issues. I have been waiting patiently for the school administration to come begging for money. School bond issues have been going down in smoke and flames all over the country, and the nominal reason is that the people are fed up with the school administrations 'doing their own thing’ and not supporting the will of the people. You see academics spiraling down so fast that the schools have to lower the hurdles just to get the grades up. And the people say, 'go back to what works.' You see cops in the schools. All this does is designate the FIRST target if/when there is a student shoot-out. You couldn’t pay me enough. In Pine River-Backus we have the Academics scam, plus more. SMOKE FREE SCHOOL - give me a break, the only people that respect that sign are the adults that go to the games. The Administration seems to have no desire to clean it up. They could turn the little urchins over to the police so that they wouldn’t get their DLs; or, they could give them a choice of 50-100 hrs. of community service, or testify to who gave them the cigarettes. It's done all the time, it's called a plea bargain. Of course, some students have stopped using cigarettes around school and started 'chewing' instead. And a few even spit in the halls. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR SCHOOL ?? Is this the kind of school environment you want for your kids ??? Priorities, a joke, a 15 yr. old female student goes to the student counselor to ask for help because her grades are sliding in a certain class. (A responsible, motivated action, right?? Something a parent likes to see in a student, right???) The counselor tells her that she can't help her, there is no money for such a program, and implies it is her fault she is failing (even after a display of self-motivation). YET, this same counselor(?) wrote out a referral for the same student to get the birth control shot and a handful of condoms, all without the parents' knowledge. They have money to destroy parental authority and the family, but no money for academic help!!! Hello, did I miss something here?? Of course, you must accept most of the blame because you did nothing when this 'Family Clinic' and school sex referrals were brought in. Anyway, now you have another chance. They have come begging. I, for one, will vote NO on every bond issue as long as this continues. School board members and School Admin., listen up. "Clean-up your act," and this school. Get rid of 'referrals', clean up the smoking, and start enforcing the rules. When you stop destroying the children, then ask for the cash. One other thing, the plan calls for a robotics course and a dinosaur display. These, or a couple of others, are red herrings; they are meant to be negotiated away to show you people "how reasonable" they can be. DO NOT BITE !!! Last, they will make noises about the "self-esteem of the children." Let me clue you in about self-esteem: It is WORSE than nothing unless one has self-respect. Example, a drug dealer that drives a new Mercedes and has new clothes and all the toys drugs can buy esteems himself very highly but has little self respect, and feels no guilt about what he does. The school shootings of late have a common thread running through them. The kids that did the shooting (and survived) have a common reaction: They feel sorry for what they did, then they cry and apologize. Then they are totally stunned when there are consequences: "But I feel sorry, I am sorry, why can't I go home now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Symbolism over substance -- saying the politically correct thing is more important than doing the right thing. Right is Right even if no one does it, and Wrong is Wrong even if everybody does it. People, think about this: Have you thought to ask yourselves how many local medical providers are giving your children shots, pill, etc. without your knowledge? Maybe the same ones you go to, that smile at you on the street. HYPOCRITES. There are literally hundreds of court cases that say, 'this cannot be done,' so how come they are doing it to your children? Gary Minette, Pine River, Minn. ------------------------------------ ISSUE OF 11/03/99 - VOLUME 5 NO. 3 ------------------------------------ GOVERNOR VENTURA SPEAKS AT BRAINERD SCHOOL BRAINERD -- The Honorable Jesse "The Mind" Ventura, Governor of Minnesota, delivered a moving and inspiring address before the entire student body of Mississippi Horizons Middle School, on October 19th, at Brainerd. Much of the talk centered on the Service Not Systems component of The Mind's Big Plan which will take Minnesota into the 21st century; and His Honor took time to recognize service achievements of students at the school. John Hultquist, Judicial Appointment Coordinator for the Ventura administration, said that Mississippi Horizons was chosen for its student's work in the community. Ten Eyck Appointed. The Governor's address before the student body came just after his announcement that David Ten Eyck, district 4 senator (DFL) had been appointed to the District Court bench in a new seat chambered in Crow Wing County. A special election will be held December 14th to fill the ensuing Senate 4 vacancy. Senate District 4 includes parts of Beltrami, Hubbard, Cass, Itasca and Wadena counties. THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS Following being ushered into the packed cafeteria by thunderous applause, performance of the school band, and being presented a bouquet of flowers, The Mind told the assembled students, "First of all, I want to say thank you for the flowers, because they eventually will end up with the First Lady and then I always look good. [Laughter] I never tell her that people give them to me before I bring them home. But she's been with me 24 years so she knows that's usually the result. "But again, thank you very, very much; I appreciate being here; and thank you for such a warm welcome ... all the young people; it's the one place I always thoroughly enjoy going as Governor because the young people, there's none like them. They give me a response and a welcome always that's so warm and real that I try to make a point of speaking at at least one school every month because it's very enjoyable to me. "The Lieutenant Governor and I are very happy to be here. This school is a very impressive place. And special thanks to Megan [Eastman], your student council President [thunderous applause]. "I'm here today to recognize the active citizens in Brainerd, including young citizens like Megan. Within your school, Megan is a public servant, just as I am a public servant in the State of Minnesota. "Her service on the student council makes your school a better place, just as my work as Governor helps to make this State, hopefully, a better place. "Your work in this school is a good example of public service. All of you young people show a great deal of pride and responsibility.... "Let me see a show of hands - how many of you help run the school restaurant or the school store? ... There they are. ... How many are in student council, peer mediators or work as student aides? Ah, see, we're getting a few more, few more all the way around. How about the mural in the hallway? How many of you helped make the school's mural? ... See, see, it's [the show of hands] getting larger.... "As Governor, I want people all over Minnesota to be as involved in public service as you are in your school. One of the reasons I came to Brainerd today is to talk about the Big Plan. Earlier today, I spoke about reforming government with new technology; I also talked about making government simpler and easier for people to understand. Changing government is important; but nothing will rebuild trust in government more than increased citizen involvement. "Before I move on I also would like to acknowledge ... Chief Judge Lois Lang, who's here today; Representative Chris Hasskamp ... and Senator Don Samuelson.... "In my opinion, there are really four branches of government. We're used to the traditional three: there's the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch. But my fourth branch of government is involved citizens. I believe they are, indeed, the fourth branch of government. "Up until now, government has tended to focus on what government can do to regain citizens' trust. That's important. But to bring government back to the people, we must celebrate citizen participation in public life. "Today we have a rare chance to celebrate the accomplishments of two active citizens in Brainerd. They represent the very best of citizen involvement. First, right here in your school, I'm announcing to the State of Minnesota the appointment of a new judge. The judgeship I'm announcing today is the second of thirteen new judgeships created in a bill passed by the 1999 legislature, which I signed into law. Fourteen people applied for this vacancy. The Commission of Judicial Selection, which reviews applications and makes recommendations on District Court judgeships interviewed nine semi-finalists on August 18th; the Commission recommended 3 finalists to me for this vacancy. In my role in appointing attorneys to judgeships, I look at their involvement in the community as well as their experience in practicing law. "The finalists were Donald Ryan, Bobbie Sarff and David Ten Eyck. All three finalists were well qualified and have demonstrated a commitment to public service. I would like to thank Richard Green and the Commission on Judicial Selection for their hard work; I am proud to announce the appointment of David Ten Eyck as my fifth District Court Judge. ... He will work to demystify the judiciary, and make the courts more understandable and user-friendly to the citizens. But rest assured, if anyone commits a crime, he would ensure that you are held accountable for your actions. I hope each of you students will follow Mr. Ten Eyck's example and get involved in public service." [Ten Eyck speaks, afterward, The Mind continues,] "... Now I would like to introduce for a moment, another very active citizen, Jayna Matthews, who grew up right here in Brainerd. Jayna's two-time National Champion at 1500 meter run, she is also an honors graduate from St. Olaf College at Northfield, where she majored in English, and spent five months studying in the middle east. This is pretty impressive stuff. "In addition to her brains and accomplishments, Jayna has given much time and energy to be a very involved citizen. At St. Olaf, she taught English to students from other countries, and she supervised student elections on campus. Here in Brainerd, Jayna dedicated a summer to helping to educate mothers and families about changes in the welfare laws. You students are active citizens in your school. Jayna is a great example of someone who graduated from the schools of Brainerd and is now an active citizen of Minnesota. For all her work and dedication, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the NCAA, named Jayna Matthew one of ten finalists to be NCAA Woman of the Year. STUDENT QUESTIONS Following Miss Matthew's talk, the Governor fielded the following questions which had been prepared by the students: Q: How do you think you've helped the people of Minnesota so far? Ventura: "Very good question ... I think that I've renewed the hope, in some ways, that anyone can live out their dream. That when you set a goal for yourself, in my case 'you can't win', or in your case, maybe, that you can't fulfill your dream, that that's not true; that if you stay focused and you work extremely hard, that this is still America, and it's still the place where dreams come true. So, I think I've fulfilled the dream of becoming Governor and showing all the people of Minnesota, also, that our votes still count; and he who gets the most votes wins [thunderous applause]. As far as anything more, wait 'til at the end of four years, then I'll answer it; then we'll know what I've done policywise, at the end of four years." Q: What's the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you while you were in office, this past year? Ventura: "... Oh, I guess my most recent interview that got publicized so darn much. You know, I do an average of three to five interviews a day, so if you multiply that out to five days a week that's anywhere from 15 to 25 a week; which, if you multiply that out to 52 weeks out of the year, I could well be over 1,000 interviews a year. And, uh, you're going to goof a few of 'em up. And, you're held very accountable in my position to not goof any of them up. As far as, though, you know, you don't live on embarrassment. If you make a mistake, the one thing you do is try to learn from it, move on, and grow from it. Because, believe me children, there's none of us in this room that haven't made mistakes, none of us. And we're all going to make mistakes, because we're all human. In fact, you know what I tell my commissioners? I tell my commissioners they'd better be making mistakes because if they're not making mistakes, they're not working hard. The person that doesn't make a mistake isn't working hard. All of us are gonna make mistakes, so, you grow up from them, you learn from them and you move on." Q: Why did you come to our school? Ventura: "'Cause they scheduled me to be here [laughter]. ... We came here to the school because as I said when I walked up here today, that I thoroughly enjoy always going in front of young people, talking to them, delivering a message to them. And, all too often , it's always senior high schools, so I think it's kind of refreshing to come to a middle school, where, you know, there's a lot of trial and tribulation. I have children of my own; my son is nineteen, my daughter's fifteen. So they're not too many years removed from where all you are. So I know how important it is at this point of your life, what it's like to be in middle school, which I would dare say is probably the toughest, of all the school levels that you'll deal with, is middle school; because it's at middle school where it seems you get the most pressure put on you - pressure to be, whatever - and I will just send the message to you all to respect everyone; respect your neighbor. And just because someone's different doesn't make someone wrong. We're all different people. And that respect - self respect - from one individual to another is most important in these ages in your life right now; because they will carry you through to the rest of your life, as you grow on and the other things that you do in life." Q: Is it hard being a governor? Ventura: "Yeah, it is. Uh, it's hard because you realize that you are responsible for the entire State of Minnesota and all its people. That you're somewhat responsible for it, as being elected to the highest office. But, I enjoy doing hard things. Hard things aren't necessarily bad, hard things are a challenge. Like, Jayna runs the 1500 meters; that's pretty hard. When you stop and think about how many times that is around that track, that's a hard event to do. But, as she would, I think, tell you, it's also a challenging event to do; it challenges you, yourself. And I'm always up for challenges as each and every one of you should be up for whatever challenges life presents to you. So, even though it's hard, it's still challenging; and hard things, when you accomplish them, are that much more satisfying when you do them successful. If something's easy to do, then it doesn't really challenge you and you don't feel as good about it. But when something's very difficult to do, and you are