To get ALL the news from the Edge of the Frontier, subscribe to NORTHERN HERALD. Details on Home Page: http://northernherald.com ****************************************************************** Copyright (c) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,2004, 2005 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 9 9/29/03 through 08/16/04 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 08/16/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 7 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism HEIRS ACCUSE FULLER, MASOG OF ESTATE LOOTING Park Rapids Heiress Says Items Missing, Files Petition To Remove Attorney John Masog as Personal Rep BAGLEY HOSTS ART IN THE PARK In Focus It's Fun For All At Hackensack's SWEETHEART DAYS In Focus It's Another Great ... SAND LAKE JAM Letters to the Editor IS IT LEGALIZED PROSTITUTION, OR THEFT? DISABLED ARE *SUPPOSED* TO HAVE ROTTEN TEETH DUKEKS, OF BAGLEY, TAKE GANDER MTN. BEMIDJI PRIZE Consumer Corner DEPARTMENT STORE DIGITAL PHOTO CENTERS - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT DO YOU WANT ON YOUR TOMBSTONE? THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK REMER CELEBRATES FIREMAN'S DAY WAL*MART OFFERS VISITORS HOSPITALITY OTHERWISE LACKING IN BEMIDJI MOONDANCE SPECIAL FEATURE THE MAGIC OF MOONDANCE !! THE MANY CORNERS OF MOONDANCE AMUSEMENTS THE NEW MDJ SALOON THE SHOPS & FOOD STAFF & SECURITY CAMPING AT MOONDANCE - THE NORTH GENERAL CAMPGROUND VIPing THE TALENT HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS BRING DOWN HOUSE AT MOONDANCE XIII ! ZWARTE FILMS MOVIE AT MOONDANCE ! RONNIE BAKER BROOKS WOWS THURSDAY CROWD GREGG ROLIE'S NEW BAND FRIDAY SMASH ! A UNIQUE JACK, ONLY FOR MOONDANCE ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 06/21/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 6 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism SUE BERKOVITZ: WHY? Interviews Disclose Multiple Instances of Alleged Estate Malfeasance, by Attorney and Gunshot Victim Hendrickson; Represented Heirs to Alleged Nursing Home Murder Leading Edge Journalism - Bemidji Police Corruption Continues BPD COWBOY CHARBONEAU ARRESTS RYAN NEWMAN FOR NONEXISTANT NO-DRINK ORDER. Newman Files $8 Billion Federal Lawsuit; Northern Herald Calls for National Guard; Martial Law SLAUGHTERS FIND NO HELP IN NORTHERN CHURCHES, BLIND AGENCIES GUNSHOTS, THEFT, PUNCTUATE WOODLAND HOME QUIETUDE In Focus TROOP 40 SERVES AT WALKER! The 2003 Steele Spheres GEORGE W. HAS SPHERES ART IN THE PARK AT BAGLEY, JULY 3RD SCHIEFERDECKER WOULD HAVE SPENT $THOUSANDS OF YOUR MONEY TO TRY TO KEEP $668 But Semons Insist on Hearing; Money Ordered Returned In Focus WALKER, MN - EST. 1896 CRUISIN' LEECH LAKE WITH THE COBORNS In Focus A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE In Focus PRO SOFTBALL ACTION AT MOONDANCE FIELDS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL MDJ SALOON INAUGURAL NIGHT A SMASH HIT !! WALKER AREA DINING & in Hackensack WRANGLERS TO GATHER AGAIN AT NORTH STAR RODEO!! SKYNARD, SANTANA, HUEY LEWIS, JUST PART OF HUGE MOONDANCE LINEUP! MAC ROSTIE GARDEN TOUR IN GRAND RAPIDS In Focus LONGVILLE OFFERS NORTHERN RUSTIC CHARM HACKENSACK SWEETHEART DAYS - JULY 12TH-14TH Consumer Corner WE WITHDRAW OUR RECOMMENDATION OF USLINK ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 04/26/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 5 ------------------------------------- WOLF RIDGE RAPTORS BIG HIT AT GR OUTDOOR SHOW Kylmanen, McNeal, Take Top Awards for Decoy Carvings Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up ATTORNEY GENERAL OPENS INVESTIGATION OF DAVE WALTERS Customers Consider Class Action Suit Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up PREECE SWINDLE TRIALS RESET FOR SEPT. 28TH CORRECTION (no, not even we are without sin) IT'S CHILI AT REMER IT'S SAND LAKE JAM!! KEMMER CHARGES CONSORT MURDERED AT BACKUS, THE HUB OF NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA ST. PAT'S AT REMER Editorials-Opinion ECONOMY BRIEFS by Adam Steele, C. P. A. INTEREST RATE WINNERS AND LOSERS OUTSOURCING - IS ALL THE HULLABALOO OVER IT DESERVED? Consumer Corner XMAS GIFT GONE AWRY IF YOU HAVE CALLER ID, YOU MAY BE MISSING IMPORTANT CALLS THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK Letters to the Editor GRAND RAPIDS READER RELATES EXPERIENCES WITH "ADVOCATES FOR FAMILY PEACE" In Focus MAPLES RUN IN NORTHLAND THE SPIRIT OF IRELAND UPCOMING AT THE REIF QUILTERS OFFER MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND TOUR Guest Column COLLEAGUE REMEMBERS WHITNEY TARUTIS by Paul Kief, Esq. MENGELKOCH PRESENTS LECTURE ON NORTHERN HERALD HECKLER ATTENDS ACADEMIC SEMINAR HONORING MOTHER AT WALKER, PARK RAPIDS, MAY 8TH In Focus FUNNY GIRL FUNNY GUYS HACKENSACK TO GET NEW MOVIE THEATRE Direct Answers from Wayne and Tamara THE EFFECTS OF TRAMPING IN THE WORKPLACE, UPON PRODUCTIVITY AND MERIT ASK THE TAX GUY by Adam Steele, Certified Public Accountant PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS: CHECK OVER YOUR STATEMENT CAREFULLY TATTOOS OR BODY PIERCINGS ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 03/08/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 4 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism SEARCH WARRANT ISSUED ON LOOKS Money Seized, Though No Connection to Drug Trade; Couple Faces Eviction FAVER SUED ALL THAT JAZZ! In Focus IT'S BACK TO HACK ! KIDS' ICE FISHING DERBY YOUTH HOCKEY CRAFT FAIR TREASURE HUNT AMERICAN LEGION CHILI FEED THE SNOWFLAKE QUEEN Letters to the Editor READERS TOOT OUR HORN ! SMOKERS: IT'S THEIR AIR TOO. WHOLESOME MIDWESTERN WIFE SEEKS CLARIFICATION FUNNY GIRL AT THE REIF IN MARCH YOUNG SPORTSPEOPLE TO BUILD DUCKHOUSES AT GR OUTDOOR SHOW REMER TO CELEBRATE ST. PAT'S 3/16 PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY FOR THE GREAT DANCE UNDER THE MOON -- A Northern Herald Restaurant Un-Review -- THE SILVER PIKE RESTAURANT AT NEVIS As it might be put by Bill Clinton: "Define Buffet" -- A Northern Herald Restaurant Review -- NORTHSTAR BUFFET at the Northern Lights Casino, Walker TAMKIN PLAYS BSU FIRST CITY SQUARES TRAMPING AT BSU STATE AGENCY APPOINTMENTS OPEN For Accountants Only by Adam Steele, C. P. A. TAX SOFTWARE: TAXACT IS BETTER WAY TO GO! CONSUMER CORNER Good Deal WAL-MART WILL OFFER DISCOUNT PAYCHECK CASHING DAVE WALTERS: "I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS ... [MANURE]" BEMIDJI TIRE AND AUTO WON'T STAND BEHIND DESTROYED ENGINE THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 01/05/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 3 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- CLINT BRUESTLE RESIGNS AFTER $250,000+ CONSTRUCTION BILLING "DISCREPANCY" Did Bemidji Hospital's Finnish Carpentry End Up In Bruestle's New Home? And Why Have It Done by Finns? Why not Norwegians or Swedes? BSU JAZZ FEST TO BE FEB. 7TH Leading Edge Journalism WILLIAM KOHLER IDENTIFIED IN AKELEY CAR WASH THEFTS Charges Pending in Coin Box Larceny At Backus, The Hub of North Central Minnesota IT'S CHILI AT BACKUS REYNOLDS CLEARED IN BAT INCIDENT John Reynolds, Father, Want Brian Winge Charged for Making False Complaint HOT CAKES AT BLACKDUCK In Focus ICE RACES ON AT LAPORTE! Editorials - Opinion DEATH PENALTY IS FINE, BUT IF GOVERNOR KILLS THE WRONG PERSON, HE SHOULD SWING -- Letters to the Editor TENNESSEAN OPTS OUT OF DATING GAME ASK THE TAX GUY by Adam Steele, Certified Public Accountant AN IRA CAN MEAN BIG TAX BREAK THIS YEAR! PARK RAPIDS ATTORNEY CHARGED INCREASE YOUR WORD POWER ! CONSUMER CORNER GOOD DEAL ON LITTLE FALLS AUTO REPAIR PROBLEMS WITH YOUR CELL PHONE COMPANY? COLD WEATHER COMMENTS AND COMPARISONS THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK In Focus Visiting Northern MEXICO IN TIJUANA PUERTO NUEVO ROSARITO ENSENADA LAS SENORITAS DE TIJUANA COMMON SENSE TIPS FOR ENJOYING YOUR STAY IN MEXICO. FURTHER READING & PICTURES - WEB RESOURCES HEADWATERS LEARNING CENTER SETS SPRING CALENDAR NEW HOMEBUYERS WORKSHOP AT WALKER "FUNNY GIRL" TO PLAY AT GRAND RAPIDS ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 11/17/2003 - VOLUME 9 NO. 2 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow Up THIS IS BEMIDJI --------------- ANOTHER SWINDLE VICTIM FILES CLAIM IN POLICE CHIEF PREECE BANKRUPTCY Unchallenged Debts of Bemidji Police Chief Preece Discharged 10/15/03 BELTRAMI [IN]HUMANE SOCIETY, BELTRAMI COURTS STEAL SCHMIDT'S ANIMALS CLARIFICATION WAL-MART ISSUES NEW RECIPE BOOK ETHNICFEST, CAJUNFEST AT WALKER !! SHANNAN ADDRESSES MAJOR GVM'T COVER-UPS National Investigative Reporter Shatters Investigation Myths In Focus TWO WINE TASTINGS IN HACKENSACK !! CRIME COMES TO AKELEY Letters to the Editor --------------------- MAN RESTRAINED FROM HIS OWN DWELLING Sentenced to 86 Months FOR HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS, it's a natural! -- Northern Herald Restaurant Reviews -- THREE GOOD PLACES TO EAT IN THE GOLDEN CORRIDOR !! * * * * UP NORTH (WEEKEND BUFFET), HACKENSACK * * * TASTY PIZZA NORTH * * * LUCETTE'S PIZZERIA REIF CENTER'S BLUES FEST AT COLERAINE "PAGEANT" AT GRAND RAPIDS TOY DRIVE AT REMER HANUKKAH TREES - FREE ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 09/29/2003 - VOLUME 9 NO. 1 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up ----------------------------------- This Is Bemidji SWINDLE VICTIM, TRUSTEE, WON'T LET PREECE GET AWAY WITH IT Victim Files Claims of Embezzlement, Larceny Against Bemidji Police Chief, Bankruptcy Trustee Files Objection to Preece's Claim of Exempt Property Leading Edge Journalism TIM FAVER REFUSED TO PROSECUTE ASSAULT WITH TRUCK Victim in Land Dispute Claims Continual Harassment - Officials Refused to Act LAMB HELD OVER A YEAR WITHOUT TRIAL AT CLEARWATER COUNTY In Focus LAKELAND TV OFFERS MORE CHANNELS, OPEN HOUSE NORTHERN CRITTERS (photo caption) AUDITOR'S REPORT DISCLOSES MAJOR MISSPENDING BY WOMEN'S SHELTER Editorials - Opinion A TIME OF HOSPITALITY Letters to the Editor RENTER DISCUSSES "SLUM" CONDITIONS In Focus ABOUT 200 ATTEND HUBBARD POSSE FUN(D) RAISER In Focus SAND LAKE JAM In Focus -------- At Backus, The Hub of North Central Minnesota CORN FEST AT BACKUS!! SIGHTS FROM THE CLEARWATER COUNTY FAIR AT BAGLEY (photo captions) Direct Answers from Wayne and Tamara WALKING THE WALK Public Service Advertisement THE ENVIRONMENT CONSUMER CORNER --------------- THEY CALL THIS PROGRESS? Two Small Steps Backward For A Man (or Lady) ... A Giant Leap For Mankind THE VAST WASTELAND THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK HI-VAL(R) (I/O MAGIC(R)) CD-RW drives SYMPHONIC(R) VCRS LEXAR(R) Compact Flash cards OFFICE MAX(R) REBATES HEWLETT-PACKARD(R) CELLULAR-ONE(R) ****************************************************************** TEXT OF ARCHIVED ISSUES BEGINS: ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 08/16/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 7 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism HEIRS ACCUSE FULLER, MASOG OF ESTATE LOOTING Park Rapids Heiress Says Items Missing, Files Petition To Remove Attorney John Masog as Personal Rep PARK RAPIDS -- In the matter of the Estate of Roland Kotowski, a former Park Rapids dentist, deceased December, 2000, and in the wake of what appears to be the trustee's allowing of looting and misappropriations of the possessions in the decedent's house; Jerome Fuller has been removed as trustee over the decedent's trust; and action is under way to have Park Rapids attorney John Masog removed as Personal Representative (case no. P0-01-166) over the estate. In addition to the thefts and misappropriations, heiress Mary Kotowski has indicated that high and unnecessary legal fees, generated by Masog and the trustees, are consuming the estate and its income, which should rightfully go to the heirs. The last hearing was July 12th, 2004, at the Hubbard Co. Courthouse, at which time the court set October 12th and 13th, 2004 as the date for trial of the removal petition; with Masog's frivolous motion for summary judgement to be heard at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9th. A settlement conference will also take place at that time. Masog appeared at the hearing represented by Steve Peloquin, Esq., who shares an office with Masog; Mary Kotowski, the heiress bringing the removal petition, was represented by Peter Grayson and Marcy Wallace, Esqs., of Minneapolis, who appeared at the hearing by speakerphone. At the July 12th hearing, Grayson and Wallace expressed concern over property which continues to be removed from the decedent's house without the knowledge and consent of the heirs (who have been barred, by the trustee, from the property). They said that the removal of seven pickup loads the previous week was only one incident of many; and that "all of the personal property belongs to the children [Mary, Mark, and John Kotowski]." Peloquin responded that the loads removed last week were "as I understand it," taken to storage. Peloquin denied, to the Court, "any knowledge" of the trustee's intent to improperly sell or dispose of the property, but added the disclaimer that these matters are handled by the trustee, not Masog. Prior to adjournment, the parties agreed to maintain the status quo (that is, not to illegally fence any more stolen property); and the Court noted the agreement. The decedent's will and trust specifies, in part, that his estate shall be distributed as follows: 1. Certain specific personal items, per a list appended to the trust instrument, should go to his heirs as indicated in the list; 2. His last medical and funeral expenses shall be paid from the estate; 3. From rental income from his lands in Lincoln County, Minn., a. $500 annually shall go to St. Peter and Paul Church of Ivanhoe, Minn.; b. the remainder of said income shall be paid annually in equal share to his children, [Mary and her two brothers], and to his grandchildren; and 4. All of the remaining trust assets [including a 320 acre parcel of land] shall be used to endow three scholarship funds established by the trust. The trust document names Jerome Fuller, of Park Rapids, as Trustee; and the will similarly names Fuller as Personal Rep for the Roland Kotowski estate. But in earlier proceedings, in the wake of alleged mismanagement and disappearance of assets, and the alleged filing of an inaccurate and incomplete inventory of same, the Court removed Fuller, the owner of a Park Rapids pawn shop, as Trustee and Personal Rep; and installed, instead, John Masog, Esq. as Personal Rep, and Donnie Wilkins as Trustee over the Kotowski trust. Now, Mary Kotowski alleges that the malfeasance has continued - that Masog and Wilkins are continuing to allow the estate assets to be pilfered, and seeks to have Masog removed. Mary Kotowski's interest in the approx. $750,000 estate amounts to her share of the Lincoln County rental proceeds, and personal items in the list; but she is also bringing the action because the other heirs, including her two brothers, and the scholarship funds, are losing their share of the estate to alleged plundering of same by the attorneys and trustees. She said, "My focus is to see that things are done fairly and equitably, and prudently," with fiduciary responsibility and an accurate accounting of the estate. She is also concerned about erosion of the estate due to Masog's needless legal fees, "Legal fees that are a mystery; Mr. Masog has been asked a number of times, 'What have you charged? ... Where has all the money gone?'" she said, maintaining that Masog has consistently refused to disclose to the heirs what he has charged to the estate. Mary Kotowski said, however, that those charges have affected the heirs - that she was supposed to have received about $5,000 as her annual share of the Lincoln County rental, but only got a check for approx. $1,400. She sent the check back for correction, but never received a reply. "From what I understand, that's what the legal fees are being paid from ... the proceeds from the rent, not the sale of any other property," she said. Additionally, Mary is advancing a claim against the estate for her out-of-pocket legal costs of $23,470.75 in having Fuller removed; as well as a claim for sums promised her by her father, for her returning to Minnesota, from Washington, to care for him during his last year. That claim, which includes promised college tuition, subsistence, lodging, and lost wages, totals $292,530.10 "That's what he promised me," she said; but she is faced with the problem that the agreement was never put into a formal document, and although there may have been contemporaneous writings or memoranda in the decedent's house relating to the agreement, all of the papers and documents in the house were removed and destroyed by the Trustee (Fuller). "OK Guys! I'm the Trustee; let's loot the decedent's house!" In interview, Mary Kotowski stated many instances of bargain sales of the decedent's assets to friends and relatives of the Trustee, and other irregular dispositions which could constitute breach of fiduciary duty. She said that, when Fuller was the Trustee, he sold some valuable Ducks Unlimited paintings to his brother-in-law Ren Holland. "[Holland] came with a pickup truck, I was in the office [a part of the decedent's home]. They locked the door (of the office - to bar access by Kotowski), Ren came in and he took a majority of the paintings and a majority of my dad's cast statues ... from Ducks Unlimited and a number of other things that I really couldn't inventory because I was locked in the office. I came out the front ... [but] I wasn't allowed to enter the [main portion of the] house ... they just kept filling up the pickup truck and then he [Ren] wrote a check for ... [approximately] $1,500 and then he left." Mary estimates the market value of the assets sold at about $5,000, plus sentimental value to the family. Mary Kotowski said that one of the Ducks Unlimited prints ended up being given, through Fuller, to one Joey Kaseman, and is now hanging in Kaseman's office. A D-5 dozer in the estate was sold to Don Wilkens's nephew for $5,000. "It easily would have brought $35,000 or so at auction," Mary said. A gem faceting tool in the house had been purchased by Mary Kotowski and her father for $5,000. They had split the cost and each had a 1/2 interest. But the trustee sold it to Doug Cheney for $500, without any notice to Mary. Also sold was Mary's .22 rifle that was stored in the house; she received no payment for it. "Mr. Fuller sold [it] through [his] pawn shop, and has refused to tell me who [he] sold [it] to," she said. Northern Herald has also learned, from a credible source, that although the heirs were not generally allowed, by the trustee, access to the decedent's house; the children of trustee Fuller could go in, and, allegedly, were manufacturing methamphetamine there. Mary said that it was the decedent's intent to change the will and trust, possibly removing Fuller, and recognizing the amounts he promised Mary, but when he called his attorney, John Masog, from his deathbed, to discuss the changes, "Mr. Masog was supposed to call my dad three times; he [Masog] never did show up [or return the calls] or talk to him while he [the decedent] was in the hospital; and then he [Masog] went on vacation and my dad died." In her efforts to remove Masog and make sure that the estate is properly administered, Mary estimates that she's expended about $45,000 of her own money on legal fees. Masog has not given an accounting of how much he's taken from the estate for his fees and other legal costs. Mary has prepared a complaint against Masog to the impotent Lawyers Professional Responsibility board (aka, The Foxes Who Watch The Henhouse), and is considering filing it. She said that her two brothers have already filed complaints. In her proposed complaint, Mary asks of Masog, "Where is missing property, funds, accounting, missing daily logs and receipts of last month of doctor's work - deposit books, patient files, disposition of personal effects, sale of property not belonging to the estate [i.e. belonging to the heirs, stored in the house, and now missing] ...?" Her proposed complaint continues, "Mr. Masog sought refuge under the guise of Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Fuller; he not only chose not to answer numerous questions made by my attorneys (at no small cost to myself and the trust as well), but postured a defense that was to threaten me with restraining orders and police incarceration should I attempt to find answers to these questions independently ...." Mary said that Masog, a former Assistant Hubbard Co. Attorney, "attempted to file a restraining order because, ... as the personal representative, questions were to be directed to him. Any time I called him, he became enraged." Masog, however, did not go through with applying for the threatened restraining order against Mary Kotowski. Her complaint continues, "My father's burial [deceased in 2000] has yet to happen ...." Per Mary, it took 2 1/2 years for the estate to pay for the cremation; and the burial of the remains has been held up because the estate has failed to pay for the headstone and burial. Mary also questions Mr. Wilkins's sale, as trustee, of the 320 acre parcel. He sold it to an acquaintance, Lance Larson, for $429,000; Mary had offered to buy it, on a two-year contract, for $620,000. As regards the seven truckloads of items removed from the house in early July, although Masog's attorney, Peloquin, maintained in open court that it was to be stored, Mary said that, when it was being removed from the house, there was present a young girl, a relation of Don Wilkens's wife. When asked what they were doing removing the property, per Mary, the girl told her that it was being taken out to be prepared for sale at auction. Mary's presence at the removal, and bringing it up the next week in court, may have averted that occurrence. When the items were being removed, Mary called 911, so that a police report of what was being taken would be made. The complaint continues, "I feel that Mr. Masog has used the trust's funds to unnecessarily elongate this matter, I feel that his antagonistic motives are intended to fuel a long term involvement which he can bill with unlimited abandon as he is unwilling to cooperate in encouraging any fiscal recording." In interview, Mary Kotowski produced a list of major items which are missing from the estate or from the decedent's house, without an accounting, by Masog, Fuller, or Wilkens, therefor. The list includes a canoe, a garden tiller, a wood chipper, a dust collector, 3 rock tumblers, antique fishing lures, jewelry, a "Mongolian manuscript", items stored in a vault, a large screen TV (which Fuller was to have received as compensation, but traded back to the estate for other property; then the TV "disappeared"), old decoys (known to have been taken by Royce Holland, but never paid for), Mary's coin and old currency collection estimated to be worth at least $300, and guns belonging to Mary's brothers. Mary said that, as trustee, Fuller cashed a Certificate of Deposit, of the estate, estimated to be worth, with interest, about $55,000; but he only deposited $50,000 of that into the trust's account. Also disposed of was a vehicle that was owned by Mary's brother John, which had been titled to their father, Roland, for convenience. John's actual interest in the vehicle was noted in a writing stored in the decedent's house. But when Fuller came on as trustee, he destroyed all of the documents in the house, eliminating any evidence of claims others may have against the estate, including, possibly, any contemporaneous notes regarding the agreements between Mary and her father for compensation for her care of him. "Every single piece of paper in my father's house is gone, he estimated [that] over 40 banker's boxes of paper were removed from the house and destroyed," she said. Mary Kotowski brought her action seeking an equitable resolution. "What needs to happen is what's legally proper. My father's original intents - none of them have been followed. ... I would just like my father's intentions and his promises to be upheld; the people who have done wrongdoing to be held accountable; the money and things that are missing to be replaced; and a public apology for being called names and having my reputation impugned," she said. Masog was offered the opportunity to comment, but declined. Related story: For further reading on the topic of alleged malfeasance by Minnesota attorneys in estate matters, see Sue Berkovitz: Why? in NH of 06/21/04, at northernherald.com ---------------------------------------------------------- BAGLEY HOSTS ART IN THE PARK BAGLEY -- Both Bagles (those who name Bagley as their home), and visitors from points remote, were treated to a Saturday of arts, in a wide variety of media, including music, July 3rd, 2004, set in the well-wooded Gazebo Park, at the Clearwater County Fairgrounds at Bagley. The eclectic and diverse Art In The Park presentation featured traditional fine art - paintings and the like - but also displays of Northland jewelry, woodworking, rock, metal and glass, ceramics, and fabric arts by exhibitors from throughout the region. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): The very expert and highly listenable troupe, Hickory Wind , from Shevlin and Bagley, entertain guests at Bagley's Art In The Park, Saturday, July 3rd. They'll be performing at the Minn. State Fair, also. Bookings: 218-467-3524 Acrylics by Maureen O'Brien Glass block by Pane In The Glass designs, Bagley Marble clock by Clearwater Rocks, Bagley Embroidery earrings by Linda Bestul, Bagley Monie Martin demonstrates basket weaving Artistry in abalone and brass by Ashley Halverson, Shevlin ------------------------------------------------------ In Focus -------- It's Fun For All At Hackensack's SWEETHEART DAYS Note: In Focus features are primarily pictoral. Photos, however, are not included in The Library edition. HACKENSACK -- One thing they know how to do in Hackensack is have fun, and this year's annual Sweetheart Days fest, July 12th-14th was no exception - there was something for everyone! The theme of this year's event was Lucette's Luau, and, new to the myriads of activities, only some of which can be shown here, were the golf tourney, A Taste of Hackensack, and a scavenger hunt. Hackensack regularly hosts children's fishing contests every Tuesday, from 11 am to 1 pm, throughout the summer; those contests will continue through August 31st. The 1 1/2 hour parade included seven colour guards, from American Legion posts at Hackensack, Backus, Walker, Pine River, Nisswa, Brainerd, and the Fraser Nelson post. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): First Lady Lucette Diana Kensack stands by the waterfront to welcome visitors to Sweetheart Days, which celebrate her betrothal to Paul Bunyan. What a Figure! Bonnie, of Hackensack Art kiosk Young gladiators duke it out on the Rock 'Em - Sock 'Em! Chelsey, of Menahga, enjoys the pony rides Horseshoe Tournament Making It Happen! Ryan Burns, of Spectrum Entertainment, and Sue Larson. Spectrum provided DJ dance music through the afternoon. The Birch Lake Ice Racers carve genuine smoked pork for their stand's BBQ sandwiches; only $3, and so good that if the pig could have known what he was bound to become, he'd have been proud! Hackensack Police Chief Mel Rateike leads the parade. Hackensack American Legion - Post 202 - Colour Guard Hack's Snowflake Queen, Lulu Bamboo Friends Forever's luau float took Third Place in parade judging. Of the over 60 parade entries, First Place went to Kevin's Auto Body, and Second to Hackensack Ace Hardware. Gordon Ford, of Hackensack, builds these. He drives his newest hybird "Let Freedom Ring" air car. Dance! Dance! Dance! The Ramona Fritz Band entertained for the street dance long into the night! --------------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- It's Another Great ... SAND LAKE JAM Note: In Focus features are primarily pictoral. Photos, however, are not included in The Library edition. HACKENSACK -- Under a fair marbled sky with temps in the low 70s, this year's 3rd annual Sand Lake Jam, held June 19th, 2004 - a bit earlier than past years', drew guests from all over, and featured four top bands, Ramona Fritz, Twilight Blues, Crow, and Westside. Whether camping, or driving in; having an impromptu game of baseball, biking, pitching horsehoes, having a campfire, enjoying the lake and the food, or just dancing, grooving, and hanging out, Sand Lake Jam offers a full day of laid back relaxation and entertainment - this year four great bands - at the Evensons' accommodating Deer Acres Resort, in the Deep Portage woods (near Hackensack), at an incredible price! From Hackensack, The Ramona Fritz Band is known for their classic rock repertoire; Twilight Blues for upbeat classic blues with a rock edge. Minneapolis-based Crow attained stardom in 1969 when their national hit, "Evil Woman (don't play your games with me)" made Billboard's top ten list. Capping the evening off, a winner of Ed McMahon's national TV Star-search, St. Paul-based Westside, delighted the audience with Las Vegas-style showmanship, and more, very danceable, music. Said lead singer Tony Green, "We want to get you dancing ... [with] fantastic vocals, horn section, and a whole lot of high energy choreography." Westside can be seen weekends at Arnellia's, St. Paul. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): The Ramona Fritz Band: Kelly Sievers, Jack Erickson, Wayne Eckberg, Drummer John Valo (fill-in for Dave Fisher) From Backus, Twilight Blues Band: Leebone Sherseth, Tim Gryz, Donny Larson Tenters Lance Schmidt, Pequot Lakes, Sarah Steinhilber, Inver Grove Heights, "Just Pete", Brainerd and April Meyers, St. Cloud. RVing from Mille Lacs, Bill & Vicki King and Paul & Mary Baillif said that it's their first Sand Lake Jam, "Glad we came, we'll probably be back next time, too!" Jammers dance to Crow (top photo), and Westside (bottom photo group) Host, Dave Evenson: "We're all gonna have a good time!" Crow Westside Lead singer Tony Green invites audience members on stage to join in the antics & fun! Also of Westside: Petey G., Gerald Lee, Chicco Smith on sax, Shaunie S., Drummer & Founder, J.T. ------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor IS IT LEGALIZED PROSTITUTION, OR THEFT? My life definitely took a turn down the wrong road the day that she was introduced to me. Later on it would surface that all she was after was my money and the way she set about getting my money was to use the state's own system of child support. A system that is way out of whack and has no accountability in it whatsoever; she does not have to account for where she spends the money that is given to her, the money that is called CHILD support, and I believe is intended for ... let me see ... the child! Never mind that the money I pay out for the support of my child is far and above the actual cost of the child’s needs and that the rest of the money is left for his mother to do with what she pleases. Shame on me for having a job that was one of those they call a good job or one that paid well. That is what made me a prime target, ripe for the picking. She told me that there is no reason in this day and age for a woman to get pregnant unless she wants to! After she got pregnant and being the old fashioned guy that I am, I married her, she then said, "it's probably a good thing I got pregnant when I did, because, I don't think that you were ready to get married for a long time, if ever!" Now [she] and I have a child, were divorced in three years and the child support kicked in. I love my child dearly but the support I pay has taken the good job pay away from me. Why should I have even tried to better myself and get better jobs as I went along when the State allows her to take it away from me just by lying on her back. I have no problem supporting my child but why do I also have to support her? The State of Minnesota engages in fostering prostitution without prosecution. The state makes child support so lucrative that certain women gladly will lie on their backs and make children, for the money! Let me see, what is the definition of prostitution? prostitution ... noun: the act or practice of engaging in sexual activity indiscriminately esp. for money; also: the crime of engaging in such activity In the child support system children equal money. Have a child and the money just flows in, if you have picked a man with a good job. Never mind that it is a crime to be engaged in prostitution, Minnesota does not care about that as long as a child is conceived, and then woe to the "John" who will be indebted to pay far and above the actual cost of raising the child. I am not trying to say that all women who use the Child Support system are like this. Am only talking about the ones that abuse the system! From a guy who used to have a little money, all gone now! Thanks to the state run child support system and a regular girl turned prostitute. -- Chris Davis Grand Rapids, Minn. The woman's perspective From a lady who read this letter: I have to respond to that [letter].... It was recollection of "bygone days". SO true on Chris's way of thinking; he had no idea what was to come, she [the ex-wife] was only looking for security $$$ to ensure her survival. Quite a shame on his part...another nice guy taken for his $$$. Some women should simply NOT be mothers. They are not nurturing nor have the ability to love unconditionally. Unlike some of us left in this world, they are not open to the ability of prioritizing what matters in life. Well ... you and I were some of the few who have values left & what matters to us in our hearts and our hands...to make the difference. We are only 2 people, but we can change our lives and take into consideration the ability to change the things we cannot. KUDOS to Chris for speaking his feelings and expressing, what I feel, are the feelings of any hard-working man caught up in the bureaucracy of the "trapped man" with a good job, [who] can support children and habits of a bad woman !!!!!!! It is very unfair to those of us who begin lives with these men and care and love them...only to find that our lives are put on hold "'til the kid is 18". Our whole lives are disrupted by financial woes and the ability, the obligation... to move on and create a life with this person. These obstacles REALLY SUCK. We need to ask ourselves..."What is the sacrifice worth?" And Northern Herald replies: This is not actually prostitution. To call it that would not be fair to prostitution. Prostitution, where it is legal, is generally an honest and clean transaction where it is understood what goods are to be purchased, for an agreed price. The Minnesota divorce and child support system, conversely, is like hiring someone to build a house, have him walk off the job when it's only 1/10 done, and then he still expects to be paid for the whole house, in payments for the next 18 years. A contractor can't do this; but it's what, in divorce, the Minnesota State Legislature supports; it is a part of Minnesota law. Minnesota law presently bases a man's child support obligation not on what it takes to support the child, but rather, on a fixed percentage of his income (up to 25%). Many men with good jobs pay way more than the costs of the child's support, and the remainder is spent by the ex-wife to supplement her income from current tramping. It is noteworthy that, if the ex-husband is not making enough, the court can impute income to him. That is, make an assessment of what he might be earning elsewhere (like, if he moved to another part of the country), and base the child support on that figure, rather than what he actually earns and has; if he doesn't pay this higher amount that he doesn't have, his licenses can be revoked and he can be thrown in jail. This is unconstitutional, but that's never been a major obstacle in St. Paul, and it is the law in Minnesota. (In California, at least one court held a similar law to be invalid as constituting involuntary servitude.) It is also noteworthy that, where a man's income is below the poverty level - so that, were the couple together, they'd qualify for welfare based upon combined income (that is, the system says that they don't make enough to support themselves and a child); if the woman chooses to divorce, the man, nonetheless, is required to pay child support. And the woman's perspective points up the severe inequity in that, while the ex-wife is allowed to just go on with her trampy life, the man's is put on hold for 18 years; many decent women who have now found happy marriages with those men have objected to this aspect of current Minnesota law. Nothing herein should be construed as legal advice. We, at Northern Herald, are not attorneys - we make an honest living - so we are not allowed to give legal advice, and can only offer the illegal kind. -- Ed. ------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor DISABLED ARE *SUPPOSED* TO HAVE ROTTEN TEETH There are many of us people struggling to stay on the bottom of the money ladder in Minnesota. Living over 200% below the poverty line has always been a difficult, complicated series of hoops to be mastered. Paperwork alone is a nasty ordeal. In Jan., 2004, this lower rung got even more difficult. Gov. Pawlenty put in a co-pay for all medical assistance recipients. All medications have a fee, as do doctor visits; and dental is now completely out of our reach with a 50% co-pay. Myself and my friend now have teeth missing we can not get fixed. Instead of a proud citizen of the USA, I now feel very shabby, and like a derelict. I am ashamed to go anywhere and talk with anyone. My missing tooth, just like my friend's, is right out in front. Shame on you governor, trying to rebuild your budget from money taken from the poorest in our society, the disabled SSI recipients. Write to the governor. Tell him how this co-pay has made your life more miserable. [Name and address withheld by request] -------------------------------------------------- DUKEKS, OF BAGLEY, TAKE GANDER MTN. BEMIDJI PRIZE BEMIDJI -- Of 48 teams entered, paying $210. each, Stewart and Brenda Dukek, of Bagley, took the $1,600. grand prize, with their basket of six walleye weighing 19.26 lbs.; in the 4th qualifier of the 9-state Gander Mountain National Walleye Cup, held on Lake Bemidji Sunday, June 27th, 2004. The event paid the top 12 two-person teams that day from a purse of about $5,000. In addition to the top aggregate, the Dukeks also brought in the biggest single walleye, at 5.19 lbs. Second place ($800.) was taken by the team of Duane Hill, Bemidji; and Mike Lundberg, of Deer River, with 18.49 lbs. The national grand fish-off will be held in October at Lake of the Woods. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): The Dukeks with fish, awards. ------------------------------------------------- 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 DEPARTMENT STORE DIGITAL PHOTO CENTERS - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW "OK, just put your photo card in here; we'll take your high resolution shots, garbage them up a little, and put them on this CD!" That's what the clerk should say at many high-volume digital photo processing centers in department and discount stores, including Target and others. Unfortunately, the clerk isn't that informative - neither is the signage - and due to what they aren't told, many consumers unknowingly can get back a CD with photos of lower quality than what they shot. Often the clerk doesn't even know that the processing machine is programmed to change (compress) the images. Many hobbyists shoot photos with their cameras set to .jpg or another compressed format, anyway, so they can get more pictures on a card. Some, however, need maximum resolution and accuracy, and set their camera to shoot .tif The problem is, that often the program used by the high-volume processing centers automatically converts all of the photos to the less accurate .jpg format; sometimes changing the filenames and dates, too, making it harder to know what's what. So persons who shoot high-resolution should ask about this before having their photos processed. Specialty photo stores, such as, in Bemidji, Image Photography ($5/card) and Picture This ($8.99/card) can usually faithfully save the high-res photos to CD without compression. Of course, for best results - so one can control exactly what's happening - a person who takes a lot of pictures does best by having a card reader on his home computer, and learning about the picture formats (it's not that hard). When shooting vacation photos out of town, it's handy to be able to clear your card almost as easily as buying a roll of film. Be sure of what you're getting, though, on your CD. Terminology: .tif: This is a digital image in, generally, the highest resolution and accuracy. Totally uncompressed, it is a large file, usually 4Mb or more. Each pixel is mapped, and what you shot is what you get. When one retrieves and saves a .tif file, the file is unchanged. This very accurate photo format is used by professionals, and hobbyists who require the most faithful reproduction. It also may be the desirable format if enlargements are to be obtained. .jpg: This is a very commonly used "lossy" (where detail is actually lost - as contrasted to "LZW" compression which is nonlossy) compression format. With jpg, matrices (e.g. 2x2 or 3x3, depending upon the level of compression) of pixels are adjusted, and the result is stored as the new image. In this, the colours of the pixels are actually changed. Sharpness of the image may be decreased, although, because pixels are very small, the difference between a jpg and a tif may not be obvious to the naked eye, or on a computer screen, unless the photo is enlarged. (To easily see the difference, open a new blank (i.e. white background) greyscale Photoshop® screen, and draw only a straight black line somewhere in it. Save as a .tif, then as a .jpg. Close your window, reopen both files, enlarge until pixels are visible and compare. You'll see a lot of stray pixels in the jpg.) The new .jpg file may only be 1/10th, or less, of the size of the original .tif file. Due to file size and transmission time, jpg is the usual format for Internet or email use. However, each time the jpg file is retrieved, and then saved again in jpg format, it may be changed a little more. WHAT DO YOU WANT ON YOUR TOMBSTONE? Certainly not a chicken. But that's what you'll get when you buy today's Tombstone(R) frozen pizza. Yep, it used to be the premium pizza (still at a premium price). But no more; now their sausage & pepperoni pizza, for example, contains chicken disguised as meat. Time to buy elsewhere. And regardless of the brand, it's always important to check the small print ingredients box. Some of the others may contain chicken, or soy, instead of meat (i.e. beef & pork sausage), too. THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK "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." This column is cumulative, and provided for consumer awareness. Signed consumer submissions are welcome. For review of the following things that just don't work, from past issues, see Things That Just Don't Work from the main page at northernherald.com: * PATTON(R) Oil-filled Electric Radiators * CELLULAR-ONE(R) * HI-VAL(R) (I/O MAGIC(R)) CD-RW drives * SYMPHONIC(R) VCRS. * LEXAR(R) Compact Flash cards * OFFICE MAX(R) REBATES * HEWLETT-PACKARD(R) product support * carsoup.com ---------------------------------------- REMER CELEBRATES FIREMAN'S DAY REMER -- Saturday July 10, 2004, brought Fireman's Day to Remer. The all-day celebration included kids' games, a moon walk, a visit from Smokey the Bear (bears are not that uncommon in these parts, but one doesn't generally see a celebrity). Turkey sandwiches with all the trimmings were served, there were free root beer floats; as well as a beer garden with live music. Red Bull energy drink sponsored a Moto-Cross free-style exhibition featuring hill-cross gold medalist Levi LaValle. Adult games included a horseshoe tournament, Chamber of Commerce Bingo, a waterball fight, and trap shoot. Evening brought dancing at the Fire Hall with the very excellent band, The Killer Hayseeds. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): The southern-Minnesota based hit pop country band, The Killer Hayseeds, which recently released their new album entitled, "...The Good Old Days" gave a highly polished performance at Remer's Fireman's Day, July 10th, and kept the packed Fire Hall dancing long into the night. The very capable band performed in varying tempos, including hits by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Charlie Daniels; and even some dance tunes with a big band tempo and beat. Lead vocalist Darin Essery, at lower left, has been performing since he was 17, and entertained that night on manolin, acousic guitar and fiddle. More: www.killerhayseeds.com ------------------------------------------------ WAL*MART OFFERS VISITORS HOSPITALITY OTHERWISE LACKING IN BEMIDJI BEMIDJI -- Time was, and it wasn't so long ago - about twenty years - when a person visiting or passing through Bemidji found all the tourist facilities he might need. There was a distinctive and historic log-sided tourist center, a historical center, and pedalboats for rent at the downtown waterfront. Families enjoyed a larger amusement park there, then. To keep in touch, there were lots of public pay phones (the Quest kind - not the private ones that often don't work) everywhere. Parking was easy, and if the visitor had an RV (or even if car camping) he could park it for the night right at the waterfront. There are times one needs a campground, but when between points, sometimes one just needs a place to park. These are the kinds of things that made people want to come to, and stay and buy in, Bemidji. In the '90s, though, the City adopted a wholly different attitude. The tourist center that WPA had built in the '30s was ripped out - seems our local Chamber of Commerce wanted new lakeside offices, so it was replaced with something that looks like a convenience store - devoid of the quaint charm the old structure had. The City, in reworking of the tourist center, also called, in the same project, for redesign of the parking lot and lakeshore reducing the area available for the amusement park (which was a major summer draw from other nearby towns, as well as an attraction for non-locals). They had to let their waterslide and some other features go. Location, location, location! The Historical Society was evicted, by the City, from the highly visible and often visited building that the Society had built at the waterfront. Now, at a cost of over a $million, they're housed in an obscure corner of the city where most don't even know where they are. The pedalboats and mini-golf, apparently, went the same way as did the concession stand at Diamond Point, a few years before. The public phones were ripped out from downtown, Union Station, and many other places - if one has to call for directions, reservations, or other info, it isn't as easy now. And as to overnight parking, or even stopping to look, at the waterfront, well, you saw the sign. And still, some wonder why more people don't want to come to Bemidji. Nowadays, the City is concerning itself with, at untold cost, putting up steel barricades to limit pedestrian access to the waterfront south of the bridge, and devoting bulging downtown street corners to display of atrocious eyesores that pass under the guise of "art". Street corners that could be used for a bench, a drinking fountain or a public phone - things that are actually needed and appreciated by visitors to, as well as residents of, the city. These are the kinds of services that make a city seem inviting and friendly - not some piece of twisted metal that was someone's idea of sculpture. Fortunately, for the vacationer, there are some genuinely attractive places here in the Great North. Places like Hackensack, Walker, Park Rapids, Deer River, Remer, Lake George, and many others. One of the few worthwhile attractions in Bemidji, Wal-Mart, is an easy jump off, and back on, the freeway for those staying elsewhere. And for those passing through Bemidji with an RV, the Wal-Mart here offers the hospitality that the City of Bemidji no longer does. It would be well if some of these Wal-Mart guys would run for City Council. They know a lot about dealing with the public - to where people want to come, and want to keep coming back - that they could teach to the people at City Hall. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): This is Bemidji . . . . . . But this is WAL*MART ! This sign reflects Bemidji's hostile posture towards tourists and others. At the downtown waterfront park, it warns visitors that after 10 pm the lot is "closed," and vehicles, whether occupied or not, will be ticketed and towed. We're not sure why a park would have to close. What do they do? Put the squirrels away for the night? But if you visit Bemidji, don't plan on coming down and looking at the moonlight on the lake - our corrupt city council has decided that your car will be ticketed and towed, even if you're in it. Also, for no good reason, the City bans parking from 2 - 5 a.m. on downtown streets. This, of course, is a hardship for people who live in the second story downtown apartments, many of which don't have their own lots, and for their visitors. Fortunately, the Bemidji Wal-Mart is glad to have the guests the City of Bemidji doesn't want. Wal-Mart's hospitable policy is to allow (at those stores that can) overnight RV parking in the back of their lot, and they built their Bemidji lot plenty big and accommodating, so there's lots of space for this. Just makes plain sense. Good for business, good for PR, good for the traveler, good for everybody. Said Don Graziano, traveling from Hamilton, Ontario, "It's nice to park here, because you need stuff, you know - we stocked up on the stuff we need for tomorrow." -------------------------------------------------------- THE MAGIC OF MOONDANCE !! WALKER -- The bands, that one would never hear in person elsewise, are certainly the feature attraction - but it's much more. Axeman, one of eight Moondance campers, who hail from diverse points spanning Wayzata to Detroit Lakes, gathered at a site in the North General campground, said, "The bands are cool, but," he added that the secure and hospitable camping and Moondance environment are just as important to him. He complimented the Bielohs on their organization and infrastructure of the event, "[They've] done a [darn] nice job ... the roads, ... the lights ... [they've] sprayed for bugs.... We appreciate the effort [the Bielohs have] put back into it." This is the 10th Moondance for Axeman and his wife, The Hatchet. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Producers, Mr. & Mrs. Bieloh Brian Swanson met his wife, Connie, at Moondance 1993. Of St. Paul, they've been coming back ever since. Said Brian, "It's a good way to get away and have a good time with a bunch of friends." Connie added, "Bill and Kathy [Bieloh] are the greatest." Their favorite performer this year? John Fogerty. THE MANY CORNERS OF MOONDANCE Much more than just the main stage, the many nooks and crannies of Moondance have something for just about everyone! AMUSEMENTS: Getting high at Moondance is perfectly OK. You can do it in this helium-filled closed balloon, secured by ropes attached to two harnessed guys on the ground who, in addition to letting it up and hauling it down, pull it across the grounds (within their area) for an overall view! Said returning astronut Mickie Silvers, above, from Grey Eagle, Minn., "I thought it was really awesome! I was a little scared at first, but it was really good ... I would do it again in a minute!" THE NEW MDJ SALOON: When a person just wants to sit awhile, but not miss good entertainment, they just might end up at the new, expanded, MDJ Saloon. And if a couple wants to dance, the big dance floor there is the best place to do it. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Chuck Halverson, Brainerd; Dadda Olafsdotter, from Reykjavik, Iceland, and Cindy, from Brainerd. Chuck says he likes the MDJ Saloon because, "It's usually where you meet the most people that you know." The lead singer of the band, "Heartbreaker", as they performed on the MDJ Saloon stage Wednesday afternoon. SHOPS & FOOD: Moondance can be a gastronomic experience. From foot-long corn dogs to pork chops to fresh grilled burgers and smoked turkey legs to Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine, one can be there all four days and still not try everything. Many of the shops, too, are distinctive. Stuff you've needed, but didn't know it 'til you got there. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Moondancers line up as Minnesota Wapiti serves up one of the best sandwiches on the fairgrounds; made with pure elk steaks on a bun, with or without grilled onions. Rashimah New poses with one of her unique wood handworks. She's an importer of these distinctive carvings in mahogany and teak from Indonesia and the far east. For those who hear the music and want to make their own, Mother Rhythm offers unusual drums, rain sticks, even didgeridoos. STAFF & SECURITY: It's the carefully managed Moondance security team, about 200 people drawn from many local and county law enforcement and emergency service agencies, as well as Moondance's own trained security staff, that ensure that everyone can have a good time! Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Christie Johnson, a trained EMT from Walker, shown below on her ATV, has been working Moondance for six years, now, and staffs the on-site Emergency Medical Services facility, just in case someone needs assistance during Moondance. Johnson advised that dehydration can afflict people in the heat. "When you're drinking alcohol, you need to drink more water," she said, recommending that, to best enjoy the full 4-day event, "you should drink one glass of water for every beer you drink, to stay hydrated." Jeremy Bolen has come up from Burnsville for the past three years. He said he works either shuttle or security, "from 4 'til whenever they let us go." The shuttles ran, every ten minutes, 'til 2 a.m. Grand Rapids PD officers help out at Moondance. Shown are Tim, Steve, Bill, and Bill. Said Bill, of the work, "Very good, good crowd, nice people!" When asked, he added, though, that they'd been too busy patrolling and doing their jobs to listen much to the bands. CAMPING AT MOONDANCE - THE NORTH GENERAL CAMPGROUND For a lot of people, MOONDANCE isn't just a time to relax and listen to good music, it's also an opportunity for some fun camping on the large wooded grounds, with everything one might need nearby! Although sites in many of the campgrounds can be reserved (the most popular campgrounds may be sold out by January or February), for those who like a woody rustic environ, the North General campground offers the best. Catch is, that it can't be reserved - you've got to get up early in the morning because the best sites, by the creek, go at 8 a.m., opening day! This year's Campsite Of The Year award went to "The Love Shack". Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Not all of the music was on the stage. Here, from South St. Paul, Jason Lundsten entertains friends Sean Henry and William Monday, and anyone else who happens by, in the North Campground. Said Monday, Moondancing for the first time, "I'll probably come back every year. ... It's alright!" Favorites so far? 1 vote for Allman, 2 for Skynard. From the site of Rich & Stephanie Ronning, Twin Cities. Matt Nohner, of Bemidji, was in the camping line at 6:30 a.m., but it was worth it - he and his friends, got the same site they've camped in for four years. Camped with him are Brent Utech, Walker, Tim Wesley, Bemidji, Doug Kimball, Minneapolis, Brittany & Chrissy Borst, Walker, Kevin Montpetit, St. Paul, and Alissa Goldberg, Brainerd. It was Montpetit's first Moondance experience, "It's a great time; I'll be back next year!" he said. Does he like it better than other fests he's been to? "Oh, yeah! [It's the] One and only - Moondance!" he said. His favorite entertainer so far? John Fogerty. Wesley's favorite was Edgar Winter, but he said his favorite thing about Moondance was, "Just hanging out ... camaraderie ... it's way more than the bands, definitely, definitely! You bring this many people in ... and it just brings out the life in everybody. - It's fantastic!" Alissa said that she was waiting to see Huey Lewis that night. Under the Camp Confused tent, Teresa, from the Twin Cities, wears a hat looking as if it might have been fashioned from a Golden Draft case. Here come The Judge! With an eye to a more beautiful Northern Minnesota, Moondancers at Jim Kelm's site in the North Campground helpfully issued ladies a rating as they strolled or drove by. VIPing When you've got an event this big, the question arises, "What do you do with the VIPs?" They've got to be able to come too, but how does one keep them from interfering with the rest of us UIPs (UnImportant Persons) enjoying the event? Moondance has the solution! They corral the VIPs in their own area, with a 6 foot secured buffer between them and us UIPs! And to make them want to stay there, they get their own seating in an elevated and shaded viewing platform, as well as a front-row sun deck, right by the Main Stage, a great free meal every day, all the beer they want, free, discounts on premium pour drinks and other perks! It seems to work. As one of the few UIPs ever to be allowed to venture into the VIP tent (at our own risk, of course), your Northern Herald reporter was able to get the above shots. If you've ever wondered what real VIPs look like, in captivity, this is them! Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Going First-Class just makes dollars and sense for VIPs Blaine Baird of Sand Lake, Minn., and Anita Cloud of Inger, who said, "We're saving money by going VIP ... It's fantastic - they treat you good, the food's good - everything. ... By far, [its] the only way to go...." Dinnertime at the VIP tent! VIP Jesse Lamb, of Blaine Minn., and friends, enjoy their strip-steak dinners. "It's been very good," said Lamb of the VIP food. Rob Immonen, of Walker, mans his outdoor B-B-Q and prepares more great looking steaks! THE TALENT Moondance presented 48 bands during it's 4 days, 20 of them on the main stage. In addition to those shown here and on page 6, Main Stage acts included Rock & Roll inductee ZZ Top, and John Fogerty, (photo omitted due to the artists' performance photography restrictions); as well as Edgar Winter, Mark Anthony's Storm Project, The Amazing Fantastiks, Kory and the Fireflies, and The Fixx. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): From Minneapolis, Big John Dickerson and the Celebrators performed his excellent, crowd-pleasing original music with an R & B motif, as well as established favorites, like "Sweet Home Chicago", opening day. ZZ Top closed Wednesday's stage, performing easy going original modern rock, including their hit, "Viva Las Vegas", and some blues. One of the unlikely looking trio mentioned that they'd been the same 3 members for 35 years, "and the same boots," he quipped. Pat Benatar Rick Springfield Chris Robinson & New Earth Mud presented a more traditional version of modern rock, with interesting overtones, such as using the guitar and synthesizer to replicate the type of sound that would be produced by a sitar. Their set involved some very expert instrumental work. Robinson performed some tunes on (amplified) acoustic guitar, accompanied by his lead guitarist, playing his electric, slide style. All in all, the music was kind of jazzy, lower key, very entertaining and very good; featuring excellent work on all of guitar, keyboard and percussion. The repertoire included a jazzy arrangement of "Making Love Under The Apple Tree". Randall Zwarte Rick Springfield invited Moondancers on stage during his performance, then came down off stage and performed in the audience. Still looking quite young and having quite the rapport with the crowd, he played hits including "Gloria", "Beautiful You", "Jesse's Girl", and tunes from his new album. Appearing Thursday evening, Lynyrd Skynyrd drew an immense crowd who came to hear them play a medley of their hit tunes, including "Down To The Swamp", and "Gone With The Wind". American patriots, they dedicated to the troops here and abroad, "Red, White, And Blue", which they've performed for American troops in Germany, as well as at Ft. Hood, Texas. John Waite and his band performed his crowd-pleasing brand of original mellow rock, including his hit "I Ain't Missing You", as well as Dylan's "Girl From The North Country." Little Feat Chain Lightning The Allman Brothers HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS BRING DOWN HOUSE AT MOONDANCE XIII ! WALKER -- Some have it, and some just don't. With Huey Lewis, there is no question. This seasoned entertainer has found the winning combination to produce music that drives the crowd wild. With great repertoire, an experienced presentation and stage presence reminiscent of the great crooners, like Dean Martin, combined with a full polished accompaniment, including vocal, sax, and brass, made popular by the Motown groups of the 60s, Lewis set the entire fairgrounds to boogying for the last Saturday night show. Lewis came on Saturday at about 11, and by about 12:30 a.m., a time when people generally are folding up to beat the rush out, Lewis's music had brought the biggest crowd of the whole Moondance out to the fairgrounds, dancing and cheering from the stage front to the farthest reaches, back by the MDJ Saloon and west concessions. Far from getting ready to go, in these early minutes of the morning, the crowd simply wouldn't let him leave, demanding four encores, which Lewis, and his eight newsmen, ably performed. THIS WAS REAL ENTERTAINMENT! All in all, Lewis gave a concert of almost 2 hours. At one point, and demonstrating his versatility, Lewis formed some of his musicians into a barber shop quartet to sing, "It's All Right" a cappella. His richly received repertoire included his hits "Heart and Soul", "Do You Believe In Love", and "So Happy To Be Stuck With You", as well as their instrumental arrangement of a rhythm and blues number. The crowd was wild for this star. Whether it was the showmanship, the Motown harmony, the Big Band orchestral excellence, or something else, Lewis has a winning combination, and Moondance hit a real winner with Huey Lewis and The News! There couldn't have been a better grand finale to this great Moondance, leaving everyone waiting for the next one - July 13-16, 2005; with same site reservations opening in August, 2004. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Huey Lewis And The News: Huey Lewis, Rob Sudduth, Ron Stallings, Marvin McFadden, Stef Burns, Johnny Colla, Sean Hopper, Bill Gibson, John Pierce ZWARTE FILMS MOVIE AT MOONDANCE ! Some Moondancers may end up seeing themselves in Randall Zwarte's new movie, "Road To Sturgis". Zwarte is shooting film at his stops, as he makes his way to Sturgis, SD, and filmed some of the Moondance audience during his performance here. "We got the movie deal when we were playing in Daytona ... We've been filming from March," said Zwarte, who said the filming would continue through their appearance in Sturgis in mid-August. The best segments will be selected for the movie. RONNIE BAKER BROOKS WOWS THURSDAY CROWD For those who didn't know him, Ronnie Baker Brooks and his band was quite a pleasant surprise in the Thursday afternoon show. His dynamic performance was very, very, skilled, with great showmanship. In plain English - it was great - and dazzled the audience, particularly when he came out to play in their midst, and again, when, propping his foot on a chair, he commenced to play his electric guitar with his tongue! Hailing from Chicago, Brooks's music can best be described as very excellent blues and easy listening rock in a variety of tempos. But words and pics don't do this guy justice - one has got to see and hear him live to appreciate it! Brooks said he gets the energy for his performance, "from the people in the audience, and the music. It starts with the music, and I try to give it out, and it kind of spreads around, you know, and they give it to me and I give it back - it's like a big circle." Of his music, Brooks said, "it's blues based; it's got the blues background; I try to touch on all my influences from, you know, growing up, and from my dad, Lonnie Brooks." From a music family and environment, Ronnie Baker Brooks said he's been playing "basically, all my life." Brooks's busy tour schedule will have him playing in Illinois in August, Missouri in September, then it's up to the eastern seaboard to perform October dates ranging from New York to Maine, and Montreal before the end of the month. The end of the fall finds him in the deep south; but returning to the Midwest December 27th to play The Charity Ball at Fargo, ND. For more information, including downloadable samples of Brooks's music, readers are invited to check out www.ronniebakerbrooks.com Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Ronnie Baker Brooks delighted the crowd when he came off stage and into the audience to play. Maurice "Moe" Taylor, Drums Daryl Coutts, Keyboards Carlton Armstrong, Bass Guitar GREGG ROLIE'S NEW BAND FRIDAY SMASH ! "They're all phenomenal players; but the main reason why the band works is because they all understand what this music is...," said Rock 'N Roll Hall of Famer, Gregg Rolie, of the Gregg Rolie band, comprised of key Santana members, and playing the music Rolie made famous when he was lead singer for that group. Now that Carlos Santana has gone his own way, Rolie preserves the original sound, along with original members Alphonso Johnson and Michael Carabello, who imparts the congas, so important to their unique Latin-style beat that sets people's feet to motion. Timbales player Adrian Areas is the son of Santana's timbales player, Jose Areas. The Moondance performance was spectacular - very listenable, very enjoyable from beginning to end - and the crowd was highly appreciative as they filled the Moondance sandlot to get an up-close view. The band performed Santana favorites including Evil Ways, as well as Give It To Me, and other tunes from the new Roots CD. "I'm playing weekends, and I'm playing live ... and I'm just going to go tour until I drop," said Rolie, who put this new band together after recording his recent solo album, Roots, which he's termed "a tribute to my Santana roots." The band will play about 30 to 40 gigs on tour this summer; further info can be found at www.greggrolie.com Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): The Gregg Rolie Band: Gregg Rolie, Alphonso Johnson, Michael Carabello, Kurt Griffey, Wally Minko, Adrian Areas, Ron Wikso An ultralight glides by during Rolie's performance at Moondance. A UNIQUE JACK, ONLY FOR MOONDANCE Jack Daniels special representative to Moondance, Joe Mayne, displays a bottle of the new Jack Daniels Single Barrel. This is like Old No. 7 (the favorite - Jack's black label), except that it's aged in oak twice as long, and each barrel is numbered. The flavour of the whiskey is distinctive and peculiar only to that barrel - kind of like the vintage and chateau of a wine. For use at Moondance, Mr. Bieloh selected a special barrel (# 4-1548, bottled in June from rick #3), and bought the whole thing. This whisky was only available to Moondancers and the bottle labels bear the Moondance Jam 2004 logo. Although bottles of it couldn't be sold for off-premises consumption, they could be given away, if one bought a T-shirt ($50). Jennifer Powell, a direct descendant of Jack Daniels, was on hand to autograph bottles. ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 06/21/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 6 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- SUE BERKOVITZ: WHY? Interviews Disclose Multiple Instances of Alleged Estate Malfeasance, by Attorney and Gunshot Victim Hendrickson; Represented Heirs to Alleged Nursing Home Murder SHAKOPEE -- On May 4th, 2004, Susan R. Berkovitz was convicted, at Minneapolis, of First Degree Murder and of Attempted Murder for a multiple shooting Sept. 29, 2003, inside the Hennepin County Government Center (courthouse). The jury found that she had shot attorney Richard Hendrickson, wounding him; and also her cousin, Shelly Joseph-Cordell, with whom Hendrickson had collaborated and whom Hendrickson had been representing in proceedings adverse to Berkovitz. Cordell was killed in the shooting. The current proceedings were in a matter brought against Berkovitz, by Hendrickson and Cordell, moving for a court order to prevent Berkovitz from seeking protection from the Court from further harassment by them. Berkovitz had been embroiled in a 3-year battle with Hendrickson, representing Cordell, and other family members, over a conservatorship for her aged father, now deceased. Although she did not stand to inherit directly from her father's estate, the remaining assets would have eventually passed to her through her mother's will (her mother, Anna, is living). She claims that Hendrickson's legal manipulations, keeping the estate open for years in protracted litigation, were consuming it. And, exhausted by the barrage of ongoing claims and litigation against her, she claims that the continued harassment by Hendrickson and Cordell, even after her father's death, finally drove her over the edge the day of the shooting. Berkovitz's public defender, however, failed to advance a defense of temporary insanity; and failed to call witnesses who may have been able to explain Berkovitz's state of mind. He also refused to bring pertinent requested motions, and to allow Berkovitz to testify on her own behalf. Berkovitz's motion for a new trial was denied, and she may base an appeal upon ineffective assistance of counsel. In the wake of Berkovitz's charging, several other people have come to the fore, claiming to similarly be victims of Hendrickson's lucrative legal shenanigans; one similarly had her inheritance "evaporate" in supposed legal fees prior to distribution; another's diabetic mother was murdered by discontinuance of insulin, presumably for inheritance reasons. Prologue. The trouble with dying is that one is not around to administer their estate, and assure that their intent is carried out. Asset-affecting decisions are often left to the executor or personal representative, and the attorneys who practice in what can be the very lucrative field of probate law. Like magic, these skilled barristers can make an estate disappear. Presented at the end of this article are ways that may avert this from happening. (Note: The attorneys and other legal professionals who are readers and supporters of Northern Herald, and hence, can do no wrong, are, of course, excepted, by special dispensation, from the following general discussion. When necessary, even we can be as hypocritical as a Christian. -- Ed.) Dying wasn't always this complicated. In the early days, shortly after Eve clodded the apple from the tree, thus releasing and acquiring divine knowledge of the irrevocable roles and relationships of men and women, and of good and evil; and, incidentally, introducing Death into the Garden (which Adam had speculated that, on some accounts, wouldn't be such a bad thing1) there wasn't that much to divvy up. Certainly not so much that anyone could earn his keep by doing it. Likewise in caveman days, it wasn't difficult. The heir apparent generally knew where, in the cave, the pile of shiny stones and bone tools was kept, and could take immediate possession of those that were not to be buried with the decedent. By and by, perhaps as punishment for man's inherently sinful nature, Providence created The Attorney. Attorneys married attorneys; and attorneys became as numerous as a blight of locusts upon the face of the land. The presence of this evil, and it's grip on the system by which people would resolve disputes, profiting thereby, can be traced as far back as the time of Julius Caesar. In fact, it was during that Roman Empire that the Plebeians, that is, the common people, sick of the hustling of the Patricians - the nobility, the lawyers of that time - demanded access to the Curia - the courts. It was granted. So the Patricians, fearing for their income and stronghold on the system, then had to scramble to maintain it. They found a way. They invented an obscure code of language that would have to be used before the Court. Such were the origins of what carries to this day as contemporary legalese.2 Nowadays though, a lot of people, even in Northern Minnesota, have learned to read and write. Some have even learned to read the corpus juris - the body of laws which dwells in the county law libraries. Astronomical filing fees (e.g. in Minnesota, $60 for a small claims action) must now be used to keep the people from the Courts. To keep them a sacred domain of government prosecutors and regulators, and, of course, for those private attorneys who have found a source of money that they can milk for their endeavors: their motions, pleadings, and other frolics played with and for their colleagues and friends before the Court's public stage. If someone's life or fortune hangs in the balance - well, that makes the play that much more interesting. Even with heightened public understanding of the law, probating a will is an area where most will not tread. Executors and personal reps of an estate often have to rely the advice of professionals - the probate attorneys - some of which find estates a brimming source which can be milked dry. The material you are about to read is something that Susan Berkovitz's jury never heard. She wanted to testify in her criminal trial, but her attorney would not allow it. The forces of justice determined that these were things that the jurors just didn't need to know: Susan R. Berkovitz was very close with her parents, Hyman and Anna Berkovitz, and particularly her father; and had lived with them for 41 of her 53 years. In their golden years, Berkovitz wanted to remain with, and care for her father - her siblings had lived out of state, away from their parents, for 40 years. A devoted daughter, Susan remained in the Twin Cities where she saw her parents frequently, taking them to restaurants, and, when surgery was necessary, staying with them in the hospitals, and cooking and providing nursing assistance at home. When Sue Berkovitz's sister, Sherilee Feldman, told her that she had arranged for Hyman and Anna to be moved (against Hyman's wishes, and a decision of which Susan was previously unaware) to a senior apartment in St. Paul, and asked Susan to look after their house, Berkovitz moved back to her family home in June of 1999. Susan stated that, during 2000, as her father's mind began to fail, the matter of the need for a conservatorship was initially discussed at her parents' apartment; her mother had arranged for an attorney [not Hendrickson] to be there for advice. She said, of that discussion, "When I initially talked about a conservatorship, my mother said, 'Okay.' ... My father had dementia, but, when I had said to my father, 'Do you want me to be in charge, Dad?' My father said, 'I want you to be.'" Susan's sister, Sherilee, however, opposed the conservatorship, with Susan as conservator, from the start. Per Susan, Anna asked the attorney to speak to Sherilee about it. Susan Berkovitz said that she first encountered attorney Richard Hendrickson, about Sept., 2000. He had been hired by her sister, Sherilee Feldman, who lived in California, and her brother, Robert Berkovitz, to represent them in an action to contest Susan's Petition for Conservatorship over their father, and to evict her from the family home. Susan said that, without consulting with her father, or his attorney, Hendrickson sent her a notice directing her to vacate the house. "Hendrickson wrote a letter to my Post Office branch manager telling them I'm a malicious trespasser [in the family home]; to return my mail ... [stamped] 'Return to Sender'." Also, about that time, Sherilee Feldman convinced Anna and Hyman that Hyman should sign over to her a Power of Attorney. She brought Hyman, 92 and in dementia, to an attorney's office to have the document prepared. Susan Berkovitz filed her Petition for Conservatorship which was opposed by her sister and brother, who convinced her mother Anna to join in the action and all of whom came to be represented by Hendrickson. According to Susan Berkovitz, during the proceedings, she nominated her cousin, Shelly Joseph-Cordell (who died in the courthouse shootings) to serve as actual conservator of her father's estate, with Susan allowed to make decisions concerning his care. She said that Cordell was officially appointed as conservator approximately July, 2001. Litigation, however, continued, and, as part and parcel of it, Hendrickson appears to have launched into a series of activities designed to discredit Susan, thus reducing her ability to successfully contest his legal efforts to further fragment the family, and, in the process, accrue legal fees. Hendrickson began to methodically destroy the family bonds and institute a series of expensive legal maneuvers. Being advised by Hendrickson, Susan's brother and sister encouraged her mother, Anna, to stop Susan's visits with her father. "My mother had stated that it was my brother and sister who said 'take her to court, don't let her visit anymore,'" Susan said. Presumably acting on behalf of Anna, Hendrickson procured an order, without substantial cause, limiting Susan to only brief supervised visits with her father, with whom she had lived for 41 years. The supervision was provided, at cost to Susan, by Cordell's firm - a Twin Cities general help and employment agency known as Rent-A-Daughter. With Hendrickson now involved with Susan's siblings, and Cordell, her relations with Cordell deteriorated. Said Susan, Hendrickson had advised her various relatives, and "I was being shut out from my father. ... Hendrickson would instruct my mother [Anna] not to allow me to see my father [at scheduled visits]," and when Susan would then try to visit, police would be called. Susan said one officer, responding to such a call told her, "You have a right to see your father," and on other occasions, police escorted her on a visit so she would not be harassed. "My mother would take the phone off the hook at the request of Hendrickson and my sister, so I couldn't even speak to my father." By May, 2002, Hendrickson, representing Cordell, obtained, on Cordell's behalf, a temporary (pre-hearing) restraining order against Susan; at hearing, the cause was ultimately dismissed. Other attorneys had been previously involved, opposing Berkovitz, but in interview, she stated that she held no animosity toward them; she had, however, been infuriated by Hendrickson's legal shenanigans which she believed were dishonest attacks upon her, and in bad faith. "I had been subjected to claims that Hendrickson would file and not provide me with copies [notice] of the hearing date, in his attempt to get default judgements against me. Richard Hendrickson had accused me ... of throwing blows at Shelly Cordell, but when she testified, she said I [only had] pointed a finger in her face .... " And Susan said that she believed that Hendrickson changed the inheritance that she was eventually to receive. Susan said that Cordell tried to bait her into violating the temporary restraining order that Hendrickson had put into place. She said, "Hendrickson and Shelly Cordell secretly moved my parents ... out of the State of Minnesota, to California, without giving me the opportunity to object ... they had tried to prevent me from seeing my father. ... My father had no intention of ever wanting to leave. He was born and raised, he lived all of his 94 years, in Minnesota. He was forced...." Susan added that before the move, she was supposed to pay Cordell's Rent-A-Daughter business $30 for supervising each 1 1/2 hour visit with her father, but, toward the end, she was being charged as much as $150 for a single half-hour. Susan also said that Cordell, as conservator of her father's estate, had, within one year, drawn "over $79,000 total," out of it. She added, "During that entire year, my father had no surgeries, no hospitalizations, she [Cordell] acknowledged never taking him to the doctor. The money was being used according to their own accounting: they were making long distance phone calls a lot; there was a charge when Hendrickson called Shelly's adult daughter in Connecticut ... Richard Hendrickson and Shelly Cordell were charging my father's estate for taking me to court ...;" and Susan said that Cordell had allowed Susan's sister to write checks on her father's account, for gifts to relatives, including Robert Berkovitz's (Susan's brother's) daughter. Susan said that Cordell was also writing checks, on the estate's account, to herself; and that Cordell was using estate funds to pay Hendrickson's legal fees for representing Susan's brother and sister in the action they had brought challenging Susan's petition for conservatorship. "... my brother and sister ... hired Hendrickson to contest the petition. My father never contested it. My brother and sister, therefore, should have used their own money [for the legal fees]. Shelly continued, on behalf of my brother and sister, paying Hendrickson's legal fees from the estate...." Although earlier reports in other media suggest that Berkovitz's motive in the courthouse shooting was that she was dissatisfied with receiving only 40% of her father's estate; in fact, she never received any of it. "I never got anything....," she said. Hyman Berkovitz died, at 95, in July 2003. Hendrickson has maintained that his will left all of his estate to his wife Anna. Susan estimated the estate as being worth $125-150,000. There was a codicil to the will that provided that should his wife precede him in death, then the kids would inherit. But this never applied. Susan said, "The codicil was given to my attorney by my mother's attorney," in approximately 2000. When asked if she challenged the 40%, Susan said, "Oh, absolutely not! That wasn't the issue at all." However, Susan would, eventually, stand to inherit her share of that part of the estate which remained following her mother's passing, per her mother's will. She was understandably concerned about the needless erosion of the estate. "The inheritance that my father left ... that was set aside for me," Susan said, was used to pay Hendrickson's legal fees in contesting her conservatorship on behalf of her brother and sister. She said, "My brother and sister contested the conservatorship, not my father." Yet she was given to believe that the legal fees incurred were charged to her share of the eventual estate. "My brother and sister [paid] a retainer that, I believe, was $5,000 from my father's estate when they hired Hendrickson. The continuous ... legal fees ... to pay Richard Hendrickson ongoing, in these last three years was taken from my father's estate. Over $40,000 was transferred from my father's estate. "... Richard Hendrickson was ... [consistently] filing legal papers, he would bring more actions, he would file more court claims, Hendrickson kept the issue in the court - he wouldn't stop over the last three years. Hendrickson refused to file the first accounting, I would put that in writing, 'I want a copy,' he refused; I ended up having to file a motion to compel - that could have been avoided if he would have done that [file the first accounting]; Hendrickson didn't want to file the final accounting, he'd get three extensions, it was the Court, finally, at my insistence, that would ask him to proceed. ... "[Hendrickson] would file documents - [he] would never provide me copies of the documents. Hendrickson would file claims and not provide me the notice of hearing. He told the Court, 'Well, my [Susan's] brother's gotta fly in, make Susan responsible to pay his tickets....' He was constantly sending me harassing letters - almost every week - for the first two of these three years." Per Susan, in a letter to a judge, Hendrickson characterized her as "a bizarre manipulative predator" because Susan had made an unsupervised visit to her father to bring him chocolate milk. Other witnesses have told Northern Herald that even in court, Hendrickson would make inciting faces at Susan and mimic her; Susan said that once, prior to a hearing, she accused him of "just trying to make money off of my elderly father's estate," and he replied with "a silent laugh, shaking his head, 'yes,'" Susan said that at one point, a judge ordered Hendrickson to return a small sum of money to the estate which was inappropriately expended for, among other things, his parking ticket. Susan recalled other instances of attempted intimidation and unprofessional conduct by Hendrickson. After a Conciliation Court action [post] to recover attorney fees, "Richard Hendrickson confronted me in the hallway; ... he faced me, ... his hand was raised, like, in a fist, as if to intimidate me ... he, like, made a step toward me, [then] he turned around and walked out the door. He was with Shelly [Cordell]." Susan's mother told her that Hendrickson had her "sign papers", and Susan believes that Hendrickson may have mislead her to change her will. Asked if Anna had a will, Hendrickson told Northern Herald, "I don't know and I wouldn't get into that." Berkovitz, who said that she had no previous criminal record, and could not have foreseen herself acting in this manner, said the three years of harassment by Hendrickson and Cordell, "drove me to react in a way that I have never reacted before." She said, "I never handled a gun before"; although she was planning to take a women's self-defense course and had recently visited a gun range, which, she said, was why the gun, and earplugs, were in her purse that day. She arrived at the courthouse that day to appear in one of the three cases of continuing litigation involving Cordell and Hendrickson. Susan said that she had filed suit in Conciliation Court to recover her attorney fees in the matter of the attempted restraining order by Cordell [ante] that was ultimately dismissed. She had also sought a temporary restraining order against Cordell to stop Cordell from continuing to make harassing phone calls to her over disputed fees that Cordell claimed Susan owed Cordell for the earlier supervised visitations with her father. Susan said the calls were, "demanding that I still owed her money to see my father." Susan said that she also brought the action against Cordell because, when he was living in St. Paul, Cordell had stopped her from seeing her father, "she would not set up the visits that she was court-ordered to do; she stopped my visits ... without rhyme or reason ... and she was double-billing me also." Her father having passed away three months before, Susan Berkovitz wanted to put the treachery and legal nightmares of the past three years behind her. Regarding Cordell and Hendrickson, Susan said simply, "I didn't want any more contact," and, accordingly, sought the restraining order. She said that when her temporary restraining order was served by the Sheriff on Cordell, "I got a harassing letter from Hendrickson ... demanding that I withdraw my petition ... otherwise, he's going to impose some bond or security upon me....," said Susan, "I mean, the letters wouldn't stop," she said. "They [Hendrickson and Cordell] were using my father's money for purposes not related for my father's care or benefit when my father was still alive ... and they were still finding ways of bringing me to court so they could charge my father's estate. My father's estate had no responsibility to pay any attorney fees, conservatorship fees or filing fees on issues being commenced against me. It was so frivolous ... IT WOULDN'T STOP," said Berkovitz, struggling, in the interview, to maintain her composure. In separate interview, Hendrickson said that they were in the courthouse the day of the shooting to appear on an action he'd brought against Berkovitz to stop her from filing these types of actions against himself and Cordell, which he considered "frivolous". He said, "A party can motion to the Court for a special hearing to have someone declared a frivolous litigant." Hendrickson was seeking that day to have her so declared, denying her further access to the courts for protection against future harassment. He said that he was prepared to serve her with a 1,050 page brief that day. Said Susan, "When I saw them [Hendrickson and Cordell] getting off the elevator, then things transpired." After the years of harassment, fracturing of her once-close family, the conspiracy to secretly move her parents away from her to the west coast, and continued harassment even after her father's death; something in her snapped, and the shooting occurred. The jury would ultimately find that the muzzle of Berkovitz's antique gun delivered to the thieving Cordell a one-way ticket to her new domicile in hell. For Hendrickson, however, Providence apparently deemed eternal damnation amidst flames that burn but do not consume to be too good for him, for now. He was wounded, and now is mostly recovered, to live out the rest of his putrid existence above ground, until it is time for him to join the likes of his ilk (a large antlered mammal -- Ed.) below. In post-trial interview, Berkovitz claimed that her primary attorney, public defender Daniel Homstad, "was not assigned to the case, he volunteered for it ... I had asked him numerous times ... to review documents with me, so we could prepare the case. His response to me ... was, 'What case? You don't have a case.' ... He had no interest in calling witnesses [whom Berkovitz had requested] ... after initially stating to me that he would call them ...." At least one of those witnesses, who allegedly lost his retirement income by the actions of Hendrickson, voluntarily attended the trial. But Homstad got the witness out of the courtroom by telling him to "wait out in the hallway", for three hours, and Homstad refused to call him to testify. The witness was still in the hallway when a janitor told him that Court had adjourned for the day. Berkovitz told Homstad, and co-counsel Diana Lugo, several times, that she wanted to testify on her own behalf, but, she said, they refused to call her to the stand. Concerned by his competence, or lack of same, and good faith representation of her case, Berkovitz had twice tried, in open court, to fire her public defender. "[Homstad] turned to me and said 'just sit down and shut up,'" she recounted, adding that Judge Thor Anderson, hearing the case, did not act on her request. In the conservatorship matter, several years ago, Susan had contacted Anderson's wife, also a probate attorney, for legal assistance. She declined to take the case, but Susan had discussed with her certain confidential information. For this, and other reasons, Susan asked that Anderson be now disqualified from hearing her criminal trial (disqualification of one judge, without a showing of cause, is generally allowed under Minnesota procedure). Berkovitz said that she asked Homstad to seek disqualification of Anderson, but Homstad refused. In jury selection, states Berkovitz, "My real concern was that some of the jurors came right out and said, 'I think she's guilty and I don't think I could ignore this;' the judge was still trying to convince them that they could be seated on the jury." Ultimately, the defense used some of its preemptory challenges to exclude those jurors, per Berkovitz. In interview, Susan Berkovitz stated that since her arrest, evidentiary items seemed to have disappeared from a storage locker she maintains. Among them are an original copy of her father's annuity contract showing her and her siblings as later beneficiaries, following the death of her mother. Instead, the prosecutor turned over to the public defender, as potential evidence, a copy of what Susan termed a "new" annuity, with her mother as sole beneficiary. She believes the change was made by Shelly Cordell. "My portion of the estate would be gone, because my brother and sister also have a Power of Attorney over my mother," she said. Additionally, "some double-billing statements by Shelly Cordell are missing; the prosecutor did not turn over my documents and I've asked my attorney [Homstad] numerous times, and he's not [gotten them]," she said. Following the trial, Berkovitz sent Judge Anderson a letter regarding the irregularities of her defense counsel, and particularly that she was not allowed to testify on her own behalf. The judge interpreted the letter as a motion for a new trial and scheduled a hearing for June 8th. On that date the motion was denied. On June 18th, 2004 Judge Anderson sentenced Berkovitz to life in prison for the murder of Cordell, and 15 years for wounding Herndrickson. She will eligible for parole in 40 years. Hendrickson - more garbage. The witness who spent three hours in the hallway without being called to testify was Gene Horn, of Golden Valley. Horn had, in 1991, sold his $180,000 a year solid waste disposal business, on a contract calling for him to receive half of the gross receipts, about $7,000 a month ($84,000/yr.), for life. After having paid approximately $200,000 over several years, the buyer defaulted on further payments; Horn sued for $600,000 - what he believed the contract to be worth over his anticipated lifetime. His attorney was Charles Shreffler of Minneapolis, who Horn believes to have sold his case down the toilet, and believes to be even more unethical than Hendrickson, if such a thing is possible. Under the court's Alternate Dispute Resolution rules, the matter was referred for arbitration. The arbitrator was to be Joyce Gordon, but, at the last minute, for whatever reason, Hendrickson was substituted in as the arbitrator. Horn suspects that Shreffler may have had a hand in this. Horn said that the arbitration took place between the attorneys and Hendrickson behind closed doors - Horn and his wife were not permitted to enter the room or to testify. At the conclusion, Horn's attorney directed him to sign a settlement agreement at which Shreffler, Hendrickson, and the buyer's attorney had arrived. It called for the matter to be settled, finally and without appeal, for the sum of $9,000 as a final and liquidating payment. Horn did not believe the amount was just, but felt pressured by his attorney (Shreffler) and signed the settlement. He said that, later, having considered the matter, he refused to sign the final settlement papers, but was ordered by the court to do so. An unsatisfactory arbitration award would have been appealable; a settlement, however, is generally not. MariJayn Duchene is a graphic designer living in St. Paul. An only child, she had been close with her mother, and since her father's death in 1965, family assets had been held in her and her mother's names, in survivorship bank accounts and joint tenancy. She stood to eventually inherit them. Per a chronology prepared by MariJayn: As MariJayn's mother, Jane Dorothy Duchene, became terminally ill, her uncle (her mother's brother), Roger Krause, of Edina, and his wife, Bessie, began to take more of an interest in her, and in her assets. At the same time, the Krauses began to make a series of reports to county agencies, accusing MariJayn of neglecting and abusing her mother and mishandling assets. Although the reports were ultimately found baseless, they appear to have been intended to discredit MariJayn, and possibly to be used in future legal proceedings. Jane Dorothy suffered from diabetes, and was developing cancer of the cerebellum. She also suffered from dementia (per MariJayn, Jane Dorothy believed Kennedy was the President). By July 2nd, 1986, the Krauses got her to sign a will leaving her assets to Roger Krause and his