successful, you feel a lot better about yourself when you're done doing it." Q: Were you ever scared when you were a Navy Seal? Ventura: "Sure I was. One of the reasons I joined the Navy Seals was because I was deathly afraid of height. I didn't like to go on tall things; I didn't like to climb up on a tree and look out into the edge and all that stuff. How many people are afraid of height? [show of hands] Well, I was afraid of height and I knew that by joining the Navy Seals, they were going to make me go up and jump out of airplanes. And so, when you go up there and jump out at 12,000 feet, you kinda lose your fear of heights. So I knew that I could conquer that fear by doing it. So, uh, yeah, there are plenty of things that you're afraid of, and being afraid is not bad. Being afraid, again, makes it a challenge to conquer that fear. And then you find out that there was nothing to be afraid of all along, was there? Because when you jump out, the chute opens up and you get the best view you've ever seen. And it's so quiet up there. Everyone should jump out of an airplane with a parachute at least once. [laughter]" Q: Are you disturbed with the public media and how they've been criticizing your actions lately? Ventura: "Uh, you try not to be disturbed, because you realize that with the job of Governor comes criticism. I learned as a mayor that there's no decision that you make that someone isn't going to like. No matter what decision you make at this job, someone won't like it. But you learn to accept that. It does bother me though, when I'm being judged on words and not actions. I prefer to be judged, if you're going to judge me as Governor, judge me on what I do over in the Capitol and what I do for the State of Minnesota; don't judge me necessarily on what my personal beliefs might be, because the two can be different on the decisions that I make. And it bothers me to be judged on personal things when they personally go after you. Again, on this job you expect to be criticized for decisions you make that affect the general public, but they tend to get a little personal at times, and when they do that, it irritates you, but you learn to live with it; you grit you teeth and you move on. Because it's all part of the job that you accept to do and it's going to happen; so, when it's inevitable, you just deal with it. Besides, like all good Navy Seals, I don't get mad, I get even. Look at the press, staring at me -- What? What did he mean by that? Just remember, sweetie, ya gotta sleep sometime [raucous laughter from the audience]. That was a joke, joke, JOKE...." Q: Why did you want to be a governor instead of a wrestler? Ventura: "Well, actually, they got mad at me when I was a governor and went back to wrestle. Now, uh, my wrestling career was over, I wrestled for 11 years and I retired in 1986. Like all professional athletes, the one opponent you'll never defeat, I don't care how good you are, whether you're Michael Jordan, whether you're Mohammad Ali, or whether you're, even today, Kevin Garnet; there is one opponent you will never defeat and that is Father Time. Time marches onward; and eventually, your days of being a top professional athlete will end, so you have to prepare for life after athletics ... so my wrestling career ended in 1986; I moved on to other careers, my political career didn't actually start until 1990, so it was four years after I ended my wrestling career. But you leave professional sports because you eventually get too old to compete at that level, and then, for all you kids, then you switch to golf. [laughter] When pro sports end, you change to golf; you can still be competitive, but you can be competitive within yourself; you can ride around in a cart and all that stuff - it's not as physically brutal on you." Q: Can we rub your head? [raucous laughter and applause from audience] Ventura: [waits a few moments] "If you're not going to come forward, then, obviously you can't." [see lead photo, page 1] " ...tell you something that my grandfather once told me about not having hair: 'Remember, you can't grow grass on a busy street.' ... I enjoy not having it, you know why? Because when I get up in the morning, all I have to do is brush my teeth and leave, I know how good looking I am. [laughter] You don't have to bother with mirrors, you don't have to bother with hair brushes, you don't have to bother with the stuff you put in your hair; when you're like me, Michael Jordan, and all of us that choose to shave our heads, Kevin Garnet, we know we're always good-lookin'. And what was the other - what's the other old saying, that, uh, God only made so many perfect heads; on the rest he gave hair [laughter from audience]. You notice all the bald guys are cheering ... You're darn right." Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Ventura: "Well, I would say, at different points of my life as a kid, you change what you wanna be a whole bunch of times; but, I will tell you honestly, at one point in my life I wanted to be a professional wrestler. You know when I was a young kid about your ages, you know, I watched on TV and dreamed that someday I could be it and then kind of left that dream and I went off and went into the military, that didn't come back for a while; but, the main thing I would tell all you young people is never give up on your dreams. And no matter what happens in life, you may not always achieve the initial dream you go after, but one dream, many times, leads to another one. And that you have to continually live your life; even at my age, I have dreams today of things that will happen and I keep working toward them. One of my dreams, I've never had a hole in one on the golf course and I dream of someday, that'll happen, so I keep trying and trying and trying. But, uh, my message to all you young people is always live your dreams, don't ever let anyone get in the way of them, and don't ever let anyone tell you, you can't do something. Don't ever believe you can't do something - you can do things. You can be whatever you want to be if you put your mind to it, if you work hard enough; but, it doesn't come easy. Many times, you have to sacrifice." Q. What is one of the most difficult responsibilities of running the government of Minnesota? Ventura: "I would say, one of the most difficult things is preparing the budget. Because that's where you take the tax dollars that everyone pays into the government and you figure out how you're going to spend that money and what you're going to spend it on and what is important, what you think is not as important. And I think that that's probably the biggest issue and the hardest responsibility of government is deciding how you're going to spend the tax money and what you're gonna focus on, because, again, everyone has a different opinion - on what it should be spent on - everyone has their pet projects that they want to have funded - and it's like anything, nobody gets everything - so you have to learn to do with what you have. I would say that is the most important part." Q: Do you think that you ever made a bad choice in your adult life? Ventura: "Uh, sure you do. You, at times, make bad choices all your life. I mean you try to make smart ones, you try to make good ones, but you have to remember that if you make a bad choice, you have to accept responsibility for that bad choice. And you have to take the responsibility for it because it was ultimately your choice to make. And so, but again, as I talked about earlier, nobody goes through life without making mistakes. We all make mistakes but it's whether we learn from them and what we take on with them and we try not to repeat our mistakes if we know it has been one." Q: What is going to be done to make Minnesota schools safer? Ventura: "Well, what I'm going to have done to make Minnesota schools safer is to encourage parents to parent. I think that ultimately it falls back on the parents. And how, in the raising of their children and being involved in their children's lives, that will ultimately prove to be the best method we can do to make schools as safe as we possibly can. That we need to understand that... respect everyone, respect your classmates, respect the people that you deal with in every day of your life and respect that they have their position and their viewpoint and need to be respected for that. But again, to me, it goes back to encouraging parents to take an active role in all of their kids' lives. Be involved in their lives; show interest in what they're doing. After all, they are your children and you will be judged upon what those children do when they grow up, ultimately." Q: Why did you decide to become a governor? Ventura: "Uh, certain things led to it, and then, ultimately, it became - uh, I wanted the job badly... for a number of reasons, I felt I could do the job well; I felt that I wanted to do the job, and ultimately, I was told that I couldn't do it; that I couldn't win. And so that became a very, very big challenge for me to do, that, yes, I could win and I will win. And, uh, we ultimately did win. ... New things in life, for me, I hold a job about every four years, and so politics works out very well...." Q: What's your favorite nickname and why? Ventura: "... Oh, I suppose I always liked 'The Body ' the best. You know, during my heyday of wrestling, when I was Jesse The Body, which the fans kinda gave to me because of my antics in the ring. But, uh, I enjoyed Jesse The Body a lot; you could get away with a lot more than being Jesse The Mind. With Jesse The Body, they're far more forgiving than with Jesse The Mind." Q: Why do you keep going on talk shows and not staying here in Minnesota and doing what you were elected to do? Ventura: "First of all, when I go on talk shows national, I usually combine them always with the state's work. Like the last talk show I was on was Chris Matthews' Hardball, and we tied that in. The media very much wants me, so I get pressure day in and day out to participate in every talk show that there is. Many of them that I do, I haven't even left the state. Many of them I do, I do from the Governor's residence where they bring the cameras in and I participate at that level. When I do leave the State, it's generally, as best I can remember, always tied to the State's business. Like the last time that I went out, I did Hardball with Chris Matthews and I did The David Letterman Show. But, in the afternoon, I met at Harvard University with their top three economists with my staff, because we figured these are people we ought to talk to at Harvard. And we met with two different groups of Harvard people, and then the next day, we met with the bonding agencies that deal with the bonding of the State of Minnesota. So what we do, is combine work with the talk show circuit. So if I'm off on the east coast doing the State's business, then at nighttime I will book something to satisfy the media's interest. Because the media hammers away on you and gets very volatile if you don't eventually agree to come on with them. And so, I think it's unfair to say that I'm leaving the State and doing a talk show circuit and not doing the State's business; that may be what's being portrayed out there but it is not the truth." Q: Are you going to run for Governor next time? Ventura: "I'll decide that, probably in about three years. I'll sit down with my family and I'll determine what they'd prefer to have me do, because I will always put them first. And, uh, if they are reluctant to have me go for a second term then I probably won't. Uh, if they are enjoying what I'm doing and like what's happening, and if my challenges haven't been met and I feel that there's more work to do then I will seek a second term. But at this point in time, it's far too early for me to worry about that, I still have three more, plus, years to go and I will deal with those three years and then make that decision, and make that decision when the time comes at that point in time." Following the questioning, The Mind thanked the audience and retired to the school's Apple Cafe where he met with reporters and autographed brochures outlining the Service Not Systems component of his Big Plan. The Big Plan. The Service Not Systems component details key topics of: Reining in Rulemaking & Excessive Regulation, A Single House Legislature, A Tax System that Makes Sense, Active, Engaged Citizens, State Departments: Best Bang for the Buck, Reforming "Politics As Usual" and Electronic Government Services Initiative. Photo captions - photos in print edition only: The Mind introduces athlete Jayna Matthew, who performed civic work in welfare reform. The Mississippi Horizons School Band ushered in the Governor. "I'm very honored," said saxaphonist Kay Bjornson After the talk to students, the Governor autographed copies of his Big Plan at the schools Apple Cafe. ---------------------------------------------------------------- NOV., DEC. PRINT SCHEDULE This is a 5-week issue. Our next will be 12/8/99. Due to end-of-year holidays, when nothing much happens, and those who are Jewish really appreciate that they are, we will have one issue in November (11/3) and one in December (12/8). The next issue thereafter will be 1/5/2000, at which time our normal 3-week cycle will resume. All advertisements and subscriptions will be adjusted for this change so to include the same number of issues. If the world ends on New Year's Day, this will be reported in our 1/5 issue. ----------------------------------------------------------- BEMIDJI CRIME-RIDDEN WITH SEPT. AUTO THEFTS But in County, Sheriff Mounts Aggressive New Plan - Turns In Best "Solved" Rate in Years BEMIDJI -- Bemidji and greater Beltrami County were wracked by a rash of auto thefts in September in which 15 cars were taken. On one September day, alone, 5 vehicles were stolen, including a visitor's car which was later found burned. Of the 15 vehicles, 14 have been recovered, 2 in burned and 4 in totalled out condition. As of late October, none of the City of Bemidji cases had been cleared by arrest by Bemidji Police. But in the county, Sheriff Keith Winger has mounted an assault on auto theft with the hiring of a Mike Bakke as special auto theft investigator. He said that having an auto theft investigator provides specific manpower enabling leads to be followed up and patterns to be isolated. For September, he turned in a 50% clearance rate resulting in misdemeanor and felony charges on the county cases. Bakke reported that in the three months from his hiring in July, 1999 through September, the number of Sheriff's Office arrests for vehicle theft has surpassed the total for all of last year. "I guess the main thing I'd like to emphasize: the real way to stay on top is keep track of the people ... the juveniles who do it," said Bakke, who is now implementing a Watch Your Car program (see notice below). "In order for any crime prevention program to be effective, there needs to be continuous citizen involvement ... they are the eyes and ears of the police," he said. Investigator Bakke's work, through June, 2000, is being made possible through a grant from the Minnesota Theft Prevention Board; the grant may then be renewed for another year. Per Bakke's statistics, the thieves appear to prefer GM vehicles. They accounted for 73% of the Sept. thefts. 46% of the thefts were passenger cars. In stealing the vehicles, the criminals started them by "chipping" the columns on five of them; one vehicle had the keys left in it (Never do this - not even for a few moments - this is Bemidji! -- Ed) Persons having possible information on auto thefts are encouraged to call the auto theft hotline, locally by calling the Beltrami Co. Sheriff's Office, or otherwise at 1-800-359-4328. Varying rewards are available for tips, through the hotline. The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is also requesting citizens' help by way of information on the recent rash of burglaries in Beltrami County near Bemidji. -------------------------------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT THE BELTRAMI COUNTY SHERIFF WILL WATCH YOUR CAR If you're not out between 1 and 5 in the morning, then your car shouldn't be, either !! AND IT'S FREE!! Program includes two luminescent decals that ask officers to stop the car & check who's driving between 1 and 5 in the morning. Not only helpful to recover stolen vehicles, these decals are a strong deterrent to thieves. PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT IN YOUR CAR! REGISTER TODAY AT THE BELTRAMI CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Held on $1/4 Million Bail HANSON COMPLAINT INCONSISTENT WITH WITNESS STATEMENT BEMIDJI -- New evidence has surfaced in the Nancy Hanson cases which continues to cast doubt upon the circumstances of arrest and charging. Hanson is charged, in Beltrami County, with three alleged drug crimes, relating to the mind numbing poison, methamphetamine, also called "meth," "speed," "white death" or "crank." She has been held pending trial, at the Beltrami County Jail, since mid-September, with bail set at $250,000. The Charges. Following a search of her residence, in June, 1999, in which agents of the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force (PBTF) claim to have found a small amount of the deadly drug in three small bundles, Hanson was charged with 4th degree controlled substance crime (Case No. K3-99-844). The search warrant was issued in Hubbard County after Patricia Rogers and Cory Kettle were arrested there for possession of the drug, and, purportedly, told officers that Hanson was the source. An inspection of the interrogation documents, however, reveals that neither Kettle, nor Rogers, stated personal involvement in the drug purchase, each claiming that they believed the other had bought it from Hanson. Hanson, who has no prior drug record, has denied selling the drug and has said she had no knowledge of the presence of any methamphetamine in her home. Following the search, Hanson informed several people of items having been taken from her home which were not in the filed search inventory, among them, a camera. Hanson was released on $3,000 bail and remained free on bail pending trial until September 21, 1999, when she received an Express Mail package which authorities allege contained a substantial quantity of meth. Hanson claims to not have known what was in the package when she signed for it, and when she found out, tried to give it back to the postman. "I opened the package and I realized something was funny -- I threw it all in a bag and I ran outside to catch the postman and he was just pulling out on 30th st. - all of a sudden they, [PBTF officers] grabbed me," she said. But police claim not to have found the meth in the package, but rather, the bulk of it in a 1" x 3" x 4" package, found on the floor of the squad car in which she had been placed, before she was removed to her house during the search. She was patted down prior to being placed in the car, and Deputy Gunsalus later claimed that she did not search thoroughly in the "zipper area." But per an independent eyewitness to the arrest, "Before they put her in the squad car, they patted her down so good, [that] if she had a toothpick in her pocket, they would have felt it." Per Hanson and the eyewitness, Hanson had her hands cuffed, behind her back, before being placed in the car. For her to have deposited the drug package on the floor of the car, per the filed police statement information, she'd have had to have removed it from the zipper area of her pants with her hands cuffed behind her back, and with officers conducting the search nearby. Also per the eyewitness, immediately prior to Hanson's being removed from the squad car, three officers got in it with her, two in front and one in back. Court documents disclose no meth being found in the car at that time. During the same search, officers also claim to have discovered a small amount of meth in a black nylon camera bag. Hanson has claimed that she hadn't seen that bag since the June search when, she claimed, the camera was taken. Following the Sept. search, Hanson was charged with 1st degree controlled substance crime (possession of a large amount) (Case No. K1-99-1393). It was then that her bail was raised to $250,000. Finally, on October 4th, Asst. Co. Atty. Shari Schluchter brought a further 1st degree charge (Case No. K4-99-1436) based upon alleged sale of methamphetamine in the June incident. The sworn complaint, subscribed by Schluchter and PBTF officer Michael Haines, recites, "Rogers reported that she purchased the methamphetamine from Nancy Hanson for Cory Kettle." But the taped interrogation statements of Rogers tell a different story. She states that Kettle had bought the drug, possibly from Hanson. In the interrogation, not only did Rogers specifically deny personal knowledge of the transaction, but also told officers, with regard to Kettle's possible purchase of the drug from Hanson, "I don't really know when he could of [sic] got it from her ... he went to town this morning by himself, he could of got it then." Repeated motions for bail reduction have, by the Court, been denied. Editor's Note: Further information on these cases is contained in NH of 09/22/99, and 10/13/99, available at The Library at our website -------------------------------------------------------- AND WE HAVE A WINNER! - Bear False Witness BEAR contest (Graphic Caption - a reproduction of the Bear False Witness BEAR, winning entry, appears on the main page (the one from which you got here) of our website.) Northern Minnesota's Mascot, The Bear False Witness Bear, as interpreted by artist Kendra Mirabal, 6th grade, Christian Community School, Grand Rapids, MN. Her art instructor: Dawn Molaison Somewhere in the forest courts, a witness in sworn in. (In the forest, they raise their left, rather than right, paw.) Northern Herald's Bear False Witness Bear contest was inspired by the practice of Grand Rapids' ADVOCATES for Family Peace, and certain other travesties observed in Northland courtroom practice. The winner and her school will each receive $50 of art supplies provided by Ben Franklin Crafts, Grand Rapids. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement BRING BEMIDJI-STYLE CRIME AND CORRUPTION TO ST. PAUL? STEELE ON OPPONENT DOUG PETERSON: "What has been allowed to happen in Bemidji over Mayor Doug Peterson's long term is characteristic of an attitude for extreme disregard for the law, both in terms of simple laws like vandalism and theft, on up to the highest laws of our land, which are frequently disregarded by the authorities, the bar and the judiciary, here. The result has been unprecedented corruption, and it's consort, crime. Bemidji has been known as the crime capitol of Minnesota during Peterson's reign. Both, crime and official corruption, will be found in the same place as they stem from the same source: the mistaken and manifestly unjust doctrine, which flows down from top official echelons, and from parents to children, that it's just OK for some, either due to position, relations, fraternal associations or friendships, to break the law. Bemidji is a city which has had charges of theft brought against its police chief, prostitution against it's police, and where its County Attorney died of cocaine overdose. It is a city of rampant fraud and street crime. It is the only city, to my knowledge, which has dared to officially prohibit its free press, exposing this corruption, from being distributed. We don't need to spread this crime-fostering and constitutionally ignorant attitude through the entire District 4, and we need to keep it far from St. Paul. It is far better left in remote places like Bemidji where it can be, by most, avoided, until it can be dealt with." BEMIDJI UNDER MAYOR PETERSON * Bemidji is not business-friendly; Bemidji has a history of being hostile to new business, particularly where it can compete effectively in the marketplace against the town's "old line" merchants, preferring, instead to base its growth upon governmental expansion. Fueled by federal and state funds, and local taxpayers, the government sector is the largest employer in Bemidji. * While the State just returned a budget surplus, Bemidji's year 2000 projected tax levy is 7.8 % over 1999. Is this the way you want state government to go? STEELE ON TONY KINKEL "Tony is a good man and a good educator. He's a bit more liberal on spending than I, but in fairness, he'd probably say that I was too conservative. I wouldn't mind seeing him elected. He's kind of hard to reach, though. He'd make a good senator, as long as you didn't need to talk to him about anything. He DOES return calls eventually, so you CAN actually speak to him, if you live long enough. If Mr. Kinkel gets elected and you need to speak to him, I would recommend a good healthy diet and daily regimen of rigorous exercise." WHAT I STAND FOR: 1) BEMIDJI HAS BEEN GETTING MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE TAX FUNDING PIE. It seems as though whenever someone gets an idea here, the first thing they do, often, is apply for a grant. In Bemidji, there's even a Council of Non-Profits to coordinate their political and begging activities. Of what very limited State and Federal funding is appropriate, I'd like to see worthwhile tourism and growth projects spread more across the region - for more innovation in worthwhile places like Walker, Park Rapids, and Cass Lake, and well as the many smaller communities in which, in the aggregate, many residents live. The Science Center, for example, is a worthwhile idea - but why not in Nevis, where it would be more easily accessible to several major school districts instead of just a few? 2) TO FURTHER WELFARE REFORM. And ensure that it's provisions are being more stringently enforced as regards those who refuse gainful employment. Business is labor-hungry - there's no shortage of jobs. It may be time for welfare, in most cases, to end. 3) I WILL SPONSOR LEGALIZATION OF PROSTITUTION. So Bemidji's welfare girls who won't work otherwise, will have a way of making an honest living, doing what they like to do anyway, without taxpayer expense. 4) FURTHER SPENDING AND TAX REDUCTION. Particularly as regards the high tax rates now paid by seniors and people without kids. 5) TO STEM CORRUPTION, I support legislation holding local employees and officials accountable, in civil damages, for acts in reckless disregard of the rights of others and contrary to their oaths of office. 6) ESTABLISHMENT OF A JUVENILE RESIDENTIAL CENTER to end the now astronomical county foster placement costs. 7) PERMITTING POLYGRAPH EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL TRIALS. Too many innocent people are being held on flimsy or perjured evidence at a corrupt prosecutor's whim and in violation of civil rights. ADAM STEELE FOR STATE SENATE - DISTRICT 4 Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca & Wadena Counties Prepared and paid for by Adam Steele on his own behalf. P.O. Box 1535, Bemidji, MN 56619 ----------------------------------------------------------------- (photo caption - photos in print edition only): Particularly If You Drive a Caddy WHEN YOU COME TO BEMIDJI, BEST LEAVE YOUR HOOD ORNAMENT AT HOME BEMIDJI -- Some say it's a high school status symbol, some say it's a way of dealers selling the high-priced accessory, but one thing is certain - the practice of stealing hood ornaments has been going on in Bemidji for years and law enforcement isn't doing anything about it. You see the results in any Bemidji parking lot, as the above two examples, picked at random, show (ornament areas magnified at insets). A particular car went three years, parked on the street in a San Diego commercial area without this happening. In Bemidji, it didn't make it a year - and, when replaced, the new ornament was gone in less than 24 hours. A Bemidji Cadillac owner interviewed at the Bemidji post office parking lot about his missing ornament, last week said, "They got this one and the Buick before it. I'm not going to replace it until I move out of Bemidji." Replacement of an ornament can cost $50 or more, and is frequently below insurance deductibles. ----------------------------------------------------- (photo caption - photos in print edition only): ARTIFACTS SURFACE AT BEMIDJI DIG As part of the Heritage Sites Program under David Kluth, Field Director, workers from the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa do archeological sampling at the Mississippi River building site in Bemidji. If the site proves intact, as to artifacts, the historically significant ones will be removed prior to construction. In the picture at right, the three pieces at the bottom have been identified as from the "Brainerd" Native American culture, 1000 B.C. - 300 A.D., and were probably used for cooking or storage vessels. At top are burned bone fragments, possibly from a meal. Kluth said that other specimens found at the site have been identified as of the "Sandy Lake" culture, and based upon preliminary analysis they'd also found some "Blackduck" pottery as well as some unidentified pieces. -------------------------------------------------------- WINNIE STORE ENDS CREDIT ACCOUNTS BENA -- Plagued by a plethora of non-paying customers, the Winnie Store here has stopped allowing the charging of merchandise in this smaller Minnesota community on the shores of Lake Winnibigoshish. The Winnie Store has indicated that they would appreciate it if the following would bring their severely delinquent accounts current: Adrian (Guy) White, James Fairbanks, Tom Howard, Bev & Ron Lee, Jamie Mitchell, Todd Tibbetts, Rodney Headbird, Darrell Johnson, Bernadette Mitchell, Dave (Butch) Cloud, Jim Beaulieu, Lawrence Humphrey, Jack Seelye (a former RBC member), Leah (Grandy) Ruschmeier, Leonard Howard, Gary Keezer, Dave Michaud, Todd Stangel, Dan White, Vickie Bellanger, Ron Johnson, Ann McClimek, Dean Canty, Jerry Chase, and "George" Michaud. ------------------------------------ ISSUE OF 10/13/99 - VOLUME 5 NO. 2 ------------------------------------ HACKENSACK CELEBRATES FALL HACKENSACK -- It had only started that morning, but by about 1 p.m., the bake sale was plumb sold out, and about 500 visitors had come through Hackensack's Fall Fest, which filled the weekend of October 2nd & 3rd. In addition to Saturday's Craft Fair and Bake Sale in the community building, with concessions catered by the Unit 202 Legion Auxiliary of Hackensack, Sue Larson supervised organized children's games that afternoon and later the Fest featured an all-you-can-eat Fish Fry. Sunday brought the Classic Car Show and Lions' Pancake Breakfast in the morning, followed by the Meat Raffle in the afternoon. Pat Jenson, of the Hackensack Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event, said, midday Saturday, "You know, it was very, very busy this morning ... we've had a nice turnout." The Craft Fair featured works by many artisans both locally as well as from more remote points of Northern