children. Bessie Krause, as Roger's wife, would benefit by this. But in September, 1986, Roger was suddenly diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, in critical condition, and given only a short time to live. Bessie could still benefit, through Roger's will, but only if Jane Dorothy died before Roger. Jane Dorothy was being treated at Wedgewood Nursing Home, at Inver Grove Heights, by Dr. Victor Corbett, a diabetes specialist. Dr. Corbett had been treating her for diabetes since 1978. He had been recommended to her by Roger and Bessie Krause; he was a friend of their family and an associate of their son, Dr. Bob Krause. Dr. Corbett was treating her with the usual insulin therapy (she had been using insulin since 1975). On October 23, 1986, unknown to MariJayn (she did not have access to the medical records until the following year), Dr. Corbett issued orders cutting Jane Dorothy Duchene's insulin by 66%. Initially, a nursing home employee thought the order was a mistake, but Dr. Corbett, apparently, called back and reiterated it. This caused Jane Dorothy's condition to suddenly deteriorate, and induced diabetic coma by November 17th. On November 18th, Dr. Corbett ordered all insulin discontinued, killing her as surely as if he'd simply come into the room with a magnum and blown off her feeble grey head. Jane Dorothy died at 4:10 a.m., on November 19th, 1986. Roger Krause died Feb. 1st, 1987. In the probate hearings, MariJayn tried to establish that Jane Dorothy was not competent when she signed the new will bequeathing her estate to the Krauses, and to have recognized her joint tenancy in the family home. Opposing MariJayn was Bessie Krause, represented by, ... yep, ... Richard Hendrickson. The Court found for Krause, including that the joint tenancy in the house could be disregarded. B. William Murphy, M.D. sent a letter to the FBI, with copies to several U.S. Senators and congressmen, urging legal action against Dr. Victor Corbett. MariJayn also contacted state and local authorities, but the county attorneys in the three counties having jurisdiction weren't interested in pursuing a prosecution of Corbett. He's still practicing in St. Paul, and at ALLINA hospitals and clinics. He is also an associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota. Per MariJayn, Dr. Murphy, after reviewing the medical history and Corbett's orders reducing insulin, affirmed her observation of Corbett's action as having no medical purpose except to kill Jane Dorothy Duchene. In response to our inquiry of Corbett on this, his nurse called and said that Dr. Corbett was out of the country 'til the end of the month, and "he has no comment." Diane Peterson, now living in Wisconsin, has known Richard Hendrickson since she was ten years old. He was the son of her father's best friend. So when, in 1987, Peterson's father was dying, it was understandable that he would contact Hendrickson to prepare his will. The will designated that the estate would be divided equally between Diane and her brother. She'd get 1/2 directly, her brother's half would go into a trust for his benefit. "After Dad died, [Hendrickson] put my brother's trust ... [into the care of] a man who was very untrustworthy - Terrence Larpenteur." But Diane's half was not distributed to her. During the probate and distribution process, said Peterson, "Hendrickson was taking my money and making it disappear, $5,000 chunks at a time, for whatever he was supposedly doing, which was nothing as far as I know. I couldn't get the money out of him, I couldn't get my dad's estate closed; there was no reason not to close it because it was very simple. Eventually, ... I found a stock certificate [which Hendrickson had allegedly prepared] for a company, Apostle Leasing, that was an illegal tax shelter. I was able to ... threaten Hendrickson with going to the IRS ... if he didn't hand over my dad's money." Peterson got her money, and then contacted IRS. Peterson continued, "My brother, Brad Olson, never got any money. There was also a cabin involved, in Rush City, Minn., and that eventually ended up in Terry Larpenteur's name." In approximately 1994, Peterson sued Larpenteur and secured return of the cabin. In the end, Peterson says that she and her brother recovered most of the $200-250,000 estate. "But it wasn't easy to do ... I didn't get back what he charged in attorney's fees ... [and] if I didn't have that ... stock certificate, I wouldn't have gotten any money out of Hendrickson ... he would have used it all up in any way that he could have. Once I had that slip of paper, he couldn't do anything." Terrence Larpenteur was also a fiduciary for the Ebeneezer Foundation, but, per Peterson, when she informed that foundation of his actions, he was fired. In interview, Hendrickson denied involvement in any unlawful tax shelter, and denied ever having had the conversation with Peterson in which she, allegedly, threatened to expose him. "There was no such thing," he said, adding, "she [Peterson] received everything that she was entitled to ... all the probate rules were followed...." Richard Hendrickson, in telephone interview, described Berkovitz's persistence in fending off the assault by her brother and sister, and trying to maintain a conservatorship to care for her aging father, "She fought everything," he said, "She started an unnecessary conservatorship; and then she ... fought the entire way for the conservatorship. She wanted to get control, she wanted to have the money put in her name; and she lost each and every step of the way." Hendrickson maintains that it was Anna that ordered Berkovitz to be evicted from the family home, "and ... at the time, ... her elder sister as attorney-in-fact for her father." Asked why Berkovitz would have come after him, Hendrickson said, "[Berkovitz] accuses everybody of everything; she lives in a different world than you and I." He added, later, "I have my own feeling about how dangerous she is to society; ... Berkovitz knows exactly what she's doing; she's calculating, she's getting the exact results that she has demanded; she needs to be put away for a long time to protect everybody." Hendrickson denied that Cordell overcharged Berkovitz for supervising visitation with her father, but acknowledged that the estate (with it's accounts under Cordell's control) was to pay half of the supervision fee; this would have provided Cordell with a pretense to be writing herself checks on the estate account; the accuracy of the amount she thusly paid herself has not been independently verified. Attorneys, primarily, represent themselves. Berkovitz said that had her witnesses been called, "it would have shown how [Hendrickson tended to keep cases in litigation longer than necessary, with] ... a motive of taking as much money [as possible] from my father's estate by charging my father's estate on issues that had nothing to do with my father's care or benefit ... Richard Hendrickson was using my father's money for his attorney fees ... [to file] actions that were being commenced against me that were frivolous and had no basis to them." In interview, Hendrickson acknowledged, "I wouldn't be surprised if, at one point, it was realized that you're [i.e. Susan is] costing your father a tremendous amount of money in legal fees and in conservatorship fees; because of her [Susan's] action [to establish the conservatorship]." At one time during the conservatorship proceedings, per Susan, Hendrickson sent a letter to her then-attorney, stating, "Susan's interest in the estate is gone." The following information is provided by Adam Steele, a practicing C. P. A. with specialized education in Estate & Trust taxation. Death and Taxes are two things that, for most, are certain; and preferably, they'd occur in that order. Up here, trusts are not frequently used - the rationale may be that most people don't have estates large enough to be taxable, anyway. Reducing taxability of large estates, though, is not the only, and may not even be the primary purpose of a trust. The trust, mostly, eliminates the need for probate. This is the area where attorneys can draw huge fees and where the intent of the deceased may be circumvented. Whom do you trust? In this scenario, all of the assets are transferred into a revocable "living" trust well before death. During life, IRS doesn't recognize the trust as a separate taxable entity - taxation and control of assets is generally as before. Upon death, however, the trust become irrevocable, and controlled by the Trustee (the person the grantor [you] appoints). The trust now, also, becomes a separate taxable entity. It files form 1041 (& state return) annually. The choice of an integrious trustee, of course, is very important. Many nominate the an expectant heir (this does not mean that the heir has to be pregnant) as the person who would have the least to gain by tomfoolery; this, however, is not necessarily always the best choice in all circumstances. As all assets are in the trust, there is now little or nothing passing through the will to probate - this may severely limit the potential for high probate fees, will contests, and estate fraud. It can minimize the opportunities for attorneys, and courts, to take their cut, and for the intent of the deceased to be defeated. The downside is that most people require an attorney to draft the trust instrument (Kids: Don't try this at home -- Ed.), that is, the document that establishes the trust. For this, and for other details of how trusts work, a reasonably honest and competent attorney (if one can be found) should be insulted. NH Note: The foregoing is not legal advice. We are not attorneys, so can only give the illegal kind. For legal advice on how trusts may be used to protect an estate, or other legal matters, a licensed attorney should be insulted. Endnotes: 1 Mark Twain, Eve's Diary; and Papers Of The Adam Family 2 Napoleon III, The History of Julius Caesar (last published in the English language about 1920) Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Susan R. Berkovitz, as she appeared at Northern Herald interview, May 26th, 2004, at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Shakopee. MariJayn Duchene, who claims to be another of many victims of attorney Richard Hendrickson. (Computer enhanced photo of Hendrickson - his horns are not generally visible to the naked eye, and only what appears to be part of his left horn was discerned by the camera, in the original photo). Original Hendrickson photo by Richard Sennot (Mpls. Star Tribune),and used here by permission. -------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Bemidji Police Corruption Continues ------------------------------------------------------------- BPD COWBOY CHARBONEAU ARRESTS RYAN NEWMAN FOR NONEXISTANT NO-DRINK ORDER. Newman Files $8 Billion Federal Lawsuit; Northern Herald Calls for National Guard; Martial Law BEMIDJI -- Thomas Newman, of Turtle River, Minn., is a Beltrami County citizen who stands up for his rights; so his family isn't exactly on the buddy list of the corrupt Bemidji Police Dept. (BPD) (administered by Chief Bruce Preece, who is known to have swindled over $1 million in phony helicopter sales, sometimes delivering a false FAA bill of sale) and other Beltrami County authorities. They'll cite or jail Tom Newman's son Ryan pretty much anytime they see him with a beer in his hand; regardless of whether he's committed any crime. As a result, he's grown a petty charge legal record that reads like a laundry list; but if one reads further, one notes that a lot of the charges are noted "no convictions", indicating that there was not legal cause for the citation or arrest. And with an improper jailing of Ryan in mid-May, the Newmans have gotten tired of their family being harassed; they've filed a federal lawsuit to put an end to it. Like many people, Ryan likes a beer now and then. He liked it before he turned 21, and some of the earlier charges involve allegations of minor consumption. Having become an adult last year, he can drink legally now, as long as he does it responsibly. But that didn't stop Beltrami's Finest on May 12th, 2004. Ryan's latest formal charge is one which resulted from his being discovered, stuck in a ditch that morning, by Beltrami deputies. He had, apparently, had a few beers, but knew when to stop. The deputies found that he was not legally intoxicated; nonetheless, unable to cite him for DWI, they cited him for careless driving and took him to jail. There is nothing in the record indicating that his driving was careless - just that he got stuck in a ditch as many people up here do. A few days later, BPD cowboy Tom Charboneau found Ryan, as a passenger in an auto stopped in the early morning of May 15th, 2004; Ryan had alcohol on his breath, but again, a field test showed that he was not legally intoxicated. Charboneau threw him in jail for the weekend, anyway, for violation of an alleged no-drink order. But come Monday, no charge was filed and Newman was released. Trouble was, that the supposed no-drink order, from a case on another baseless charge that had been ultimately dismissed, had also been dismissed and was no longer in effect. It should have been purged from the system. So Ryan had been held in jail for the weekend, without apparent legal cause. Accordingly, on May 20th, Newman filed, in the United States District Court at Minneapolis, a civil lawsuit against Tom Charboneau and several other Bemidji City and Beltrami County officials, for the false arrest and complicity therein (Ryan Newman vs. Tim Faver, Tom Charbono, et. al.; case no. 04-CV-2728). The suit seeks damages of $8 billion. At this time, the corruption of the City of Bemidji appearing to be so deeply seated that it cannot be reasonably extricated, and its causing the abridgement of rights, and unlawful detention of U.S. citizens, this paper now calls for the United States to send the National Guard to Bemidji, to establish martial law protecting the rights of citizens in Bemidji; until such time as that remote little burg can become self-governing in keeping with the laws and Constitution of the United States. ---------------------------------------------------- SLAUGHTERS FIND NO HELP IN NORTHERN CHURCHES, BLIND AGENCIES BEMIDJI -- It wouldn't seem that there are that many ways a blind person, let alone a blind couple, could support themselves. But when one is blind, they're sometimes resourceful and want to do more than just languish on what the government will provide. These people are looking for a hand, not a handout. In Northern Minnesota, though, the system isn't geared to these people who earnestly want to work; people who are handicapped, but are nonetheless used to and willing to help themselves. And, as it turns out, neither are Bemidji's employers; nor its massive churches nor others of what passes for religious and charitable institutions here. Elizabeth and Roosevelt Slaughter have been blind since birth. That didn't stop them from being gainfully employed in Des Plaines, Illinois, where they lived until 1999. Roosevelt worked as a darkroom technician for a photo processing firm, Elizabeth earned her B.A., in sociology, and teacher's license, and was employed as a social caseworker. Together, they built equity in their home, the sale of which provided money for a new home in suburban Bemidji when they moved here 5 years ago. Additionally, Elizabeth designed a line of greeting cards with both braille and large type; and started a mail order business. They are both accomplished musicians who have been able to further supplement their income by playing together professionally on piano and organ. With their music leaning toward gospel, they rented facilities and gave a well attended recital in Bemidji a few years ago. They also are available for weddings and other functions. But now, Bemidji churches have been unwilling to consider them for hire, and all but one has refused to allow premises use or rental for further private recitals. Speaking to the Slaughters, one might not even suspect their handicap unless they told him. For example, when this reporter pulled into their driveway, then backed the car up a little, Roosevelt came out to say he didn't have to park so far back. Nonetheless, they have been unable to find suitable work here, and State Services for the Blind (SSB - a division of the Minn. Dept. of Employment and Economic Development), refused to place Elizabeth in available employment for which she is qualified. When she left an unsuitable job at DAC, SSB also pretty much pulled the rug out from any home-based business she might undertake by requiring her to return the computer and specialized blind-oriented software she needs for that, as well as for day-to-day living. Elizabeth said that the equipment they need includes a reasonably up-to-date laptop computer, the JAWS screen reading program, Open Book scanning program, a braille translator, bar code scanner, color identifier, braille embosser, and braille paper. The equipment and software amounts to approx. $8,850. Cheryl Chappuis, of State Services for the Blind, at Bemidji, refused to comment on the matter. Presently, the Slaughters' only income is a small pension, and Roosevelt's Social Security (they don't qualify for SSI), much of which goes for the house payment. Much as a person with one leg can now, with a prosthesis, lead a relatively normal life; so it is with the blind. Technology now makes possible the things that enable a blind person to lead a normal day-to-day existence. But unlike the medical appliances, there is no stopgap in place to provide that simple technology to those with limited means. Per Elizabeth, "The computer, now, is not a luxury, but an essential tool for a blind person ...." She said that without it, they can't even read their daily mail, or distinguish canned groceries. A sample of the Slaughter's music will be available at northernherald.com For performances at weddings, events, etc., they may be reached at 218-755-1271 Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Elizabeth and Roosevelt Slaughter on piano and organ Elizabeth displays her very professional greeting cards, embossed in braille. -------------------------------------------------------- GUNSHOTS, THEFT, PUNCTUATE WOODLAND HOME QUIETUDE PENNINGTON -- The area is true woodland living. Down dirt roads, several miles from civilization, with few neighbors, in the deep Minnesota Northwoods. It's where rustic and self-sufficient people go to live. Trouble is, it's remoteness also causes it to be off the beaten path of deputies' rounds, and a long way to go if an emergency occurs. Shirlean Jones and Peter DeClusin, her illicit consort, live here and have had considerable trouble with prowlers; seeing lights in the surrounding woods at night, and have suffered ransacking, severe vandalism and multiple thefts from their vehicles, and even a shot taken at their home. Yet, when they've made reports to the Sheriff's Office, although a squad was usually dispatched, deputies have taken no substantial action to arrest the culprits or prevent recurrences. Shirlean said, "Every time I call them, they come out and harass me, instead of...[arresting the prowlers.]" Beltrami Sheriff Winger, however, said, on May 17th, that his office was now taking the matter very seriously, and that he also planned to meet with Steve Day, of Leech Lake Tribal Police to find a resolution to this problem. Asked if the Sheriff's Office will respond in future sightings of the prowlers, Winger said, "Absolutely." But that doesn't mean the intruders will be prosecuted. We're dealing here with the corrupt office of County Attorney Tim Faver. Shirlean Jones said that she had spoken with Asst. Co. Atty. Randall Berg, but he failed to get back to her or return her calls regarding what action would be taken to prosecute identified trespassers. At one point, she was also told that one of the suspects was a drug informer, so would not be prosecuted. An absentee neighbor's house was also ransacked. Peter reported that although there were valuables there, most were not taken - but the drawers were gone through as if the intruders were looking for something. The doors to that mobile home have had to be boarded up. Also, the many vehicles in the neighbor's yard have been damaged. Like Peter's truck, headights and vehicle fixtures have been removed, and tail light lenses broken, as if trying to find something which might have been hidden there. It is reputed that the neighbor's son may have stashed a quantity of drugs on or near the property, and the prowlers may be trying to find it. As police have failed to make an arrest or deter the problem, on June 4th, Shirlean reported that she had gone to court to obtain a restraining order against Ken Harrison, who lives nearby and who Jones suspects is one of the trespassers, restraining him from their property; but Jones said that she would have to pay the Court $245 for the order before it would be served on Harrison. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Prowlers put a bullet hole in Jones's mobile home last fall. Trespassers ripped the radio, heater core, and other dash components from Peter's truck. ---------------------------------------------------------- In Focus TROOP 40 SERVES AT WALKER! Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Several hundred eager diners lined up for fish & smelt at the Troop 40 Boy Scouts feed May 7th at Walker. The full meal included cupcakes with American Flags. Frymaster Bert Woodford is also Charter Rep for the scouts. A Navy vet, he served on the USS Enterprise in Vietnam. Serving at the feed are, from Walker, Jamie and Brian Munson, Bryan and Kyle Haugen, Nebill Ecklov, Daniel Arandt, Ryan Olson, and Paul and Matthew Artley; from Laporte, Michael Marion, Kyle Sanders, and Levi Linahl; Lyle Bronczyk, Benedict; Matthew Daniels and Adam McClung, Akeley; and Franklin Sawvel, Longville. 1%er. Adam McClung, 16, of Akeley, just made Eagle Scout. To receive this rank, he had to do a service project - he made 10 park beches for the City of Walker. The newer benches one might be sitting on in the parks and at the dock are probably his. He also had to attain 21 merit badges. Said McClung, "It takes a lot of time, hard work, and dedication. ... about one out of 100 Boy Scouts makes Eagle." An honor student, McClung is the first Troop 40 Scout to make Eagle before 17. With math and science as favorite subjects, he plans to become a surgeon, but that's a while off. For now, "I plan to stay in Scouting and help the younger kids," he said. ---------------------------------------------------------- The 2003 Steele Spheres GEORGE W. HAS SPHERES In a belated issuance (we are very old and we do things very slowly), the 2003 Steele Spheres were awarded to President George W. Bush for doing, affirmatively, what we all knew needed to be done in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, in 2003. The Steele Spheres are awarded each year for Exceptional Performance and Valour, in the Public Service, both Beyond and Within the Call of Duty. There is a lot of rethinking going on right now - some speak as if we never should have taken action abroad. How soon we forget where we were when jets slammed into the World Trade Center on 9/11 and what we all knew, then, had to be done. Fortunately, we had a President who would do it; who recognized the assaults as "an act of war". He knew that the surprise assaults upon civilians of our nation were something that would continue if strong action wasn't taken. This was not an easy move for Bush to make - although authorized by Congress, it came amidst storms of peacenik protests at home, and faltering support abroad. But he had the spheres to do what had to be done to protect American security, and the world. The results of Bush's action are measured not but what has, but what hasn't happened. Bin Laden is still afoot, but he's been able to wreak no havoc here since 9/11. Here in the Northland, we note, for instance, that no arab-piloted Cessna has flown into Bemidji's 4West building. Al-Qaeda is substantially weakened now, lacking safe harbour, domicile, and training camps in Iraq and Afghanistan. They can do much less than before. And we tend to become complacent in peaceful environs. The Weapons of Mass Destruction protest has no place in this. Maybe Saddam had them, maybe he didn't. Saddam's numerous violations of the U.N. inspection resolutions kept anyone from knowing for sure. His public affront, threats, and past conduct were conducive to a reasonable assessment that they were likely there. A threat we had to neutralize. It's like someone who draws a gun on a cop. After he gets blown away, telling the cop that the gun wasn't really loaded doesn't invalidate the officer's prompt and necessary action. And some persist in saying that we don't know that Al-Qaeda was (is) active in Iraq. That they're just not there and we went after the wrong people. Uh, Mr. Berg was recently executed by Al-Qaeda after being held by Iraqi Authorities. Did someone miss a memo here? Hopefully, in the face of these mindless and forgetful protests, Mr. Bush will see fit to stay the course, and continue to do what we have to, in the Middle East, to ensure U.S. domestic security here at home. This award is in recognition of past accomplishments - it does not constitute a political endorsement of the recipient for future elections, and Northern Herald makes no such endorsement at this time. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): The Steele Spheres ---------------------------------------------------------- ART IN THE PARK AT BAGLEY, JULY 3RD BAGLEY -- Bagley's 17th annual Art in the Park will be held July 3rd, 2004, from 10 to 4 p.m., at Gazebo Park on the Clearwater County Fairgrounds. There will be ethnic & American food, and live stage entertainment. ------------------------------------------------------------- SCHIEFERDECKER WOULD HAVE SPENT $THOUSANDS OF YOUR MONEY TO TRY TO KEEP $668 But Semons Insist on Hearing; Money Ordered Returned (LEADING EDGE JOURNALISM - FOLLOW-UP - For detailed original reporting, see Search Warrant Issued on Looks, NH of 03/08/04, post, on this Library page) BEMIDJI -- On January 30, 2004, Beltrami deputies and agents of the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force served a search warrant on the residence of Rick and Denise Semon near Tenstrike. Trouble was, the warrant was badly flawed. It was clearly directed to a supposed manufacturing operation of the poison: methamphetamine. Denise Semon suffers from lupus, and the informant mistook her symptomatic facial scars for burns, which were speculated to be from a meth lab fire. What was speculated to be drug paraphernalia turned out to be only supplies for feeding plants. Rick Semon did not deny that he has used meth, sometimes called "speed" or "crank", but categorically denied making it. So, when the deputies asked him if he had any drugs, he gave them a small packet of the poison from his pocket. They continued with the search, which didn't turn up any other substantial results. But they did take all of Semon's money - $668 - from his wallet. Although Semon could state its source as being elsewise, deputies confiscated the money under the pretense of it's having been drug trade related. There was no evidence whatsoever supporting this contention. Without the money, the Semons were threatened with eviction, and had to apply for emergency assistance because they received an electricity shutoff notice. Several months elapsed since the search, with no formal action taken. Semon could have been charged with simple possession, but the warrant had been issued without apparent probable cause (no one saw drugs or drug equipment on the premises) and would likely be subject to a motion to suppress, making the possession evidence inadmissible. But the county still had the Semon's illegally-seized $668, and wasn't about to return it. Eric Shieferdecker is a hot shot in Beltrami Co. Atty. Tim Faver's office where he's an assistant county attorney. He has been known to spend thousands trying to avoid returning a $500 (max. est. value) hunting bow, which, it was eventually ruled, the County had no right to keep. (See Schieferdecker Loses Beltrami Bow Case, NH of 01/15/02 in The Library, v.7, at northernherald.com) Court records are littered with other cases Shieferdecker has tried, appealed and lost. Still, he's married to Rebecca Signe Anderson, daughter of Minn. Supreme Court Justice Russell Anderson, so he can pretty much do what he wants. His job in the Co. Atty.'s office is pretty much secure; after all, it's just the taxpayers' money, and in Beltrami County, which has returned Faver to office many times, that's like so many sheep waiting to be shorn. So, when, in May, Rick Semon appeared before the Honourable Judge Hawkinson (case no. C7-04-457) to obtain return of the $668 unlawfully seized, Shieferdecker launched into a series of legal shenanigans to delay, and prevent that from happening. Firstly, the prosecutor claimed that, even by May, he was not ready to proceed. The matter was continued to be heard June 9th at 2 pm. Then, to establish an (expensive) subterfuge to continue holding the money, five days before the June 9th hearing, Shieferdecker filed a 5th degree controlled substance (simple possession) charge against Rick, for the small amount of meth he had. He sent Semon a letter encouraging him to seek assistance from the public defender's office (at further public expense) and another to the Honourable Judge Benshoof, requesting that the June 9th hearing be continued (postponed) until August, presumably for the benefit of Semon and, "to save Mr. Semon from driving down from Tenstrike on Wednesday." In his arrogant letter to Semon, Shieferdecker wrote, "I think you will also find in due course that there was sufficient probable cause for the warrant to be issued. ... Ultimately I believe it will come to pass that the $668.00 will be forfeited." The hearing was rescheduled - but the Semons didn't want the postponement - they wanted their money back. They contacted the Court Administrator the morning of June 9th, notifying her that they did not agree to the postponement requested by Schieferdecker. The matter was put back on calendar for that afternoon. At the hearing, not Schieferdecker, but Mr. Faver, appeared and told the Court, "I'm satisfied that the State could not meet it's burden of proof" of showing that the money was, in any way, drug-related. Accordingly, Judge Benshoof immediately ordered return of the $668 to the Semons. The 5th degree possession charge, and the Semons's challenge to the legality of the search warrant, remains pending as the Semons wait for a public defender to be appointed. -------------------------------------------------------- In Focus (In Focus features are primarily pictorial; photos, however, are not included in The Library edition.) WALKER, MN - EST. 1896 Photo Captions: Despite the efforts of their City Council, Walker remains one of travelers' most desirable destinations - the Crown Jewel of the Northern lakes region. Pepper's Beachbar & Grill, by the Walker City Docks, offers waterfront seating on Leech Lake. Walker's Unique Apparel Gallery features not so much what's faddish in style, but more what's tasteful enough that it never went out of style. A person might have to go a block off of the main street to visit some of the most interesting and eclectic shops. Looking down a side street; insets: a shimmering brass and crystal butterfly charm from recently-opened Terra Reflections; Open Water cigar and men's gift store sign. ----------------------------------------------------- CRUISIN' LEECH LAKE WITH THE COBORNS A must do, when in Walker, is Coborn's Leech Lake Cruise. At as little as $14 (it's less for kids; and their on-board beverages & snacks are comparable to, or less than, what one might pay at an ordinary bar), this outing is a steal, and a relaxing way to while away a few hours. It doesn't matter if one has seen the lake before; said The Lady, "It's wonderful!" True, Captain (U.S. Coast Guard) Chris Coborn's narration of the history of what you're seeing (things like the site of the early 1900s Leech Lake Lumber Company and a brief seminar on area logging and it's importance here then) can be downright educational, but one doesn't have to learn if one doesn't want to - there's no test when one disembarks. This authentic and historic Southern riverboat was built in 1948 in Chattanooga Tennessee, and following it's river days, was acquired by the salty Coborn family in 1999, at Van Buren, Arkansas. They restored it to like new condition, with current safety features. The nature of the craft provides a smoother than usual ride - no danger of seasickness here, even when the lake is choppy. All in all, the cruise is totally enjoyable. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Guests on the Beulah Leona return to port. Full cruise ship hospitality is provided by Cole (who takes the orders) and Lisa Coborn, at the ship's galley & bar. Passengers enjoy the view from the stern observation deck. Those more laid-back can watch from the lenient one. -------------------------------------------------- In Focus (In Focus features are primarily pictorial; photos, however, are not included in The Library edition.) A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE . . . from Lemurs to Lions, is what people find at Moondance Ranch & Adventure Park, just south of the "Y" of Hwys 200 and 371, about 5 miles south of Walker. There's something for everyone at the Ranch & Adventure Park. In addition to the wildlife park and horses, many come for the water slide, the miniature golf, and the fast action go-kart track! Moondance Ranch & Adventure Park is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm; water slide is open from 11 to 8. Photo Captions: Moondance is very much a family operation. In addition to coordinating ticket sales, reservations and campsites, on a year-around basis, for their Jam, Mrs. Bieloh is also the on-site manager of the Wildlife and Adventure Park. She's shown with one of her favorite animals. The park has both standard, and pygmy, goats. But why walk when you can ride? A rider enjoys the long forest trails on and around the Moondance Ranch spread. Their rental stables have a mount for everyone, from novice to pro. Whether for just a beer, a banquet, or basic lunch, a great place to kick back and relax is the Grain Bin Restaurant, at Moondance Ranch. Done in a knotty pine western motif, with saddles at the bar, the Grain Bin features a hospitable outdoor all-around-view screened deck from which one can lunch in the shade while overlooking the deer and other animals wandering the picturesque park grounds, and without having to deal with the tiny winged ones. -------------------------------------------------------- In Focus PRO SOFTBALL ACTION AT MOONDANCE FIELDS (In Focus features are primarily pictorial; photos, however, are not included in The Library edition.) WALKER -- Looking for a summer project? Well, similar to Field of Dreams, you could build three regulation championship softball fields. That's what Walker's Bill Bieloh did. And they did come: teams and leagues turned out in droves to use them in this, the inaugural season. Photo Captions: Infield in motion! A batter takes off, as do runners on 1st & 3rd, while the opposing infielders try to snag the ball in the May 22nd games. Burton Haugen, of the Moonjammers team, pitches, as Mr. Bieloh plays shortstop. Said Haugen, "Weather was perfect. ... Had a good time!" Johnson Masonry's #10 hits a double Mission Eagles #85 at bat, in their May 22nd game against Johnson Masonry. Despite powerful batting by the Eagles, Johnson took that game, 15-9. Eagles' manager Curtis Brown called the game, "real good," adding, "This is a good team we're playing against." Trey, 11, who attends Walker Elementary School, is the bat boy for the Color Creations team. With him, Tyler, 7. ------------------------------------------------ HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Spring brings baseball to Northland high schools! Walker Wolves #1 pops one up in their April 22nd game at Red Lake. D.J. Bowen (#26) pitches his first game for the Red Lake Warriors. An Honor Roll student, his favorite subject is math. ----------------------------------------------------- MDJ SALOON INAUGURAL NIGHT A SMASH HIT !! WALKER -- With Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels on deck for its maiden voyage, the new, expanded MDJ Saloon and Grill, at the Moondance Fair-grounds, got off to a great start, May 22nd. There was seating for all, but only because the place is huge! It's the kind of first-class hospitality one expects from the Moondance crew, with ample tables, a big-enough dance floor right before the stage, and now, not just drinks, but a full menu. One can have dinner here, and then enjoy dancing to a great show! And, believe it or not, there is no cover or minimum. What a deal! The Saloon will be open on selected summer weekends, generally following softball games. On the May 22nd inaugural night, the well-known classic rock band, Mountain Ash, came up from Kenyon to open the show, and dancers had flooded onto the floor by the time Mitch Ryder came on to perform his favorite hits including CC Rider, Devil With a Blue Dress On, and Mustang Sally for a very appreciative crowd. On July 30th & 31st, the Saloon will host the Classic Rock All Stars, whose members draw from Iron Butterfly, Sugarloaf, Blues Image and Rare Earth. August 14th & 15th, Head East will perform on the MDJ Saloon stage. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Mitch Ryder Patrons dance to Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels Mountain Ash opened the May 22nd show ------------------------------------------------------- WALKER AREA DINING (restauants without stars have not been rated and may be excellent) **** THE WHARF - Walleye swim all the way down from Alaska to jump in Marie's beer batter for her Friday fry - AYCE, about $8.95, 'til 10pm **** RANCH HOUSE - AYCE, served family style. **** CHARLIE'S - Renowned ribs, chicken. [post-publication note: Northern Lights Casino buffet was included in the original print of this issue, but, as they now discriminate against people who smoke, their rating has been pulled and they are not recommended. Northern Herald will not rate or recommend restaurants which are not hospitable to all of our readers.] WOKER CHOW MEIN - Inexpensive Chinese lunch buffet M-F. But no smoking inside. CAFE ZONA ROSA - Popular for Mexican Cuisine FIRESIDE RESTAURANT - On 200, near Moondance ENCHANTED COTTAGE TEA HOUSE BENSON'S In Hackensack ------------- **** ARTHUR'S TEN MILE LAKE INN **** UP NORTH - Another of the area's finest breakfast buffets, Sat. & Sun. 'til 1 pm **** RIVER HOUSE - Rotating AYCE dinners *** LUCETTE'S - Superb Pizza & Calzone DEB'S TRAILSIDE DELI - Chicago Dogs, Vienna Beef. No smoking. --------------------------------------------------------------- WRANGLERS TO GATHER AGAIN AT NORTH STAR RODEO!! EFFIE -- There are a lot of rodeos, now; many have pretentious names, and some are even indoors (an outrage), instead of under the same big sky beneath which wranglers invented the livestock games which came to be known as competition rodeo. With all the Johnny-Come-Latelys, Northern Minnesotans are fortunate to have one of the original and authentic Midwestern rodeos; this is the one the real wranglers like to come back to every year to see their friends, to compete, and to ride like there's no tomorrow. Howard Pitzen, Chief Ramrod of Minnesota's oldest and largest open rodeo, says that the stock (they have their own bucking-stock breeding program, and lease to other rodeos) is in top shape and ready to go for this year's 49th annual event, July 23rd-25th, at Effie. One of the wildest events and a signature of North Star, the Wild Horse Race, is expected to be repeated this year. The toughest part is saddling the wild horses, and often, the horses win: the riders end up being dragged the length of the arena. The annual parade will take place Saturday evening; and many local flea markets and concessions generally line the streets of Effie during rodeo weekend. As always, camping at North Star is free, but campers should bring their own drinking water, as there are no wells on the rodeo grounds. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Eric Stockman, of Pine River, stays his eight at last year's North Star Stampede & Rodeo. ----------------------------------------------------- SKYNARD, SANTANA, HUEY LEWIS, JUST PART OF HUGE MOONDANCE LINEUP! WALKER -- With ZZ Top recently inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, this year's may be the hottest Moondance lineup ever. The Magic of Moondance. It's hard to put into words, exactly, what it is about Moondance that keeps people coming back, often reserving their campsites as much as a year ahead. (But the most rustic & desirable sites in the North Campground can't be reserved. To stake them out, one has to arrive early Wednesday morning.) It's not just the headliner bands - it's more of the comfortable environ-ment people notice upon first coming onto the grounds, perhaps to see a particular entertainer, and then just don't want to leave. And it's largely due to the Bieloh family management; always on site, creating an safe, entertaining, and hospitable place where one can be oneself, relax, and have fun, without security problems that have erupted at other fests. Mr. Bieloh's exceptionally well-managed staff, including a friendly and unobtrusive security team of over 200, are there to make sure that everybody can have a good time. What the Bielohs have created at Moondance is unique. As we say, it's hard to put into words, or even pictures; you just gotta be there! Moondance spokesman Mark Ricci said of this year's event, "The VIP [viewing area] has been elevated ... nine to ten feet higher. "I think the talent is the biggest thing this year ... for John Fogerty to come to our event, and only do one other outdoor event this summer; he [is] ... an icon of classic rock.... "Our Saturday night is kind of symbolic ... of ... an 80's show. ...you know, Rick Springfield, John Waite, Huey Lewis and the News. "Whenever you hear Santana, ... that's Greg Rollie, ... the original singer for Journey ... he's just a legendary voice. "I believe that this lineup is the best lineup we've ever had" --------------------------------------------------------- MAC ROSTIE GARDEN TOUR IN GRAND RAPIDS The MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids invites the public to tour eight area gardens on Thursday, July 15th from 2 to 5 pm. Brochures, which are also guides and tickets to the gardens, are on sale for $20 at MacRostie, the Village Bookstore, Bloomers, Beier’s, and the Tea Garden in Grand Rapids. The tour is self-directed using a map and directions provided in the brochure. By visiting these special spaces designed and tended by area gardeners, guests will be supporting MacRostie’s endowment. MacRostie Art Center invites stop-ins, beginning June 21st, to visit an indoor garden created in celebration of the tour, and offers raffle tickets for an opportunity to own a birdbath sculpture by M'Lou Brubaker or a stained glass panel by Dorothy Hall. -------------------------------------------------------- In Focus LONGVILLE OFFERS NORTHERN RUSTIC CHARM When one envisions a picturesque and rustic nothern town, nestled in the woods, down crooked back roads and miles from anywhere, they're probably thinking of a place like Longville. In addition to having rustic charm, many proprietors have located there, to serve people's needs for the usual, and not-so-usual, things to buy. Picnic and camping supplies, and a lot of other stuff the visitor might need, can be found centrally at Longville One-Stop & bp service. And for those things one has long needed, but didn't know it 'til he saw them, there are a lot of other neat shops, and even fine dining, including Patrick's, and German Cuisine at the quaint, and out-in-the-woods Wabedo Inn, in these very habitable environs. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Tennis anyone? Courts in downtown Longville Girl lake as seen from Patrick's Restaurant --------------------------------------------------------------- HACKENSACK SWEETHEART DAYS - JULY 12TH-14TH HACKENSACK -- The annual commemoration of the betrothal of Paul Bunyan and Lucette Diana Kensack will take place in the city of her namesake, Hackensack, commencing with a morning golf tourney, and Taste of Hackensack the evening of July 12th. On the 13th will be the Sweetheart Sidewalk Sales through-out town, with concessions provided by the Hackensack Ice Racers, and others; as well as pony rides for the kids from 1 pm. There will be a kids' fishing contest at 11; a scavenger hunt, and Vikings autographs. Tuesday (the 13th) events include a White Elephant Sale, with sloppy joes, pie & ice cream starting at 10 a.m. at the Senior Center. Horseshoe tournaments will begin at 4, with parade at 6 p.m. followed by a street dance by the Ramona Fritz Band, and movie at the Senior Center. Family activities, and games, go on throughout the day. DJ music from 4:30-7:30 Tuesday provided by Spectrum Entertainment. Wednesday morning will see a Flea Market at the Sacred Heart Church. Wednesday is also the rain date for other activities. --------------------------------------------------------- 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 WE WITHDRAW OUR RECOMMENDATION OF USLINK USLink's (TDS's) telephone and internet service has gotten terrible. It's like the old A T & T days. When their system isn't working right, their snotty customer service people refuse to help, and then they'll hang up on you. Customers who are paying their hard earned money don't have to put up with that. Additionally, their internet speed has gotten very slow. Apparently, they've cut their capacity to the worst service that (they think) the public will bear. Even if you have a high speed modem, internet connections move at a snail's pace (this comparison may do injustice to the snail) - sometimes only a few hundred bps - it can take 10 minutes trying to get a phone number from Dex Online. When one dials in, the USLink server sometimes fails to connect, and sometimes one gets disconnected in the middle of a session. At one time, when their service was excellent, this paper recommended USLink. We now withdraw that recommendation. We're going elsewhere for telephone & internet, others might want to, too. ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 04/26/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 5 ------------------------------------- WOLF RIDGE RAPTORS BIG HIT AT GR OUTDOOR SHOW Kylmanen, McNeal, Take Top Awards for Decoy Carvings GRAND RAPIDS -- There was something for most everyone at the very well attended 4th annual Grand Rapids Outdoor Sports Show, held March 26-28th, appropriately (it occurs during tax season) at the IRA Civic Center. There were antique, as well as contemporary snow vehicles, lots of outdoor equipment and tackle on display and for sale, Black Angus beef stick tasting, rustic art, such as Todd Ronning's fine furniture with inlaid lake relief carvings, animal shows, elk steak sandwiches by Minnesota Wapiti (they'll be at Moondance, too), the Paulucci Planatarium show ; casting clinic for the kids, and much more. The event is produced by the Minnesota Fishing Federation, and concluded with it's presentation of fish and bird decoy carving awards following the banquet at the Sawmill Inn. Following the huge turnout and very successful Outdoor Sports Show this year, next year's show (April 1st - 3rd, 2005) is already being planned. Persons wanting to participate, or for info, may contact the Minnesota Fishing Federation, (mnff.tripod.com), Brian Carlson, at 218-327-1522 Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Peter Harris, and Heather Lapinski of Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (www.wolf-ridge.org), at Finland, Minn., present the Bald Eagle before a filled and transfixed audience of adults and chldren at the Outdoor Sports Show at Grand Rapids. Wolf Ridge is located on 2000 acres by Superior National Forest for the rescue and rehabilitation of injured wild animals and birds. Those which cannot be released earn their keep by helping in educational presentations, such as this. Brian Carlson presents the Dan Weis Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to Rod Osvold, of Perham , Minn. Leonard Pangburn displays his rare 1914 Wright, and 26 other antique outboards. This brass-shaft motor was made for 2 yrs. Bill Green presents the Best of Show (fish decoy) trophy to Paul Mc Neal, of Erhard, Minn., for his Sicowet Trout. Casey Edwards hands the Best of Show (bird decoy) award to Ken Kylmanen, of Mahnomen, Minn., for his Curlew Shorebird. --------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up ----------------------------------- ATTORNEY GENERAL OPENS INVESTIGATION OF DAVE WALTERS Customers Consider Class Action Suit BEMIDJI -- In response to a Northern Herald Consumer Corner article (NH of 03/08/04, available at northernherald.com), other customers who claim to have been defrauded by Dave Walters mobile home sales, in Bemidji, have come forth. Barb & Mick Charlton, of rural Bemidji, claim that they ordered a custom home from Walters last August and paid $2,000 down. When the home arrived at Walters, it wasn't what they had ordered and the Charltons refused delivery. Said Mrs. Charlton, "We did make them an offer because there were things that needed to be fixed. They would not negotiate with us." And Walters, of course, had their money. Per Mrs. Charlton, Walters has refused to refund the down payment, and has threatened to sue them for the balance of the cost of the home. Mrs. Charlton added that they were considering bringing a class action suit against Walters and said that "we know that we're not the only ones" that Dave Walters has defrauded. The Charltons want their $2,000 down payment back and Mrs. Charlton stated that then, they want to be able to say, "We're done. We don't ever want to hear from you [Walters] again." As with the previous incident, Virginia, the General Manager at Dave Walters, refused to comment on the alleged fraudulent transaction. The Minnesota Attorney General's Office, Consumer Services Division, has initiated an investigation of this matter, as well as the one reported last issue. Persons who believe that they have been defrauded by Dave Walters are encouraged to contact Beth Gagne, of that office, at 800-657-3787 (website: www.ag.state.mn.us) ------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up ----------------------------------- PREECE SWINDLE TRIALS RESET FOR SEPT. 28TH MINNEAPOLIS -- The two civil suits, brought against present Bemidji Police Chief Bruce Preece, making allegations in the nature of theft by swindle, and claiming over $566,414 in damages due to fraud and larceny, have been rescheduled to be tried September 28th, 2004 at the United States Courthouse at Minneapolis. These trials are ancillary to the Chief's federal bankruptcy filing, and seek to have the debts excluded from the bankruptcy and to have judgement awarded thereupon. The Ken Schoenfelder (Plaintiff) matter is set for 10 a.m., and the Central Boiler (Plaintiff) matter at 2 p.m. The bankruptcy trustee has also lodged an objection to property claimed by Preece to be exempt from the bankruptcy. Although an investigation appears to be pending by the Hennepin Co. Atty's Office (Preece's base of operations was at Crystal, Minn.), no criminal charges have yet been brought. For past reporting on the details of these alleged swindles, See Swindle Victim, Trustee, Won't Let Preece Get Away With It, in NH of 9/29/03; Another Swindle Victim Files Claim in Police Chief Preece Bankruptcy in NH of 11/17/03; and The Police Chief Bruce Preece Files, in Living on the Edge, all at northernherald.com -------------------------------------------------------------- CORRECTION (no, not even we are without sin) A photo credit was inadvertently omitted from the 3/8/04 issue. The excellent shot of the Hackensack Kids' Fishing Derby winner (p. 3) was taken by Robert Kennedy. We thank him for his good work! ------------------------------------------------------------- IT'S CHILI AT REMER Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Cook-Off winners: Dave Brown-2nd Place; Sue Passard- People's Choice; Cory, of LJ's (Tammy's recipe)-1st Place; Carol Barton-3rd Place The judges solemnly deliberate at Remer's annual Chili Cook-Off, Feed, and UCC Church Bake Sale, February 28th at the smoker-friendly Remer Fire Hall. Right, delicious whole jalapenos float around in returning winner Larry Holter's steamy venison brew. We think his was the best; but it may have lost a point or two on texture - could have been a tad thicker, and one would have to like it HOT! It missed People's Choice by only one vote. ----------------------------------------------------- IT'S SAND LAKE JAM!! HACKENSACK -- Following last year's highly successful event, the Sand Lake Jam, held each summer at Dave & Anne Evenson's Deer Acres Resort, will be earlier this year, on June 19th. Returning will be the Twilight Blues Band performing blues and rock, and the Ramona Fritz Band with their ever popular 60s to 80s repertoire. New this year will be Westside, which performs rhythm & blues and rock, and Crow (7 albums - hit tune: "Evil Woman"), performing their original classic rock 'n roll. Sand Lake Jam offers music and dance in a leisure resort environment. Whether taking part in the horseshoe competition, listening and dancing before the big stage, or just dining and relaxing on the grounds, many find it the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon, or camp for the weekend. Many local businesses have joined in sponsorship of this year's event; food vendors will include Deb's Trailside Deli, and the four-star River House. The event will host the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley-Nevis Special Olympians who will operate a vendor booth to raise funds for their projects and events. Trivia question: There is no "Ramona Fritz" in the Ramona Fritz band. How did it get it's name? ----------------------------------------------------- KEMMER CHARGES CONSORT MURDERED BEMIDJI -- At a probate hearing to appoint a Personal Representative, before the Honourable Judge Benshoof, March 12th, 2004, rural Bemidji resident Kay Kemmer claimed that Thomas Gilge, her companion of seven years, who died at the Hennepin County Medical Center hospital, October 22nd, 2003, was actually murdered by his daughter and a potential heir, Cheryl Gilge, by way of her ordering his life support terminated. Kemmer claimed, before the Court, that Gilge had requested to be kept alive, but Cheryl gave the hospital an advance directive, causing him to be dehydrated and starved. "Tom should not be dead," she told the Court, "she [Cheryl] should not be rewarded for what she has done." Acting under Minnesota law giving priority to surviving relatives, Judge Benshoof appointed Cheryl Gilge as Personal Representative of Gilge's estate. Gilge was not present at the hearing, but was represented by corrupt (our opinion) Bemidji attorney George Duranske, who threatened to have Kemmer prosecuted, claiming that she mishandled estate assets. ------------------------------------------------------------- AT BACKUS, THE HUB OF NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA Photo caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Tuesday is jam night at Willard's, in Backus. At right, at their March 16th jam, Backus Mayor Kathi Breccia takes the stage to sing with the ad hoc combo. The Mayor invites area youth to participate, sing & play-they're welcome there 'til 10 p.m. --------------------------------------------------------- ST. PAT'S AT REMER The St. Pat's celebration and dinner was actually held March 16th. Organizer Jean Davis said that it'll be the 17th in Ireland, after all. A good time was had by all who came to the fire hall, and, for $6, got their choice of the sumptuous Irish stew, or traditional corned beef & cabbage. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): "[It's] wonderful ... delicious!!" said Fern Hendrickson, who, with husband, Donald, enjoyed the corned beef. The Hostess with the Mostess! If something is happening in Remer, you can bet community booster Sue Passard has a hand in it. Here, this delicious lady serves up Remer's delicious Irish stew. --------------------------------------------------------------- Editorials-Opinion Briefs or Boxers? ECONOMY BRIEFS by Adam Steele, C. P. A. INTEREST RATE WINNERS AND LOSERS The Greenspan Philosophy: Shaft The Seniors, whether they're on Social Security, or saved for retirement. Most agree that this will be Mr. Greenspan's last term. Since coming into office in 1987, the Guru of The Fed has only made one major blunder, in '87, when he hiked interest rates just enough above stock dividend yields (it's a fine line) to precipitate a major shifting of funds, triggering a market crash. The Fed, however, atoned for its sin, and the market recovered within two years. Since then, and owing to The Fed's policy, we've seen over a decade of unnaturally low interest rates, particularly severe since 2001 (since Bush?). Why is anyone's guess. Perhaps Greenspan didn't want to make the same mistake, but these levels, sometimes a treasury rate near 1%, are nowhere near what triggered the '87 decline. Who are the winners? Contrary to common belief, it's not home buyers. They'll buy as large a house as they can make the payments on. The decline in interest rates produced more demand for larger homes, which inflated the price of the homes. So even with lower rates, they're still making about the same payments on about the same homes. Homeowners? Partially. Some have seen some refi interest savings (though they still pay a lot more than the federal rate). But unless they're planning to move into a Winnebago, they won't see the big bucks due to the appreciation because when they sell, their replacement home will also cost more. Consumers & Industry? No way. What consumers pay on their credit cards isn't anywhere near the federal rate. Even in these times, they sometimes pay 18% or more. Business interest rates, too, are generally well above the federal rate. How about investors? Well, it has been a bull market, but that would have happened anyway, with interest yields at 4-5% - it still would have been low enough to make stocks, with divided income and capital gain potential, an attractive investment for discretionary funds. 1-2% was overkill. So who's the big winner from government's interest policy? Well, that would have to be the nation's largest borrower. Yep. The biggest winner is the U.S. government. The low interest rates slow the growth of the immense national debt. That may be The Fed's rationale for keeping them down. In a positive light, of course, that helps us all; but it comes at a cost: The big losers? The millions of seniors who saved for a secure retirement, who don't want to put their nest egg in risk investments, and so are now, in their golden years, getting pennies on the dollar, on their interest-bearing instruments, including treasury notes and bonds. And now Greenspan is talking of doing away with Social Security? Well, we suppose that he probably won't need it. Editorials OUTSOURCING - IS ALL THE HULLABALOO OVER IT DESERVED? OK. So you're at a clothing store. You support America, and try to buy American. There are two identical silk robes. One was sewn in an American factory. It costs $60. The other one was made in China. It's $20. The workmanship is the same (American workmanship used to be something special - almost a guarantee of better quality) and they both look great. Which one are you really going to buy? This is an election year, and the candidates have made a major political football of whether to allow businessmen to make the same decision on costs of labour, as you just did on the robe. And some politicians are saying that if the taxpayers are doing the buying, they should pay the higher price (at times, we've supported the American economy by paying $90 for hammers). We can, after all, always collect more taxes. But if the trustee of a trust did what these politicians are suggesting, he could be charged with breach of fiduciary duty. There are a lot of cumbersome ways to address the outsourcing of labour and the trade balance. Some talk on about "exporting services" (when was the last time you saw a boatload of them? Actually, in 2003, services contributed only a U.S. positive $59 billion within a total trade deficit of $489 billion1) and paragraphs and pages of other gobbledegook. Here's the skinny: Outsourcing is nothing to fear. Just like with the robe, it temporarily results in a great benefit to American consumers. It improves their standard of living because their dollar can buy more. At the same time, it improves the standard of living in the seller country (and worker) by increasing the amount and velocity of money there. In any economy, there's a balance of wages and prices. Ours is inflated on both sides. That the foreign worker is paid less, in American dollars, doesn't mean he has a wretched existence; his living costs are much lower too. The disparity in price (i.e. the good deal for us) is caused by the difference between the levels of wages and prices here, and those abroad. The wide disparity is a temporary condition. As world trade continues, the demand from "wealthier" countries (those, not necessarily more affluent, but having a higher wage and price scale) will inflate both wages and prices in the "poorer" foreign countries. And the availability of cheaper goods will tend to deflate both prices and wages in the "wealthier" country. As can be seen, in time, the economies will become more in balance. These good deals are a transitional thing which occur at the inception of global trading. Particularly when American workers, spurred on to higher demands by decades of government giveaway programs (if you can get the minimum wage for doing nothing, why work?) have priced themselves right out of the market. But free economies gravitate to coming into balance. Outsourcing is lucrative now, but will be less so as this occurs. To determine why outsourcing happens, we need look no further than the month-long Minneapolis bus strike. Here we have over 2,000 semi-skilled workers (drivers) making $15.26 (starting pay) to 21.80 an hour (77% of full-time drivers get the $21.80), plus extensive benefits, who brought the city's public transportation to a halt because they want better health & retirement benefits. Here are some jobs that sorely need to be outsourced. If we were the Metro Transit Commission, we'd simply bring in a 747 full of Mexican cabbies who want to learn to drive a bus and who'd appreciate the pay it offers. Problem solved. As to the spoiled and striking workers, they could stand to spend some time without any medical benefits whatsoever, or food and housing, 'til they learn which end is up; and that a job doesn't mean big giveaways and threatening your employer (and in this case, the public) when you don't get them. Employers, who take the risks of business, are tired of this nonsense. It's workers like these who have caused American businesses to clamour toward outsourcing. And the result, which is happening, is well deserved. Those concerned about the temporary domestic economic effects of outsourcing should look to the Minneapolis bus driver as the absolute reason for it. Microchips or potato chips? Labour is a commodity which can be found anywhere. In world trade, America has always had an ace in the hole, which we will retain if we play it right. Silicon microchips are fun, but you can't eat them. Same with petroleum. There's lots of silicon sand in the world - not so much arable land. Japan may be able to beat us out in production of microchips, but not potato chips. In the end, the latter may be more important, and more expensive. We have had great American inventors and scientists, but we haven't had a monopoly on them. What has given America economic strength has been as solid as the ground itself, and the people who work it. The mainstay of America's position in world trade has historically been in agriculture, supported by the family farm. And this is where our future economic leadership will lie. Historically, America has been a food exporting nation. We produced far more product than we could consume and stockpile. From the 1950s to the early 70s, commodity exports were instrumental in keeping America in the forefront of world trade; keeping trade positive, or at least balanced. Matters like whether we'd sell wheat to Russia were critical to U.S. trade balance and commodity markets. Partially due to higher oil prices, and more of the product imported as U.S. population grew and Texas wells were depleted and capped, the balance slipped to the negative during the 70s. As America began to consume more inexpensive foreign labour and goods, the still relatively small trade deficit in 1980 ($19 billion) increased over 25 fold by 2003 ($490 billion on imports of $1,509 billion and exports of $1,019 billion1). Percentage-wise, the deficit is still small compared to total U.S.-world trade. We are presently exporting about 2/3 of what we are importing. A small increase in the world price of the goods we export, and lessened dependence on foreign oil (in 2002, $116 billion, or about 28% of that year's trade deficit1, 2) would contribute significantly to once again equalizing trade. We are still a food exporting nation. Over the years, both the import and export numbers have been affected by inflation, but food commodity prices haven't kept pace. It is likely that in coming years, that will change. In coming years, the role of food, in nations' and world economy, will become much more important. At current world population growth rates, a major global food crisis can be anticipated within 35 years, at the most. The economic future of America, in the world trade arena, will depend upon the degree to which, at that time, we can remain a food exporting nation. Aside from some technological improvements in yield per acre, our ability to produce food is pretty much fixed. It is due to our geography and land area, and we're presently farming about as much as we can without severe damage to the environment. So our ability to produce won't change much. Having a vast nation, and not too many people (comparatively), is what has historically given the U.S. an advantage in world food trade. In this way, Americans are "richer", per capita, than the populace of most other nations. What can change is how much of the product we consume domestically and what remains for export. This is directly tied to U.S. population growth. As it has been historically, the backbone of future U.S. trade may well lie in agriculture - in the strength and numbers of American family farms - the producers of a product which, regardless of the ebb and flow of trends, technology, industry, and economy; is needed and will continue to be needed in every corner of the globe. A person could argue that in the most impoverished regions, where people are starving, they couldn't afford to buy food from us anyway; but they could, if their people were working for U.S. firms operating abroad. Outsourcing of jobs, as a political concern, has been overblown; it just makes dollars and sense, and better living for Americans, as well as our neighbours abroad. The degree to which we control, within the next few years, overpopulation domestically, by birth control, as well as limiting immigration, so to remain a strong agriculture exporting county, will be a key factor in how well the next generation of Americans lives, and how well America fares in the world marketplace. 1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division 2 Source: Energy Information Administration ---------------------------------------------------- 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 XMAS GIFT GONE AWRY Exercise Care When Dealing With DIRECT SATELLITE NETWORK SOLUTIONS Telemarketers Leonard L. De Witt, of Walker, Minn. (218-652-3630) reports the following: On December 13, 2003, My wife and I received a phone call to receive direct T.V. and could hook up to four rooms, with this system. If we kept this for six months, we could also receive a surround sound system. This whole package would cost us $76.00, so we went ahead and ordered it. The person that I spoke to said that we would hear something in a couple of days; we heard nothing, so we called them back a few days later, and they said that the system would be shipped out to us. After a while, we contacted Pam, at 1-800-615-0241, and she acted like she had never heard of us before. We then received our bank statement, and the [electronic] check ... had been cashed. So I called them again, and was given three other numbers to call. After calling all of these, and not getting any satisfaction, we talked to Pam again, and she said that she didnt know what to do about it. We were really upset about this, as it was supposed to be part of our daughter's Christmas present, I asked them if they could just reimburse my money, and was told that I would have to deal directly with the company, and not them. I still, to this day, have not had any luck. The bank that we deal with, ... said that they have the ... [check-charge by phone information] there, and to let the company know that they can call them to get any information that was needed. ... As of this time this has not been done. We dont know what else to do, so we are writing this in hopes that you will [print] it, and let the public know about this. We dont want it to happen to others, if it can be helped. If you will publish this, I would also like to you print my name and number. -- Thank you Northern Herald responds: We called "Pam's" 800 number, and an automated answering system identified the company as Direct Satellite Network Solutions (DSNS). We spoke with two reps, one claiming to be a supervisor. At first, she said the system would be sent immediately (without our having given her the customer's name, address or phone number to verify that it hadn't already been shipped) indicating to us that this has probably happened a lot. When we said he might want a refund, she asked his name and number. She then denied any record of Mr. DeWitt's order, allegedly checking by both his name and telephone number. But his checking account statement, provided by his bank, clearly shows a debit, in the amount of $79.96, by "Direct Satellite Ne" (full name is truncated by their computer), within a few days of the Dec. 13th solicitation (it takes a few days, sometimes, for the paperwork to be put through). We tried to contact DSNS customer service, but a recording said it was "not available." So we punched in the extension for sales, reached a rep, told him the problem and he said he'd transfer us to the manager. However, he only connected us back to the main menu of the automated answering system. A web search reveals no site for DSNS, but there are some complaints (not independently corroborated) posted about them. One discloses a second number that is sometimes given: 800-615-1621 and another states that the solicitors have claimed to be calling from Canada, and exempt from U.S. telemarketing laws (Calls from Canada are not necessarily exempt). Our investigation of this matter is continuing. For now, if a person receives a call from DSNS, the best thing to do might be to simply tell them never to call again and hang up. If they call back, file a complaint with FCC (http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm) Of course, they may start doing business under another name. We generally recommend against authorizing any credit card or check charges by phone unless one is absolutely sure of the company with which they're dealing. A reputable firm should be able to send a bill, or ship C.O.D. Consumer Corner IF YOU HAVE CALLER ID, YOU MAY BE MISSING IMPORTANT CALLS Why? Because when the telephone company installs your service with Caller ID, they install it with a feature known as Anonymous Call Rejection (ACR) turned on. And they don't tell the customer this. ACR may seem like an OK thing, but it will prevent some calls from going through, including certain emergency collect calls; and there's nothing the caller can do about it. To make sure you receive all of your calls, Caller ID customers can turn ACR off by picking up the phone handset and dialing *87 This does not affect the function of Caller ID. THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK "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." This column is cumulative, and provided for consumer awareness. Signed consumer submissions are welcome. For review of the following things that just don't work, from past issues, see Things That Just Don't Work at northernherald.com: PATTON Oil-filled Electric Radiators CELLULAR-ONE HI-VAL (I/O MAGIC) CD-RW drives SYMPHONIC VCRS. LEXAR Compact Flash cards OFFICE MAX REBATES HEWLETT-PACKARD product support carsoup.com ------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor GRAND RAPIDS READER RELATES EXPERIENCES WITH "ADVOCATES FOR FAMILY PEACE" I have been an avid and interested reader of your small, but concise journal for some time now. Its always a pleasure to watch, as you bring to task the many irresponsible, incompetent, and immoral citizens of our planet who, for some insane reason, have spent a lifetime elevating themselves to a stature so far removed from the rest of us, that they look disdainfully at us as we criticize their actions or motives. After reading your latest issue (Vol. 9 No. 4), I felt compelled to thank you for your attempt to set the record straight, as it relates to the often one-sided function of the local "Advocacy" groups. Allow me to preface my comments by saying that physical abuse in ANY relationship is self defeating, but in particular, the threat of, or actual violence to women is NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. I am from a large family of mostly Scandinavian descent which taught all of the "Alpha Males" that to physically harm a female was not only forbidden, but it was simply not tolerated. Suffice it to say, that should any of my family have ever done so, I believe the ghosts of the family past would rise up out of their graves to exact retribution and later, cast the offender from the family tree. And so, with this history, its not difficult to imagine which side of the issue I support. Men who beat women belong in jail PERIOD. With that said, please allow me to relate the following events to you ... : A few years ago, my wife of only 2 years left home. The reasons are not important, and I have always owned [up to] my own responsibility for those things that I may or may not have done, that contributed to that event. At the time, she also left her two children (my Stepchildren) with me. I love the children as my own, and only mention this fact as a testament to how she and they trusted me. A few months into our "Separation" (something that Minnesota Law does not recognize), she was involved with what I will only refer to as an unsavory individual (two time felonious thief). Because the divorce was not yet finalized, I was concerned that he was quickly exhausting some of the "joint" assets, and, at a time that I knew he was alone, went to "encourage" him to move along. While I was encouraging him, my wife arrived (something I did not plan on), and began "encouraging" me, on the top of my head, with an object that resembled a large telephone. Since my stepson was with her, I did not wish to subject him to that behavior, and left. The following day, as I returned home from work, a uniformed individual, (who closely resembled an Itasca Co. Sheriff Deputy), met me at my door with an OFP (my first). In this document, she told of the fear that she had that I may do great bodily harm to her and her/our son.!!!!!! As I read the OFP, it was obvious that she was being "coached" in how to fill it out, and what to say. While we stood at the back door, discussing the terms of this document, my wife called repeatedly on the phone a few feet away. I asked her several times to stop, but as soon as I hung up, she would call again. The Deputy was with me the entire time, and was witness to this "harassing" behavior. When I asked what I could do about it, I was told that nothing prevented me from getting a similar order served on her. He directed me to the Sheriff's Dept. to obtain one. When I inquired at the desk, I was told that first, I should go to the Advocates for Family Peace [AFP] to see if they could help. Across town, I found the offices for AFP and began a nightmare. When I told the receptionist what I wanted, she got a puzzled look on her face, and said to wait while she got someone to help me. When my "caseworker" entered the room, I was told that this office could not assist me, as there was a "conflict of interest" since my wife had been there earlier in the day!!!! I asked if they were all attorneys and they replied NO. I asked if ANY of them were attorneys, and they asked me to leave or they would call the Police. I asked how was I supposed to obtain an OFP to keep my wife from harassing me, and was directed back to the Sheriff's Office. Back across town, I was informed that, yes, I could indeed have such an order served on her, but that it would cost $40.00 to have it done. When I asked how much the Advocates charged for this service, I was told it was free, along with the quasi-legal representation to accompany her into the courtroom, and as many councilors as she needed!!!!! Rather than spend a perfectly good $40., I opted to violate the restraining order and call my wife. I informed her that she most assuredly would see me in the Halls of Justice, as I would NEVER allow her to characterize me as a woman beater. Apparently, she sensed the conviction in my tone, as she agreed to withdraw the OFP. Well, that was until she told her friends down at the AFP office. They refused to allow her to withdraw it, even though she admitted it was made up of false statements. The only other option we were left with, was to default on it. If neither of us was present at the hearing, it would stop the process. This was clearly stated on the OFP. We agreed to that course of action, and sure enough, a few days later, I received notice that the action was dismissed ....... sort of. In September of that year, after the divorce was final, I was in the final stages of an application process to become a mentor for "Bridges Kinship Mentoring". After extensive interviews with references and a very aggressive background check, the final step was a personal interview at my home by two representatives of Bridges, as well as a tour of the residence. After spending nearly two hours with me at my home, we all sat down in the living room to discuss my application. I was told that everything appeared to be fine, and I had received very favorable recommendations from my references, two of which were in the Mentoring Program already. But due to my record of "Domestic Abuse", I could not be a participant in the Mentoring Program. I was told that if I received some counseling in Anger Management, I might be considered in a few years. When I asked what they were talking about, I was told that they do some checks on the public information computer in the Itasca Co. Courthouse, and that is what my information reflected! I thanked the women for their time, and went immediately to the courthouse to verify this. Yes, my record now shows "Domestic Abuse". Even though I explained to the woman in the clerk's office that the case was never even heard, she stated that the fact that it was "Filed", constituted it for inclusion and she could not remove it!!! The following day, I was informed by the Sheriff's office that the Carry Permit I had for the past 20 years would not be renewed because of this. As a note of interest, I am a Licensed Firearms Dealer, authorized by the F.B.I. and the A.T.F. ... but because of this, can no longer CARRY one. Also, seeing that I was having such a difficult time with all of this, my now ex-wife approached the office of the "Advocates for Family Peace" to help clear my record, and they refused. So thank you once again for your essay on the so-called advocates in our midst. Unfortunately, they have the moral high ground on this, and when we Alpha Males protest, we just sound like womanbeaters. Can you suggest any help for clearing my name? Thanks, and Keep up the Good Work. [name withheld by request] Grand Rapids, Minn. Northern Herald replies: The denial of the gun permit was during the period when carry permits were discretionary with the Sheriff; under the new law the writer could probably reapply and obtain a permit - this instance makes a good case for why the new, less discriminatory, carry law is a good thing. Even in mentoring programs, the people running them can be very stupid. We would encourage the writer to contact someone in higher authority there and tell them what he's told us. If they're halfway intelligent, they'll change the decision; if not, perhaps the writer has found someone he can mentor. It must be remembered that anyone can accuse anyone of anything. The annals of the OFP files are full of false accusations; as such, in making decisions and evaluating the characters of people, these records have to be accorded very low evidentiary value. ------------------------------------------------- In Focus MAPLES RUN IN NORTHLAND FEDERAL DAM -- As with good wine, the climatic nuances of each year produce a distinctive maple syrup. It was a late run this year, and the trees started flowing at the end of March, and into early April. "Usually, around St. Patrick's Day is when you almost always get a good first run. ... we had the freeze up, and now (April 2nd) ... we've had perfect days," said maple producer Bob Kvasnicka, explaining that the temperature affects the sugar content of the harvest. Kvasnicka's Indian Mission Enterprises produces a full range of syrups, from light amber to the darker grades. Although lighter grades are usually preferred, two years ago, sporadic freezing during the run resulted in an almost black syrup that was exceptional; delicate, on a par with the best New England lights, but with richer maple flavour. "We're actually doing some ... fancy (lightest, most premium grade) ... right now; towards the end of the season, ... we'll start getting a little more of a bodied syrup, a little bit fuller flavour." Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): It all starts with the trees. On Sugar Point by Federal Dam, Indian Mission Enterprises' 160 acres of farmed maples are outfitted with over 6,000 taps. This year's brief run is expected to produce about 48,000 gallons of sap from which the Kvasnickas will render about 1,200 gallons of finished pure syrup. A short thin hose runs from the tap to the roofed maple collecting bucket. Indian Mission's new high capacity stainless steel evaporator unit, with filtering tank in foreground, is located in their "Sugar Shack" where the finished syrup is produced. During the short tapping season, crews work 16 hours a day, using draught horses to collect and haul buckets of raw sap to the pumping station, whence a custom pipeline transports it the last 5/8 mile to the Sugar Shack. Corrine Kvasnicka and husband Bob with product. In the steamy evaporator room, Mrs. Kvasnicka uses heavy duty rubber gloves to work the filters, laden with fresh hot syrup. ------------------------------------------------------------- In Focus This Grand Rapids performance was made possible by WAL-MART. Wal-Mart - it's a lot more than just a great place to buy stuff! THE SPIRIT OF IRELAND GRAND RAPIDS -- There are no bad seats at the Reif Center for the Performing Arts at Grand Rapids. And that was fortunate, as they all had to be used for the sell-out performance of Spirit of Ireland, Friday, April 2nd, 2004. The very successful event presented an evening of traditional Irish Celtic song, music, and dance, from jigs to vocal ballads, performed by the finest of all Ireland. The on-site Director explained that the Spirit of Ireland troupe of 8 musicians and singers and 12 dancers is put together from championship competition winners. For 19 years, the firm of Ceol Chiarri, of Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland has been presenting the touring Spirit of Ireland. This performance, in their 5th tour in America, was by one of four distinct troupes who bring the music and dance of Ireland to the world. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): The Spirit of Ireland dancers wear traditional costuming. Ladies' dresses are based on the Irish peasant dress worn 200 years ago; some are adorned with hand embroidered, distinctive, Celtic designs. -------------------------------------------------------- UPCOMING AT THE REIF Sat. May 8th, 7:30 pm - Stand Up Comedy Night - The Good Humor Men, Henry Cho & Jimmy Brogan, with Holly Henson. All seats $20. Tickets: Reed Drug, or The Reif. (This is a Fundraiser for Itasca Hospice Partners & Reif Center) -------------------------------------------------------- QUILTERS OFFER MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND TOUR FLOODWOOD -- So, you're looking for that perfect gift for someone who's hard to buy for. How about a Lake Superior North Shore quilt shop tour? Nine participating shops have put together this, their 6th annual, Northwoods Quilt Shop Hop. For $20, guests travel by bus to 9 shops, at Floodwood, Duluth (4), Two Harbors (3), and Beaver Bay; plus they'll get lunch, a goody bag, and the chance to win prizes valued at $100 at each shop. The tour may also be taken by car, without charge, with free goody bags upon completion. Shop Tour punch cards can be picked up at any of the shops. Cindy Provencher's original quilt pattern, Walk in the Woods, will be available free to Northwoods Shop Tour participants. It's Fri. & Sat., May 7th & 8th, from 8 am to 6 pm. Tour buses leave Friday, from the K-Mart parking lot in West Duluth, and Saturday from Kelly J's, Duluth, at 7am, returning about 6:30 pm. Further info on the tour stops is at www.quickquiltkits.com For tour bus info and reservations, readers may call Hingeley Road Quilting, Floodwood, at 218-476-3139, or Kelly J's Quilt Shop, Duluth, at 218-724-8781 ----------------------------------------------------------- Guest Column COLLEAGUE REMEMBERS WHITNEY TARUTIS by Paul Kief, Esq. Whitney Tarutis, Bemidji's oldest and most colorful attorney, passed away on March 28, 2004, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fargo, following a long battle with leukemia. His passing brings to a close the era of the dramatic, flamboyant, articulate, and innovative courtroom practitioner who championed the causes of all types of clients needing representation in the courts of law in Bemidji and surrounding areas. His correct birth name was Vytautas Edward Tarutis, anglicized to Whitney, as he was known in the local legal community. His ancestry was Lithuanian, as was his first language and upbringing. As a young aspiring singer and actor, he performed on the stage in Lithuanian-language productions. He met his wife, Eva, when they were both performing in light opera in the Chicago area. He went on to sing in vaudeville as an end man in an octet. All the time he was performing he was also attending college and the Kent Law School in Chicago. His abilities on the stage were so excellent that his agent was urging him to focus on acts which would feature him alone rather than in a group. At the same time the Law School was demanding more of his time. Whitney said that the time constraints of the two careers finally came into conflict, requiring him to make a choice between a career on the vaudeville stage and a career in the legal profession. Whitney, with his signature dramatic flourish, told us lawyers that he chose the law over the stage. Those of us who tried cases against him in the courtroom were not so sure. We often felt that he carried a bit of the vaudeville act into the courtroom. Arriving in Bemidji in 1948, Whitney purchased a farm in Grant Valley Township, about half a mile west of Bemidji. He and his family operated the farm right up to the time of his death. He cultivated the image of being a farmer-lawyer, even to the point of telling a Federal District Court Judge in Fergus Falls, who had announced that the case in which he was appearing was to commence the following morning at 9:30 A.M., that he would not be able to be present that early. When the stern judge, not accustomed to being challenged in his decisions, inquired why, Whitney told him that he first had to milk his cows on his farm in Bemidji before he could come to court in Fergus Falls. When he acquired a tavern in Cass Lake as a fee, good businessman that he was, he did not allow his new asset to remain idle. He refurbished it, relicensed it, rejuvenated it, and went aggressively into the tavern business. He often acted as a barkeep or waiter, dressed in starched white collar with waiter's tie, black arm bands on his shirtsleeves. He treated his customers as though they were honored guests, particularly a lawyer who came to his place of business. He gave the lawyer the full royal Tarutis treatment, often with spontaneous selections from his musical background, and with exquisite service, but never a free drink. The Tarutis Tavern became the classiest place in downtown Cass Lake. Whitney also made a trip to the Cass County Jail when he was cited for contempt by the lay Municipal Court Judge. He was defending a client charged with an ordinance violation involving a plumber's license when the Judge forbade the use of the word Indian during the course of the trial. Mid-morning he called a colleague, asking him to come to Walker to get him out of jail. When he arrived in Walker in the early afternoon, he was ushered in to see Whitney in his cell. Other court figures, law enforcement officers, lawyers, and jail personnel came by to taunt and to teach him. Whitney admitted that he considered it all a lark until the stark reality of his situation hit him squarely when he received the tray with his noon lunch pushed through the slot in his cell door. By paying the fine and taking an appeal, Whitney got out of jail in time for supper. As it happened, the Beltrami County Bar Association was holding its monthly meeting at the old Markham Hotel that night. He arrived late after the other lawyers had been imbibing in preparation for the meeting. Whitney was dressed up for the occasion, with his dapper suit, a fresh shirt, overcoat, silk scarf, and fedora. He walked into the meeting room and with a grand gesture announced, "Fellows, I'm back!" He then removed his fedora and tossed it expertly onto the nearby hat rack and took bows to the spontaneous applause from the Beltrami County Bar Association. Whitney was a happy warrior. He raised a great family of two boys and three girls. He enjoyed practicing law, arguing the obscure points, and representing all classes of clients. His absence from the Bemidji legal scene leaves a huge void. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Paul Kief, Esq. is a long-time attorney practicing in Bemidji, who for many years was the primary assigned Beltrami County public defender. --------------------------------------------------------- MENGELKOCH PRESENTS LECTURE ON NORTHERN HERALD BEMIDJI -- Bemidji State University (BSU) Associate Professor of Journalism Louise Mengelkoch presented, on March 31st, on the BSU campus and as part of the BSU Honors Program lecture series, an hour-long lecture on the role of the Northern Herald in reporting Northland news, and particularly, Northern Herald's win of the $600 Billion Lawsuit, against the City of Bemidji, for the City's attempting to suppress the distribution of the newspaper. Mengelkoch was the only press representative at the trial, and, within an hour, presented an excellent and comprehensively prepared narrative of what led to the judge's decision; complete with visual aids leading to a thorough understanding of what happened before, and at trial, as well as the aftermath of the verdict. In her extremely well researched and well presented seminar, Mengelkoch quoted some of the lead headlines of the Northern Herald, which haven't been available elsewhere, and raised further questions that the media, possibly, should answer; such as why was there never an investigation into possible homicide in the cocaine-related death of former Beltrami County Attorney Tom Keyes, and why haven't certain other serious crimes, including homicides, in Beltrami County, been adequately investigated. Assoc. Prof. Mengelkoch is a well published journalist who has written for the Columbia Journalism Review, as well as many other media. The BSU Honors Program is a special program, designed and intended for outstanding students who wish to develop flexible, independent, and creative minds, as well as achieving a valuable graduation credential. For more information, undergraduates may contact the Honors Program Director at Bemidji State University - 218-755-3984 --------------------------------------------------------- HECKLER ATTENDS ACADEMIC SEMINAR In an attempt to shift the focus of the Honors Program class from Prof. Mengelkoch's extensive and well-presented work, a heckler, Bill Batchelder of Bemidji, attended the lecture and, during the class, launched into a tirade, publicly stating, before the packed classroom of BSU students and faculty, that Northern Herald Editor Adam Steele, is a rapist and a "wifebeater"; and had been removed from the NTC campus and the Beltrami fairgrounds. There is no foundation in fact for any of the disparaging public statements made by Batchelder. In fact, Steele is a graduate of NTC; and, in 1992, coordinated Ojibwe Nation Village at the Fair. He has never been charged with, nor has he ever committed, any of the crimes to which Batchelder alluded. Batchelder is a figurehead of the Beltrami Republican Party and has been campaign manager for Rep. Doug Fuller, against whom Steele is running for the Dist. 4A State House seat. It is believed that his statements were made in preparation for this year's elections; the statements mimic slanderous rumours which were started by staff at Mort's Hard Times Saloon, as far back as 1992, immediately before an election in which Steele was also a candidate. Batchelder is a nephew of the late Richard Morton, who, at that time, owned Hard Times. These groundless slurs best bespeak the credibility and tactics of the Beltrami Republican Party. -- Ed. ---------------------------------------------------------- HONORING MOTHER AT WALKER, PARK RAPIDS, MAY 8TH ACORN (Arts Community of the Rural Northwoods) based in Walker, Minnesota is a newly formed group striving to bring performing arts to the Leech Lake area. With the renovation of the Walker schools, a dedicated stage was created. This performing arts space can now be utilized on a regular basis. This was the catalyst for Stewart Wilson, founder of ACORN and instructor at Walker High School, to launch the organization. ACORN is beginning to build a schedule of events for 2004. Wilson has been working with Brian Carlson to produce HONORING MOTHER as the first of three events planned this year. HONORING MOTHER will be presented during the upcoming Mothers Day weekend Saturday, May 8th. One show will be held at Walker High School at 7 pm with admission $10 in advance from the Community Education office at the high school. Tickets at the door will be $12. Another show is planned for Park Rapids at 2 pm. For information on either show, readers may call Stewart Wilson at the numbers below. Hickory Wind Trio and the Harmony Engineers barbershop quartet will headline the show. The Walker show will also feature speech students Samantha Mueller and Kelly Nelson with their duo of Las Hermanas by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy; Samantha Mueller with her original oration titled My You Look Good ... For Your Age; Kelly Nelson with her humourous piece titled Duet for Bear and Dog by Sybil Rosen; and Becky Eckman will play guitar and sing some of her favorite songs. This August a performing troupe from East Grand Forks will be joining forces with Walker area youth to produce a children's musical - all in one week! Finally, a theater experience brought to local establishments during the winter months, to spice up the winter doldrums, is being formulated. "There are talented individuals living in our area. Everyone desires to see this type of activity flourish in our communities - but no one has taken the bull by the horns. I would like to have the opportunity for my children to participate in and watch performing arts (musicians, plays, hypnotists, singers, mimes, etc.) without having to travel 60 miles. We can achieve that goal," said Stewart Wilson. After this year, there are annual plans to offer up to 6 events for area residents and visitors. ACORN will include the communities of Longville, Remer, Walker, Nevis, Dorset, Park Rapids, Akeley, LaPorte, Menahga, Sebeka, Cass Lake, and Hackensack. Folks from other communities wishing to be involved may do so by contacting director, Stewart Wilson, at 218-675-6015 at home or at Walker High School at 218-547-4368. ------------------------------------------------------ In Focus FUNNY GIRL GRAND RAPIDS -- The locally-based Grand Rapids Players gave a well-done rendition of the hit Broadway musical, Funny Girl, March 25th-28th, at The Reif, of course. The polished performance was more entertaining than the movie, as casting didn't include Streisand. Actress Sherry Harapat, who also works as a teacher and librarian, researched and studied the life of Fanny Brice for several months. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Sherry Harapat as Fanny Brice Director Mike Knapp encouraged the Players to develop their own interpretation of the Fanny Brice story, rather than try to imitate the movie portrayal. They did a fabulous job. Great show! The well-choreographed Funny Girl wedding scene. ------------------------------------------------------ In Focus FUNNY GUYS Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Chicago-based comedian James Wesley Jackson, 3/27, at La Rosa, Grand Rapids: "IRS wants me to estimate my tax for next year. If I have to ESTIMATE my tax, they can GUESS who sent it in!" Steve Holmes appears at La Rosa's weekly comedy show 3/27. Holmes' Seinfeld-styled comedy won the Las Vegas Comedy Festival contest. Stand-up comedian Rick North, of Bloomington, presents Blue Collar Comedy at Lucette's, Hackensack, March 20th. He characterizes his shtick as original "misdirection." Comic Perrita Spychala, also at Lucette's for their March 20th comedy show. Lucette's will have another show May 21st, featuring Wild Bill Bauer, who wrote for the former Roseanne TV series. -------------------------------------------------------- HACKENSACK TO GET NEW MOVIE THEATRE HACKENSACK -- Stating that the Hackensack area has lots of fine restaurants, but no movie theatre, Dennis Wickham, a former Potlatch worker now living in Pillager, with his wife Denise, bought, in February, 2004, four acres, near the intersection of highways 371 and Co. 5, and plan to build a four-plex theatre. The Wickhams also started, last year, a title and appraisal service in Hackensack, and plan to move closer to the city. More and more people are moving to the Golden Corridor, of which Hackensack is a part, creating a demand for property. Hackensack realtor Jack Dobier (Leech Lake Realty) was instrumental in the Wickhams acquiring sufficient land for the theatre building, which is expected to seat 300 people, and also have a stage for live theatre, community events and meetings. Recent years have seen Hackensack becoming more of a cultural center, often hosting plays, comedians, and live stage entertainment. Interviewed at Hackensack, Dobier said that the new theatre, "will be an asset to the entire area, both culturally and financially." Dobier has also been important to the project as liaison with the Hackensack City Council, and community planning agencies, to make the vision a reality. He said that the groundbreaking is planned for this spring, and the project will take about four months to complete; "I've been working on it since early December and it is a thrill to see it come to fruition," he said. Dobier explained that the initial 4-plex will be expandable to 6, and the theatre has been designed to be comfortable, with larger-than-usual, stadium-style angled seats for better view of the screen and stage. There may also be private box-style seating for families and groups. Dobier said that Hackensack was chosen for the theatre site because of the huge growth currently underway, and future growth potential; the many other communities within a 25 mile radius; and "Because we're basically wonderful people," added his wife, Pat. Some of the information contained herein was originally reported in the Brainerd Dispatch of Feb. 9, and March 2, 2004. For further reading, focusing particularly on the Wickhams, see those issues, at brainerddispatch.com Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Jack Dobier -------------------------------------------------------- Direct Answers from Wayne and Tamara THE EFFECTS OF TRAMPING IN THE WORKPLACE, UPON PRODUCTIVITY AND MERIT I work in a factory, and we have supervisors who play favorites. They have about six girls who can do no wrong, and they have easier jobs than the rest of us. These girls go out after work to bars, and that is why they are in with the supervisors. The boss over these supervisors will not do anything because his boss is the father of one of these supervisors. So long as "Daddy boss" is still there, this boss will not do anything to the supervisors. One girl played around and made the machinery malfunction for an operator, but she didn't get into trouble because of the favoritism. Do we go to the owner of the company with a complaint on why these bosses will not fix this mess? -- Carol Carol, we will not tell you that you should go to the owner. What we will tell you is how this usually plays out. Some things are worth doing because you feel they are the right thing to do, even when you know they will not succeed. As a rule, whistleblowers do not succeed. Complaining or whistleblowing makes you the problem, instead of the problem you are calling attention to. Human beings are social animals, and family and social connections in the workplace usually count for more than merit or truth. Truth is very weak. There is nothing pushing it. It cant stand up to people pushing their own agenda. The one place where truth, fact, and objectivity are supposed to rule is science, but even in science it is a problem. The physicist Max Planck once observed that an important scientific innovation is usually accepted not because people readily accept its truth, but because the older generation of opponents grows old and dies off. Carol, you have three options: you can overlook the unfairness and become immune to it, you can seek other employment, or you can try to fix the problem. Fixing the problem is the solution least likely to occur. In all probability, your workplace is a boat the owner does not want rocked. -- Wayne & Tamara Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at www.WayneAndTamara.com Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com Direct Answers appears in newspapers in the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK, Grenada, Guyana, Spain, Lesotho, South Africa, Antigua & Barbuda, Papua New Guinea, and Kenya. --------------------------------------------------------- ASK THE TAX GUY by Adam Steele, Certified Public Accountant Tax information presented here is general in nature and is not necessarily applicable to, or advantageous upon, any specific return. Persons interested in strategies and savings discussed here are advised to discuss same, in light of all pertinent financial and tax considerations, as they may apply to the specific taxpayer, with their qualified accountant, or barber. PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS: CHECK OVER YOUR STATEMENT CAREFULLY The Property Tax Refund return (Form M-1PR) is due by August 16th, 2004. Whether a person is filling out their own M-1PR, or having it done by a practitioner, it is important to know that, due to Beltrami County's new computer system, their Statement of Property Taxes Payable in 2004 may be in error as to the Qualifying Tax Amount (used in determining the amount of the refund). This amount is shown on Line 1 of the property tax statement. Particularly suspect are statements which showed a qualifying tax amount last year (on Line 2 of this year's statement) but have it zeroed out (on Line 1) for 2004. Also, generally, for homestead property, the correct Line 1 amount will be about equal to, or more than, the Line 2 amount; and will be equal to Line 13 (in the 2004 column). If Line 1 is significantly less than Line 2, or if Line 1 is different from Line 13, it may be advisable to inquire of the Beltrami County Assessor at 218-759-4110 to ascertain if the statement is correct, prior to filing M-1PR. If necessary, the Assessor will send a revised statement to be filed with M-1PR. --------------------------------------------------- Contrary to popular belief, TATTOOS OR BODY PIERCINGS will not generally prevent one from being buried in a Jewish cemetery. But they look terrible, and shouldn't be had except by those who are just bound and determined to look ugly. A public service message provided by this newspaper in the interests of a more beautiful America, and more attractive Americans. ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 03/08/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 4 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism SEARCH WARRANT ISSUED ON LOOKS Money Seized, Though No Connection to Drug Trade; Couple Faces Eviction "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." -- Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution TENSTRIKE -- On January 30, 2004, acting on a search warrant based primarily on the physical appearance of lupus patient Denise Semon, Beltrami County deputies and agents of the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, apparently looking for a meth lab which was never found, raided and searched the home of Richard and Denise Semon, near Tenstrike. Items seized and taken into evidence included a small packet of a substance believed to be methamphetamine and found on the person of Richard Semon, a small amount of killer weed (marijuana) and some purported killer weed smoking devices found in the home; and $668 in cash, mostly taken from Semon's wallet on his person. In interview Semon did not deny that he has used the poison known as meth, sometimes also called "speed" or "crank." His wife, Denise, who suffers from lupus, as well as fibromyalgia and a herniated disc, said that marijuana can relieve some of the pain of those conditions. "It's not legal in Minnesota to prescribe, but otherwise ... my doctor ... said that she'd have it prescribed for me in a heartbeat," she said, adding that she'd been medically advised that use of the killer weed, if it were legal, would also help with her hereditary, unusually low weight condition by stimulating the appetite. Semon said, however, that he does not deal in drugs, had no meth lab, and the money seized was not drug related. The couple has, to date, been unsuccessful in procuring return of the money, which has little evidentiary value (should there be a trial, it would be easy to establish that the money was there, without having the actual cash in the County's possession) and the efforts of the County to retain the money appear to simply be for the purposes of depriving the Semons of it. Semon has said that his lot rent is in arrears, and the couple has received an eviction notice, and will be evicted if the rent isn't paid. The Semons have also had to apply for emergency assistance because, due to the cash seizure, they were without money to pay the electric bill and their electric company sent them a shutoff notice. Although, from the evidence, it appears that the Semons had users' quantities of various poisons in their home, the circumstances of the warrant are subject to question. There are, in Beltrami County, many homes, some likely belonging to top government officials, in which, were authorities allowed to simply go in and search without probable cause, they would probably find evidence (our past County Attorney died of cocaine overdose in 1989). But this cannot legally be done. In the instant case, the affidavit for the search warrant, issued by the Honourable Judge Benshoof, was wholly based on hearsay by an unidentified "concerned citizen," who did not attest to having seen any drugs or drug paraphernalia, but largely suspected the Semons owing to the physical appearance of Denise, which appearance actually resulted from the lupus. The affidavit also mentioned a bowl containing syringes (but without hypodermic needles, per Semon) and "a reddish crystal like substance", which the affidavit speculates could have been iodine, used in manufacturing of methamphetamine poison. The affidavit was not executed by the "concerned citizen", or by anyone else who claimed to have seen, or have had personal knowledge of, drugs or drug equipment in the residence; but was actually signed, and warrant procured, by Beltrami Deputy Jeff Anderson; the affidavit recites what the "concerned citizen" allegedly told the deputy. In interview, Richard Semon said that the "reddish" substance was actually plant bedding (it's a clear light pink gel that holds water), and the large syringes without needles were used for adding water to ivy cuttings and other house plants that they had in narrow neck bottles. Having needleless syringes, which are not used in conjunction with illegal drugs, is not a crime. No charges have, as yet, been filed. If this search warrant passes muster for probable cause, then anyone's house could be raided, based upon some third-party telling a deputy (but not under oath) that they saw what might be drug equipment; and the deputy swearing to it before the issuing Court. Probable cause? The affidavit. The affidavit convincingly recites that the "concerned citizen" told Anderson that Semon's wife "had what appeared to be burn marks on her face", and "rotting" teeth. It continues, "Your affiant [Dpty. Anderson] knows that methamphetamine manufacturing is highly explosive .... [and] long-term methamphetamine use causes users' teeth to decay. The concerned citizen also described the female [Semon's wife] as skinny and gaunt, typical of chronic methamphetamine users." The affidavit continues, "The concerned citizen stated that he/she could smell a strong, undistinguishable odor inside of the residence coming from the back room .... There was also a fan in that room. The concerned citizen also stated that inside of the residence ... there was a brown dish containing a reddish crystal like substance and syringes on it. ..." It concludes, "From the aforementioned facts and observations your Affiant [Anderson] believes that the Manufacturing of methamphetamine is conducted at the above-described residence." No drugs seen. The affidavit contains no mention of any observation of any thing, which was, with reasonable certainty, known, to either Anderson, or the "concerned citizen", to be drugs or drug-related. In interview, Semon said that the "strong undistinguishable odor" was a wood-burning stove. The fan was used to circulate the heat. Further, Semon stated that the marks on his wife's face were not burns but were symptomatic of her lupus. "Lupus is an auto-immune disorder ... where my immune system is attacking healthy cells in my skin," Denise said, adding that her slight build is hereditary, "It runs in my father's side." Semon said that he believes that the "concerned citizen" is one Charles "Chuck" Compton, because that was the only person who was in the residence recently who was unaware of Denise's illness, and the symptoms thereof. Compton has failed to return our calls for comment. Semons and his wife said that the violation of their privacy has caused severe emotional distress, "Don't sleep - don't feel like our house no more," he said. Denise, who has been receiving counseling for a chronic social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia (these types of neuropsychiatric problems occur in a majority of lupus patients --WebMD), is attending psychiatric treatment for the emotional distress caused by the raid. She is subject to panic attacks, refuses to go in public alone, and viewed her home as her "safe spot". She no longer feels secure there, "I don't feel comfortable sitting at home. ... I'm afraid to talk on my phone. ...I've been in therapy most of my adult life for agoraphobia and social anxiety ... they've [the raid has] taken 15 years of counseling and thrown it down the toilet," she said. Now, after the raid, "My husband doesn't get out of my sight," she said, adding, "I haven't had an anxiety attack like this [as was recently experienced since the raid] in three years." Denise described physiological symptoms that the anxiety of the raid has precipitated. The raid occurred less than 3 weeks after the death of Denise's father. Additionally, the raid has caused social repercussions in their close-knit community. Denise said, "When we go to friends' houses, they look at us funny; ... we carry a copy of our [search receipt] papers with us to show everybody" that there was no meth lab in their home. But Denise said that people still get "paranoid" around them. Rumours abound, and "I've got a couple friends left, but most of 'em ... they've heard the rumours and they ... look at me differently." Clearly, it appears that the Semons may be users of various mind-destroying poisons. Methamphetamine usually kills very slowly. The drug first attacks the front of the brain. The user becomes very talkative, babbling on almost constantly, speaking quickly and repetitively and making little sense - he begins to sound like a politician. The brain rots away, a little at a time, until only the stem (necessary to maintain vital functions) is left intact. Tapping on the head may produce a hollow sound. At this point the person has become very stupid (this may not be distinguishable, though, in Northern Minnesotans; or for that matter, anyone who decided to take drugs to begin with). When the rot continues, affecting, finally, the brain stem and vital functions, the person dies. This cures the drug use. During the rotting, the person may become psychotic (again, like our elected officials); in advanced stages, the user may become vegetative like a spinach or cabbage, although not (generally) green. If they do, in fact, use these things, in time their brains will rot away and that will be the end of them. But the larger issue here is not the welfare of the Semons, it is the welfare of the Constitution and the guaranteed security of Americans under it. Ultimately, it is the courts that are the guardians of the Constitution. (That is why, if Bush gets a second term, and packs the Supreme Court, then civil rights, including Roe vs. Wade, are likely to become history.) Lots of law enforcement officers would like warrants to search lots of places in hopes that they find something. It is incumbent (pardon the bad word) upon the courts to ensure that searches are conducted only where there is attested probable cause that a crime has, in fact, been committed. Legally, if what was seized in the search does turn out to be the mind-numbing poison - methamphetamine, and killer weed, then the Semons may be chargeable with possession; except that the evidence may have to be suppressed due to the illegality of the search. In this case, yes, they did, purportedly, find a small quantity of users' drugs; but they went in without probable cause. That endangers us all much more. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Denise Semon ----------------------------------------------- FAVER SUED BEMIDJI -- As reported by The Minneapolis Star, Enoch Gould, a resident near Turtle Lake, has filed suit against Beltrami County Attorney Timothy Faver, and his assistants; and a crazed (our opinion) sect of the Mormon Church who tried to drive him and his family off of his land by building huge bonfires near his house, and threatening to burn it. The Mormon Church, at large, has disavowed the actions of this fanatic fringe. For years, since Faver came into power upon the cocaine overdose death of his law partner, who was then the County Attorney, Favertism has become the rule of Beltrami County: The prosecuting, not on behalf of the public, but of only those whom he wanted to; letting some commit crimes with impunity; but prosecuting and asking juries for stiff sentences for people he doesn't like, regardless of whether they'd committed a crime. Now, Gould's suit seeks injunction against Faver and alleges that he has aided and abetted the Mormon sect's coercive attempts by refusing to prosecute their unlawful actions, including running Gould over with a pickup truck. The suit also seeks damages in excess of $50,000 against the crazed cult. The suit is founded in USC Sec. 1983 & 1985. Note: For further information, readers are directed to "Brothers say God's on their side - of the property line" in The Minneapolis Star Tribune of March 7, 2004, and also our breaking story on this, "Tim Faver Refused to Prosecute Assault with Truck", in Northern Herald of 09/29/03, at northernherald.com -------------------------------------------------------------- ALL THAT JAZZ! Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): After two days of workshops, the two top school bands, including Grand Rapids High School conducted by Mark Saiger, perform at the 31st Jazz Festival Concert, February 7th at BSU, Bemidji. GRHS saxophonist Joleen Brink. The Ft. Richmond (Winnipeg) Collegiate Senior Band, conducted by Orv Anderson, was also chosen to open. Leading professional entertainers Tom Brantley and Rex Richardson perform with the BSU Jazz Band, conducted by Dr. Steven Konecne, who produces the Jazz Fest every year. BSU Band I includes Saxes: Cameron Koenen, Kenny Blake, John Horgeshimer (alumnus), Karissa Korbel, Therese Haugen; Trombones: Andy Kurcan, Kevin Petroske, Mike Pommerening, Alex Carlson; Trumpets: Davin Rosenberg, Amy Burmeister, Shayla Schaefer, Graham Steeds, Caitlin Weber; with Eric Kleven, bass; David Quamme, drums; Vanessa Johnson, piano. ------------------------------------------------------- In Focus IT'S BACK TO HACK ! HACKENSACK -- Even in the depths of the Minnesota winter, one thing they know how to do in Hackensack is have fun, come rain or shine! And that's just what they did the weekend of Jan. 16-18, as people from all over came Back to Hack for the annual winter fest! This year's events started Friday night, with the Parade of Lights, and the gala bonfire and free hot dog feed at the City Park, followed by the awesome yearly fireworks display over the frozen Birch Lake. Then there was Family Fun Night and Karaoke at the Senior Center, as well as Comedy Night at Lucette's. Saturday morning brought the Power Ice Auger Exhibition at Birch Lake, handily, just about the time holes needed to be drilled for the Kid's Fishing Derby! There was a Vintage Snowmobile Show at the City Park, and a very well-stocked Craft Show (some really unique finds - we could only show a few here) and Lunch, served by the Senior Center, at the UCC Church. Saturday also included Snow Games, a Treasure Hunt, Youth Hockey, Bowling Blaster, Movie Matinee and Indoor Games; and, of course, no Back to Hack could be complete without the Chili Feed at the American Legion - just the thing coming in off of the lake! Saturday evening was filled with the Teen Night at the Community Building, and for those old enough for some risque joking, the annual Snowflake Queen Pageant packed the Fire Hall! (see p. 9). The pageant was followed by the annual dance. Breakfast with Lions! For those awake Sunday morning, the Hackensack Lions held a Hotcake Breakfast at the Community Building, followed by the famous Snowmobile Radar Runs and auto Ice Racing on Birch Lake, and the Raffle Drawing. KIDS' ICE FISHING DERBY Each summer, Hackensack is the home of Minnesota's largest catch & release Kids' Fishing Contests. The American Legion (Post 202) there conducts it every summer week (info: legionpost202.com) And at Back to Hack, the Sons of the American Legion conduct the Kid's Ice Fishing Derby with prizes in three categories and three age groups! This year, it was 47 kids; 17 fish! In age groups 0-5, 6-10, and 11-15 respectively, taking prizes for first fish were Robert Packert, Brian Semmler, and Trenton Semmler, for smallest fish were Robert Packert, Randy Smieja, and Ted Semmler, and for largest fish were Breanna Pfarr, Mitch Cottew, and Heather Meeks. SPONSORS & VOLUNTEERS: Those who made it possible for the kids to fish included SAL Squadron 202, Carol's Black Hills Gold, Reed's Sporting Goods, Swanson's Bait, Northland Tackle, Hackensack Bakery, Hack Area Tech, Birch Haven Resort, Lucette's, John McManus, Pequot Lakes Ice Auger Competitors, Dave Sack, Frank Daehn, Gary Mork, Dale Dwire, Gary Marchwick, Tom Schmid, Dave Hoopman, Steve Pfarr, Bill Durheim, Hank Arnold and Robert Kennedy. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Fishing Derby Grand Prize winner (23" Northern) Heather Meeks with her prize - a Zebco 202 rod & reel! THE SNOWFLAKE QUEEN For the past four years, the famous, or should we say notorious, Snowflake Queen pageant has been a Saturday night fixture at Back to Hack. Simply put, it's a beauty pageant, with a twist that becomes apparent when the spectator notes a lovely contestant whose wax job missed a place or two; or who, along with elegant dress, headpiece, and coiffure, is also sporting a goatee. Each year, five contestants are recruited by the Snowflake Queen Committee for the event, which raises money for the Hackensack Chamber for the fireworks, as well as other community projects and events. The program is far more than just guys in ladies' clothes - it's an amusingly acted production with skits that are well written and professionally done; the hilarious spoof is always one of Back to Hack's biggest draws. This year, there was standing room only at the Fire Hall, as over 300 packed the audience. Sound was provided by Spectrum Entertainment, Hackensack; and live music by The Has-Beens. The event is the result of a year's work. At the close of each year's pageant, the committee, comprised of Cindy Cressy (North Country Tire), Sheryl Engler, and Kris Kayser, begin planning, writing, recruiting, and production of the next year's, hoping to make it even better than the last. They are now seeking 2005 contestant volunteers. Guys who want to donate some time for fun and a good cause may contact Mrs. Cressy at 218-675-6090. SPONSORS OF THIS YEAR'S EVENT included 371 Rental, Ace Home Center, BE's Burger and Cone Shoppe, Bill Hansen Realty, Body Rhythms, Bray Power Equipment Co., Bumper to Bumper, Cafe Zona Rosa, Carol's Black Hills Gold, Cass Company Insurance, Centennial National Bank, Craig's Electric LLC, Cedar Point Realty, Deb's Trailside Deli, Fireside Restaurant, First National Bank of Walker, Jim's Trailer Plus & Marine, JT Concrete & Masonry, Inc., K. Larson Construction, Kevin's Autobody/Fiberglass, Lakeland Promotions, Lucette's Pizza & Pub, Mark's Market, Merv's Greenhouse, Moran Realty, North Country Tire, Northwoods Lawn Care, PAM Oil, Paulsen Home Builders, Pine Cone Press-Citizen, Prudential Realty, Southside 66, Spectrum Entertainment, Spectrum Printing Design and Apparel, Strait North Title & Abstract, Stone Woman Herbals, Sunset Bay, Swanson's Bait Shop, Total Image, and Up North Cafe. The event was made possible by the help of many other community volunteers too numerous to list. Back-To-Hack Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): YOUTH HOCKEY Tiny Hockey Players! The Central Lakes Hockey Prowlers (of Pequot Lakes, Crosslake, Breezy Point, Pine River, and Backus) play the Walker-Hackensack Wolves, in a Mini-Mites league game at Back to Hack. The Prowlers are sponsored by Cable Disposal, of Crosslake. The youth hockey games were made possible by Sons of the American Legion, Post 202, Hackensack. CRAFT FAIR Demonstrating knitting at the show, Sue Toth brought her "Softwear by Sue" from Edina. Live music during the Craft Fair was provided by Fran Gack, Akeley, fiddler for the celtic band, Northwind Crossing. Gack also plays the mandolin and bouzouki and plays Tuesday evenings, during dinner at the Fireside Restaurant, near Walker. From LaPorte, Audrey Lorentzen's original Barbie doll tents have become quite the rage in recent years, and are frequently copied. Ducks! and swans by Jake Froese, Remer. Inexpensive wood & metal figurines by Mary Cottrell, Park Rapids. Claudia Campbell, of Bemidji's Sheep 'N Stuff farm, demonstrates her wool carder. Fine Art Richard "Wild Bird" Lorentzen, of LaPorte, brought his nationally-known squirrel-proof, and other handmade, bird feeders (www.squirrelproofbirdfeeder.com) Beadwork & jewelry by Sandy Fynboh, Akeley Stained glass by Barb Oliver's Northern Lakes Glass, Hackensack (www.stainedglassonline.com) Hand-made jewelry by Dreamscape, LaPorte TREASURE HUNT Paul, Mike, and Danny Toth claim their Back-to-Hack treasure hunt loot at Lucette's. AMERICAN LEGION CHILI FEED One bowl is seldom enough at the Back to Hack American Legion Chili Feed! Marlene Darsow, from Watertown, Minn., says the chili is "very good." Chili chef Ruth Dwire dishes up another bowl. She made seven 8 gallon stockpots of it for the feed. Not only is the chili good here, but the presentation is always excellent, with all the condiments one could need - including Tabasco, to make it as hot as one wants, co-jack cheese, onions, saltines, even sour cream! Gordon Ford, of Hackensack, known for his home-built antique airplane replicas, air powered cars, and other handiwork, is on his second bowl. Enjoying chili alongside is Gene Hensel, Watertown. THE SNOWFLAKE QUEEN The theme of this year's Caribbean-set pageant was Survivor 2004. Host Jake Howard narrates the swimsuit competition. Howard is a returning alumnus, having won the 2002 pageant as Wanda Windchill. The contestants are Raquel Belch, Kiki Tiki, Shimmy Co-Co Pop, Kimmie Kiwi, and Lulu Bamboo. Jake Howard announced that contestant Sandy Beach would not be present, due to maternity leave. For the entertainment competition, the very busty Raquel Belch sang "Margaritaville" while making Margaritas. Kimmie Kiwi, (actually portrayed by Orion Dobier) for the entertainment judging, sings her karaoke rendition of "Like a Virgin" The pageant featured a continuous raffle of many valuable prizes. Above, Kathy Forbrook was the winner of a one million candlepower portable spotlight. Contestants hula dance "At The Copa." Kayla Farr was thanked for her choreographic efforts, and her "attempt to teach rhythm to our candidates." Each contestant had to answer a different selected question. Narrator: "When shopping for bananas, do you look for the length or the girth?" Taking a woman's perspective, Shimmy Coco Pop drew a rousing cheer and applause from the audience when she answered, "Neither ... I prefer bananas with longevity." The Has Beens provided music for the pageant, and the gala dance after. 2003 Snowflake Queen, Samantha Smoulder, makes her final speech before passing the crown. Winner Matthew Abraham turns out to be a very accomplished dancer with his regular lady (really) dance partner Angie Barrett performing some impressive gymnastics on the dance floor that night. ------------------------------------------------------ Letters to the Editor READERS TOOT OUR HORN ! Enjoyed the only issue we found. -- A new subscriber in Remer, Minn. Glad to see someone has the [spheres] ... to get the Clint Bruestle story out! Keep on it! -- A new subscriber in Blackduck, Minn. ------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor SMOKERS: IT'S THEIR AIR TOO. I remember many years ago when the non-smoking population complained about the smoke in restaurants. The smoking population basically said "sure we understand, we'll let you have a piece of the pie and give you a separate area to dine and we won't smoke in that area, for you." Then a few years later the non-smoking population basically said "That's not enough pie, we want you outside or behind an enclosed space like little pets and the owner has to install expensive air purification systems, for us." And the smoking population said, "You know, you're right; we can probably live with that because we care about your rights too. Go ahead, take 2/3 of the pie." Now the greedy and whiny non-smoking group says basically "To [heck] with you. We're better than you are because you are subculture and disgusting. NOW, we want the whole pie!!" "Smoking kills!" Senator Dibble and Rep. Lenz say. I say you're right. So do cars, muggers, drugs, bathtubs, skiing, cracks in the sidewalks, falling off your roof, husbands, wives, snowmobiling, significant others, children and yes-even politicians. I defy anyone to find anything on this planet that won’t kill. If we keep this up soon even aging will be banned because it is a leading cause of death. The right to make a non smoking bar, or restaurant, or business is up to the owners and management. NOT THE BIG BROTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. And the choice to frequent those establishments is up to the individual. It's not the government's choice to make. Thank God for the Libertarian party because come the next Election Day ... [some] may be surprised at just how strong our group can be. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a guarantee, until people ... who have nothing better to do, try and control the masses and place them (us) under ... [their] thumb. Viva La Revolution. -- Rev. Bob Graner, Minnesota Veterans Home, Minneapolis, Minn. NH replies: Viva. The best thing the third parties have going for them is that they're not Democrats, and they're not Republicans. Worked for Jesse; hopefully others too this year. No-children restaurants? Now THAT'S an idea! -- Ed. ----------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor WHOLESOME MIDWESTERN WIFE SEEKS CLARIFICATION [Note: In order to efficiently reply to this, we have appended bracketed numbers to the significant issues -- NH Ed.] You say that you live in the Bemidji area to keep your finger on the pulse of corruption. Your comments clearly show that you have a prejudice against women which I find as corruptive as it gets. I would like to take this opportunity to ask you a few questions. Just what are you thinking printing material that accuses women of using restraining orders against men to abuse them? Restraining orders are not handed down by the courts without proof of abuse.[1] Women have been beaten, lied to and made to feel like inferior humans at the hands of abusive men in their lives. Most all of us have a grandmother, mother, sister or friend that has been abused. Some of us have personally been made victims by their husband, boyfriend or father.[2] These men often justify their abuse by blaming the women in their lives. The writer's article from Tennessee is proof of that. Blaming women for abuse results in what is called battered women syndrome. A condition where the woman believes she is responsible for the above behaviors. The lowest and loneliest places she can be. It is unfortunate that you believe that women who try to better themselves by getting help are out to take advantage of men.[3] In your article about Mexico, you make the following statements. In Mexico, the exchange for a Mexican prostitute is more direct then in Bemidji's tramping bars. Mexican prostitutes are working girls, not tramps. They work for necessities, not for what extras they can glean in addition to support they already get in Bemidji. You go on to say, it is hard for women to buy a six pack with food stamps. This would be the exchange in Bemidji for sex.[4] Moving on to your statements about women using sex and marriage to take advantage of men financially makes me wonder if you have ever known a real woman. A woman that raises the children, takes care of the dirty dishes in the sink, works side by side with her man and yes sometimes supports him financially. She builds a home environment for her family she calls ours, not mine or his.[5] Occasionally women go out to lunch, meet with friends and have cocktails to take a break. This does not make them predators or tramps. Some of your print has been responsible to women, then you go on to contradict the positive with negative statements. Again, what are you thinking?[6] I am wondering if you are uninformed or out of touch with society? I cannot believe that other women have not sent a letter to you on your views of women. Would you rather see the women in this country wearing Burkas?[7] I would like you to show your integrity by responding to these issues. Please clarify. -- Sue Passard, Remer, Minn. NH replies: The elegance of our gentle reader's hand raises so many issues - we'll have to approach them one at a time: 1) In Minnesota, in fact, restraining orders (HROs) are frequently issued without proof of abuse. They are called harassment restraining orders, and may issue for as little as a guy calling a woman twice. Instead of just telling the guy not to call her, women are encouraged to use the Court's time and resources for this by the various women's advocacy organizations. Why? The advocates get paid by the state for rendering services in connection with this. This results in an enormous public cost in terms of the advocates, and associated court fees, reporter's, clerk's, and judges salaries, etc. Often, these are filed without filing fees, putting the entire burden on the taxpayers. This is where part of our state budget woes come from. Technically, the advocates aren't supposed to be using state funds for work not related to battered women, but they do anyway. And some women abuse this to the max. An example of one, in Grand Rapids, comes to mind. Her civil court record reads like a laundry list, with her and her acquaintances (both male & female) getting restraining orders against each other when they have disagreements. Enormous public cost here. She has been assisted in this nonsense by Grand Rapids's Advocates for Family Peace, a state grant supported organization. This particular person, somewhat crazy, to most people's notions, has been known to, after getting an order, trying to haul the other person back into court on a contempt charge for talking about her to another person. This, of course, is not a violation of the order, and she gets thrown out of court, but the other party has to take time out to appear, anyway. This is an example of how women sometimes use the system to harass men who have done nothing unusual. Also, how current law supports this, how it is encouraged using state money, and why. Further, in other restraining orders (OFPs) which are sought for claimed "domestic abuse", the standards of proof are very low, and under current Minnesota court administration, the orders, really, are just given out, pretty much, like giving candy to children. It's not a level playing field. The woman is given free, state-paid, representation, the man only gets representation at his own high cost and often appears without, not knowing how to proceed. And often, the claim alone, with the woman's testimony, is taken as "proof". These spurious orders are thought harmless, but in fact restrict the man's constitutional rights, including (in the no-contact provision) his ability to reconcile a marriage in distress (one of the prime purposes of the women's advocacy organizations is to cause marriages to either not happen, or be finally and irretrievably split - again, that's what we pay them to do), and subject him to potential fines and jailing. Many men have actually been thrown out of their homes on false orders; and many false orders have been brought for no purpose other than to gain leverage in child custody matters - a purpose for which they were never intended. We have reported several cases where an order was granted on the woman's (or sometimes a child's) testimony; and later, that person reappeared in court and recanted that testimony and said it was false. In at least one known instance, a perjury charge resulted (see Women's Shelter Resident Charged in False OFP in Living on the Edge at northernherald.com) Due to legal technicalities, however, perjury is a difficult charge to bring (the women's advocates know this), and most bearers of false witness go scot-free - they are not even charged. Clearly, the testimony of the claimant, alone, should not be considered "proof" for the restricting of constitutional rights of another; and there is a compelling public policy interest, in helping to keep marriages and families together, which is damaged by the present way these issues are addressed by current Minnesota law, the courts, and the advocates. The cause here is, ultimately, legislative; and the cure must there be found. Historically, restraining orders are nothing new; but traditionally, they have been allowed to issue only where there is solid proof that they are necessary to prevent irreparable loss or injury. There is a need, legislatively, to return to this standard, to avoid large needless public costs, abrogation of civil rights, and to restore the ability for couples to work out problems and hold marriages together. The sanctity of marriage, too, is entrusted to the legislature, and they have been poor stewards of it. This affects the way people treat each other in marriage. If marriages are disposable, then spouses become so too. People figure, "the State doesn't care if we stay married, so why should we?" But one treats a spouse differently if one knows that they will be waking up with that person for the rest of their lives. 2) It is interesting that, up here, "abuse" seems to be all around us. Before coming to Northern Minnesota in the early 90s, your editor had not previously known any woman who claimed to have been "abused"; and was amazed at all the stories of same up here. It wasn't prevalent in Minneapolis, and in the south, whence he hails, hitting a lady was something that just wasn't done, wasn't even thought of, among civilized people, anyway. It is hard to say why there are so many tales of abuse up here. Could be the longer winters, or cultural differences and inbreeding. With the knowledge that a lot of the claims have been shown to be false, however, there also looms the possibility that such claims have become common up here owing to a faddish mass hysteria, a mind set of victimization of women, brought about by the aforementioned advocacy organizations, for their own aggrandizement and monetary gain. Of particular amusement is the expansion of the definition of "battering" to include "verbal abuse". We used to just call this "getting angry"; it is done by both men and women - generally, by women with more regularity. A guy would just haul off and go fishing. Storybook marriages are rare; couples have had occasional quarrels since Adam and Eve. This is not cause for any legal intervention, it is how couples express and resolve their differences, work them out, and stay together for mutual betterment and the betterment of their families. 3) The "writer's article", that is, the letter entitled "Tennessean Opts Out of Dating Game" in our 1/5/04 issue (at northernherald.com), isn't proof of any such thing. There is no indication that the writer of that, a workman and business owner, committed any sort of abuse. He just saw what was going on and opted-out ... a choice to, for now, be kind of a hermit and not have anything to do with the chaos. But the point you raise raises another tangential issue contributing to the social destruction that this great nation has undergone. It stems from an attitude that somehow, in domestic, and other, matters, women are somehow necessarily without fault. This notion is, of course, preposterous. It takes two people to disagree. But this philosophy has also been espoused and promoted by the same women's advocacy groups and has resulted, by the dysfunctional attitudes it engenders, in the further decline of stable American marriages. Women are not blameless; it is handy for some, though, to attribute any criticism or correction as contributing to some "syndrome" or another. With this attitude, instead of healthy correction or compromise, the woman's reaction is resentment, which is unhealthy and leads to further displeasure and conflict. This type of attitude erodes the marriage, and should not be promoted. Far better to encourage a realistic look at the situation, with an eye to couples respecting each others' feelings, whether or not they understand them. (Men never will understand women; and vice versa. They are two totally different animals with different needs, ways of looking at things, and solutions. For example, when a woman has psychological issues, she might seek solace in talking with friends, daytime talk shows, or self-help books; when a man has a problem with that part of his body with which he thinks, he may see a professional - he's called a urologist. For one gender to perceive how the other orders their world is much like trying to describe, to a blind person, the colour, red. Still red, incontrovertibly, exists and must be taken into account. It is a valid and important thing; so is the other gender's ordering of your (collective) world, whether or not it can be perceived and understood.) As far as culpability in domestic violence is concerned, again, the woman certainly is not without responsibility. The Strauss & Gelles study and report well-demonstrated that women and men are about equal in instigating domestic violence; in cases where a weapon was used, however, women far exceeded men in frequency of this type of assault. 4) Yes, we did draw the parallel between the promiscuity of women in Mexico, and in Bemidji; and the contrast that in Mexico, these women are working for the necessities of life, whereas, in Bemidji, where the State (i.e. you, me, and other taxpayers) provides them with the necessities, they tramp for the extras, like a 12 pack. So, your point is ...? 