Minnesota and elsewhere. Some of the exhibitors included celebrities Bonnie Hiniker, The Plant Lady of KAXE radio fame, and owner of Sunshine Gardens landscaping and garden designs, Pine River; and Vi Hagford, local author of The Positive Side of the Millennium. Framed prints of her poetry were available at the fest. THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE MILLENNIUM by Vi Hagford A Positive Side of the Millennium is: A thousand years; a future time or perfect peace on earth -- Webster's Dictionary Let us set our dreams and expectations high Like the morning rays coming from the sky. Shining through our stately pines Like the rivers, lakes, and streams flowing on in time. Look around you people, open your eyes See the bold and magnificent Eagles in our skies. We have what most men seek, peace and serenity at its peak. Use it wisely and abundance can be yours And you will have nothing to fear in the Millennium year. Picture Captions (photos in print edition only): Jessica Franzen of Pillager with her handworks of dried and silk flowers The Common Loon, and other woodcrafts, by Jake Froese, Remer Ann Pole of Shelly, MN, demonstrates how to dust under eaves. Lois Schulze, of Jenkins brought her hand crocheting to the crafts fair. The woodcrafts table at the fest was run by the Cheneys of Deer River. Donnea Peterson, of Hackensack, runs the bicycle obstacle course in the fest's kid's games ------------------------------------------------------- US WEST SUED Lawsuit: US West put local service last By Andrew Backover and Anne Colden Denver Post Business Writers Reprinted from The Denver Post of October 3, 1999 with permission. Oct. 3 - Documents filed Friday in a lawsuit charge US West with deceiving local telephone customers, spending money to court merger partners instead of improving service, and cutting costs at the expense of customers. The plaintiffs allege that US West made "huge financial gains" while allowing its local service to "deteriorate to a level worse than any other Baby Bell.'' The complaint charges that US West's top managers decided to "increase profits and cut expenses through means that had a disastrous effect on customer service.'' And it criticizes the company for rewarding senior executives, such as Chairman and Chief Executive Solomon J. Trujillo, with stock options, bonuses and "extravagant salaries.'' Further, the lawsuit seeks to make public documents that US West says contain proprietary business information that could help the company's competitors. A motion to unseal those documents and a filing seeking class-action status were submitted late Friday in district court in Larimer County. A hearing on the motion to make the documents public is scheduled for Nov. 1. Shareholders of U S West and Qwest Communications International Inc. are scheduled to vote on their proposed merger on Nov. 2. US West officials, who would not comment on specifics of the case, vowed Saturday to fight the complaint and the release of confidential documents. "The vast majority of our customers do get the service they need when they need it,'' said U S West spokeswoman Anna Osborn. "And we're out there working day in and day out to ensure all of our customers are taken care of.'' US West acknowledged having service problems in the past but says the situation is improving. Officials said the Public Utilities Commission already has addressed many of the same issues raised in the lawsuit. And they say the company's impending merger with Qwest Communications International will improve service and competitiveness. Seven plaintiffs are named in the suit, which consolidates some class-action cases started in 1996. The size of the potential class is among many items deleted from a copy of the complaint, which was reviewed by The Denver Post. The case was filed on behalf of customers who ordered new or additional telephone service: "Defendant has deliberately underfunded their local telephone service in Colorado, resulting in long delays for many thousands of Coloradans in receiving basic phone service.'' The plaintiffs subject to those so-called "held orders'' are entitled to money damages, the suit states. The lawsuit, which doesn't specify a dollar amount, seeks actual and punitive damages and also asks that US West give up some of its profits as far back as 1993. US West's legal wrangle - including its efforts to keep some documents confidential - is just one skirmish in a war it is fighting on several fronts. The heart of the matter is the level of service the company, which is based in Denver and offers local telephone service in 14 states, provides to its customers. Because of substandard service, US West has been entangled with the state's Public Utilities Commission for several years and faces a PUC investigation over the same issue. US West has blamed exponential growth - both in population and in the number of phone lines per household - for its delays. "We acknowledge that there are people out there that have not been able to get the service they need when they need it," Osborn said. US West says that the problems have been fixed. It reported that it has successfully filled 98 percent of its 1.8 million orders through the first half of 1999 and points to its $873 million in capital expenditure investments throughout the state this year as evidence of its local commitment. The legal and regulatory problems unfold against the backdrop of US West's pending $48 billion merger with Qwest. The lawsuit against US West argues that the merger is an example of how US West has focused its attention and resources outside of Colorado, while ignoring customers here. Qwest and US West have argued that the merger is an antidote. "We believe the merger is both pro-competitive and pro-consumer, and it will be good for customers in Colorado,'' Osborn said Saturday, echoing the position that Qwest CEO Joseph P. Nacchio has taken for months. The class-action suit started in January 1996 with John Emmons of Castle Rock. Emmons said he waited several weeks in 1995 for a phone hookup to his Christian counseling service business. Neither he nor his attorney, Ted Trauernicht, could be reached Saturday. But newcomers, such as Longmont resident Connie Bruce, have similar tales. Bruce said Saturday that she waited three months in late 1997 for US West to work out the phone kinks for her Longmont business, Facility Solutions Inc., which was relocating within the Boulder County city. There were hookup delays of several weeks, she said, followed by problems with voice mail and automatic rollover and phone service cutting in and out - an embarrassment, she said, for a company that helps commercial customers manage facilities, plan space and organize moves. "We sat in our cars on cell phones,'' Bruce said. "It was an enormous burden to a small business. We couldn't even get our name and number in the yellow pages. We couldn't concentrate on our day-to-day business because we were concentrating on phones.'' The lawsuit alleges that the service difficulties go back to the early 1990s, when US West created an internal program that assigned lower middle management "the impossible responsibility of trying to fix the problem without the necessary capital budget.'' The plaintiffs allege that senior managers knew more money was needed to fix delays in implementing new service. "By its refusal to invest the funds necessary to fix the problem, (US West's) senior management hamstrung its lower and middle managers. The uniformly underfunded "processes'... formed to supposedly fix the held-order problems have for years spun like tops careening from one failed attempt to another.'' While its problems in getting customers new local service piled up, the suit alleges, US West chose to invest in non-telephone businesses outside the U.S.: "Defendant deliberately targeted its local telephone service for the $1 billion in cost-cuts that would be poured into other business ventures.'' The plaintiffs also accuse the company of using "deceptive and misleading numbers'' to describe its held orders, and says US West had been warned by its own employees and outside consultants that more funds were needed to fix the problem. The plaintiffs had agreed that US West could keep some documents private but say the company went too far. The version of the lawsuit that is available to the public excludes portions of documents - which makes for oddly interesting reading. For example, in describing the internal and external "warnings'' US West Chairman Solomon Trujillo and other managers received, the suit states: "By year-end 1995, Sol Trujillo and his staff were warned that...'' That is followed by several blank pages and exhibits that have so far been kept from public view. The plaintiffs say US West has designated as confidential some 90 percent of the documents it has turned over. U S West says it has cooperated, keeping only proprietary information private. Aside from facing legal battles, U S West still must clear several hurdles with the PUC. The agency, as part of an investigation that began in May, recently completed five public hearings on U S West's inability to meet service in 1998 and part of 1999. Attorneys will present arguments in the investigation at a Nov. 29 hearing, PUC spokeswoman Barbara Fernandez said. In addition, the agency and US West reached a settlement in the spring that calls for the Baby Bell to grant $84 million in rate reductions in return for pricing flexibility on some of its products. But the five-year agreement also calls for U S West to risk losing up to $15 million annually in refunds to customers if it does not meet service standards, she said. U S West and the PUC have been at odds before. The agency assessed US West with $5.3 million in statewide infrastructure improvements for poor service during 1993-95, Fernandez said. More recently, PUC commissioners have raised questions about whether US West put profit before service. "The commissioners did raise questions about the shareholders dividends and the money that was spent on the infrastructure,'' Fernandez said. Copyright 1999 The Denver Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Northern Herald Editor's Note: This story follows-up a Letter to the Editor which appeared in our 9/22/99 issue and dealing with US WEST's proposed sell off of rural areas, including Northern Minnesota, to the low-rated Citizens utilities. The original letter may be found at our web site under The Library, v.4 pt.2 --------------------------------------------------------- COMPETITIVE GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR CHILD SERVICE PROVIDERS Grant applications for child care programs in Region Two (includes all of the counties of Mahnomen, Clearwater, Hubbard, Beltrami and Lake of the Woods) are now available through Mahube Child Care Resource & Referral. These are competitive grants for licensed family child care providers, licensed child care centers (Rule 3), legally exempt school-based school-age care programs, family child care associations, public agencies (city/county), public schools, Head Start programs, education institutions, and corporations or public agencies that develop child care services. There are also special planning and start-up and expansion grants for school-age care programs that intend to provide care for a minimum of 10 school-age youth. For more information, call Mahube CCR&R, Park Rapids, at 218-732-7204 or 800-450-1385. All completed applications are due December 15, 1999. -------------------------------------------------------- Editorial WILL $250,000 BAIL HOLD MISS HANSON? Rule 6.02 - Pre-Trial Release "... Upon appearance before a ... court, a person so charged shall be released pending trial or hearing on personal recognizance [without bail] or on order to appear or upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond in a specified amount, unless the ... judge ... determines ... that such a release will be inimical of public safety or will not reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required. ... "Subd. 2. Determining Factors. In determining which conditions of release will reasonably assure such appearance, the judge ... shall ... take into account the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, the weight of the evidence against the accused, the accused's family ties, employment, financial resources, character and mental condition, length of residence in the community, record of convictions, record of appearance at court proceedings, or flight to avoid prosecution and the safety of any other person or of the community." Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure (West Pub. Co. - M.S.A.) BEMIDJI -- As the balmy fall breezes carrying the essence of Bemidji's sewage treatment plant fill the autumn evening in its southerly residential neighbor-hoods; while auto thieves, some of them possibly kids of the best-heeled stock in town (if the town's recent history is to be any indication) run rampant through the streets of Bemidji stealing and burning cars of residents and tourists as they go; Nancy Hanson remains rotting in the Beltrami County jail, until her next hearing in November, with bail set at the preposterous sum of $250,000., for an alleged drug crime for which she says she was set up, and of which the evidence is questionable. Before the arrest, Hanson's home life was sordid. She lives with her children in a husbandless household in a triplex in northern Bemidji. Her 19 yr. old son lives there in godless union with his 17 yr. old "girlfriend" who recently had a miscarriage (to our Twin Cities readers: Yes, this is exactly where your welfare taxes go). They have no plans to marry. Miss Hanson might just as well have hung a huge "BORDELLO" sign on the home. And being in not too good an area (the near northside) of a very corrupt and criminal city, one can't avoid the unsavory types who live in the neighborhood, some of them coming and going as her kids' friends. As the home is without a male figure (Hanson has only a "boyfriend"), one would expect it to be diciplineless and it is believed that some of the problems started from neighbors' complaints of vehicle traffic - people, who Hanson says are her kids' friends, coming and going a lot. But aside from her revolting home life, which casts off as irrelevant the wisdom accumulated over 5,700 years of civilization, from the time when man first walked erect and the Creator made woman for his benefit; a serious question exists as to whether she actually committed the drug crimes charged, and another of whether her being held on $1/4 million bail is appropriate while we're waiting to find out (i.e. by trial - and here in Northern Minnesota, where the Sixth Amendment is ignored, this could take six months or more) whether or not she's guilty of anything that can be lawfully punished in this world. Constitutional law requires that bail be reasonable, and Minnesota law specifically favors release without bail, particularly where the aforementioned determining factors are met. For reasons which are now unknown, law enforcement has had, since last June, a particular interest in Miss Hanson. Her record shows no charges, prior to then, for drug-related, or violent offenses over the many years she has resided here. But since June, she has amassed 4 charges against her, none of which have yet been proven at trial. ------------------------------------------------------------ "A lie, repeated often enough, in time becomes the truth." -author unknown ------------------------------------------------------------ Hanson presently faces two counts of controlled substance crime, 1st (sale) & 4th (possession) degree, (case nos. K4-99-1436 & K3-99-844) associated with an alleged incident in June, when a search warrant was executed; a third, most recent, 1st degree count (possession of 25 grams or more of methampheta-mine) (case no. K1-99-1393) stemming from her allegedly having received an express mail package, Sept. 21st, containing methamphetamine (see Unusual Circumstances Surround Bemidji Meth Bust, NH of 9/22/99), with officers reporting that they also found a separate small quantity in a nylon camera bag in her car while executing a search warrant when she was arrested for the package; and a charge of terroristic threats for as yet unproven accusations that she suspected a neighbor of having provoked the June arrest and allegedly told the neighbor that she was going to have the neighbor "taken care of." Analyzing the charges; court appearances. Hanson has maintained from the start that all of the charges are false and that she was set up in the express mail package incident. She said that she had no knowledge of the contents of the package before opening it, and upon doing so and seeing the contents, attempted to give it back to the postman, who had left. Hanson said, "I opened the package and I realized something was funny -- I threw it all in a bag and I ran outside to catch the postman and he was just pulling out on 30th st. - all of a sudden they, [Bemidji police] grabbed me." Although the complaint speaks of the package contents having been discovered by the postal inspector, marked with a black light yellow dye, and repackaged for delivery to Hanson, and that the dye was found to be on Hanson at the time of arrest, this would seem consistent with what would happen if one unknowingly received the package, opened it and examined or in any way handled the contents - it fails to demonstrate that she expected the package or intended to retain it. Hanson said that during the search of her home, when she observed officers working with the black light, they, also, had gotten the yellow dye on them. Regarding the nylon camera bag, purportedly found containing a small amount of methamphetamine, in Hanson's vehicle, Hanson said, in interview at the jail, that she hadn't seen that bag since the June search, and she believes that it may have been taken by police in that search. Hanson's attorney, Peter Bulens, of Bemidji, confirmed that Hanson had, after the June incident, but prior to the September arrest, given him a list of her items which she claims were wrongfully taken from her residence when the June search warrant was executed. A request has been made, but as of presstime, he has not yet allowed Northern Herald to see that list. If her camera (if the camera and bag were taken, one would not ordinarily list the bag separately) turns out to be on that list, it would tend to give credence to the theory that the bag was in the possession of law enforcement, and could have been replanted. Prior to the September incident, there had been many court hearings and continuances regarding the June incident, and the record indicates that Hanson, although out on only $3,000. bail, appeared at all of them. The initial incident arose by a statement of Patricia Rogers who was found, along with Cory Kettle, in possession of drugs while in Hubbard County. Rogers and Kettle are thought to have been making deliveries of methamphetamine to Park Rapids. Accordingly Judge Mondry, at Park Rapids, issued a search warrant for the Hanson residence. Officers executed that warrant June 18th, 1999. According to the filed complaint, signed by Blaize Zimmerman, Special Agent of Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, "agents found a small amount of methamphetamine" in Hanson's bedroom. "Agents observed the methamphetamine that was seized was in three separate bindles." The complaint further recites "also seized was a list that agents determined could be customers of Nancy Hanson. Agents also discovered $1,500 in U.S. currency." Following the search, Hanson was arrested and charged with controlled substance crime in the 4th degree. Her bail was set at $3,000. which was posted June 21st, and Hanson was released. The Rule 8 hearing was had before the Honorable Judge Benshoof on June 28th, with omnibus set for July 19th. On July 4th, however, a neighbor, Mary Graves, accused Hanson of threatening her and her 17 year old daughter Georgia; Hanson was rearrested and charged with making terroristic threats. The police report, signed by BPD Sgt. Daryle Russel, alleges, "Nancy told Georgia that she knows Mary turned her in to the cops and said, 'I'm having her taken care of.'" The report also alleges the same threat as having been made to Mary, later in the day. Hanson appeared before the Honorable Judge Benshoof on July 6th, when her bail was allowed to remain at the $3,000. posted, and she was released from custody. An omnibus hearing on the original charge was convened on July 26th, but was continued to August 16th, and again to September 29th. In the interim, the express mail incident occurred on September 21st. In their search, officers reported finding the express mail package, and its contents, which, per the complaint, signed by officer Paul Gherardi, were "believed to be flour." Hanson was patted-down and placed in the back seat of Deputy Teri Gunsalus's patrol car, and, per the complaint, officers found the nylon camera bag containing meth in the back of Hanson's truck. Hanson was removed from the squad car to her house. The complaint alleges that Special Agent Michael Haines then discovered the bulk of the meth in a package on the floor of the squad. Deputy Gunsalus's statement, with regard to the Sept. 21st incident, reports that Gunsalus observed Hanson being handcuffed before being searched and placed in the patrol car. Gunsalus alleges in her statement, regarding the pat-down search, "while searching Hanson, she was resisting my search of her lower front. She was crouched over at the waist, making it difficult to her groin area. I did empty her front pockets, but did not search thoroughly in the area of her pants zipper." The statement makes no reference to the handcuffs having been removed prior to Hanson's being placed in the patrol car. The small package containing the meth is described as being about 4"x3"x1" in size - large enough to be conspicuous on a person, particularly on a female of Hanson's slight build, and in the groin area. Hanson's son, James Hanson, 19, who lives with her, said that police were patting her down "hard" before placing her in the squad, and found no drugs at that time. He said that after she'd been in the squad for a short while, police brought her back into the house in handcuffs and that a short time later they returned to the squad car, with Hanson still in the house, and, allegedly, then found the drugs in the police car. It's anyone's guess how she allegedly removed a package of that size from the zipper area of her pants, while in handcuffs. Hanson has also, in interview, denied knowledge of the meth allegedly seized in the June incident. On Sept. 27th, Hanson appeared before the Honorable Judge Benshoof on the new charge and bail was set at $250,000. Attorney Bulens unsuccess-fully argued, on October 4th, before Judge Benshoof, for bail reduction, and the matter was transferred to Judge Rasmussen. The motion was reargued October 11th, and was taken under submission. At presstime, Hanson remains in custody with bail at $250,000. Hanson's omnibus hearing will likely to take place in November. Also on October 4th, Asst. Co. Atty. Shari Schluchter added another charge stemming from the June incident. A charge of 1st degree controlled substance crime (sale) was filed based on Patricia Rogers' earlier statement (at Park Rapids) that she had purchased the drugs with which she was arrested from Nancy Hanson; and the allegation that the list allegedly seized in the June search was a drug customer list. -------------------------------------------- Editorials - Opinion THE THUNDERBIRDS AND THE SEABEES Across the nation, the papers and the networks are abuzz over his honor, the Governor's recent Playboy interview. As one commentator put it, at least this month when you say you're buying it for the articles, you'll mean it. What's interesting is that one of the most controversial things was when his honor said that he could understand how the events leading up to the "tailhook" investigation occurred. What's so amazing about that opinion? Many of the people we've spoken to agree - they can understand how that could occur - in the co-ed military, or anywhere else - too. But there must be a lot of people who don't understand. Otherwise, the comments wouldn't be so controversial. For the benefit of those who don't understand, we now present this primer: 1) The Thunderbirds and The Seabees. When the male of the species is brought into proximity of the female in heat, breeding will normally occur. This is true of most animal species (those where it wasn't died out) even including the lowest, humans. The principle is universal and applies everywhere, whether we're talking about in the military, in BSU's co-ed dorms, or the postman bringing the day's mail (male?) to the home. Many of the higher animals, like the foxes and wolves, however, are monogamous - that is, after breeding has initially occurred, they tend to breed only that same individual for life. This trait, and corresponding loyalty to one's mate, unfortunately, is not shared by today's emancipated woman as evidenced by the high divorce rate, including some who leave their husband and family breadwinner of many years to find other breeding stock, as soon as the last of the kids are out of the house. This lack of innate wisdom, imparted to the higher animals, is why promiscuity in the military, or just about anywhere the female of the species may be found, is not only possible, it's predictable. 2) Lions and Lionesses. But then, you may ask, how did the tailhook scandal arise? That is, why would these then contented cows turn against their co-conspirators? It is now known that some, but not all, were pressured into taking part in the investigation. What about the others? To better understand human behaviour, some people look to the higher animals and study them. Such we will do now, as to understand this, one best looks to the lioness. When the lioness is in season, she rolls over playfully before the male lion. This lets him know she is at that time when she is approachable. She is very fierce and if he approached her at any other time, she'd attack the male. With her innate lack of loyalty, it is easy to understand how today's emancipated woman would thus attack the male after the fun is over. Yep, it's the pot calling the hashish black, but that's the way it is. In some species, such as the praying mantis, the period when the female is desirous, and hence approachable, is so brief that she usually kills the male right after romance. Fortunately, in humans, she usually likes to have a cigarette first, which gives the male time to get a safe distance away. -------------------------------------------------------- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR --------------------- I am one who has always felt that just because I do not agree with another's view, there is a strong possibility that I may be wrong and the other person may be right. It appears that there are a lot of people in Bemidiji who do not think as I. Great newspaper. Keep up the good work. If we can't get the info from you, where would we get it? I do not patronize businesses that do not allow your paper, anymore, when I am in your area. Patrick McCarron Grand Rapids Thanks for your readership! We'll keep the straight news coming! --Ed. ------------------------------------------------------- GOVERNOR TO MAKE JUDICIAL ANOUNCEMENT AT MIDDLE SCHOOL ST. PAUL -- His honor, Gov. Jesse "The Mind" Ventura will make his Ninth District judicial appointment next week at Brainerd. But it won't be at the courthouse - the appointment will be announced amidst a day-long schedule of activities and work, Tuesday, October 19th, that his honor is conducting for students at Brainerd's Mississippi Horizons Middle School, and tied to the "Service, Not Systems" theme of his Big Plan. The judicial announcement will come at 2 p.m., followed by an address by The Mind, presumably dealing with the Service, Not Systems component of the Big Plan, before the 500+ student body and invited guests. John Hultquist, Judicial Appointment Coordinator at St. Paul, said that one of the reasons for the site was to allow students to actually see an important part of how the judicial system works and where judges come from. "The [Mississippi Horizons] students have done a lot of work in the community," he said. ------------------------------------------------------------ The Adventures of Felix ----------------------- BEMIDJI MAN REFUSES TO BE INFORMANT, CHARGED WITH DUI, REFUSAL TO TEST Acquitted, recently gets license back after 1 year DPS may still keep license after not guilty finding BEMIDJI -- Zmark Johnson was recovering from a severe cold, and says that he had less than a couple of drinks, "I had one drink, and a half... that was it," when Bemidji police pulled him over on September 24, 1998. Johnson had once had a prior DUI in 1995, but a witness submitted a statement to the effect that he had been drinking only lightly on Sept. 24th. The officer brought him in for an intoxilyzer test, and Johnson agreed, but due to his illness, an adequate breath sample was not produced. "I was really sick; I'd missed a couple of days of work," said Johnson who said that he blew the intoxilyzer as hard as he could, "very hard... I was literally dizzy." Johnson's statement, filed with the Minn. Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) recites, "The test was videotaped ... On the tape I could be seen coughing during the test and spitting phlegm into a wastebasket several times during the test. I blew as hard as I could and was visibly short of breath and dizzy after attempting to provide a [breath] sample." Alternate tests (urine or blood) were not offered, although DPS regulations provide that they must be if the subject cannot provide an adequate breath sample. Johnson was booked for Refusal To Test (RTT) and Driving While Under the Influence (DUI) and had been in custody for a few hours. Then, said Johnson, "They told me I had a visitor... they took me to a little room... there was a guy that come in - I thought he was my bailbondsman but he was an undercover drug cop. ... He ...