5) This type of woman does exist. She is the backbone of American family, productivity, and industry. This is what marriage is about. Marriage is a unique institution defined by a) order, b) consortium, c) fidelity, and d) lifelong commitment. It is the environment in which humans live best and build futures. Higher animals, like cats and dogs, don't need this - they do OK with a less structured lifestyle. Humans, as the lowest animal, though, need this - devoid of devinely-inspired instinct, they need rules to live by to have worthwhile lives. We don't do as well when we behave like cats and dogs. Foxes, one of the highest animals, don't need these rules either. No one has to tell a fox about marriage. He mates for life instinctively. The fox knows that this is best for him or her, and their offspring. The contract of marriage is necessarily for life; but, sometimes a substantial marriage ends before the lifetimes of the spouses do. Let us draw a metaphor: Consider a carpenter that does really great construction. Superb and premium workmanship. Only trouble is, he walks away from the job when it's only half done; on, say, a deck job, leaving half of a porch with a stairway to nowhere. What is the ultimate worth of what he has built? And suppose there were laws in place saying that, nonetheless, he had to receive payments for the whole thing, and would have a mechanic's lien on the house? Sometimes, having done all this, the woman forgets the vows and walks out of the marriage, leaving, where there was something worthwhile, only rubble and ashes. Without the necessary element of lifetime commitment, it was not a marriage. All that has gone before is converted to just so much tramping; all that was built up is torn down. Community property was never meant to be divided and generally cannot survive it any more than could the child which was the subject of Solomon's judgement. The lives of the couple and their kids are left in shambles. They can pick up and rebuild, of course, but many years of a limited lifetime are now wasted and the pleasures, memories, worldly goods, and building which they will attain, with a different spouse, becomes limited thereby. And of course, the kids' lives are scarred for life and their progeny will carry this burden for four generations. The occurrence of the divorce forever rips security from their lives. Often, they don't know where they really live or who their parents really are. The offspring of humans, as the lowest animal anyway, do poorly in this environment. "Blended" families don't work because the necessary order and respect are lacking - but that's a whole other issue. It would be well if at weddings, after "'til death do you part", the rabbi would give the couple a pair of dueling pistols, and tell them that if they decide to separate, they can go out into the forest and do it in keeping with the vows they've just taken. And if whatever disagreement may arise isn't important enough for that, it isn't important enough for divorce either. 6) We have always accentuated the fine women in our area who strengthen America by having undertaken the hard work to strengthen their American Family and all of the security and prosperity that it builds. Their reward is inherent therein, without further recognition, but we recognize them anyway because they deserve it, and for the societal and economic strengthening that it also builds. These are the Women of America, and their husbands, and society, are very fortunate to have them. 7) Pardon our lack of fashion sophistication; we are Northern Minnesotans and don't know what "Burkas" are. But if they will help further enhance the inherent beauty of these fine women of our area, and they want to wear them, that would be OK. Editor's Note: Sue Passard is "The Hostess With The Mostess" (NH issue of 10/28/02) who coordinates Remer's 9-11 day recognition, the annual Chili Feed, and other community events. Watch for her in our coverage of this year's great Remer Chili Feed, next issue! ------------------------------------------------------ FUNNY GIRL AT THE REIF IN MARCH GRAND RAPIDS -- The Grand Rapids Players will present 5 performances, including evening & matinee, of the hit musical, Funny Girl, March 25th - 28th, 2004; in Grand Rapids, at Reif Centre, of course. Tickets are available at Reed Drug and the Reif Box office. -------------------------------------------------------- YOUNG SPORTSPEOPLE TO BUILD DUCKHOUSES AT GR OUTDOOR SHOW Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): GRAND RAPIDS -- Home Depot and two staff members of Grand Rapids School District #318 will cooperate to teach young folks how to build woodduck houses at the 4th annual Minnesota Outdoor Sports Show to be held in Grand Rapids March 26th - 28th at the Civic Center. Pictured here are GR High School students, Ron Marsh of Grand Rapids and Chris Jackson of Blackberry, cutting out the pieces needed for the project. Behind them is Shawn Linder, a Natural Science teacher, and Perry Jarva, a construction instructor at the school, who will coordinate the activity. As kids learn about the woodducks, and the habitat best suited for them to exist, each child will be building a nesting place to take home, compliments of Home Depot. This is the first time this opportunity has been afforded to the Minnesota Outdoor Sports Show and is sure to be a hit. It is expected that the event will continue at future shows. Classroom materials and CEU credits for teachers will be available at the show. ----------------------------------------------- REMER TO CELEBRATE ST. PAT'S 3/16 Saying that it'll already be St. Pat's Day in Ireland, Jean Davis, President of the Remer Chamber of Commerce, announced the celebration to be March 16th, at Remer. Festivities will include a parade at 5 pm, followed by a dinner of corned beef and cabbage, and/or Irish stew, at the Fire Hall. ------------------------------------------------- PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY FOR THE GREAT DANCE UNDER THE MOON WALKER -- Now in it's 13th year, the 2004 Moondance promises to be one of the best ever! Moondance producers Bill & Kathy Bieloh recently announced the signing of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who will appear Thursday, July 15th. Already signed are The Allman Brothers Band, and Little Feat, both also on Thursday; ZZ Top for Wednesday, and Huey Lewis And The News, for Saturday. A total of 20 top name bands are expected to grace the famous Main Stage, plus many regional bands. Tickets & info: moondancejam.com, or 877-MOONJAM ------------------------------------------------- -- A Northern Herald Restaurant Un-Review -- THE SILVER PIKE RESTAURANT AT NEVIS As it might be put by Bill Clinton: "Define Buffet" What's good is usually a matter of taste, so with restaurants, we usually don't publish negative reviews - if it's not worth at least two stars, it's just not worth the ink. But what the owner of the new Silver Pike restaurant at Nevis has done is outrageous enough that a word to the wise is in order. The Silver Pike advertises, to Park Rapidians, that their Sunday Buffet breakfast is "worth the drive." Always on the lookout for a good restaurant, we thought we'd take some pictures and rate it. But on arrival, and asking for a smoking table, a waitress curtly told us there were none. That was the end of the rating - if a place isn't hospitable to all of our readers, including those who smoke, they don't belong in our rated establishments. The most revolting discovery, though, came when we asked to see the buffet. - It was just a bread and fruit bar. Northern Herald: "Where are the breakfast entrees - you know, the egg dishes, sausage, and the like?" The waitress explained that one orders the entrees from a relatively expensive menu, and then can get bread & fruit from the "buffet." We suppose that they're hoping enough people will find their ads "worth the drive" from Park Rapids, and once there, will stay and order breakfast, even though there's no buffet as most of us understand the term. But we found it to be an utter misrepresentation. Fortunately, Northern Lights Casino's real brunch buffet wasn't far, at Walker - was going on 'til 3 p.m., - and it was great! (Review follows.) ------------------------------------------------ -- A Northern Herald Restaurant Review -- **** NORTHSTAR BUFFET at the Northern Lights Casino, Walker Post-publication note: Since this review was issued, the Northstar Buffet has begun to discriminate against their guests who smoke, and, for that reason, has lost their rating. Hands down, this is one of the best buffets in Northern Minnesota. Their brunch buffet is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. M-F, and 9 to 3 on Sat. & Sun., so there's plenty of time to get there; it is a true brunch, with lots of breakfast items, but lunch items too. You can have their great BBQ ribs with breakfast! The price of $8.95 (kids: $4.95) includes your juice & coffee or other beverage. Their evening buffet follows themes - a different specialty every night of the week; but the regular dishes served alongside each night (such as the ribs, chicken, fish and carved meat - AYCE, of course) are the kinds of things that would be feature quality at other restaurants. Service is excellent at both buffets, and the restaurant is hospitable to both smokers and non; although the smoking area is closer to the noise of the casino floor, and lacks the piped background music and accompanying dining ambience of the rest of the dining area. It would be better if the seating room were split the other way (longitudinally, rather than laterally), so non-smokers who like this kind of environment could have some of it too. Typically, the brunch buffet will include a lavish array of many fresh fruits & salads, omelettes made any way to order, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links and patties, carved ham, biscuits & gravy, hash browns, Belgian waffles and Toast of France with syrup; chicken, ribs, fish, vegetables and mashed potatoes; desserts (including cheesecake) & soft ice cream. The coffee is exceptionally good, it has a light, creamy, chocolaty essence, and, of course, is served with real 1/2 & 1/2 if desired. The gravy for the biscuits is thick and rich with meat and big hunks of sausage. The made to order omelettes are absolutely recommended (no extra charge, but it's so good, one may want to tip the omelette chef a buck or two). We had ours with ham, cheese, jalapenos, and tomatoes. The condiments were fresh and generous - more diced ham, actually, than the lady could eat. The eggs were fresh, light and fluffy, garnished with more (two kinds of) shredded cheese and chives. Flavour was hearty and excellent - just the way to start the day, or for an early afternoon filling dinner! And all this, at a price that, at many restaurants, one would pay for the omelette, juice and coffee, alone. This really is worth the drive! The evening buffet is from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sun. - Wed., and 'til 11 p.m. Th - Sat. Along with the nightly BBQ ribs, fish, chicken and carved meat (rotating roast beef, turkey, ham, pork loin, and ribs), as well as fruit, salads, veggies, sides, and dessert; the evening buffet features these specialty themes and prices: M-Oriental-$8.95/(kids) $4.95 Tu-Seafood-$16.95/7.95 W-Mexican-$4.95/$4 Th-Italian-$8.95-$5 F-All American Night with Prime Rib-$13.95/$7 Sa-Cajun & Prime Rib-$13.95/$7 Su-No theme-$8.95/4.95 (prices shown do not include tax and tip). The Northern Lights Casino is located at the Y of Hwys 371 & 200, about 5 miles S of Walker. ------------------------------------------------------- TAMKIN PLAYS BSU Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Against a backdrop of fishhouses on the snow covered Lake Bemidji, Chicago-based performer Dave Tamkin played at the Bemidji State University lunchroom in the lower Hobson Memorial Union, February 9th, 2004. Tamkin attended the music school of De Paul University, graduating with his degree in business and marketing. Tamkin routinely performs at the House of Blues in Chicago in the duo, Hash Browns, and tours regularly. "It's a good day job, something to put food on the table and pay the rent; and then, we get to go out every other week, and travel like this; so ...it's a good deal we have," he said. Tamkin described his music, saying, "Acoustic rock, I kind of like to play it, like, percussive, kinda like Willie Porter, Martin Sexton; [those] are my influences ... that's the style I'm going for." At the free set, sponsored by the Hobson Union Programming Board, Tamkin performed blues and his original contemporary folk and rock, in varying tempos. An accomplished acoustic guitarist, his sound was very polished and professional. Working now on his second CD, clearly, this is an entertainer on the way up. Booking, tour, & CD info: davetamkin.com ---------------------------------------------------- FIRST CITY SQUARES Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Below, The First City Squares enjoy their February 6th square dance. They dance the first Friday of every month, at the Elks, Bemidji. Public admission is $3.50; but to dance it, and understand the calls, one must have had lessons. Those are offered inexpensively in evening sessions. The next class starts in September - 218-444-8328 ----------------------------------------------------- TRAMPING AT BSU Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): A dirty job, but we should all be glad someone is doing it. It's a lot like garbage collection, and in fact, what they're dealing with happens to be trash. When the male of the species is brought into the presence of the female in heat, breeding will normally occur. This is true of the higher animals, and humans, too. Bemidji State University encourages immorality with it's co-ed dorms. And there are on-campus single-parent apartments for when the product of the immorality inevitably occurs. This generation didn't invent romance, but in saner days, "You're WHAATTT!??!" was a perfectly acceptable form of marriage proposal that marked the start of many sound & strong two-parent families, that in the end provided lifetime happiness for the couple involved. But that wisdom isn't taught at BSU; and the female of the species, when she gets into trouble, sometimes refuses to be married, which would have assured heath and security of her family, as well as giving her kids the best odds of success in a highly competitive world. Student volunteers dispense birth control information so that those who do tramp on campus at least won't ruin their lives, and encumber society, by producing children with no father and no future. Said Jay Passa, coordinator of the effort, "We're promoting responsible ...[romantic] behaviour. ... Promoting abstinence as a choice; however, if some people choose ... [to be tramps] ... we recommend they practice safe ...[romance]." Passa explained that if a person has already tramped without birth control, the on-campus student health service can prescribe emergency after-the-fact contraception to prevent the destruction of the rest of the tramp's, and john's, lives. (Planned Parenthood, in Bemidji, Grand Rapids, and Brainerd also does this.) At the table, a young male of the species peruses the equipment, happily dreaming of when he gets married and can use some of it. ---------------------------------------------------- STATE AGENCY APPOINTMENTS OPEN ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Secretary of State has announced vacancies on the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Candidate Advisory Council (closing date: March 23rd - geographical representation is a consideration); and on the Minnesota Library Advisory Council to Library Development and Services (closing date: April 15th). Further information on these volunteer appointments can be found at www.sos.state.mn.us The simple one-page application form for all state appointments can be downloaded from northernherald.com ------------------------------------------------------ For Accountants Only by Adam Steele, C. P. A. TAX SOFTWARE: TAXACT IS BETTER WAY TO GO! A few years ago, CPA Bob Parsons came up with a better, less expensive way for professionals to do their clients' taxes. It was a well put together program that saved clients a lot of money in passed-through software costs. His Parsons Technology product was well-used, until 1998, when the firm was bought by Intuit(R). Intuit immediately took it off the market - at under $200, it competed too effectively with their Pro Series software package that Intuit sold (then) for about $850. Intuit also raided other popular competing firms, such as Lacerte, resulting in limited choices and exorbitant pricing of tax software. A new firm, ATX, entered the market with their more competitively-priced Saber and MAX packages, but the quality of the software (mostly in terms of time-efficiency of using it, and the many built-in technical problems) made it something less than a solution. During the tax season, the accountant's time is at a premium. In one test, doing three forms 1040X (all with the same type of modification) one with ATX, and the other two with another product; both of those two could be completed faster than the one on ATX's Saber program. (For more detail, see ATX Offers Price, Forms, But Not Program Quality in NH of 02/10/03 in The Library at northernherald.com) So what happened to the guys who used to work at Parsons? Well, we suppose that Intuit, in it's buyout, wouldn't let Bob tell us this, but they started their own company, 2nd Story Software®, manufacturing tax software which, on initial testing, seems to be on a par with the best, but again at the reasonable prices to which Parsons's customers are accustomed. The product is called TaxACT (info: www.taxact.com) We needn't fully compare prices here, as accountants know what they pay now for Lacerte, ProSeries and the others. Let it suffice to say that the TaxACT Preparer's Edition (unlimited number of returns) for 1040 and all states is about $175., including shipping. Efile costs are reasonable too. The program utilizes third-party efile transmission, which requires an EFIN, but not an ETIN*; starting at $11.45 per return for federal and state, with the price going down, based on volume. Efiles over the 100th are free! (There is also an unlimited flat rate available.) Their overall pricing structure may make TaxACT a better alternative for all sizes of tax firms from small and moderate to the largest. As to the program itself, in initial testing (the season is still young) it has appeared to run excellently and efficiently. Unlike ATX, it doesn't try to push one into new hardware every year or two. Test runs were done on a system at only 150MHz, with Windows 95. The program loaded quickly and ran quickly; although it is constantly recalculating (refunds can be continuously displayed) it does it without noticeable calculation delays. This is just better-written software. After the first "learning" use, it is very fast and easy to navigate from form to form, and through the various worksheets and tax functions that the practitioner wishes to use. There are comprehensive, yet concise, worksheets for W-2 entry, depreciation, auto expenses, etc.; and a touch of the back button quickly gets one back to the main form. A "what-if" calculating comparison worksheet is provided for 2003 and future years. The 1040 includes most common forms (for list, see TAX ACT web site). The program is well-thought out; it knows, for instance, to complete an 8880 is there's a 401(k) on the W-2; and unlike some products, it automatically performs, and includes, the M-1W. The program accepts line-item notes and calculation lists, and marks entries as estimated if desired (very helpful when doing 4868). It is comprehensive - even calculating Schedule A depreciation, which some other programs don't. Most importantly, the program is very user friendly to the professional - dates, for instance, can be entered with slashes, or simple MMDDYY format. The programmers have thought of many of these points that save the professional's time. Return review and printing is accomplished with a minimum of steps, and does not require a high memory printer. TaxACT is currently available for the 1040 - federal and all states, 1065, and 1120S. Unfortunately, 1041 and 1120 are not available this year; but TaxACT's 1040 program is a good enough deal that accountants may find it beneficial to use it for 1040 clients (i.e. the bulk of business), preparing the relatively few 1041s and 1120s manually, or with another manufacturer's per-return system. TaxACT has too many features to list all of them here. In the overall, practitioners owe it to themselves, and their clients, to go to TaxACT's website and have a look - it may be too late for this tax season, but why pay hundreds of $$$s more in 2004 for next? * EFIN and ETIN: We just put those terms in there so non-accountants won't know what we're talking about. ---------------------------------------------------- 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 Good Deal --------- WAL-MART WILL OFFER DISCOUNT PAYCHECK CASHING BEMIDJI -- Following the Feb. 17th approval by the Bemidji City Council, Wal-Mart's Bemidji store, along with many other stores statewide, will begin a paycheck cashing service with a maximum fee of $3. They hope to have the service running by mid to late April. Most working people, of course, cash their paychecks at their banks without charge. But a significant number of workers have no bank account; when they get paid, they often have to take their checks to check cashing services which sometimes charge high fees to cash them. Following the initial January denial by the Bemidji City Council, Wal-Mart representative Deborah Paddock came up from the home office at Bentonville, Arkansas to appeal the decision at the Feb. 17th meeting, and told the Council "some were paying exorbitant fees: $8 to $10 per paycheck" and that Wal-Mart wanted workers to be able to take home more of their paychecks. They wanted to give people a choice as to where to cash them and how much to pay. Paddock said that the idea for the new service came from Wal-Mart's own employees who sometimes needed a place to cash their checks; and Bemidji Wal-Mart manager Andy Abello added, "It's something we should be able to do for a customer," too. Bemidji Councilwoman Nancy Erickson said that she moved last month to deny the needed Council approval due to her speculation that Wal-Mart might raise the price. Paddock replied, "At Wal-Mart, it's not our policy to up the price." Councilman Downs made the motion to approve, which was then seconded by Erickson, and passed on a near unanimous vote. Standing for old-line Bemidji corruption, and beating down the working class by charging them outlandish fees just to get their pay, and to the benefit of old-line captive-market Bemidji merchants such as Johanneson's Marketplace Foods, who make these charges, only Councilman Ralph Zachman voted against allowing the discounted check cashing service in Bemidji. Walmart's lower fees for paycheck cashing will be 1% of the amount of the check, with the fee capped at $3 maximum. DAVE WALTERS: "I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS ... [MANURE]" BEMIDJI -- Yep, that's what Christina Crabtree's great-aunt, Sue Markel, was told by Troy, a salesman at Dave Walters mobile home sales (hereinafter, "Walters"), when she called because the home Troy sold Christina a few months before had no electricity and was unsafe. Then he hung up on her. Last November, Crabtree, who works in Bagley, had visited Walters to see about buying a mobile home. Troy showed her a 1979 home for $4,000, and, per Crabtree, although she signed an AS IS contract, Troy had verbally "guaranteed everything would work," and she relied on that assertion in purchasing the trailer. According to Crabtree, trouble started as soon as the trailer was delivered to the lot, near Shevlin. Walters was notified that the refrigerator didn't work, and subsequently replaced it. But when Crabtree went to turn on the furnace, it didn't work either. When she reported that to Walters, they told her she had signed an AS IS agreement, and refused to further service the trailer, Troy's earlier representations notwithstanding. Crabtree said that she, and her family, who were helping her buy the trailer, had to spend "about two grand" to get the electricity and the furnace working. Crabtree occupied the trailer through the winter, except for periods when the roof leaked excessively (including into the electrical fixtures) making it uninhabitable, but finally had to move out in mid-February when the main circuit breaker kept tripping, leaving the home without power, and the smell of burning electrical insulation was present. That's when Sue Markel called Troy, at Dave Walters, on Christina's behalf. She reports the conversation: "I said 'she bought a trailer from you and I'm calling about this trailer.' [Troy] said, 'That was sold to her primarily for storage.' And I said, 'If you sold that for storage, why did you deliver her a refrigerator?' And he said, 'I don't have to listen to this ... [fertilizer],' and he hung up on me." Chistina said that she never told Troy that she was going to use it for storage, he didn't say that it was to be used for same, that in the course of her dealings with Troy, it was understood that Christina would be living in the mobile home, and the storage matter appears to merely be a handily fabricated excuse on the part of the Walters salesman to try to get out of living up to his guarantee that everything in the trailer worked. The contention that the trailer was sold for storage is also brought into question by the fact that Walters sold Crabtree $700 worth of skirting to be put around it - something one wouldn't normally use for a storage unit. Walters has also failed to deliver a title to Crabtree, despite her repeated requests for same. According to Mrs. Markel, in selling the trailer, Troy represented that the roof had been sealed the year before. Per Markel, after being recently contacted by a Bemidji city official, Walters offered to take the trailer back and refund the $4,000; but not the $700 for the skirting, nor the over $2,000 that Crabtree and her family have spent trying to make the trailer habitable. The family explained that when Walters delivered the trailer, they failed to block and level it. Crabtree and her relatives had to do that themselves. It has been estimated that installation of a new circuit breaker box, and repair of the presently shorted wiring would cost in excess of $750. Crabtree said that she wants Walters to make good on their sale of a trailer represented to be in livable condition and would be willing to accept Walters's paying the costs required to make it habitable. But Walters has given no indication that they will do this. "I just want to live there ... [but] it's not safe to live there," said Christina. Mrs. Lavonne Bode, Christina's grandmother, reflected on the way business is often done in Bemidji, and said that she was tired of people getting jerked around by the businesses here, "And it happens all the time, and it's not right," she said, adding that just because people don't have money is no reason that they should have to take misrepresentations and misdealings from firms like Walters. Said Sue Markel, "She [Christina] works hard for her money," but she said that Christina has frequently had to stay with her relatives on and off during the winter when the trailer was uninhabitable. "She gets home, she doesn't even know if the electricity is on in the trailer ... it's disgusting." Walter's position. Northern Herald went to Dave Walters's lot and asked to speak to the Director of Swindle. Brian Bentfield, the Sales Manager there, said that he could probably help us, but when he learned that we were looking into the Crabtree sale, he consulted with Virginia, the General Manager, and then returned and said that their attorney (Ryan Kieson, Esq., Bemidji) had advised them not to comment on the matter; Walters's staff refused to discuss it. Auto service forum BEMIDJI TIRE AND AUTO WON'T STAND BEHIND DESTROYED ENGINE BEMIDJI -- Even in highly conscientious auto shops, something sometimes goes wrong. In these instances, where absolute liability is a grey area, a reputable shop will, at least, work with the customer to make him whole at the lowest possible cost. Bena resident Butch Dahl has been a regular customer of Bemidji Tire & Auto (hereinafter "Bemidji Tire") for many years; "I buy my tires from them - I've spent thousands of dollars there," he said. He thought he was just taking his '90 GMC Suburban in for a routine oil & filter change at Bemidji Tire (a Goodyear dealer, located on the westside behind Sta-Mart), recently, but got an unpleasant surprise. About a week, and 978 miles, after the service, the vehicle lost all of it's oil and the engine was history. It seized up while Dahl was driving in Longville. The cause of the oil loss was an O-ring on the oil filter adapter; that part may have become unseated or broken during the oil filter change. Dahl reported the matter to Bemidji Tire, but they refused to assume any responsibility. They offered to install a used engine for $700 parts and about $700 labour. Dahl preferred to buy his own engine, for $426, but had Bemidji Tire install it, for which they eventually gave him a bill of $1,267.65; which included $900 as labour, $160 for towing, and the remainder as other parts, gaskets and miscellaneous costs. "If I'd known he was going to charge me that much to tow it - I've got an auto trailer at the house," and Dahl said he would have towed it himself. Dahl has since priced engine installation at other shops, and "the highest they came up with was $550," he said. Dahl reported that the engine still doesn't run right, possibly because Bemidji Tire neglected to repair a head gasket when installing the engine. (This was actually the second engine Dahl brought to Bemidji Tire for installation - the first one didn't fit the vehicle, and Dahl said that when Bemidji Tire discovered this, and that a different engine would be needed, they didn't bother to call and notify him.) Dahl said that the vehicle is now drivable, but the engine runs poorly, presumably due to the head gasket. He said that it was his impression that Bemidji Tire just wanted to get it out of the shop and did not take due care in these remedial repairs. Contacted by Northern Herald, Rick, the mechanic at Bemidji Tire who worked on Dahl's vehicle, again denied any responsibility for the problems and refused to make any adjustment. "It has nothin' to do with putting the oil filter on - nothing. ... [The oil filter adapter is] the part the oil filter screws to - the oil filter adapter is bolted to the cylinder block," he said. Still the proximity in time to the oil change may be more than coincidental, and we're not sure that the oil filter was the only thing that got screwed here. Northern Herald's mechanical advisor, Doug Rudduck, of The Auto Clinic (one of Bemidji's few reputable shops), said that the '90 Suburban is "famous" for oil filter adapter (a factory part that they all have) problems and leaks. He said that the Bemidji Tire mechanic should have been aware of this, and might have noticed leakage, or the potential for same, when the filter was changed. Rudduck acknowledged though, that, given the time between the oil change and the oil loss, there is some question whether leakage could have been observed at the oil change; "usually, they seep for a while before they blow out," he said, but added that on that model, it was possible (though not probable) that the O-ring could have blown out all at once, 978 miles later, without previous indication. Whether there was fault by the shop in the oil change is a grey area here. Rudduck said that sometimes these things are overlooked by the mechanic, even at the best shops; and in instances like these, where some fault is likely, but not certain, the shop should, at least, try to work with the customer on the cost of the remedial repair. Here, though, instead, Bemidji Tire appears to have charged the customer an outrageous price for a shoddy job. While the matter of fault for the oil loss may be grey, there is little question that their charge for the engine replacement was not even competitive. In instances such as these, the consumer always has recourse to Conciliation Court, but there is no guarantee of success, and the filing fee is $60. It is far better to simply avoid doing business with disreputable merchants and mechanics. A simple oil change, even, can be disastrous. Dahl stressed the risk to customers who might not know what they need, except for what the mechanic tells them, "Some person that doesn't know what's going on [with their car repair] ... and all of a sudden, bang, they gotcha," he said. THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK "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." This column is cumulative, and provided for consumer awareness. Signed consumer submissions are welcome. carsoup.com This web site advertises heavily for people to list cars there for a fee. But, in our test, in early 2004, for people looking to buy a used car, the site just doesn't work. Never got to the sample category of cars we were looking for. If buyers can't get it to work, there's not much chance that they'll find your car there. And the site bombards users with lots of garbage "cookies" which may also discourage use. LETS TAKE ANOTHER STEP BACKWARD. Have you ever wondered why, in this high-tech age of cheap supercomputers, space travel and the Internet, the Eveready company can't seem to produce a simple inexpensive flashlight that works? Forty years ago, they all did. Ripped off by the billions of tons of garbage on today's retail market? Other people probably have been too. Try bigclassaction.com Having to pay money is the only language that the unscrupulous vendors of this garbage understand. Here, you may be able to find an attorney to take the case, on behalf of yourself, and other consumers; and put execs of the offending company back to selling pencils on skid row, where these types belong. For review of the following things that just don't work, from past issues, see Things That Just Don't Work at northernherald.com: * PATTON(R) Oil-filled Electric Radiators * CELLULAR-ONE(R) * HI-VAL(R) (I/O MAGIC(R)) CD-RW drives * SYMPHONIC(R) VCRS. * LEXAR(R) Compact Flash cards * OFFICE MAX(R) REBATES * HEWLETT-PACKARD(R) product support ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 01/05/2004 - VOLUME 9 NO. 3 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- It's The Same Story You Read Elsewhere - This Time With Complete Amounts and Facts. CLINT BRUESTLE RESIGNS AFTER $250,000+ CONSTRUCTION BILLING "DISCREPANCY" Did Bemidji Hospital's Finnish Carpentry End Up In Bruestle's New Home? And Why Have It Done by Finns? Why not Norwegians or Swedes? Editor's Note: After the North Country Regional Hospital (NCRH) audit, last fall, and the billing "errors" it revealed, Clinton Bruestle, former foreman at the NCRH project site, had merely been demoted from Senior Vice President to a "Senior Project Manager" for the Kraus-Anderson (KA) construction company and removed from the hospital project. (It would have been more fitting if they'd just come up with a prestigious title for the person assigned the task of filing fourth copies of carbonless interoffice memos - at a remote satellite office located in hell.) John Davies was named Director of KA's North Division, at Bemidji. Following Northern Herald's opening of this investigation in early January, and within two days of our initial contact with Davies, however, Bruestle resigned. In that initial contact, Davies seemed astonished, and asked how we knew of this matter (our leads actually come from fortune cookies). By the following Monday, in an excellent "damage control" effort, Davies had prepared a press release, and, on behalf of Kraus-Anderson, issued it - to another northern paper. He would no longer speak with Northern Herald. To give credit where due, the other article was well written and excellent. Readers may want to read it in The (Bemidji) Pioneer of 01-13-04. There were just a few little things, like about $250,000, that Mr. Davies, apparently, forgot about when writing his release. Enjoy! -- A. Steele, Editor BEMIDJI -- In many ways, auditors are the modern-day Dick Tracys. More and more, in the contemporary business world, when crime is discovered, it's discovered by these specialized accountants, who are specially-trained to spot abnormal business transactions using accounting principles, and common sense. An expense of $14 - 15,000 for finish carpentry isn't unusual, in a $40 million construction project. But the sharp-eyed auditors at Bemidji's North Country Regional Hospital (NCRH), during a routine audit of project expenditures, last September, noticed that this expense happened at a time when the foundations were just being put in - not a time when the hospital expansion would be ready for finish carpentry. It is now undisputed that the finish carpentry work for which the hospital was billed was never performed there, and it has been speculated that that work, billed to NCRH, may have actually been performed on site foreman Clinton Bruestle's new home at 1457 Island View Dr., about 6 miles north of Bemidji, near the great Lake of Turtles. Bruestle has failed to return several calls for comment. Following this discovery, the hospital ordered a second, more comprehensive, audit by an independent accounting firm in Texas. This subsequent audit resulted in an additional adjustment of over $75,000 for overbilled job costs, and another discrepancy of about $180,000, due to matters of "contract interpretation". These total adjustments amount to less than 1% of the total project cost, still, it would buy a lot of bricks. In initial interview, John Davies, for Kraus-Anderson, denied that Bruestle used hospital money for work on his own house, but acknowledged that he had been demoted and removed from the hospital project. Of the total disputed charges, including the finish carpentry amount, Davies termed them "accounting issues", saying, "There were some accounting issues that have been corrected - we're moving on with the next phases of the project." Bemidji Police Dept. Detective Jerry Johnson may see it as something more than that, though; he's opened an investigation for criminal charges, and is expected to take initial statements Jan. 15th. According to unofficial sources, any criminal investigation is expected to center on Bruestle, and not Krause-Anderson, generally. Mr. Jim Hanko is the CEO of North Country Health Services. Very presentable and personable, and meticulously groomed and dressed for business, Hanko comes across as a no-nonsense 100% ethical business guy who has a clean slate and great works in progress, and he doesn't mind talking about them, still always keeping the focus on the business at hand. Possessing exceptional business acumen, when facts and figures are needed, Hanko can put his finger on them immediately. This is real, clean, Chairman of the Board material, NCHS can be proud to have it working for them to better and more cost-efficiently render patient-oriented health services to the Northland community. Hanko was quick to point out that once these discrepancies came to light, Kraus-Anderson was cooperative in fully settling not only the overcharges which were certain, but also those amounts which were subject to differing contract interpretation. "Krause-Anderson has made us whole or will be making us whole with respect to billing issues, our audit, and the independent audit," Hanko said, "Krause-Anderson has been very cooperative and understanding about these concerns." The total settlement credit is expected to be in the area of about $270,000. He noted that the project is continuing as planned, and that NCHS has been very pleased with the quality of the construction work, "We are getting, and have had very, very good quality construction" from Krause-Anderson. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): North Country Health Services (NCHS), operators of the Bemidji hospital, and also the excellent Northern Medical Clinic on 5th St. in Bemidji, has always been a conscientious provider of medical care; and is equally conscientious in making sure it's money is being properly spent to better patient resources. The extremely beautiful Sherri Birkeland, NCHS Director of Marketing and Planning, explained that the new expansion isn't just the look of the East Entrance - it includes 37 new patient rooms, 17 additional beds (more of the rooms will now be private), a new patient care tower, new outpatient services, a 78 patient resident care (senior & nursing care) facility, new lobby, education center, chapel, cafeteria and dining hall. ------------------------------------------------------------- BSU JAZZ FEST TO BE FEB. 7TH BEMIDJI -- The name for great jazz, here in the Northland, is the great BSU Jazz Bands I and II. They proved it at the annual Remember When dance, last fall, and they'll do it again February 7th, 2004, at the 31st annual BSU Jazz Fest concert, at the Beaux Arts Ballroom, on the Bemidji State University campus, at 7:30 p.m. Cover is expected to be $5 for adults, seniors and students, $3. Each year, the Fest, under the direction of Dr. Steve Konecne, BSU Director of Music, and conductor of Jazz Band I, hosts a number of other school bands, by invitation. The students get to spend 2 days working with the invited clinicians (professional entertainers who, usually, are also academicians). What matters to the public, though, is that on Saturday night, they get to hear the visiting clinicians perform, in a gala closing public concert, with the BSU bands; by this time, the best two visiting school bands will have been selected to open the concert. Unfortunately, there isn't room to dance, but for jazz aficionados, the quality of the music that night blows the mind! The entertainers. In addition to the renowned BSU Jazz Bands, this year's event will feature clinicians Rex Richardson and Tom Brantley. Both are members of the Rhythm and Brass international touring group. When not on tour, Richardson teaches music at Virginia Commonwealth University; Brantley at the University of South Florida, at Tampa. Director Konecne was excited about this year's lineup, "We have many of the 14 schools back ... I always feel good about it," he said. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): BSU Jazz Bands play at Remember When. Dr. Steve Konecne conducts. The Jazz Singer is Hiram Price. Matt Daniels --------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- WILLIAM KOHLER IDENTIFIED IN AKELEY CAR WASH THEFTS Charges Pending in Coin Box Larceny AKELEY -- It's generally hard for law enforcement to catch a burglar after he's left the scene. But in the scenic lakeside neighborhood community of Akeley, where people pitch in and help fight crime, businessman Warren Scouton got some help from a quick-thinking cashier, and, by immidiate follow-up, was able to find his thief. Scouton, owner of Akeley Auto Sales, and the 24-hour public self-service car wash there, identified unemployed Akeley resident William C. Kohler as having stolen quarters from the coin box at the car wash. Questioned by police, Kohler admitted taking money from the box, but said that it was already broken into. The auto lot & car wash has been the target of multiple incidents of recent theft, including thefts of two motor bikes, and two incidents involving breaking into the car wash coin boxes by shearing the metal coin boxes open with bolt cutters, October 25th, 2003; and cutting the lock, presumably also with a bolt cutter, in the most recent incident, on approx. Dec. 20th, 2003. In the December looting, stolen was an unknown quantity of quarters, two days' receipts of the coin-operated car wash, which Scouton said could be up to $100. Per Scouton, Kohler would later tell Akeley Police Chief Dustin Swenson that, in the morning, he (Kohler) and his girlfriend were at the car wash, using it to take a shower; and that he found the lock cut on the coin box, and $6.25 in quarters in it, which he took. He then drove to the T & M service and convenience store, about 1/4 mile away, where he bought gas and cigarettes. The clerk found it odd that he was paying in quarters, and, there having been the previous coin-box thefts, called Mr. Scouton. Scouton immediately drove to his car wash and discovered that, in fact, it had again been looted. Scouton however, found only one set of (snow boot) footprints in the newly fallen snow about the car wash, and they led to where a car had been parked. Scouton contacted Police Chief Swenson. Shortly thereafter, the same person was observed back at the T & M, using the pay phone. The clerk again notified Scouton, who went over, and found the footprints of the subject to match those found at the car wash. With the clerk's help, Scouton identified the subject, and again contacted the Chief with this new information. Swenson recently confirmed that charges are now pending in connection with the crime, and that the investigation may lead to a solution of some of the previous crimes that have occurred at the same location. ---------------------------------------------------------- At Backus, The Hub of North Central Minnesota IT'S CHILI AT BACKUS Backus's 1st annual Chili Cookoff went well on December 7th, 2003, with many enjoying the 9 entries of chili at the American Legion. First, second and third places awards for best chili went to Gary Dawson, Gerene Schendel, Andy Dembouski respectively, all of the Hackensack-Backus area. ----------------------------------------------------------- REYNOLDS CLEARED IN BAT INCIDENT John Reynolds, Father, Want Brian Winge Charged for Making False Complaint SOLWAY -- If anyone saw what actually happened in the early morning of August 9th, 2002, at the Mad Hatter bar at Wilton, they're not saying much about it. Brian Winge, then 18 years, accused John William Reynolds, then 17, of Solway, of hitting him with an aluminum baseball bat. Subsequent evidence, though, coupled with the fact that conflicts exist in the statements of witnesses (friends of Winge - no one, other than Winge, claimed, though, to have actually seen the alleged assault) make it unlikely that Reynolds was there that evening. Beltrami Prosecutor Sheri Schluchter, who had been trying to have Reynolds tried as an adult, in the face of new evidence, requested dismissal of all charges, which was done 02/25/03 before the Honourable Judge Benshoof. Reynolds had been incarcerated for several days at NJTC for this matter, and then put on electronic home monitoring, causing him to lose about two thousand dollars of work during the beet harvest. He and his father, (also John Reynolds, referred to herein as John Reynolds (Sr.)) now want action taken against Winge for having made a false police report, or, at least, minor consumption (which likely led to the incident). It does not now appear, though, that those charges will be brought. What happened. What is known is that Brian Winge, then 18 years, was injured, probably by assault, and probably in the parking lot of Mad Hatter's. The Call for Service (CFS) to the Beltrami Co. Sheriff's Office came in at 1:08 a.m., August 9th, 2002. John William Reynolds kept a copy of most of his court documents, including medical reports, and they show that, arriving at the scene, Deputy Robert Carlson found "several small pools of blood" in the parking lot, but Winge, and all other parties and possible witnesses to what had occurred had left the area. As Carlson was preparing to depart, Winge's brother, Bradley Galstad, drove into the lot, and led Carlson to the Winge residence at 9119 Centerline Rd., NW, Solway; where Carlson observed that Winge had sustained "a substantial laceration" to his head, and a split lip. Deputy Carlson reported, "It was immediately apparent that Winge had been consuming alcoholic beverages.... He emitted a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage about his person and his eyes were extremely bloodshot and watery." Per Carlson's report, Winge then and there accused John William Reynolds of striking him with a baseball bat. He said that he was by himself when he exited the Mad Hatter bar and was struck, knocking him unconscious. Winge was transported to the North Country Regional Hospital emergency room, where he received staples in his scalp (readers: don't try this at home) and stitches in his lip, and was released. Carlson also found two witnesses at Winge's residence; Matt Ridlon, and Jessica Holloway (involved in 1995 assault on Heather Lory - see The Richard Lory Stories in Living on the Edge at northernherald.com). Ridlon said that he saw an unidentified male, partially obscured by the darkness, running with a bat. Holloway said that "several individuals were apparently with the suspect armed with the bat, and they all ran towards a vehicle." Trouble is, as fate would have it, Reynolds had been seen by Deputy Carlson a half hour before the incident, at precisely 12:38 a.m., and he was not in the company of "several individuals". He was only with his cousin, Joshua Collins, at Grant Lake, in Wilton, where the deputy approached them and told them that they couldn't be in the park after hours. In issuing the warning, Carlson searched the car (which belonged to Collins, and had no back seat, leaving the trunk space open and visible) and would later report "I did not observe a bat ... in the motor vehicle." Collins was moving to Fargo, and Reynolds was to drive him there that night. They had attended a going-away party in Bemidji just before going to Grant Lake. Reynolds said that they went directly to his home (in Solway) from Grant Lake; the Reynolds' telephone bill, for their home telephone, tends to corroborate this. It discloses a series of long-distance calls to the Fargo area beginning at 1:10 a.m. (only two minutes after LEC received report of the alleged assault at Wilton, about ten minutes away) and continuing until 1:26 a.m. That final call was to Floyd McNamara, in West Fargo, who has confirmed that call was received from Reynolds, just before they departed Solway, arriving at McNamara's about 2 hours later that morning. Although Ridlon could not identify Reynolds that night, by the time he gave a taped statement to Deputy Carlson, on August 14th, he apparently had decided to corroborate his friend Winge's accusation, saying "I seen Jake [John Reynolds] running with the bat in his hand." Winge was harder to interview. Having made the initial accusation, he was reluctant to contact the Sheriff's Office for a formal statement. He had to be asked repeatedly to make one, and finally, also on August 14th, five days after the incident, told Deputy Carlson, "I got hit three times with a baseball bat." By then, other things had changed also: in his statement, he now said "I walked out the doors with a couple of girls....," contradicting his earlier statement that he was alone when he exited the bar. Asked if he saw the assailant, Winge said, "Yes, Jake [John] Reynolds ...." Winge's police interview evidences that there was a past animosity on the part of Winge, toward Reynolds; but Reynolds, in his police statement, said that it was not reciprocated, "we just don't talk," he said, adding, regarding bad blood between them, "I don't think so, I mean, there's nothing coming from my end." Winge also stated that he had had trouble, earlier that evening, in the bar, with a Scott Anderson; but police reports disclose no follow-up on Anderson's whereabouts when the alleged assault occurred. The charges. On the basis of Winge's statement, a warrant was issued, charging Reynolds with delinquency by Assault in the Second Degree - Dangerous Weapon. He was arrested Sept. 12th, and held for about five days at Northwest Juvenile Training Center (NJTC), where he was repeatedly strip-searched, prior to being released on home monitoring on the order of Judge Benshoof. Reynolds gave police a statement denying his involvement in the alleged assault; and indicating his whereabouts that night. The statement would have been corroborable by his father, with whom he resides, and by his cousin, Joshua Collins, whom he drove to Fargo that night (Northern Herald has interviewed both). Said John Reynolds Sr., "I talked [in open court] to the Judge [Benshoof] and explained that I was at home with my son [when the incident allegedly occurred] and that my son did not do this, and he [Judge Benshoof] just ...[disregarded] it." Reynolds said that he normally drives truck during the beet harvest, and the house arrest cost him about two thousand dollars in lost earnings from that, and also carpentry work that he normally did with his father. Additionally, there was a cost for the monitoring bracelet, which required that an additional phone line be installed in the home. Asst. Co. Atty. Sheri Schluchter, of the office of Tim Faver, Beltrami County Attorney, prosecuted the charge, and had moved to have Reynolds tried as an adult. When the police statement conflicts and other exculpatory evidence were highlighted by Asst. Public Defender Diana Sweeney's filing, before the Court, a statement of "Noteworthy Facts In Police Reports", however, Schluchter then moved to dismiss; dismissal was granted on February 25, 2003. Reynolds is glad that that nightmare came to an end, but doesn't believe that Winge, having falsely accused him, causing considerable trouble and expense, should get off scot-free. His father disclosed, in interview, a history of trouble with the Winge family and their many relatives in the area; that since the Reynoldses moved in, they've been blackballed in the neighbourhood, and have had property issues including people trespassing, illegally logging, etc., on their land. Mr. Reynolds (Sr.) denied that there was any family feud, "A feud assumes there's two people fighting;" but he acknowledges that his family has been harassed, and believes that this may be why his son was a handy person to accuse, when Winge and his friends didn't know who committed the alleged assault. There's a lot of juvenile crime in Beltrami County, and these young culprits have to be kept off the street until they've had time to grow some brains, which, around here, can take a long time. Reynolds (Sr.), though, expressed concern over the way the juvenile system works when the accused happens to be innocent, "In Minnesota, if you're a juvenile, they don't care whether you've done this, or not ... you've automatically been assumed that you've done it...," he said. Regarding the character of Brian Winge, Reynolds (Jr.) said that despite being underage, Winge is a known user of alcohol and "crank" (methamphetamine). Northern Herald: "Have you actually ever seen him use it (crank)?" Reynolds: "No, but I've had him try to sell it to me." Both Reynolds and his father have tried to have charges brought against Winge for falsely reporting a crime, but have been stalled by authorities. Minnesota law prohibits making a false report of a crime that didn't occur, but it is not a violation to simply accuse the wrong person. The Reynoldses made a complaint with the Sheriff's Office and, according to Reynolds (Sr.), were told by the deputy, "this is going to be a hard case and this is going to take awhile...." But "they've never made any contact with us whatsoever," since, regarding the matter. Reynolds said, also, that the deputy who took his complaint told him and his father to "keep quiet" about the matter "until they get something figured out." Reynolds (Sr.) added, "He [Winge] was drunk and he was under age ... he was in a bar ... that's the very least ... he should be charged with...." It does not appear likely, however, that Winge will be charged in this matter. Beltrami Sheriff Keith Winger said, as regards charges against Winge for false reporting, "If the Court has determined that there was probable cause for the arrest, we wouldn't file charges for falsely reporting a crime." And, although the police reports make it clear that Winge was guilty of minor consumption of alcohol, the Beltrami County Attorney has brought no charges against him, and it is doubtful, at this late date, that he will. Reflecting on his son's charging, on Winge's and Ridlon's (conflicting) statements alone, and despite all of the exculpatory evidence and witnesses that Reynolds was somewhere else when the alleged assault occurred; Reynolds (Sr.) said he believes current police administration is "trying to breed a criminal record for all of our youth, particularly if you're poor." Diogenes's Lantern. VSA (a type of lie detector) analysis, by Northern Herald, of Reynolds's taped interview, supports a conclusion that he was being truthful in his statements that, on the night of the incident, he and Collins drove from Bemidji to Grant Lake, and then "directly home"; that he was not on the premises or parking lot of the Mad Hatter bar that night, and did not assault Brian Winge. -------------------------------------------------------- HOT CAKES AT BLACKDUCK For a good dinner deal, the Blackduck Senior Center features their hot cake supper the third Thursday of every month, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. It's $3 for adults, including sausage, beverage and all the cakes you can eat! Public and families are invited, you don't have to be a senior (although that would make you a better and wiser person) to attend and enjoy! ------------------------------------------------------------ In Focus ICE RACES ON AT LAPORTE! LAPORTE -- In the Minnesota winter, ice racing is always popular. But this is different from what Citans do on their morning commute - it involves real race cars and a real track - carved out of the ice on Garfield Lake! Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Lions in captivity. The Laporte-Benedict Lions serve up hot chili, disheveled Josephs, hot cocoa, and other munchies at the ice track. Corner flagging was provided by Jeff Holland, owner of Laporte Service And we have a Winner! As Steve Donat is chequer flagged in by flagman, Jerry Davis, as the winner of the feature event. But wife, Cat Donat, isn't playing second fiddle to anyone - she won the ladies' powder puff derby in the same car - # 43! Kurt Honer, driving #07, sponsored by moondancejam.com, also leads in current point standings with 106. Kalin Honer drives #77 (front car). Cory Watson driving car #84, sponsored by The Wharf and Wedgewood Golf, took an early lead, and came in Second Place in the heat. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Editorials - Opinion -------------------- DEATH PENALTY IS FINE, BUT IF GOVERNOR KILLS THE WRONG PERSON, HE SHOULD SWING -- In the wake of the recent Dru Sjodin kidnapping, Governor Tim Pawlenty has suggested that Minnesota adopt the death penalty for certain crimes. This type of thing is politically popular. As humans, after all, we like to kill people. Republicans, particularly, like to kill people, as long as they've already been born. The notion of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" is both wise and just. It's been with us since biblical times. As long as we're executing the right person. In 2000, student journalists at Northwestern University demonstrated, by new evidence they'd unearthed, that Illinois death row inmate Anthony Porter had been innocent and was wrongly convicted. The discovery came within two days of when he was to have been executed. (Source: CNN) Under law, a jury is presumed to be infallible. But the Porter discovery caused then-Governor George Ryan (Rep.) (who supports the death penalty, for actual criminals) to review Illinois's death row record. He determined that since Illinois reinstated capital punishment in 1977, 12 people had been executed; and 13 people who had been convicted and sentenced to death, had been exonerated from death row. In other words, the jury was shown to have been wrong in more cases than the number of executions performed. (Juries: Because none of us is as dumb as all of us -- Ed.) And Governor Ryan then ordered a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. To be sure that it wouldn't be used on innocent people, before leaving office, he also commuted the sentences of all of the inmates on death row to life in prison. The death penalty is a very final thing. It is unfortunate that some people have to spend years in prison (Porter was there for 15) before evidence is discovered showing that they shouldn't have been there to begin with. After the death penalty is carried out, however, it doesn't matter what new evidence shows. And if we impose the death penalty on an innocent person, we commit, knowingly, the same type of crime for which he was wrongly convicted. Can we be that sure? Well, yes, in some cases, we can be that sure of guilt; but history has shown that, as a matter of course, judges and juries have imposed the penalty, and various governors have allowed it to be carried out, without being that sure. Nicholas Yarris, of Pennsylvania, became the 10th person to be exonerated from death row in 2003, a year in which more death row inmates were exonerated than any other. He had been imprisoned for 21 years. Now, three DNA tests on the trial evidence have excluded him from the crime. (Sources: Death Penalty Focus, ICADP, www.icadp.org/page223.html) Newer forensics are one means by which it is being shown that many capital convictions, even by a jury, were just plain wrong. Said Richard Dieter, Executive Director, Death Penalty Information Center, "Clearly, the problem of wrongful convictions of those facing the death penalty has not gone away...." A recent daytime television show, Maury, did a telecast featuring 3 death row survivors. Innocent people sentenced to death. One of them was a woman who, along with her husband, was sentenced to be executed for a crime to which another person later confessed. She and her husband were, in the end, found innocent of the crime. She was released, but she is a widow. By then, her husband had been put to death. Administered correctly, capital punishment is a fine and just thing. But there needs to be a measure of accountability to absolutely ensure that it isn't used inappropriately on someone that the jury just didn't like. Personal responsibility would provide that assurance. If an officer's neck is on the line, he's going to be careful, which we should be when killing our citizens. As it was in Illinois, in states where it is enacted, the governor is the official who has the role of enforcing capital punishment. He has the final say as to who shall and shall not be executed. So we support Minnesota's adoption of capital punishment, provided, 1) that it is done by public hanging where people can come to the festive event and socialize (some like to bring box lunches) and see justice carried out, for it's deterrent effects; and that way, also, we can be sure the person is really dead (there have been allegations of nonperformance and cover-up with other methods); and 2) that the bill enacting capital punishment contain a provision that, should a person be executed and later be proven to have been innocent, then the Governor shall face the same penalty. The Republican Governor and House can have the death penalty, but if he kills an innocent person, Pawlenty would have to swing, too. It's an eye for an eye, and, with something this important, we can't be hypocrites about it. ------------------------------------------ Letters to the Editor TENNESSEAN OPTS OUT OF DATING GAME Thank you for having the guts to stand up against the Bureaucracy. They remind me of the eunuchs of the Chinese empire who sometimes held power. Like those eunuchs, the modern bureaucrats have lost connection with the Yang part of them and care only for their own selfish lust for wealth and power. We have the same problems here in Tennessee, but, no journalists (as far as I'm aware) willing to take it on. We have a family trucking company and I've seen it all. Guys being arrested because their girlfriends get ticked off, get a restraining order and tell lies about abuse, etc. and have the guys arrested. Some of these females even use tactics like entrapment. Some are stalkers. Some are the real abusers. I try to help some of these guys if I can - even financially. But I can't save all of them. I can't prevent a tsunami like this. I can evacuate a few and I can help to rescue a few survivors. I do what I can to help guys around me. I hear this is going on all across this nation. And the feminists think THIS is justice? Bigotry against a person because of their gender? I hear more and more single men saying they don't even want a wife and/or children. Females are just too much trouble to bother with anymore. Even when we try to keep out of trouble. I got re-acquainted recently with a woman I knew in high school. She initiated a romance with me. She is the one who came onto me. She wanted it. I would have been content to have just been left alone. All I did was say, "yes" to a little kissing. After several times of telling her I didn't want a relationship and dealing with her crying and carrying on and practically begging me to re-consider. Then, I finally consented to her coming here for a visit (she lives in another state, thank God!). I spent four days and nights with her. We slept together and made love but we didn't have sex. After all of this I am convinced she is a psycho. I took her to the airport and she went back home and I didn't miss her. I still don't miss her. I sent her a good-bye letter over a month ago. She has sent me 3 e-mails since then. Mostly chit chat - wishing me a happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, saw a commercial that reminded her of me, etc. Harmless enough I guess. But if it were the other way around, SHE could have me arrested just for sending her an e-mail wishing her a Merry Christmas. Not that I want to take legal action against her, but, if I were to go to the local cops and/or courts and say this woman is a psycho and won't leave me alone, they would only laugh at me or more likely they would find some way to consider ME a threat to her safety. So all I can do is ignore her e-mails, not respond to them (which she probably thinks is rude but I don't care), and hope that eventually she gives up and goes away. The bad experiences of other men have taught me that is the ONLY choice I have in modern, feminized America. Please tell me what I can do to assist Randy Meyer, presently incarcerated at 1101 Linden Lane, Faribault, MN. I am currently trying to do what I can to assist Wil Hetherington who is in prison in Jackson, Michigan. I send him needed funds from time to time - mostly for supplies to prepare his legal defense. He is also in prison due to false accusations made by a female. Do we see a pattern here? And some women (and some men) think that things would run much better if women were completely in charge. Well, we have examples all around us of exactly what would happen if that were the case. Little feminazi gulags in the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave". I don't think these people realize that they will not be free for long and many of us guys no longer wish to be the "Brave" putting our very lives on the line for such ungrateful arrogant witches. Even soldiers today are victims of paternity fraud and other crimes against them perpetrated by females and courts and police who aid and abet them. What do they think that is teaching the rest of us? It teaches us not to trust women, courts or the police. I am better off just keeping to myself and not even talking to females. I know one thing. So far, they can't have me arrested for that. Barry Jernigan Single and Free at Murfreesboro, TN NH replies: To begin with, we'd like to accentuate the positive and recognize the many very substantial women in our area who have been, for many years devoted to long-standing marriages, strengthening American productiveness, economy, and the fabric of our society. Though arguably in the minority, now, we see these women in all walks of life; whether working outside the home, as strong assets to a family business, and/or as homemakers (the noblest occupation), these fine women are, and always have been, the backbone of American society and industry. But you're right, if a man is over 30, his chances of meeting this type of woman are slim. She was probably married long ago, and won't be back on the market. She may be part of the 60% or so, of first-time marriages that succeed. Unless he's looking for a much younger bride, what he's more likely to encounter in the dating pool are those who've been around the block a few times, statistically have less chance of marriage success, and know their way around the courthouse. This makes a good argument for parents to encourage their children to marry young, while those potential spouses capable of committed marriage are still around; and it keeps them out of trouble (If a teenager is old enough to think about romance, (s)he's old enough to think about marriage.) Given one's choices, opting out is one solution that works for some. You are right in that our political spheres have become so eccentric that, as you say, if a woman wasn't "interested", instead of just saying, "don't call me," she is encouraged to make your private romance a public and legal matter. To the civilized, this is as low-class, petty and distasteful as the people who appear on "Judge Hatchett" and "Divorce Court" on TV. People with dignity have never brought the police, the courts, and the public into their private lives, bedrooms, romances, and marriages; and the notion of one spouse testifying against another is an anathema. This is a recent aberration of law which costs the American taxpayers millions of dollars each year in needless court fees and salaries. Absent actual violence or malfeasance, being a part of the turbulence of private romance is not the purpose for which the courts are intended, and is not a proper use of public funds. Your efforts on behalf of men who have been caught in this snare are laudable. As far as Mr. Meyer is concerned, we would encourage you to write him directly at the address provided. We have not investigated his case, and he can better fill you in. We thank you for your comments and efforts. -- Ed. ----------------------------------------------------------- ASK THE TAX GUY by Adam Steele, Certified Public Accountant Tax information presented here is general in nature and is not necessarily applicable to, or advantageous upon, any specific return. Persons interested in strategies and savings discussed here are advised to discuss same, in light of all pertinent financial and tax considerations, as they may apply to the specific taxpayer, with their qualified accountant, or barber. AN IRA CAN MEAN BIG TAX BREAK THIS YEAR! Happy Days Are Here Again! Yep, it's that time of year again! The time people need to minimize what they pay to Uncle Sam, and make sure they get their biggest legal refund. There aren't many things that can be done after year end to affect 2003 taxes, but one of them is an Individual Retirement Account. Simply put, this is like a savings account (can also be in investments, stocks, etc.) for one's retirement. With certain exceptions, it is subject to penalty if withdrawn before age 59 1/2. The upside is that the government gives a tax break to those who "pay themselves" by putting away retirement money. Most of us are familiar with the regular IRA deduction; but now, due to a new tax credit, the IRS may actually give you back (i.e. by increased 2003 tax refund) over 50% of what you contribute to your IRA by April 15th, 2004. (Specific tax savings vary, by return.) This credit can be used by taxpayers: * Who are 18 or over on 1/1/04; * Are not a dependent; * Are not a student; and * Whose Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) does not exceed $50,000 if married-filing a joint return, $37,500 if head of household, or $25,000 otherwise. The credit also applies to other forms of retirement plans, such as 401(k), Roth IRAs, SIMPLEs, SEPs, and voluntary contributions to certain employers' plans. In addition to direct tax reduction from this credit, and the IRA deduction, there may be additional tax savings from increased Earned Income, and Minn. Working Family Credits due to reduction of AGI by the IRA deduction, as well as reduction of Minnesota state tax. To ascertain specific combined tax benefits, the returns should be fully computed both with and without the IRA contribution, and compared; or a qualified accountant or financial advisor should be insulted. It should be noted that withdrawals from a qualified plan, (by either spouse, if married) will substantially reduce the (both spouses', if married) tax credit; and there is an over-three-year lookback period for withdrawals (i.e. withdrawals in 2001 still reduce the 2003 credit). For more information, see 2003 IRS form 8880, and also Ask the Tax Guy in NH of 03/25/03 in The Library at northernherald.com --------------------------------------------------------------- PARK RAPIDS ATTORNEY CHARGED PARK RAPIDS -- Here in west central Minnesota, including Bemidji, Park Rapids, Detroit Lakes and Willmar, many of the major newspapers are owned by a single entity: The Fargo Forum. With them, as with all newspapers, the First Amendment is important. But when a local attorney, who believed he'd been maligned by the Park Rapids Enterprise, offered to exercise his First Amendment rights, the paper made a complaint and had him charged with attempted coercion. Attorney William Jones said that he told Enterprise writer Al Undem that if his (alleged) misreporting continued, Jones would expose verified facts about Enterprise staff on billboards he would rent. Said Jones, "I made it very clear to Mr. Undem that his freedom of the press does not outweigh my freedom of speech." ---------------------------------------------------------- INCREASE YOUR WORD POWER ! neu-ro-il-log-i-cal adj. referring to the brain function of a Northern Minnesotan, or of our state legislators. Traditionally, neurological was used, but was too much of an oxymoron in cases where the noun was simply a moron. ----------------------------------------------------- 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 GOOD DEAL ON LITTLE FALLS AUTO REPAIR You never know where you're going to have car problems, and if it happens out-of-town, well, at some places, you might as well just sign over the car's title. That's why it's good to know that if you break down in Little Falls, Minn., there's a reasonable, honest shop there. West Broadway Automotive will even tow your car (up to 10 miles), if needed, free, for service in their shop. West Broadway Automotive is owned by seasoned mechanic Scott, who knows and tries all of the less expensive alternatives before recommending parts replacement; and his wife, who does the books and business office. They've had their own shop for about three years, now, and it's where many Little Falls residents go for dependable car repair. PROBLEMS WITH YOUR CELL PHONE COMPANY? With all the demand for this new type of service, and relatively few providers, many cell phone companies have gotten like AT&T used to be before the Court got fed up with them and (justly) ordered the end of their monopoly in the 80s by cutting the giant firm into small, competitive, managable, shreads. Cell companies, typically, aren't real receptive to service complaints, and if one doesn't like it, well, the alternative is a couple of tin cans and a string. But sometimes what the cell companies do (including billing matters) is in violation of FCC rules. Because of the rampant problems with a renegade cell industry, the FCC has made it very easy and fast to file a complaint online - takes about 10 minutes - just go to http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm One can also get info & regs from the FCC wireless site, at http://wireless.fcc.gov/ COLD WEATHER COMMENTS AND COMPARISONS THE PATTON(R) OIL FILLED ELECTRIC RADIATOR is a great thing to have if your want a puddle of oil on your floor carpeting. In our test scenario, a just bought new unit, assembled and operated per directions, at the middle setting (900 watts), began to leak oil within a few minutes of operation, and within an hour, had dripped about a 12 inch pool of hot oil beneath the unit. DIALS OR DIGITS? Which should one buy? Portable heaters, as well as air conditioners, and even fans, often have thermostats. Traditionally, this has been a dial, which worked just fine. Among today's newfangled garbage, however, some models, instead of having an easy to set (one motion) dial, have a digital display. You have to play around with a button for awhile to set it. This is a great example of taking something that worked well, and using technology to make something less of it. This is supposed to be an appliance, not a computer. And that's not the worst of it. Up here, momentary (or longer) power failures are not uncommon. When this happens, a dial unit simply comes back on when the power returns. But not a digital unit. It'll lose the temperature setting, and stay off until you reset it. This can be particularly inconvenient if you're not at home when it happens. Digital "Technology"? Listen genuises: if it's not broken, don't fix it! THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK "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." This column is cumulative, and provided for consumer awareness. Signed consumer submissions are welcome. For review of the following Things that just don't work, see Things That Just Don't Work, at northernherald.com: * CELLULAR-ONE(R) * HI-VAL(R) (I/O MAGIC(R)) CD-RW drives * SYMPHONIC(R) VCRS. * LEXAR(R) Compact Flash cards * OFFICE MAX(R) REBATES * HEWLETT-PACKARD(R) product support ---------------------------------------------------- In Focus Visiting Northern MEXICO With the coldest month of February approaching, this is the time of year when the thoughts of many Northerners turn to warmer climes. For the traveler, Mexico is a 24-hour a day fiesta. Whether for a weekend, or longer, the Northern Region of the Baja California penninsula of Mexico is a favorite winter retreat for many. Some Americans have bought into time-share and other real estate leases (extreme caution should be exercised in these, however; there are many frauds and uncompleted projects) along the clean, white sandy beaches and cliffs that stretch from the Playas de Tijuana (Tijuana Beach) to Ensenada; more go for day trips, or avail themselves of the ample lodging facilities along the way. A person can get to Ensenada by cruise or air, but one of the best ways is to fly into San Diego, rent a car, and drive it. The 70-mile route from Tijuana is a scenic one, mostly along the oceanfront, and visitors can avail themselves of the many fantastic vistas, smaller communities, and shopping, great dining (even at streetside cafes), and recreation opportunities that otherwise might be missed. For those who'd rather leave the driving to someone else, the San Diego Trolley goes all the way to the border, whence buses to downtown Tijuana depart during daytime hours. The city can be explored on foot, or by the many convenient taxicabs (see Taxicabs, p. 8). There are also local buses in Mexico that go most everywhere, but some authorities have issued security cautions to travelers on these; and they should generally be used only by the most adverturesome and those with plenty of time. IN TIJUANA Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): No, that's not his finger, it's a churro! Churro vendor Lupe Samora provides fresh and still warm from the fryer handy snacks near the business district. A look down trader's row on Avenida Revolucion, Tijuana. Visitors will often get their best buys in leather, clothing, glassware and other commonly sought items in this highly competitive district where all things (almost) are open to negotiation. Street minstrel Daniel Palma picks acoustic guitar near the business area. Gotta go in style! Once commonplace, an inexpensive streetside shine is a lost art stateside. We suppose kids here just don't need to earn money anymore. But in Mexico, people still do, which is why the service is very good, by our standards. Local businessmen line up at this portable shine site ($2) near a downtown parking lot. Fresh fruit is always in season and very available, inexpensively, from the many sidewalk vendors. At right, the merchant prepares fresh fruit cocktails; his stand also features pineapples, cups of cherries, and other fruit. A delightful native fruit drink known as Agua Fresca is available at the many Michoacan stands throughout town. Just the thing on a warm day. We don't know whether they use purified water, though. Tijuana is the best place to find streetside stands and cafes selling Tacos Carne Asada (steak), and Carnitas (pork). There'll be tacos in Rosarito, too; but the specialty there is fish, shrimp and lobster tacos. The name may be familiar, but this stand, in Tijuana, near the Mercado des Artisians is not affiliated with the stateside Taco Bell. Here, steak is grilled, and carnitas is cut from the rotisserie, and served on fresh and flavourful warm corn tortillas, with lots of guacamole, onions, cilantro, and firey-hot chili sauce, with limes and veggies on the side. Prices vary - this stand is one of the best deals at 3 for $1. A person can eat quite a few of these! The zebra-painted burro is a popular spot where families get photos of the kids riding. Ladies' jewelry is always a popular item at the Revolucion Ave. shops. Some of it is very attractive, but Caveat Emptor - what is stamped on it - goldmark or otherwise - really means nothing here. Sometimes the merchant will try to "prove" the quality of a good by applying a lit match to, or dripping acid on, it. These "tests" should not be relied upon to indicate the presence, depth, or purity of precious metals. If something looks good, buyers should generally assume it's just costume (plated) jewelry, and make their offers accordingly. $5-$10, after all, isn't a bad price to pay for an accessory that will be pretty, until it turns green. There are sometimes some good deals to be found in actual Mexican gold and sterling jewelry - but only from established reputable jewelers (not generally in the tourist district), including the Mexican government-run gold and silver shops. Mexican Chile Guadillo, California, and de Arbol are generally available for $4-8/kilo (2.2 lb.). This indoor produce stand is at Avenida Ninos Heroes between 1st & 2nd Sts. (For chili recipe using these whole peppers, see NH of 2/10/03, at northernherald.com) Visitors will find a wide range of dining & beverage - from steakhouses (Sonora beef is some of the best), to the quaint, to familiar names like KFC, Subway, Dominos and McDonalds. Boots & Leather are produced in Mexico, and are often a good buy there. Revolucion Ave. merchants display a wide selection of women's handbags (some patterned after designer labels), and men's boots. Other merchants carry jackets, vests, luggage, etc., generally of acceptable quality, at very reasonable prices. In the tannery district, a few blocks from Revolucion (ask any merchant which way), entire hides, tanned, dyed and ready to use, can be found for as little as $50, depending upon size. If one was reupholstering furniture, or a car, the savings here could easily pay for the trip. Many, also, like the uniquely printed Mexican ceramic tile. Again, if one is redoing a kitchen or bath, they can save some real $$$s! A lot of the people who live here buy their footwear at the Tres (3) Hermanos stores, below, which display all of their styles in the windowcases. These stores may not be in all tourist areas, but usually aren't far. Men's dress shoes and boots, and women's fashion boots are generally no higher than about $30, and many styles are much less. Large sizes, however, may be unavailable. Pharmacies sell many Rx medications over the counter, sometimes for less than U.S. prices; a Mexican, or U. S. prescription, however, is required to bring them to the U. S.; and some may be illegal to possess, in Mexico, without a prescription. The Calimax or Gigante supermarkets should be a stop on any sojourn. Here, one can find far-better-than-domestic tortillas (below), kept warm under the blanket, for about 4.2 pesos/kg. (about 19 cents a lb.)! Other finds at the market include vanilla (it's the finest, but don't buy imitation, also sold there) at about $1.10 for 8 oz., La Costena brand Salsa Ranchera, and inexpensive ground chile. A wide variety of wares is found at the Mercado, on 1st St. just east (toward the border crossing) of Revolucion Ave. Sights and buys along the Mercado, between the landmark arch and the footbridge, include leather hats, ponchos and other clothing, and crafted glassware, such as this ship, at very reasonable prices. Strolling mariachis entertain at a sidewalk cafe in downtown Tijuana's Mercado Municipal. PUERTO NUEVO They say it started about 50 years ago when a lobsterman named Ortega decided to deep-fry his catch right there and sell it to motorists at roadside. As legend goes, enough people kept coming back that he had to open a restaurant. Now there are over 50 restaurants in the 3 block square town of Puerto Nuevo, all serving pretty much the same thing: the unique Puerto Nuevo style deep-fried lobster. Some have said that it's the best lobster they've had, and we have to agree that it's exceptionally good. The lobster is prepared the same way at all the restaurants, but portions, quality, value, ambience, and service may vary significantly. Having sampled several of the many neon-light clad restaurants from which to choose, we have found La Escondida, despite it's unpresuming outside appearance, to be, in all ways, consistently the best. Here, guests will find a BIG bowl of guacamole, chips, and a good-sized lobster meal for two, served family style, with all the hot flour tortillas (these are homemade, and much better than commercial - in ways, they're similar to homemade lefse), refried beans and Mexican rice one wants (they usually bring out more than two can eat, to begin with), AND complimentary Margaritas (one per person), all for about $40-45 (depending on size of the lobster entrees ordered). A $10 tip is usually appropriate, considering the excellent service. Tableside mariachis are usually available. A small lobster meal for one starts at about $9. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): "Now, just how large is your large lobster?" At La Escondida, they'll be glad to show you! THAT'S a bowl of guacamole! Diners from Northern Minnesota, where a serving of guacamole means about a thimbleful in a bottle cap, will enjoy becoming acclimated to La Escondida's generous servings. La Escondida is near the oceanfront, close to the end of the street leading into Puerto Nuevo. It's second floor seaside picture windows overlook the ocean, where flocks of pelicans can, at day, often be observed gliding, as well as other sea birds. ROSARITO Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Rental horses are available for beachfront riding at Rosarito Beach. Comfortable lodging can generally be found in the $30-$40 range. The Rosarito Beach Hotel is a bit more plush and somewhat higher. Their scenic cocktail and dining room between the pool and beach parallels the waterfront, with glass on both sides for great ocean views. A pianist sometimes plays at meals. ENSENADA Ensenada is a seaport town, and very different from Tijuana. It is much smaller, and the shops and architecture of the business district are quaint. Commercial fishing is a major industry; the shops are higher class, and may be higher priced, although there are many good values to be found. This is where the famous Hussong's Cantina is located, and is also where one can buy sculpted onyx (for some reason, the shops in Tijuana don't usually have it) and other fancier items. Each year, many visitors see La Bufadora, a geyser-like coastal blowhole, of which there are only three in the world, about an hour's drive (over treacherous roads) from Ensenada. LAS SENORITAS DE TIJUANA Gentlemen's services are generally available throughout Mexico, and particularly in Tijuana, where they are plentiful and less expensive. As the presence of these vendors may be bothersome to some travelers, particularly families, we include this info, advising of where to stay away from. If you know where they are, it is very easy to enjoy shopping, dining and recreation in Mexico without ever inadvertently wandering into the wrong kind of establishment. (Much of the information presented in this article is per interview with a source living in Tijuana and familiar with the zona rosa district; and has not been, by Northern Herald, independently corroborated, but is believed to be credible.) It is written that woman was created as man's helpmate. This goes back only as far as the sixth day of creation. Some women are fortunate enough that they need serve only one man for a lifetime; for others, often due to their own devising, this isn't possible and they, instead, serve all men. This is true in Mexico, as well as everywhere else; in Mexico, the medium of exchange is more direct than in some places. (At Bemidji's most notorious tramping bars, conversely, the medium is often a 12-pack. - Here, though, we're dealing with working girls, not tramps - a different thing altogether.) These girls consider it their jobs. As with any job, they're working out of necessity, not just for what "extras" they can glean in addition to support that they already get (in Bemidji, it's hard to buy a 12-pack with food stamps). So, the working girl's attitude is better; her role and demeanor are professional, more like that of a physical therapist, of sorts; excepting, of course, that the parts of the body that she deals with are the sinful ones, and that the act involved is the one human act which polite company finds the most disgusting and repulsive of the things that they all do, generally as often as possible. Clearly, having known, during their singular lifetimes, more than one man by lying with him (*note 1, below), and thereby having committed adultery, when their times come, these women will have to deal with eternal flames which burn but do not consume; although among the unmarried men who frequent the zona rosa ("red light" district), some would no doubt say, conversely, that there is a special place in Heaven reserved for them. As far as health is concerned, it's her livelihood, so she is generally knowledgable and conscientious - far more so than, say, a woman whom one might meet, up here, at a picnic, tavern, or church social, who, over the years, has quietly and casually slept with half the congregation, or, in some cases, the town, with little thought of the risks involved (the large number of unmarried pregnancies, in Northern Minnesota, is testament to this). She is more ethical than some priests: she has no interest, for example, in little boys. These girls are, of course, sinners. One would be hard put, however, here in Northern Minnesota, to find someone who could cast the first stone at them. In Mexico, the practice is tolerated as there, as well as in many parts of the world, including one U.S. state, it provides a means for unmarried women, often with children, to support themselves and their offspring, where they would have no other means. In Mexico, without it, many would go homeless and hungry. Tijuana's major zona rosa, or "red-light district" is heavily patrolled by police (who maintain a satellite station there) to keep drugs out, provide order in this heavily trafficked area, and protection from violence for the women who operate there, as well as for other businesses and patrons in the area. This type of system is, of course, onerous to those of us in Northern Minnesota, where we believe that women with kids who cannot or will not marry, or who divorced their breadwinners, should still be supported by their ex-spouse, or by the taxpayers - in other words, by everyone else, including those with family obligations of their own. But this is the system in Mexico, where they don't have money to just throw around, and it seems to work there. It also brings a substantial amount of outside money into the Mexican economy; and though conclusive comparative statistics are not available, it stands to reason that the availability of this industry probably lessens the incidence of romantic crime and its accompaniment of violent crime (such as has recently come to light in Northern Minnesota) that might otherwise occur. These may also be reasons why it is tolerated in Mexico. Places to avoid (where this activity occurs): 1) Many bars in or near the tourist district of Revolucion Ave., and elsewhere in Mexico, have signs advertising "floor shows". The floor shows, however, often are actually strip-dance shows. If a man goes in and orders a drink, he will likely be approached by one of the women there, who will sit down at his table and ask him to buy her a drink. If he gives the OK, the waiter brings it. The woman's drink will be about 1/2 the size of his, and the customer (the guy) will be charged 2-3 times as much for it as he paid for his own drink (e.g. the guy might pay $3 for his own beer - if he orders one for the woman, however, he may be charged $6 to $10 for a 1/2 sized bottle). The woman, of course, receives a cut of those proceeds. (There are also, in Tijuana, many normal bars and night clubs where a drink is a drink - they're all the same size and they all cost the same). At this point, the customer is likely to be propositioned - there is usually a "hotel" proximate to the bar, and charges generally range from $40 up, including the room charge. 