[said] 'We can completely wipe this off the record if you just help us out.'" Johnson recounted that the drug agent asked Johnson to help get evidence regarding alleged illegal activities by management of Bemidji's (then) Bottum's Up bar (see A Scourge of Bemidji Closes, NH of 1/6/99). Johnson refused to work as an informant. Subsequently, and despite all of the evidence, including the videotapes, that Johnson had cooperated in alcohol testing, and notwithstanding that he was not asked to complete an alternate test, Bemidji City Attorney Alan Felix had him formally charged with RTT and DUI (case no. K6-98-1198). In addition to the criminal charge, his license to drive, due to be reinstated after revocation for the 1995 incident, again became subject to immediate revocation. Johnson, with his attorney, Thomas Kuesel, went to jury trial before the Honorable Judge Benshoof. The videotapes were shown to the jury and on March 11, 1999, Johnson was fully acquitted of both charges. Fees paid Kuesel for representation at trial, including required outside services, totalled $4,560. DPS refuses to reinstate. But even after the jury finding of not guilty, DPS would not restore Johnson's license. A letter, dated 3/8/99, and relating to the prior revocation, was sent by W. Hewitt, a DPS Driver Improvement Specialist to Al Felix, saying, "Johnson's driving privileges should have been reinstated on May 22nd, 1998." Minnesota law provides that following a report of refusal to test, the license is revoked for at least one year. This is done as an administrative matter within DPS and is not contingent on conviction of any charge; it's a separate process from the court proceedings, wholly discretionary with DPS. Asked if a finding of not guilty on the original RTT charge which prompted the revocation would require reinstatement of the driver's license, Don Davidson, DPS Examiner at Bemidji said, "Not necessarily ... it goes on an individual basis." DPS, St. Paul, could not be contacted for statement on this matter; attempts to get through to their revocations department by telephone could be described as low comedy, at best. On March 16, 1999, five days after the jury acquittal, Johnson filed with DPS a form entitled "Request For Administrative Review of Implied Consent Revocation" stating the circumstances of the RTT charge, the fact that he had attempted to test, and that police ignored regulations prescribing that an alternate test be offered; and filed with it a copy of the jury findings. Within a few weeks, he received the DPS reply to the effect that his license would not be reinstated until a minimum of 1 year had elapsed from the incident. Johnson contacted DPS, St. Paul, "I was told that they automatically don't give you your license back on any refusal, that's just the way they do things, I was told, not that it's policy, it's just the way they do things," he said. DPS finally restored Johnson's license on October 7th, 1999 after a year of revocation for the Sept. '98 incident on which Johnson had been found not guilty. He paid a $290 reinstatement fee and an $18.50 application fee. And further delays loomed. After paying the fees, "I was told [at the Bemidji driver's examination office] I'd have to wait 'til the end of October to actually get my license back because some guy that does the special review doesn't come up to Bemidji but once a month," Johnson said. But Johnson and a friend made some telephone calls to DPS at St. Paul, and, he said,"... she [the DPS employee at St. Paul] said that Bemidji should have already have it on their computer, that I was cleared to drive again. So I come up to the driver's license place here [Bemidji] and the lady is, basically, like 'Well, I don't have any access to that information,' and is basically giving me the run around. So we told her that we talked to ... [DPS] in St. Paul, and that the lady [at DPS, St. Paul] said if she had to, she would call up here. And so, the lady [at DPS, Bemidji] OK'd it and said OK, I'm clear." When one's license is revoked, so are his vehicle license plates. After having his license reinstated, Johnson had to pay $91 in total fees to get his license plates back. And even though he was found not guilty, "According to my insurance company, they still didn't take ... the refusal" to test off of his driving record. If this is not corrected, Johnson may face higher insurance premiums. Bottums Up bar closed at the end of 1998 following implication in the police prostitution trials of 1998. Two Bemidji and Beltrami County officers, allegedly affiliated with Bottums Up staff for procurement, were charged in those matters. This story is the first indication that Bottums Up management may also have been officially suspected of drug crimes. -- Ed. ------------------------------------ ISSUE OF 09/22/99 - VOLUME 5 NO. 1 ------------------------------------ LEADING EDGE JOURNALISM ----------------------- Marriage, Bemidji-style EDWINA GOLDEN ARRESTED FOLLOWING KNIFE INCIDENT Husband, 3 Kids Take Refuge at Motel After Wife Goes Berserk BEMIDJI -- A few years ago, the Strauss and Gelles National Report on Domestic Violence, based on a 10 year survey, disclosed that women instigate physical domestic violence a little over 50% of the time. It's something Richard Golden knows all too well; as his wife, Edwina Georgeianna Fajardo-Golden, now faces sentencing, October 4th, on 2 charges for having assaulted him in separate incidents in April, 1999. Trying to salvage the marriage, Richard has wanted his wife of three years to receive inpatient drug, alcohol and psychological counseling, but to this point, she has repeatedly refused to comply with court-ordered evaluations, and other requirements, including no-drink orders, imposed by the court. Even with sentencing pending on the earlier matters, police were again called to the Golden home, at 613 10th St., NW, Bemidji, on September 18, 1999, with BPD Officer Jaeger Bellows and others arriving there at about 10 p.m., and responding to a report of a domestic argument, with the female still in possession of a knife, per the police report. When interviewed, Sept. 19th, Richard Golden, was staying at a Bemidji motel, with his three children, the youngest 10 mos., due to threats of physical violence by members of his wife's family (his wife had, by that time, again been jailed.) He said that in the course of the argument, she had grabbed a knife, cut her wrists, held the knife to her throat, and then began slashing through the air in a threatening manner. The police report confirmed that Edwina, "showed us that she had small cuts on her wrists. Officers Beise and Hunt bandaged Edwina's wrists and I [Bellows] transported her to ER. She told me on the way that she had only cut herself because she was upset at Richard because he is cheating on her. She denied being suicidal and said she wouldn't harm herself. She also admitted to having consumed alcoholic beverages today. Edwina told me that Richard had grabbed her by the hair earlier today, but I saw no visible signs of physical abuse." Per the report, Edwina was treated at the hospital, receiving stitches in one wrist and a bandage on the other, and was then arrested for violation of her conditions of release (no-drink order) on the earlier assault charges. She tested .01 alcohol (legally intoxicated) on the jail's PBT. In interview at his motel, Richard spoke of his wife's obsessive jealousy, to the point where she objected to his reporting for work, accusing him of seeing another woman then. Richard denied marital infidelity, but in a later interview, following Edwina's release from jail, he said that he had since observed her in a vehicle belonging to her ex-boyfriend. Richard described the events of Sept. 18th, leading to the police call, saying that they had been in Park Rapids, that morning and stopped at the hospital there so he could have an unrelated medical condition checked. While at the hospital, Edwina went to the ladies' room. "I stood outside the bathroom with Joyce (their 10 mo. old) and she came out and checked the phone receiver" of one of the pay phones next to the rest room; "and she said that the one receiver was warm and I must have been calling my ex-wife," said Richard, who denied using the phone. "It's extremely crazy, because I would never go out on her," he added. Due to the onset of the argument at the hospital, Richard decided not to be seen, and they left. Richard recounted that they argued almost all of the way back to Bemidji, and at one point, near Kabekona, she had tried to jump out of the moving car. Golden was to have reported for work that day at a Walker convenience store, but he said that Edwina, in an insanely jealous state, argued with him about it and didn't want him to go. "I just said, 'forget it' [his going to work] and it [the argument] just kept constantly going" as they drove back to Bemidji. In interview, Golden described his wife's past obsessive behaviour, "When we lived ... in Minneapolis... it even got to the point of when we were driving down the road, she'd cuff me in the back of the head just because she thought I was looking in the direction of a woman. Upon arriving at their home, "She started right in on me, just hollering away... this stuff kept going on 'til the early evening." Golden said that he tried to not provoke further dispute, but that finally, "She came out, grabbed a knife out ... of the drawer, and sliced both wrists. And then, I was holding Joyce up on my left side, and her four-year old daughter was standing right next to her ... she put the knife right up to her throat, and her daughter ... [was] screaming, 'Don't, mama, don't.' I tried grabbing the knife out of her hand, and she backed up about a half a step and started going like this [Golden illustrates slashing movements through the air]. And I just stepped back because I had Joyce in my arms, and I hollered to my son to go call the cops." In addition to his 10 month old daughter with Edwina, Richard Golden has two sons, 9 and 11, from a former marriage. Golden said that he went, with the children, to a motel due to threats and harassment from his wife's family. Golden said that his wife's relatives, the Randolf Lee and Candice Johnson and the Fajardo families, of Redby, have "threatened to kill me... and they have physically harmed me in the past. Golden's front tooth was chipped, which, he said, was from an unprovoked assault on him by Randolf Lee Johnson about June, 1999 while Golden was sitting in his car. "I reported it to the Red Lake police station," he said, but no action was taken. "They just took pictures, and I never heard nothing about it again," he said. Edwina appeared before the Honorable Judge Benshoof Sept. 20th, where she was released on her own recognizance pending sentencing on her prior domestic assaults, October 4th. The Sept. 18th police report was made a part of file #04-T1-99-1197 for which Edwina faces sentencing for Gross Misdemeanor (after prior) Domestic Assault for an incident April 27th, 1999, where she allegedly threw a vase at Richard bruising his forearm. Edwina pled guilty to the charge on August 18th, before the Honorable Judge Benshoof. At that time the Court ordered a pre-sentence investigation with return to the Court on October 4th for sentencing. A psychological and chemical and drug evaluation was also ordered, and Edwina was released on her own recognizance, conditioned on her having no contact with Richard, that she be law-abiding, not consume alcohol or drugs and that she complete her psychological and chemical dependency evaluations. She will also face sentencing for an earlier charge of 5th degree domestic assault for an April 4th, 1999 incident (Case No. 04-T1-99-1197) for having assaulted her husband, "biting him in the back, and scratching him on the shoulder and neck." while "very intoxicated," per the filed complaint. The police report also discloses that Edwina "backhanded" her husband, and that earlier that evening Edwina had kicked Richard's (then) 8-year old son in the face. The child had a sore tooth from the kick, per the report on file. Edwina was booked into jail, and, represented by public defender Peter Bulens, pled guilty before Judge Rasmussen. She was then sentenced to $333 fine and costs, 90 days in county jail, with 87 suspended on the conditions that she have a domestic abuse and drug and alcohol assessments, pay the fine and remain law abiding. On May 20th, however, the Minnesota Dept. of Corrections (DOC) notified the Court that Edwina had missed appointments on three occasions for the domestic abuse assessment, and DOC recommended that a warrant be issued for her arrest. Accordingly, on May 25th, a warrant was issued and Edwina was arrested June 16th. She was arraigned before Judge Terrance Holter June 17th, again represented by Peter Bulens as public defender. The state was represented by David Frank and Tim Faver, County Attorney. Bail was set at $100 and the matter continued for appearance before Judge Rasmussen July 7th. Edwina posted bail and was released June 17th. On July 7th, Judge Rasmussen again ordered Edwina to complete the drug and alcohol dependency assessment within 30 days, and reiterated the no-drink or possession of alcohol or controlled substance order as terms of release. The $100 bail was applied towards the cost of the assessments and other fines owing. On August 13th, the Deputy Court Administrator notified Edwina that she had still failed to complete the assessments, and the case was placed back on calendar for Sept. 29th, 1999 at 9 a.m. The file also contains a contract that Edwina had made with Sentence-To-Serve to pay her fine, wherein she was to perform 60 hours of work at the public library, between April 26th and June 30th, 1999; the papers, however, indicate that she failed to complete that obligation. Following having received threats, Richard Golden applied for an Order for Protection (OFP) against Edwina, and Edwina requested a similar order against Richard and seeking child custody. At hearing last week, however, Edwina's application was dismissed. Richard, who was represented by Bemidji attorney Michael Ruffenach, through Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota, reported that he was granted full custody; Edwina is allowed supervised visitation, and is to pay child support. Richard Golden also reported the discovery that his house had been recently burglarized; he said that the burglars "specifically" took all of his clothes and left other items of obvious value. Fortunately, a Bemidji retailer, Pamida, allowed him to charge a set of clothes, which he'll need when he reports for work at his new job Monday morning. (Photo caption - photos in print edition only): Richard Golden was driven, by terroristic threats from his jailed wife's family, to a motel with his 3 kids. One sleeps on the floor. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUND BEMIDJI METH BUST Defendant Claims that She Was Set-Up BEMIDJI -- Nancy Hanson said, "I opened the package and I realized something was funny - I threw it all in a bag and I ran outside to catch the postman and he was just pulling out on 30th St. - all of a sudden they [Bemidji police] grabbed me." Nancy Hanson, of 920 30th St. NW, Bemidji, was arrested Sept. 21st, in the early afternoon, minutes after having been asked to sign for an express mail package, at her home. Hanson, however, told Northern Herald, in a late night telephone interview from the jail, that she was not expecting the package, which may have contained methamphetamine, and had no knowledge of it until the postman gave it to her. She said that when she opened it and discovered it's contents, she tried to give it back to the postman. A neighbor confirmed that the postman on duty that day was not their regular mailman. "I'd never seen that guy before," the neighbor said. And the complaint, charging her with possession of a controlled substance, states that the contents of the express mail package appeared to be "flour"; the bulk of the meth for which Hanson was charged was discovered, per the complaint, on the floor of the squad car in which Hanson was placed. But the small package containing the meth is described as being about 4"x3"x1" in size - large enough to be conspicuous on a person, and Hanson's son, James Hanson, 19, who lives with her, said that police were patting her down "hard" before placing her in the squad, and found no drugs at that time. He said that after she'd been in the squad for a short while, police brought her back into the house in handcuffs and that a short time later they returned to the squad car, with Hanson still in the house, and, allegedly, then found the drugs in the police car. ---------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up EPA, DNR EXAMINING SUNSET VIEW Itasca Co. Takes Easement over LL Reservation Allotment DEER RIVER -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed last week that they are initiating a review of the recent operations of Sunset View Resort, located just west of Otenagen Rd. at Highway 46 north of the Winnie Dam. Sunset View, on the Lake Winnibigoshish shoreline, drew controversy when it blocked a federal forestry road which had, for years, provided local residents with lake access, and put in its own private road, so as to be able to charge for the access. (see Itasca County Appeals ... - NH of 08/11/99). Tom Hammerlund, an owner of Sunset View, has been supported by actions of Itasca County, in their attempts to take private and Leech Lake Reservation land to create a county road to Sunset's private road. That matter is the subject of pending state and federal litigation, the County having been twice denied in court. Sunset View's private road was constructed by filling wetlands, which now must be mitigated (replaced) under the Minnesota Wetlands Conservation Act. Sunset's latest action has involved, purportedly, not just blockading, but actually digging up the old forestry road. Said local resident Doug Carpenter, of the destruction of the public access and infringement upon wetlands, "I believe this is a terroristic act." Janice Cheng, EPA at Chicago, did not yet have details of what EPA might recommend, "We're just beginning our review of the project," she said, adding that EPA was primarily concerned with water quality standards. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) was notified by the Forest Service that wetlands were being filled, per Terry Bollum, DNR at Grand Rapids. "We're checking further right now," he said, and stated his understanding that Sunset View had excavated the old forestry road in an attempt to mitigate (replace) the wetlands filled in the original private road construction. Wetland mitigation involves creating a new wetland to replace the wetland filled, and is generally required any time a private concern destroys over 10,000 sq. ft. of wetlands by draining or filling. Bollum said that Itasca County Soil & Water Conservation (S&W) had OK'd the mitigation even though DNR did not approve it. Bollum said that he had sent S&W a letter, and said "We wouldn't OK [the project] because of a question of land ownership." DNR was concerned that some of the land (the old forestry road) used for the mitigation might be federal property, in which case said land could not be so used, and wanted more information regarding boundaries and survey. Bollum noted that this was the second or third time S&W posed such a question (i.e. whether DNR would approve a mitigation project) with insufficient data as to who owns the land to be used for the mitigation. In furtherance of Itasca County plans to establish Co. Rd. 115 leading to the Sunset View road, and over the objections of several local residents over whose land Co. 115 would pass, including persons who hold the land under Leech Lake Band of Chippewa tribal allotments, Itasca County is now claiming that they have been given an easement over some of the reservation land. Itasca County Engineer G. LeRoy Engstrom stated that Itasca County has obtained the agreement of at least 51% of the allottees affected, and had bought the easement from the Leech Lake tribe. Leech Lake Chairman, the Honorable Eli Hunt, could not be reached for comment on this by presstime. This easement affects land allotted to Leo Donnell, an opponent of the county road project, and others. Donnell could not be reached for comment, but his wife said that she had not been informed of the granting of the easement, and did not know who agreed to it. To construct the road, Itasca County would also need to take land held by Leech Lake tribal member Robert Fairbanks, not included in the easement and now the subject of a federal lawsuit, and also non-tribal land owned by Doug Carpenter, the subject of a third state court appeal by Itasca County. Itasca Co. Attorney Jack Muhar has denied Carpenter's earlier statement that Murhar, at one time, told him "I'm going to take your land and ... I'm going to appeal this until you're broke." Carpenter, a former Itasca Co. Commissioner, has said that he would give the county his land if they would restore and guarantee free public access to the lake. (Photo caption - photos in print edition only): Wetlands were filled to build this Sunset View Resort private road. ---------------------------------------------------------------- PARK SERVICE PLANS EVENTS STUDENT ART ON DISPLAY AT FORT SNELLING ST. PAUL -- The U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service has announced that the prize winning artwork of 16 elementary students will be on display at the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center in Fort Snelling State Park from September 28th through December 15th, 1999. The art represents the winning entries to the second annual Big River Journey Art Contest. "It's refreshing to see how many different ways the river can be interpreted when combined with the creative and uninhibited style of children's art," said JoAnn Kyral, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Superintendent, in a release. The Big River Journey Art Contest provides students with an opportunity to express a personal and creative interpretation of their experience on board a paddleboat traveling from Fort Snelling to St. Paul. Persons wishing to preview the art can find it on the web at www.nps.gov/miss/mnrra/brj.html Fort Snelling is located at Highway 5 and Post Rd. just east of MSP International Airport at Minneapolis. Entrance to the park is $4 daily, or an annual pass. The visitor center is open 10-4. For further info readers may call 612-725-2724 SINGING RANGER, CHARLIE MAGUIRE, TO RELEASE CD ST. PAUL -- Charlie Maguire, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area's "Singing Ranger" has announced that he will release a CD, recorded live at his Sept. 16th concert at St. Paul. Maguire has written 22 Mississippi River songs since becoming a ranger with the recreation area in 1995. The songs earned Maguire recognition in 1997 as the regional winner of the Freeman Tilden award, a National Park Service award for outstanding contribution to interpretation. Prior to becoming a ranger, Maguire had toured the United States and Canada for 22 years. "The best part of this project is telling river stories that have never been told before," said Maguire in a release, "I like to think my folk songs will not only provide musical enjoyment, but will help people understand the importance of the Mississippi River and our need to take care of it." ------------------------------------------------------------ STATE'S FIRST SHORELAND CONSERVATION EASEMENT WALKER -- The Tri-County Leech Lake Watershed Project (TCLLWP) has announced the accomplishment of Minnesota's first lakeshore easement this summer on Little Boy Lake. It protects 195 acres and 4160 feet of shoreline on Camp Olson, a YMCA camp south of Longville. Per their release, TCLLWP provided a comprehensive forest management plan for the 900 acre camp, and the Leech Lake Area Watershed Foundation provided key citizen contacts and support in cooperation with Cass County Environmental Services Dept. and the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The $250,000 in funding necessary for the easement came from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources through BWSR for a pilot conservation easement project for which ten Northern Minnesota vied and which was ultimately granted to Cass County. --------------------------------------------------------------- AL HOOVER HONORED Al Hoover was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Tri County Leech Lake Watershed Project for "his many dedicated hours of volunteer service in fiscal management from 1995-1997. The award was presented in a key note address at the 47th Annual Ten Mile Lake Association Meeting on August 7th. ---------------------------------------------------------------- CORRUPTION GETS SETBACK AS SHAFFER LEAVES ITASCA CO. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE GRAND RAPIDS -- Paul Shaffer, who, a few months ago, as Asst. Co. Attorney, handled court proceedings surrounding the seizure, without notice, of Tracey Ross's horses by the County (see Up North Taking Horses In Itasca County - NH of 05/12/99) and who ultimately made the decision to transfer the horses permanently to the highly corrupt (our opinion) Up North Horse Rescue, Inc., instead of allowing public auction sale as provided by law, which would have properly determined the value of the horses and at which Ross might have reclaimed them, resigned his position on July 26th, 1999. Co. Attorney Jack Muhar said that Shaffer was not discharged due to excessive corruption, but would neither affirm nor deny whether he was asked to resign. Muhar verbally supported Shaffer's actions, stating "I have no reason to believe that Mr. Shaffer's actions ... in the [Tracey] Ross matter were in any way inappropriate or unprofessional. ...Mr. Shaffer's actions complied with the appropriate statutes, procedures and court orders...." Following the seizure and transfer of the horses, Northern Herald publicized that there was no solid evidence that the horses were underfed, and there was, conversely, evidence tending to indicate that they were fed adequately, by way of Ross's hay and grain purchases; Schaffer was criticized for not having brought, if he believed that there actually was mistreatment of the horses, a criminal charge of same, which could have been, by Ross, properly defended, with counsel, before or concurrent with the seizure of the animals. Covering his rear, Shaffer brought such a charge after the attendant publicity, and well after the horses were seized and disposed of. That charge is currently pending and is expected to be defended. Schaffer's resignation came shortly after he initiated the charge. Editor's Note: There's really no telling why he's gone - we won't look a gift horse in the mouth. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Editorials - Opinion NAZIISM SPREADS TO BLACKDUCK From The Manifesto of the Communist Party [Principles]: "... 6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state." By 1938, Hitler's Germany had, too, well eradicated the free press. "Publishers Protest Leipzig Congress." Publishers' Weekly, 133:211-13, 15 January 1938; reply, 1606-8, 16 April 1938. P349; In "Liberty's Debt to the Press." (Vital Speeches, 4:752-56, 1 October 1938. H79) the author contrasts the American theory of press freedom, "the great bulwark of all liberty," with that of the authoritarian theory as exemplified in Nazi Germany. BEMIDJI & BLACKDUCK -- Attempts to suppress the availability to the public of viewpoints and information not found in the other newspapers, and efforts particularly aimed at Northern Herald, previously primarily confined to Bemidji and Cass Lake, have expanded to parts of Blackduck, with Countryside Restaurant of Blackduck banning the paper after a recent increase in consumer demand and sales of the paper there. The efforts to limit the availability of Northern Herald appear to be led by Bemidji Republican leader Bill Batchelder, manager of Bemidji Woolen Mills, and campaign manager to state representative Doug Fuller and recently elected Bemidji Councilman Herb South. Bemidji Woolen Mills has, for many years, owed its livelihood to brochures and highway signs drawing unwary tourists to the "woolen mill" and its "factory store"; trouble is, there is no mill. Bemidji Woolen Mills is one of Bemidji's most established and well-respected ways of separating naive visitors from their money. Their misleading red and black plaid brochures have turned up on display and have been photographed in places as unusual as our County Attorney's public office at Bemidji. At our last inspection of Bemidji Woolen Mills, there was nothing one would normally know as a "mill" or a "factory;" there was only a sewing room where some jackets were sewn together from wool bought on the bolt. The bargain prices that one sometimes finds at true factory outlets and mills like Pendleton were nonexistent. And on a rack hung wool shirts purchased elsewhere, by the "mill," with the "Bemidji Woolen Mills" label deceptively sewn into the collar. There were also a lot of synthetic garments on sale. Asked about this, Bob (Bill's brother) Batchelder said, of Bemidji Woolen Mills, "We are a retail store ... we don't weave any fabric," and he explained about "private labeling" of the shirts. Bill Batchelder, nephew of former Hard Times Saloon owner, the late Richard Morton, has repeatedly denied direct involvement in the efforts to suppress the paper, but another local retailer who dropped Northern Herald last summer admitted having been approached by Batchelder immediately prior to the decision. "They got to me," he said, upon notifying Northern Herald that he would no longer be stocking the paper. And Batchelder has, previously, stated information which gives the appearance that he is in close contact with others who have taken action to suppress the paper by threatening retailers who carry it with boycotts, etc., and including patently illegal activities such as theft of copies. Said the Countryside Restaurant owner of his decision to no longer carry the paper, "I've got to make a living," as he spoke of having been approached, with a threatened boycott of his restaurant. The restaurateur would not disclose who approached him, but denied that he was contacted personally by Batchelder. Our thanks to KSTP-TV reporter Ross Kirgiss for his excellent work on their story last month on the attempted Bemidji Blackout of the Northern Herald. The story bore a small inaccuracy, however, in that it was, apparently, misunderstood that customer demand for Northern Herald dropped following our critique of the character and business practices of the late Robert Morton in January, 1998. There was no significant drop in reader demand for the paper; rather, it just became more difficult to get in Bemidji because a small group of primary retailers here stopped carrying it, some after having received threats, possibly from supporters of the Morton/Batchelder group. Northern Herald received many calls from people wanting to know where they could buy a copy, and independent street sales of the paper continued as briskly as before the attempted blackout, until Bemidji City Attorney Alan Felix issued a letter, in 1998, effectively prohibiting the sale or free distribution of Northern Herald on the streets, sidewalks and other public areas of Bemidji, and in conjunction with Bemidji Police Sgt. Michael Porter, threatened the immediate arrest of persons distributing Northern Herald there. Northern Herald continues to be available at over 100 retail and complimentary locations throughout the Northland. Bemidji readers can find it on sale at Owl's Nest Bookstore at 3rd & Beltrami Ave., and complimentary and house copies available at many Bemidji restaurants, and on the BSU and NTC campuses. In Blackduck, readers may buy Northern Herald at Jerry's IGA, with house copies also available at many public establishments. We note that Herb South, Batchelder's candidate for Bemidji City Council, has been a long-time employee of the Bemidji Post Office. At the height of the controvery over our critique of Richard Morton, Batchelder's uncle, we began to notice an alarming rate (5.7%, by survey) of our mail being "lost" when sent from that office, including a batched display billing (14 pieces, mailed at the same time) which mysteriously disappeared, in it's entirety, after mailing. ------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor --------------------- DON'T EXPECT HIGH CHANGES IN LOW STANDARD OF NORTHLAND TELEPHONE SERVICE Bemidji appears on the list of cities to be sold off by US West. I am the former Mayor of Bisbee, Arizona and a second generation US West employee with over 32 years of service. Over the past five years US West has been reducing the number of customers that it serves in its rural areas. They have sold or are in the process of selling some 600 rural systems that provided service for over 1 million customers in it's 14 state area. While US West has gone about dumping its rural areas, its Chairman, Solomon Trujillo has appeared around the country trying to persuade our elected officials to make wholesale changes in the Telecom law in order to continue to provide service to the rural areas. In an October 8, 1998 presentation at the Equity for Rural America Conference Sol talked about the importance to his company of rural America. He said "For people who live and work in rural America, whether rural America has a modern telecommunications infrastructure is both a quality of life and economic development issue." Sol followed that with a February 22, 1999 presentation in Washington, DC at the N.A.R.U.C. Committee on Telecommunications where he called for deregulating long-distance or eliminating restrictions on interLATA services in order to provide rapid deployment of high speed data transport to every citizen, community and enterprise. "America's strength and economic vitality have been built on providing the infrastructures-like the interstate highway system- that provided access to everyone." "We must not exclude the select few from their participation and their contribution." Sol's speeches about the importance of rural America to his company, came about the same time US West officials were quietly selling off over 600 of their exchanges in their 14 state area. Their explanations to the [affected] communities [were] that their former customers could get better phone service from a smaller phone company. In an email reply to some of my questions about the sale of the rural areas, CEO of US West Sol Trujillo said that "the exchange sale will allow us to better serve our on-going customers and allow our previous customers to be well served by Citizens [Citizens Utilities, the purported acquiring company]. Because Citizens can petition the government for USF (Universal Service Fund) dollars and can provide long distance, these properties are more valuable to them and they will be able to invest in those properties in a way that would be prohibitive for us. That said we remain committed to quality service and to challenging the government to provide the necessary USF dollars to serve rural areas and to truly open up the telephony marketplace and let us compete on an equal-footing with the likes of AT&T. Somehow I fail to understand why a multi-billion dollar company such as US West doesn't have the revenue to put money in the rural areas while a small company like Citizens Utilities does. Could it be because over the last 8 years US West has spent over $15 billion in investments away from their core communication network, such as the purchase in 1996 of Continental Cablevision for over $10 billion and other investments overseas in the billions? I feel that the real reason that US West is selling it's rural exchanges is that they have become a large liability. All of the exchanges being sold are very old. Some such as Bisbee are even older that the company itself. The infrastructures are in desperate need of replacement due to many years of neglect while the dollars the customers paid in as rates were used elsewhere. Now when it's time for their systems to be rebuilt US West's planned sale will relieve them of their responsibility for replacement. The cost of rebuilding these aging infrastructures will fall on the shoulders of the customers just abandoned by US West at the same time US West receives over $1.6 Billion from Citizens utilities for those customers. If US West was really committed to serving rural America they wouldn't have ditched over 1 million of their loyal customers in the last five years. LIFE CERTAINLY ISN'T BETTER HERE Tom Wheeler Bisbee, AZ Editor's Note: And up here, the alternative to US West's buyers is Paul Bunyan Telephone. [see The Depth of Corruption, NH of 6/23/99] Might as well just get two cans and a string. Mr. Wheeler was Mayor of Bisbee from 96-98, and a councilman from 88-96. He has been a service tech for US West at Bisbee from 1967 to the present. J.D. Power and Associates recently published their "1999 Residential Local Telephone Service Satisfaction Study." In this survey, Citizens came in dead last with a score of 87, significantly below the industry standard, indexed at 100. US West scored 94. Full results of the study can be found on the net at http://www.jdpower.com/images/LOCALT1080499.gif -- Ed. ------------------------------------------------------------- ART STUDENTS ------------ DRAW THE "BEAR FALSE WITNESS" BEAR - WIN ART SUPPLIES FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SCHOOL. Your drawing can become NORTHERN HERALD's new Northern Minnesota mascot, inspired by observations of Grand Rapids' ADVOCATES for Family Peace, and other courtroom practice in our region. The winning artist, and their school art dept. will each receive a $50 certificate good for art supplies at Ben Franklin Crafts, Grand Rapids, a leading area retailer of quality artists' materials. BEAR FALSE WITNESS BEAR ART CONTEST RULES: 1. ENTRIES: The contest is open to all art students in any public or private elementary or secondary school in the counties of Cass, Hubbard, Itasca, Beltrami, Clearwater, Aitkin and Koochiching. To enter the contest submit your drawing or sketch (i.e. single panel cartoon), in pencil or, preferably, ink (the drawing must be scannable, clearly) of your rendition of what the BEAR FALSE WITNESS BEAR should look like. Include with your entry your name, address and telephone number, and the name of your school. A photo of the artist, also, may be sent and will be published with the winning entry, space allowing. Photos cannot be returned. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., October 27th, 1999, at which time the contest will close. Drawings will be judged and prizes will be awarded by Nov. 24th, 1999. 2. GUIDELINES FOR CONTENT OF DRAWINGS: The drawing should be your concept of the BEAR. It should graphically convey, in a pleasing-to-the-eye and amusing form, the travesty of bearing false witness, which is all too common in our Northern Minnesota courts. A highly suggested scenario would be your interpretation of the BEAR, in court, being sworn in, or testifying on the witness stand. Be creative! Other scenarios may be acceptable, and the winner will be decided, in the sole discretion of NORTHERN HERALD, on the basis of overall quality and theme. The drawing must include, below the BEAR or otherwise suitably placed, the words: "THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOUR." Size: Entries may be any size, but should be attractively and legibly reducible to 3.9" wide x 4" high, or thereabouts. 3. Your entry may be signed. Entries cannot be returned and the winning entry becomes the property of NORTHERN HERALD, and may be published at any time, with artistic credit to the winning artist. Submit your entry, by Oct 27th, to: BEAR FALSE WITNESS BEAR, NORTHERN HERALD P.O. Box 1535, Bemidji, MN 56619. --------------------------------------------------------- A Northern Herald Book Review ----------------------------- "The Last Toast to Lutefisk" authored by Gary Legwold, Minneapolis, MN "Lutefisk is always trouble in a story anyway. You have to keep your eye on it every minute or it'll start showboating." -- Howard Mohr, "How to Talk Minnesotan" We always look forward to a publisher sending us a new book for review, as it keeps unsightly circles from forming on our desk under our coffee cups. It might have been entitled "Everything you never wanted to know about Lutefisk, but we'll tell you anyway." But there's more. If you've ever wondered where the toast "Here's mud in your eye!" came from (who, except an avid Harley rider, would want mud in his eye?), you can find out in Legwold's Last Toast to Lutefisk. In addition to over 100 toasts, quips and quotes about Scandinavia's favorite fish, An Excerpt: "One of the cowboys, Lars, ... pulled some slimey cold cod out of his saddlebag ... he kissed the fish. 'Whadd'ya do that fer?' asked a bewildered Bjorn. 'Got chapped lips,' Lars replied. Bjorn ... asked, 'Does that help?' ... Lars ... said, 'Nope, but it keeps me from lickin' 'em.'" Last Toast contains poignant bits of history trivia - things that you've really needed to know all your life, but never before realized it. Finally, Last Toast is as much about toasting, its etiquette and history, as it is about lutefisk. The book could be shelved as a reference work, to be read studiously just before the next big New Year's dinner when the reader might be expected to have something to say as glasses are raised, but actually is better absorbed gradually in bits and pieces at leisure, placed in a location where it will be handy when one needs something informative, but yet light, to read. Reviews are necessarily subjective. Just because Siskel and Ebert didn't like a film doesn't mean that you won't. Similarly, there are many people in this world who, believe it or not, actually like lutefisk. Not just to talk about it, that is, but to actually put that putrid and foul, lyeing, gelatinous and codified substance in their mouths! Many of them may enjoy this book too. The softbound first edition ($8.95) of The Last Toast to Lutefisk, (Copyright 1999) by Gary Legwold, is published by Conrad Henry Press, Minneapolis, and is available at major bookstores and gift shops, or can be ordered from the publisher at 1-888-588-3347. ------------------------------------------------------------ A SPECIAL TRIBUTE IS DUE THE ADVERTISERS Who Have Helped Bring You The Straight News For The Past Year. These guys really do make it happen - you wouldn't be reading this without them and they deserve recognition. And if you believe in the benefits of an independent and free press in Northen Minnesota, then they deserve your patronage - at least your first shopping call, too: * KDKK RADIO * WAREHOUSE COMPUTERS * MARSHALL ENGINES * NAPA AUTO PARTS-PARK RAPIDS * MOONDANCE JAM * YUKON BAR & GRILLE * MOONDANCE RANCH * CAJUNFEST * PERFORMANCE SPORTS * SUMMERFIELD PLACE * SOUP TO NUTS GUN SHOP * HAPPY TRAILS TOURS * LEECH LAKE REALTY * 5TH ST GOURMET COFFEE * SYLVESTER'S * AKELEY PAUL BUNYAN DAYS * WHITE OAK HISTORICAL SOCIETY * ALLEN "HIT MAN" KOEBNICK * BOWZONLY * EYE Q OPTOMETRIC * WARBA TIRE * NORTHLAND BUILDERS * ARNIE'S GUN SALE * IRENE HALL CANING * REEVE LOCKSMITH * DAN GEIS-PREMIERCOM * DUANE PETERSON * REESE STAMP * WOODLAND STORE * LOWELL'S SERVICE * TIRES PLUS * OLIVER MILLWORK * THE CHECK CENTER * JOHN MOORMAN CPO SCHOOL * SCOTT TAMMARO * NORTH STAR RANCH * OASIS FAMILY RESTAURANT * MAIL BOXES, ETC. * ROADMASTERS MC & SUPPLY * WHITE IVY * SHIRLEY SUTTON * THE BRAUHAUS * GREG PETERSON * MEYER'S SERVICE * VICKIE LEWIS * MANN'S CARS * E&J WELDING * WHITE KNIGHT LIMOUSINE SERVICE * JEFF OLSON * KEN LONGTIN INSURANCE * C & M MASONRY * JT CONCRETE & MASONRY * MR. FURNACE * JEFF FLAHERTY * BOOKSHELF & OFFICE SUPPLY CO. And, of course, the many people who have listed their vehicles and vessels in Northern Auto & Boat Shopper, your Regional Supermarket for good used vehicles and boats. ----------------------------------------------------- ROBERT MORTON'S FAMILY JOURNAL by Robert Morton M.Ed., Ed.S. Our Democracy Must Not Forsake Education for Training Dear Mr. Morton: I question the irrelevant subjects my teenager is taking at his vocational school. I want him to learn excellent skills to get a job and make money. Why should he take history and social studies, and have to pass a proficiency exam? -Taxpaying Dad Dear Taxpayer- We can't lose our historical perspective on the roots of public education. Your son's subject matter is required partly because of Thomas Jefferson, who felt American education should be more than something merely instrumental in obtaining a job. Incidentally, I would wager that he would be against state-mandated proficiency testing. Our freedom itself is immersed in public education; it is a perpetuation of the state, a symbol of true democracy. After the bloody Revolutionary War, Jefferson was hell bent on delivering us from the rigid social hierarchies of the European feudal system, where peasants lived under the "The Divine Rights of Kings." If any common man in 17th century England disputed the word of King James I, he disputed the word of God. When Jefferson partitioned our still blood-stained, young colonies into hundreds of community governments and local school districts, he took to heart how the opulent nobility of England received enlightenment while the serfs were left untaught and floundering in squalor. Your son takes history and social studies today because ignorance and democracy cannot exist together. Jefferson believed that an educated citizenry is the only safe depository of their own liberty, and that our freedom would be short-lived if the mass of people did not become and remain enlightened. Although the aim of your son’s vocational education is primarily to make him employable and earn a living, vocational-education planners won't ignore the importance of humanity courses which may seem irrelevant to some. The terms education and training differ. Your son will be trained for a job, but he will also be educated for enjoyable living...in a democracy. Robert Morton, M.Ed., Ed.S. is a school psychologist for Fremont City Schools and educational instructor at Bowling Green State University. Write him about family or educational concerns at the Child Study Center, 501 Croghan St., Fremont, Ohio 43420, or E-mail: Rsmcoping@nwonline.net **************************************************************** Copyright (c) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by Northern Herald and Northern Herald Publications, Inc. Limited Permission to Use Material: I. ANY USE OF MATERIAL NOT COVERED HEREUNDER REQUIRES SPECIFIC PERMISSION WHICH WILL, ON REASONABLE REQUESTS, GENERALLY BE EXPEDITIOUSLY GIVEN. Our policy is to facilitate journalism by the exchange of use of information and writings. We will not, however, allow regular use of material which is distinctive and proprietary to Northern Herald by any other publication within the same geographic market that we serve. II. 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