2) The Zona Rosa. A major red-light district of Tijuana is located about the intersection of Constitucion Ave. & Coahuila streets, downtown, about 1/3 mile from the tourist district. * People traveling with families, and others who do not wish to be exposed to this, should be aware of where this intersection is, and should stay at least 2 blocks away from it (see Internet map site, page 8). * Per our source, it is dangerous (i.e. serious risk of violent crime) for U.S. visitors to venture more than 1 block north (i.e. away from the tourist district) of Coahuila St. Within a block or so of the intersection of Constitucion Ave. & Coahuila streets, about 50 to 100 women will be found on the sidewalk at most any time of day or night; an unescorted man walking down the street generally will be invited up to one of the many "hotels", also in that block, at a charge of about $25, including the room charge. Where the services are adequate, a tip of $1-$5 is sometimes given. Common Frauds: Per our source, most of the women operating in the zona rosa are honest regarding the services to be rendered (as much of the traffic is local, they'd soon be out of business if they weren't), but, as everywhere else, here, there are some frauds. Some common ones include: 1) In a bar, the woman asks for payment in advance because she has to give some to the "house". Having been paid, she then tells the mark (the person being conned) that she has to change out of her dance costume, goes to the dressing room and then leaves by a back door. 2) The woman tells the mark that she has to pay her baby-sitter, and asks for the money in advance, promising to return within a few minutes. Surely, we don't have to tell you how this one ends. 3) Normally, payment is made, in the room, immediately before the services are rendered. A woman who offers, on the street, to be paid afterwards, is probably not legit and is planning to blackmail the mark (there are many ways, including her falsely telling police that he has drugs, or otherwise making a false accusation - wait a sec, this is starting to sound like Bemidji again). Once she has enticed him into the room, she will likely try to shake him down for much more than the agreed sum, whether or not the services are performed. If these girls want to make trouble for a visitor, they can (much like their American counterparts); but most don't want to - as we say, despite tougher conditions, the attitude is better - mostly, they're just there doing their jobs and appreciate what business happens their way. *note 1: but then, of course, so have those women here, who pretend to be devout, but have broken holy vows taken in the presence of the divine, sometimes many times, destroying their own lives, as well as those of their spouse and children. These "working girls" are just more honest about it, destroy no lives, and have no need to invoke His name in vain. COMMON SENSE TIPS FOR ENJOYING YOUR STAY IN MEXICO. Mexico is a fun place to be. We don't want to scare anyone off, but being aware of the following will make you a happier person: The Mexican people and their businesses welcome Americans, and the level of service rendered visitors is often exceptional, by our standards. One must always remember, however, that they are a guest in a foreign country, and should present themselves accordingly. This will generally avoid misunderstanding and mishap. Dress down. It is important to understand that despite the high level of service and hospitality rendered in many locations, a visitor in Mexico is in an area with much lower economic standards than those to which most Americans are accustomed. Desperate people do desperate things, and thieves, fraudsters, and pickpockets, as well as armed muggers, and other violent criminals abound in both the tourist areas and native areas of Mexico. A U.S. tourist is a "mark" anyway, far more so if he is dressed conspicuously or gaudily. Leisure clothing is fine. So is a little obviously costume jewelry (ladies, of course). Valuables and fancier stuff should be left behind in the U.S. (best), or reserved for wearing at the more exclusive restaurants and hotels - not on the street - and kept in a safe place when not worn. Always be aware of everything that is happening around you. In Mexico, an American is literally surrounded by potential thieves. But with a little care, he doesn't have to have any of it. Take only as much cash as you will need, plus about $100 for possible unexpected expenses, fines, or if you see something that you've just got to have at the price. Carry your money securely, preferably in denominations of $20 and less (making change is an avenue for fraud), and always know how much you have and where it is. Persons who wish to use their ATM card as necessary can carry less, BUT as there have been reports (as in the U.S.) of people being forced to withdraw money from an ATM, when on the street one may want to leave the card in luggage in the trunk of his car, or other secure location. Carry your wallet, keys and other valuables in your front pocket, and, when shopping, walk with your hand casually in your pocket over the wallet. In Mexico, zippered leather money belts are sold for carrying cash inconspicuously. These are handy, but the workmanship of the stitching and zipper should be checked before purchase. Conversion of American money to pesos is cumbersome, has a price, both ways, and is unnecessary in the Tijuana-Ensenada region. Merchants will accept U.S. funds; visitors should be aware of the current official exchange rate to avoid overcharges. A couple of common tourist scams follow: The $50 to $5 trick. So a guy goes into a bar and orders a drink, giving the waiter a $50 bill. But the waiter is a magician of sorts, and suddenly he's holding a five. If this happens, the visitor should immediately tell the waiter, on no uncertain terms, that first he'll be notifying the establishment manager, and then the police; and then do so. He should not let the waiter out of his sight, but in no event should he try to take the law into his own hands. It is probable that the $50 will miraculously reappear, along with an explanation as to where it went. This, and other problems can be avoided by trying to carry smaller bills. The gays. When on the street, one may be approached by what appears to be a gay guy, trying to pat and feel him through his clothes, while making suggestive remarks. This person is not interested in the traveler, and may not even be gay. He is a pickpocket creating a diversion which is very effective with most normal men. They'll be too busy shooing him away to notice that he's pulling anything that's loose from their pockets. If this happens, be sure to check all of your pockets for what should be there - if anything is missing, without letting the culprit out of sight, summon or have someone else summon police immediately. No matter how outrageous the incident, do not try to take the law into your own hands. The Aloha Club on Avenida Revolucion in the tourist area of Tijuana often has agents hawking and attracting U.S. visitors in off of the street. This is a den for scamsters and should be avoided. There are plenty of legit bars that offer the same kind of entertainment. Never pay anyone for showing you where to go. Some of the restaurants, including better ones, and other establishments, have street hawks to distribute coupons, menus, etc. The legit ones are paid by the restaurant - not the customer. Free-lance hawks and "guides" are frequently (but not always) scam artists, and won't necessarily even provide the best advice. If driving, park in a well-attended secured lot if possible, particularly in Tijuana. The lot at 3rd & Revolucion is recommended. It is well-lit and patrolled by police. It will probably cost about $8-10 for a shopping trip of several hours, but this is cheaper than the contents, parts, and license plates of your car. If parking in the smaller towns, such as Rosarito or Puerto Nuevo, you may have to park on the street. Try to leave the car where you can see it from where you will be. People who say they will "keep an eye" on it for a price are usually scamsters and should not be paid. In Ensenada's shopping district, where street parking is necessary, the police will keep an eye on it - you don't have to pay anyone else to. All valuables, bought merchandise, cameras, and everything else including clothing, should be in your trunk at all times whether the car is parked, or if you're driving it. It's amazing what people will steal. If you have occasion to transport anyone, be sure that they have not taken anything from your vehicle, and also that they haven't secreted anything in it. There have been reports (not independently corroborated) of people placing drugs in an unsuspecting visitor's car, and then turning them in to Mexican authorities for a reward. Again, you're in the midst of economically desperate people, and you really don't know who is honest and who is not; there are many fine and decent people in Mexico, but also, a very believable, seemingly well-heeled person, of either gender, may have you picked for a mark. Always be sure your car is locked when parked. If you drive, Mexican auto insurance is necessary. Although many American insurance policies cover within a certain range (usually 25-75 miles) of the border, and may offer far better collision and comprehensive protection than the Mexican policies; if an American is in an accident and doesn't have Mexican insurance, his car is likely to be impounded until his (American) insurance company can be contacted for confirmation of liability coverage. And by that time, the car may have disappeared from the impound lot. Mexican auto insurance is inexpensive (usually less than $15/day) and widely available, with offices at the U.S. freeway exits near the border. If one's stay becomes extended, it can be renewed at offices on the Mexican side. Driving a rental. Persons flying to the west coast and renting a car should be sure their rental agency is one which allows the vehicle to travel into Mexico. If their regular car's insurance policy doesn't cover the rental while in Mexico, they are advised to buy the optional rental full coverage (no deductible), as their Mexican insurance (ante) will probably not cover a large part of collision damage, or break-ins, vandalism and theft of plates, to which newer rentals are particularly susceptible. Auto Permit & Tourist Card? Although the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs (USBCA) currently states the need for a temporary automobile import permit and tourist card if more than about 18 miles from the border; official information regarding this is conflicting and confusing. Here's the skinny, distilled from various sources and corroborated by an official of the Mexican Tourism Office at Los Angeles (213-351-6800 ext. 203): The Tijuana-Ensenada area is a "tourist corridor" where these formalities are not required for pleasure stays of less than 72 hours, by U.S. and Canadian citizens. Persons staying longer, or traveling south of Ensenada should inquire locally as to regulations. As cars in Mexico illegally could be confiscated, visitors may want to review these provisions (for this and further official USBCA info, see http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html). Generally, a driver's license or picture ID is accepted for re-entry into the United States. The Mexican Police (Policia) have a tough job in a place where, due to economic conditions, criminals are desperate and abundant. In border cities, Policia are very numerous, particularly in areas where visitors might otherwise get into trouble. They are there to keep the peace and order, and are generally friendly to tourists, but may not have much patience with the few who give them more work to do. It has been alleged that there is corruption among the Mexican police; but then, there is probably more, per capita, in Bemidji. Despite concerns to the contrary, the Policia are, mostly, like policemen anywhere else: trying to keep law and order, generally reasonable, and although they do have a sense of humour, when on the job, their capacity for nonsense is about what might be expected of an on-duty U.S. Marine. Per USBCA, "Although the majority of visitors to Mexico thoroughly enjoy their stay, a small number experience difficulties and serious inconveniences." It must be remembered that Mexico is another country - it has its own Constitution, and what we know as Civil Rights, even fully free speech, don't exist there. Still, they have a system that, for the most part, works for them. American tourism is important to Mexico, and guests in Mexico generally will be well received and will not have problems with the Policia, as long as they don't make their already tough job harder. If a violation occurs. In the U.S., one's driver's license can be suspended for not paying a traffic fine, so, at the scene, a signed promise to appear in court is adequate. In Mexico, however, they have no such assurance for a driver from the U.S. They can't suspend his license, so immediate payment of fines is required. We've all seen the sign "Prices subject to change depending on the customer's attitude." This applies here. If a visitor inadvertently runs a stop sign, or is otherwise stopped, arguing with the officer is not recommended - he knows what he saw. If one wants to tell his story to a judge, that can be done - they're on duty 24 hours a day. Otherwise, one simply accompanies the officer to the cashier at the police station and pays the fine (a schedule of common fines is contained in the Tijuana Legal Guide, post). It should be noted that offering a bribe to an officer is a separate crime. So is asking for or accepting one. In some cases, as a convenience to the tourist, the officer may be willing to allow the offender to give the fine to the officer, for delivery to the fines cashier, or court (whether or not it gets there, at this point, is really not the visitor's concern). Some Americans object to this practice; if they would rather take time out of their Mexican vacation to personally visit the cashier or court, well, that's certainly their prerogative. As we say, this is the system there - it is the unwritten law that, generally, works to the benefit of all concerned. If the visitor is of limited means, the officer will sometimes take this into consideration in evaluating the appropriate charge and applicable fine. As mentioned, they are generally reasonable. Conversely, if the alleged offender appears unusually flashy and lavish, this can have the opposite effect. When driving, look carefully for stop signs and traffic control devices, particularly in Rosarito Beach. They are smaller than ours, and are sometimes oddly placed and hard to see. Some traffic laws may be found in the web references (post); a few noteworthy items include: * Right turns on red, though done a lot, are not permitted. * Yellow lights are a signal to stop, not just slow down. * On many thoroughfares, it is unlawful to drive in the fast lane, other than when passing. * Pedestrians always have the right-of-way. * A cell phone or anything else in the driver's hands is unlawful. * In Tijuana, the speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. * All speed limits are posted in kph rather than mph. To convert to mph, multiply by 5/8 (.625), e.g. posted 60 kph means 37.5 mph. * Never mind that everyone else is speeding - they don't have U.S. plates. Avoid disagreements with merchants, other businesspeople and locals. A little diplomacy goes a long way here. In the U.S., it is fine, even admirable, for a citizen to assert his rights. In Mexico, though, he is a foreigner and a guest. Unless there is no grey area, and the American visitor is clearly 100% in the right, if it becomes a police matter it will probably end up being far more costly than the original amount involved. The visitor will not usually be given the benefit of any doubt, and additionally may be unable to even tell his side of the story, or understand what the other party says, due to the language barrier. And he may find himself cited and fined for disturbing the peace, if not more, and not have the time, while in Mexico, to contest it. If a business misunderstanding (i.e. one gets ripped-off) does occur, it may be beneficial to diplomatically resolve it for some middle amount and get on to better things. It's a cost of travel, and is likely to be offset by the other bargains one finds. Thou shalt not. Except for Mexican-licensed hunters, firearms and ammo are strictly forbidden in Mexico. And, although knives, brass knucks, and other weapons are sold by merchants in Tijuana, it is illegal to carry them there. Fireworks are sold in Tijuana, but it is unlawful to use them there, and they may be ineligible for re-entry to the U.S. Anyone planning to buy or have illegal drugs in Mexico had best pray that they get busted by U.S. Customs, and not the Mexican authorities. Of course, none of our readers would have any use for those anyway. One litre of alcoholic beverage, per person, may be brought back to the U.S. A lot of people make it Kahlua, which can be found as low as $8-10 for .98 litre, a significant saving over the U.S. price. Tequila is not significantly cheaper in Northern Baja than it is in the U.S. When ordering Tequila in a restaurant, although Cuervo is best known, many people consider Sauza Hornitos (100% agave) to be the premium brand. If one is flying in, best to do as much of it as possible on a U.S. airline. There have been several complaints (not independently corroborated) by U.S. travelers re: service, severe delays and cancellations, and baggage problems with Aero California, the Mexican airline. Taxicabs are very available and go everywhere, sometimes even to another city you want to visit. In some cases, it may be advantageous to simply hire the cabbie for a day, and sojourn at leisure. The cabs usually don't have meters - you and the cabbie agree on the price (it is negotiable) beforehand. Although some cabbies may try to get one, tipping the driver is not customary in Mexico. If you get sick. The "touristas" or dysentery afflicts many who are not careful about what they eat or drink, and even many who are. It is caused by e.coli bacteria, prevalent in the water supplies; and can ruin a vacation, making the person very sick for several days. Avoiding it: Drink only bottled water (very available - and some hotels have purified water at the tap), pop, and other bottled beverages. Don't eat uncooked vegetables, unpeeled fruits, or anything uncooked that may have been washed in or prepared with unpurified water. If you get it: There are medications available over-the-counter in Mexico which may control it within a day or two. The pharmacists often know what is effective. Before using any prescription (by U.S. standards) medication, a medical professional should be consulted. These medications may not be eligible for return to the U.S. without a prescription from a Mexican, or American, doctor. The upside of dysentery is that after you've had it a few times, you become immune (like the Mexicans are). Then you can eat and drink anything without concern, which is kind of nice, as there are lots of good things to eat and drink there. Take a pocket-sized Spanish-English dictionary. Although many of the merchants in the tourist district of Tijuana are bilingual, some places you want to buy from may not be - in Rosarito, you may need it just to order lunch. Curiously, a dictionary may be hard to find, once in Mexico. Better to bring it with. Further reading & pictures - web resources: * Some traffic laws - http://www.bajabound.com/before/driving.asp * Tijuana Legal Guide (very useful) - http://www.tijuanaonline.org/english/imagenes/ Tourist%20guide.pdf * Downtown Tijuana street map http://www.tijuana-net.com/main.htm * http://www.bajabound.com/before/visa.asp * http://ensenada.baja.com/ * http://www.ensenada-tourism.com/enstravtips.htm * http://www.enjoyensenada.com/visitorinformation.html ------------------------------------------------------ HEADWATERS LEARNING CENTER SETS SPRING CALENDAR PARK RAPIDS - The Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning has released it's schedule of upcoming class sessions. All are held on Tuesdays, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., free to the public, at St. Peter's Parish Center, 305 W. 5th St., Park Rapids, with refreshments served. Feb. 3 - The Olympics Feb. 10 - The Civilian Conser-vation Corps-history & today Feb. 17 - Art of Photography Feb. 24 - Glaciers Then, Landscapes Now March 2 - Changing Role of the Church in Today's Society March 9 - Dance March 16 - Competitive High School Speech Presentations March 23 - Medical Ethics March 30 - Politics, Mother-hood & Organizing April 6 - World Trade and Food Policy ------------------------------------------------ NEW HOMEBUYERS WORKSHOP AT WALKER Central Minnesota Housing Partnership will conduct a three-part workshop designed to help learn the basics of home buying and ownership, including overcoming credit obstacles; on February 5, 12, & 19 at the Walker High School. For info and to register, readers may call Community Education at 218-547-4360. Participants will analyze their housing needs to help them determine whether or not to buy a home, discuss how to obtain a mortgage loan, learn ways to budget and save for home ownership, and review some basics for home maintenance. In addition, they will learn how to work with real estate and lending agents, and will receive a copy of their credit report. --------------------------------------------------- "FUNNY GIRL" TO PLAY AT GRAND RAPIDS The Grand Rapids Players will present 5 performances of the hit musical, Funny Girl, March 25th - 28th, 2004; at The Reif, of course. Tickets are available at Reed Drug and the Reif Box office. Providing the framework for the "Funny Girl" story is the Brooklyn-bred Fanny Brice and her against-the-odds triumph over ugly duckling-hood to become a top headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies. Her heartbreaking marriage to cad-about-town and compulsive gambler Nicky Arnstein is what gives it its considerable heart. One of the most recognized and touching songs in the show is "People." The Grand Rapids Players' rendition is expected to be unique and original. Director Mike Knapp commented, "We will create our version of Fanny Brice based on the research of the real person along with our interpretation of the character. The movie staring Barbara Streisand will be a nice reference tool, however, it is not our intention to compete or to try to imitate her role of the character." ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 11/17/2003 - VOLUME 9 NO. 2 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow Up THIS IS BEMIDJI --------------- ANOTHER SWINDLE VICTIM FILES CLAIM IN POLICE CHIEF PREECE BANKRUPTCY Unchallenged Debts of Bemidji Police Chief Preece Discharged 10/15/03 Editor's Note: This story follows past coverage of the many helicopter sales swindles attributed to Bemidji Police Chief James "Bruce" Preece. For details of earlier reports and incidents, see NH of 5/4/02, 7/27/02, 2/10/03, 8/11/03, and 9/29/03 at northernherald.com At this time, the total amounts which Preece allegedly has swindled, in documented incidents (listed by victim, with date of NH issue containing details) appear to be: Jim Bult, $295,000 (5/4/02); Leonard Busch, $165,000 (7/27/02); Ken Schoenfelder $270,000 (2/10/03 & 9/29/03) and Central Boiler Inc. (officer: Dennis Brazier) $296,414 (this issue); totalling $1,026,414. The disposition to which Preece put the money is not known; it is suspected that there may be other fraudulent transactions which have not yet surfaced. In all but the Schoenfelder and Central Boiler matters, Preece's personal liability has been discharged in bankruptcy, as adverse Bankruptcy Court claims were not filed. Preece's firm, HFI (post), will escape liability because that corporation (HFI) has no net assets. We are most often asked, "How can this person still be the Police Chief and Director of Public Safety for a city?" The answer is simple. This is Bemidji. This is what the majority of the people of Bemidji support. We, at Northern Herald, have often commented on the integrity, or lack thereof, of Bemidjians (not all, but the majority), generally. This case, and the retention by the City, of Preece as its top law enforcement officer, though, say more than we ever could. It firmly demonstrates the low regard the people of Bemidji (in large part) have for the property and rights of others. -- Adam Steele, Editor MINNEAPOLIS -- On October 1st, 2003, Central Boiler, Inc., of Greenbush, Minnesota, filed an adverse claim and Complaint in the matter of the bankruptcy petition of Bemidji Police Chief James Bruce Preece, then before the United States Bankruptcy Court at Minneapolis (case no. 03-44978). The matter of whether the claimed debt of $296,414, stemming from an allegedly fraudulent helicopter sale, will be allowed to be discharged, is scheduled for trial on March 8th, 2004 at Minneapolis. The complaint. This claim is similar to the other instances where helicopter buyers paid large sums of money to Preece for purchase of a helicopter, and Preece failed to deliver the bird, or failed to deliver clear titling documents for same (in one case, Preece sold a bird that was actually owned by someone else, and delivered a fraudulent FAA bill of sale for same - see NH of 2/10/03 and 9/29/03, and Schoenfelder, post). The Central Boiler, Inc. complaint, brought on by their attorney, Edward F. Klinger, of Moorhead, Minn., recites: "... 5. That Helicopter Flight, Inc. (HFI) is upon information and belief a Minnesota corporation having it's principal place of business in Crystal, Minnesota [at the Crystal airport]. "6. That Preece is and was the President of HFI, its alter ego, and is responsible for actions taken by HFI and his own actions, individually. "7. That in 1994 Central, through the auspices of HFI as agent, purchased an R22 helicopter, serial number 2403, from Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC). "8. That in early 2002 negotiations began whereby Central would purchase from HFI a new R44 Helicopter. Ultimately, the serial number assigned to this helicopter was 1203. "9. That as negotiations continued, a $25,000 down payment on the R44 helicopter was deposited by Central with HFI and forwarded by HFI to RHC. "10. That in full payment for the helicopter, HFI agreed to accept the R22 helicopter at a trade in value of $90,000, together with additional cash in the amount of $181,414 for the purchase of the R44 helicopter. "11. That the funds for the R22 trade were specifically agreed to and to be earmarked for the purchase of the R44 helicopter by Central. "12. That thereafter all of the sums required by HFI to complete the purchase, together with the helicopter, were tendered by Central to HFI. "13. That it appears that Central was deliberately mislead [sic] in the transaction by HFI and Preece. "14. That Central was unable to pick up the R44 helicopter due to the fact that funds (other than the $25,000) were not tendered from HFI to RHC. "15. That HFI was insolvent both before and after receipt of funds from Central. "16. That HFI and Preece have deliberately mislead Central by continually stating that the purchase was to be completed. "17. That despite the agreement to the contrary, HFI and Preece have apparently allowed the R22 or its proceeds to be commingled with other assets of HFI and may be subject to alleged claims by secured parties. "18. That the actions of Preece constitute conversion. "19. That Central commenced a lawsuit against HFI and Preece in Roseau County District Court in May of 2002. "20. That sufficient evidence was obtained during the course of litigation in Roseau County through written discovery and deposition which would indicate and demonstrate that Preece operated HFI as an alter ego, and is responsible for the debts of HFI. By way of example, attached as Exhibit A [not reprinted here] to the complaint is a copy of the affidavit (together with attachment) of Michelle Benton, CPA, [at Thief River Falls] dated June 6, 2003. This evidence, together with evidence to be submitted, will demonstrate that Preece is the alter ego of the corporation. "21. That a hearing on the plaintiff's motion for default judgment was to be held in Roseau County District Court on July 15, 2003, however, the defendant filed his bankruptcy petition on July 11, 2003, before a final judgment could be entered against him in the state court action. "22. That plaintiff suffered actual losses pursuant to the complaint in the amount of $296,414.00, together with attorney’s fees and other costs." The complaint concludes, asserting, in three counts, that the debt of $296,414 is not dischargeable in bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. Sec. 523 (a)(2)(A), (a)(4), and (a)(6); because it is due to fraud, false pretenses or actual fraud; embezzlement and/or larceny; and, "defendant’s conversion of plaintiff's $296,414. 00 constitutes a willful and malicious injury by defendant to another entity or the property of another entity"; and asks that the Court 1) declare the debt not discharged by Preece's bankruptcy; 2) grant judgment in the amount of $296,414 plus interest, costs, disbursements, and attorney's fees; and 3) for such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable. Preece's answer to the complaint, filed October 31st, through his Minneapolis attorney Thomas F. Miller, admits most of the factual details, including receipt of the funds, but attempts to deny any unlawful act, and attempts to establish that any debt is that of HFI (Preece's corporation, which is without assets, and thusly judgment-proof), and not Preece. The answer denies the allegations of para. 6, 11, 13-18 & 20-22 of the complaint (ante), and denies the assertations of wrongdoing, and of the acts enumerated in 11 USC 523(a). The answer recites, "... 3) That regarding paragraph 6 of the Complaint, Defendant admits that he is responsible for his own actions, but he denies that he is responsible for the actions of Helicopter Flight, Inc., or that he is the alter ego of that entity." Preece's denial of responsibility "for the actions of [HFI]" comes notwithstanding that Preece was personally involved in the transaction, and was President and sole stockholder of HFI. (In a normal business transaction where the corporation simply could not perform, the officers and shareholders generally are not liable for the corporation's debt. But fraud is a personal tort and crime, and personal liability for damages accruing due to same And in regard to the phony FAA Bill of Sale tendered by Preece to Schoenfelder (neither Preece, nor HFI owned the helicopter when Preece issued, as an aircraft dealer, the Bill of Sale for same), "Defendant admits the allegation, but Plaintiff knew that bill of sale was only to be exercised if Defendant obtained title to the Helicopter ...." This argument is not plausible. We know of no valid transaction where a bill of sale would be issued where the issuer did not own the property at the time of issuance. Even if the issuer did subsequently acquire the property, the dates of the transaction, on the bill of sale, would then be wrong. Preece (or HFI, depending on how one looks at it) received $260,000 from Schoenfelder for that helicopter, but could not legally transfer the helicopter to Schoenfelder, because neither Preece, nor HFI owned it, and Preece did not return the $260,000 (plus $10,000 interest promised if Preece could not deliver the helicopter) to Schoenfelder. Out this $260,000, Mr. Schoenfelder eventually had to pay a second time to purchase the helicopter from a Mr. Stanger, the true owner of the bird. At one point, earlier, Preece physically delivered the bird, stored at the HFI base at Crystal, to Schoenfelder (Preece's answer refers to this as movement to a "neutral location"), notwithstanding that Stanger still owned it. Stanger knew nothing of these purported transactions and became aware of this only when he later discovered that his helicopter was no longer at HFI. In Schoenfelder's complaint against Preece, he mentioned Preece's liability to Dennis Brazier (Central Boiler, Inc.), leading to the speculation that Preece might have used Schoenfelder's money to pay off Brazier. But, in fact, the later filed Central complaint indicates that this did not happen. Both Schoenfelder and Brazier were shafted and neither was repaid. Said a source close to the story as to what was happening to the customers' money, Preece used it for, "pretty much anything other than use it for what the helicopter buyers were assuming it was used for." And in interview last year, another alleged swindle victim, Leonard Busch (NH of 07/27/02) said, "I don't even like to call Bruce Preece because what he says doesn't make any sense - it's seldom truthful." Trustee's objections. The hearing on the bankruptcy trustee's objections to property claimed by Preece as exempt, originally scheduled for October 30th (for details, see NH of 9/29/03) has been continued (postponed) to November 20, 2003, at 1 pm, at the United States Bankruptcy Court at Minneapolis. Northern Herald notes: The apparent lack of credibility of the chief administrator of the Bemidji Police Dept. should be of particular note to potential Beltrami County jurors who may at some time serve on juries hearing criminal cases, against others, and based on the testimony of Chief Preece or his officers. It would be well if an officer's testimony could be taken at face value; but given these circumstances, we would require, before accepting their statements, the highest standard of proof. Of course, as informed Americans, official lying should not be anything new or novel to us. We know that Presidents can do it, and now, apparently, policemen can. Caveat Emptor. Nothing herein is, or should be taken as, legal advice. -------------------------------------------------------- BELTRAMI [IN]HUMANE SOCIETY, BELTRAMI COURTS STEAL SCHMIDT'S ANIMALS "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated ...." "No person shall be ... deprived of ... property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation." -- Amendments 4 & 5 to the United States Constitution BEMIDJI -- These words look good in print, but they were flagrantly violated August 14th, 2003, when Beltrami County deputies, who claimed to be acting under M.S. 343.12, and in response to a request by the Beltrami [In]Humane Society (BIHS) invaded the homes of Carol Schmidt and her 90 year old father, Joe Metzner, in the Grant Valley area of rural Bemidji, and confiscated their 27 small dogs, 2 litters of puppies, a pony, a horse, 3 birds, chickens, and five other small pets. There is no ordinance or statue limiting the number of animals a person may keep; and two veterinarians who have seen the animals have said that they were in normal condition, with no observable endangerment. One of the vets, Dr. Wendy Bovee, of Gully, Minn., submitted a statement to the Court that, although some of the dogs had ear mites (a common condition), "... None of the animals had life-threatening problems .... " That statement, however, was apparently ignored by the Court when, in September, Judge Benshoof "rubber-stamped" the seizure allowing the Beltrami [In]Humane Society to keep and dispose of the animals (Case no CX-03-1530). BIHS encouraged the ruling, with statements filed in the case by BIHS manager Carolyn Van Wert. At the hearing, Schmidt and Metzner were represented by Bemidji attorney Janelle Wallace, and were ordered to pay $383 in costs; Asst. Co. Atty. Randall Berg appeared for the County, opposing return of the animals. Appeal stay bond was set at $10,000. Also filed in the case was the statement of Beltrami Deputy Robert Carlson which recited that the pony and horse were tied to a post in the sun and unable to reach water; but Schmidt said that was a brief condition that happened when they'd wrap their tethers around their posts, and she'd routinely unwrap them when this occurred. Dr. Bovee, having inspected the premises, reported, "I saw where the horses were tethered, they had shade and grass to eat, and both animals had fresh water available." And in later interview, Bemidji veterinarian Dr. James Busby said that Schmidt was a "regular customer," in bringing in puppies for their shots; and "When she's brought animals in, they appeared to be ... normal in every respect, healthwise." In interview, Schmidt, 55, said that she lives alone; that her dogs provided security in her rural home, alerting her to potential intruders, and that she was concerned, living there without them. She said that the animals were content and active, that she cleaned and gave them fresh food and water daily, and that she gave some of her dogs to her father because "I didn't want him to be lonesome ... and he is just lost without them dogs." ------------------------------------------------------------- CLARIFICATION In the August 11, 2003 issue, in an article entitled Park Rapids Man Discusses Divorce Inequities, we reported that Park Rapids attorney William Jones failed to get an order modified, on behalf of his client, Harry Miller. Mr. Miller has asked that it be pointed out that this failure was not due to fault on Jones's part, but rather, in Miller's words, "it is the way of the local system," and particularly due to Judge Godzala's handling of the case. ------------------------------------------------------------- WAL-MART ISSUES NEW RECIPE BOOK Just in time for the holidays and gift-giving, Wal-Mart stores will now be carrying their 96 page 2004 cookbook of recipes compiled of the winning entries from the thousands of family and keepsake recipes submitted by Wal-Mart associates. The cookbook, featuring everything from Appetizers to Desserts, is spiral bound and published in six regional editions. The complete 2003 collection, as well as additional recipes, can be seen at www.walmart.com --------------------------------------------------------------- ETHNICFEST, CAJUNFEST AT WALKER !! WALKER -- Street parking became packed, Sept. 12th & 13th, 2003, as thousands arrived for the annual Ethnicfest celebration at Walker, with the accompanying Cajunfest event held concurrently at the nearby Northern Lights Casino. Ethnicfest featured the food and music of many remote cultures, ranging from Scottish to east Indian, to African. The many vendor stands included Rashimah's unique eastern imports and handworks. In addition to the music, food and concessions, the fest included the parade, the Heartland Wheels car show at the City Park where hundreds of vehicles including many classics in beautiful condition were shown, craft corners, and a children's activity area. The flags of many nations flew above as attendees picnicked, perhaps for the last time, on the large grassy courtyard of Walker's historic log Conservation Building, now slated for conversion to a liquor store and City offices. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Northern Lights Casino, Walker, presents Cajunfest with entertainment by Eddy Raven (top & inset), Jo-El Sonnier, and Doug Kershaw. The event included a sumptuous Cajun buffet (right). At lower left, Dennis Smith hands out hundreds of Mardi Gras bead strands to attendees who included competition dancers Jim and Diane Harris, of Akeley, shown at bottom center sharing the big dance floor before the stage with the other dancers from the packed audience. Bagpipers from the City of Winnepeg Police Pipe Band entertain Sept. 13th at Ethnicfest. In addition to scheduled performances, some of the pipers gave a private concert, complete with disassembly and explanation of the bagpipe, for jig-dancing customers at The Wharf, later in the evening. Dancers from Winnepeg's Mannohar Performing Arts of Canada demonstrate traditional east Indian dances. ------------------------------------------------------- SHANNAN ADDRESSES MAJOR GVM'T COVER-UPS National Investigative Reporter Shatters Investigation Myths ST. CLOUD -- In today's world, scams abound. One only need open his mail to know that. It begs the question, could a scam be so large as to dupe virtually all of the American public? Pat Shannan says yes. And in a presentation Sept. 16th, at Michael's, St. Cloud, sponsored by the St. Cloud based Justice Commission, Shannan revealed many little known facts which touch on virtually every major U.S. investigation from Abraham Lincoln to the 9/11 World Trade Center. It is generally accepted that the Warren Commission report on the John Kennedy assassination was a sham, but, did you know that there is evidence that there were two Lee Harvey Oswalds? Not to blame if you didn't - the FBI immediately seized Dallas police records following the shooting, so it's unlikely one might have thought it. Unless they'd seen the work of reporter Pat Shannan, of the national Media Bypass magazine. And this would explain the many reported instances where, before and shortly after the assassination, Oswald seemed to be in two places at almost the same time. "A group of ... people ... made millions of dollars on selling United Airlines short on September the 10th, 2001," said Shannan, "... Why haven't these people been identified? It should not be that difficult - you have to register with a broker when you buy stock." Fraud is common in the world. Seems almost every day, people receive mail with cons, gimmicks or exaggerating the product touted. But most people take as fact the information put forth by police chiefs, investigative agencies and Washington. Shannan realizes, as everyone else should, that these organizations are as prone to use deception as anyone else, and better have the resources to do it. "They put these judges up ... and they arm these agents more and more every year to enforce the statutes that are unconstitutional to start with. They're able to do it because of legal tender," he said. At the seminar, Shannan questioned not only the John Kennedy investigation, but also provided little known information on the shootings of Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Gordon Kahl, George Wallace, and Ronald Reagan, as well as the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah federal building. He has produced a video, Murder in the Heartland, severely questioning the official story line in that bombing, and believes that Timothy McVeigh was a compensated fall guy who was not actually executed. "There's a news reporter in Chicago that saw him still breathing," he said. On the 9/11 disaster, Shannan declined to state a theory, but quoted a firefighter who questioned whether the inferno would cause the two buildings to collapse; and then said, "and then we've got a third one that's been kind of suppressed ... building seven .... Seven hours later, building seven [collapses] ... and it wasn't even hit! ... turns out that the CIA has stuck millions of documents in there." Shannan is the author of four books: The Banksters, I rode with Tupper, The Montana Freemen (the untold story), and One in a Million. For more info about upcoming Justice Commission events, contact John Morgan at 218-829-6816. Further reading of Pat Shannan's investigations may be found at www.patshannan.com Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Reporter Pat Shannan displayed frames of the 9/11 WTC, showing what appear to be explosions several floors below the point of impact, and fire. (The white spot is a laser pointer.) ------------------------------------------------------------- In Focus TWO WINE TASTINGS IN HACKENSACK !! HACKENSACK -- One thing they know how to do in Hackensack is have fun - come rain, snow or shine! And in late fall, they held not one, but two separate tastings of excellent imported and domestic wines. The Wines of Romania will now be featured at Lucette's, which hosted the Oct. 11th tasting, conducted by Candi Vossen, of Aroma Wine, Inc. (www.aromawine.com), Deer River, shown pouring at left. These wines are distinctive, as they often come from different grapes than the French and Italian, with which most are familiar. Tasted were 1999 Francosa de Cotnari (white, semi-dry, fresh and crisp nose, hint of herb); 1998 Busuioaca de Bohotin (sweet white, amber robe, understated nose, balanced, sweet like Sauternes); 1998 Tamaioasa Romanesca (sweet white; perfumed bouquet, good sugar); 1998 Feteasca Neagra (semi-sweet light red, lots of grape in the nose, lots of fruit); 1998 Muscat Ottonel (very sweet, amber robe, complex aroma, sweetness erupts on the tongue and floods the mouth - very excellent), and a 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Uricani region (deep red-purple robe, pronounced Cabernet bouquet, dry as the Sahara during a drought, clean, distinct Cab flavour). These wines are available, in the $9-$10 range at area liquor stores including Park Rapids, Nevis, Bemidji, and Longville. Hackensack Liquor conducts wine tastings twice a year. Their magnificent fall tasting, Nov. 1st, was widely varied, featuring many wines from different distributors, and countries. The many attendees enjoyed bottlings (all available at Hackensack Liquor) which included, from California: Beringer White Merlot, & White Zinfandel; Weibel Green Hungarian; Cook's Brut mousseau; Arbor Mist Sangria Zinfandel; Woodbridge Select Merlot, & Chardonnay; Beaulieu Coastal Pinot Noir; 2001 Kendall Jackson Chardonnay; France: Le Grand Mouton Noir Cabernet-Shiraz; Australia: 2002 Alice White Shiraz; Greece: Calliga Rubiz; Italy: Bella Sera Pinot Grigio; and Germany: San Gabriel Liebfraumilch. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Candi Vossen pours Romanian wines Host Larry Lindman conducts Nov. 1st tasting. ----------------------------------------------------------- CRIME COMES TO AKELEY AKELEY -- Warren Scouton's Akeley Auto Sales was again hit by crime the evening of Sat. Oct. 25th, or in the early hours of Sunday, when unknown criminals broke into the coin boxes at the Akeley Auto Sales public car wash. Scouton estimates that $200 - $300 was taken in the heist, where the thieves apparently used bolt cutters to shear open the coin boxes. The loss was not covered by the firm's insurance policy. It has been speculated that the criminals, still unidentified and at large, may have been from out-of-town (Bemidji is less than 40 miles away) and in Akeley for a Halloween teen dance Saturday night. It is suspected that they may be teenagers who had access to bolt cutters on that evening. This is the third time Akeley Auto Sales has been hit, since it opened in 2001. Previous crimes have included theft of auto parts from vehicles on the lot, and theft of two motorcycles. Scouton said that a lead on one of the motorcycles, reportedly seen near Becida, was given to police, but that he is unaware of any follow-up. ------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor --------------------- MAN RESTRAINED FROM HIS OWN DWELLING Sentenced to 86 Months I am writing to you because I was shown an [article] about Brian Williams in your paper. ... He and I are education tutors together at MCF [Minnesota Correctional Facility at] Faribault. Sir, I have a very similar case, and although I wrote to the St. Cloud Times, and the Benton County News, neither would even acknowledge it. You see, Sir, not only is this whole O.F.P. issue at question, but I can also prove perjury by the arresting officer. I was convicted of [first degree] burglary of my own apartment. My then-girlfriend and I were both on the lease. She had gotten a restraining order several months earlier for no reason other than wanting out of the relationship (we just put down earnest money on a home 3 weeks earlier). Anyway, since friends said she still cared, I was stupid enough to go to the apartment (I was still on the lease) and talk to her. I had gone through the window (not breaking it) to talk since she wouldn't let me in. She called the police and I held the door for a few minutes out of panic. There was no assault (although my ex said I grabbed her), no threats, drugs, theft, or anything like that. Yet I was charged with seven charges and given 68 months. The whole trial was a farce. My overworked public defender was worthless and could give no time to my case. And, as in most counties, the [public defender] ... and prosecutor work together. My fate was decided before we even picked the jury. One of my charges was assault on an officer, on which I was found not guilty; in fact, ... [the alleged offense] was proven impossible. The officer had to be shown his report after his testimony; they were very conflicting. The so-called "victim" even stated I've never hurt or threatened her, but yet I got a domestic [charge]. The case is too long to give you all the conflicts and lies. It is under appeal right now because of ... prosecutor[ial] misconduct, but there are so many more ... [trial errors besides those which can be raised as appeal issues]. I had written [State Senator Betsy] Wergin [Rep. - Dist. 16], [and Sen.] Coleman, Dayton and even the Governor. The Governor's office turned it over to the D. O. C. [Minn. Dept. of Corrections] but any investigation seems to have stopped there. By writing these letters [to public officials] I received the wrath of Benton County. The day before my trial, my cell was raided and all my belongings (including hygiene [items] and legal papers) were taken away and I was moved. When I complained by inmate kite [a note used for communications from an inmate to the institution or an attorney], I was threatened by the jail administrator. I was told to drop things. [Several months] after my fixed conviction, I was charged with witness tampering for a letter I wrote to my folks months earlier to blow off steam (an idea from my counselor who I was seeing on my own). Anyway, this letter was stolen from my cell during the raid months earlier. It was never mailed, but since it mentioned my parents trying to talk to my ex, I was charged with "tampering". Well, my attorney had the kite stating that things were taken and ... [that I was threatened and] I had an eyewitness who saw the guard take the letter from my cell. ... Guess what? My public defender lost the kite. He also never talked to my witness; in fact, he never discussed my case with me until 48 hours before trial. To this day, he doesn't answer letters. I was given 18 more months ... [to run consecutively with the 68 months for the burglary charge]. I asked the judge, right there, for a new trial because the jail is supposed to have a copy of the kite, plus my witness [was not called], etc. I was denied; [the judge] wouldn't even grant a court order to open the jail file to see if they kept a copy as required. I'm sure it's gone by now. --------------------------- "I'M SURROUNDED DAILY BY THIEVES, GANG MEMBERS, SEX OFFENDERS, DRUG DEALERS, ETC., AND IT SEEMS AS IF I HAVE A LONGER SENTENCE THAN 95% OF THEM." ---------------------------- Sir, this is just part of my story. Benton County is corrupt, unjust and unfair. Nobody ever challenges them, and now, when a nobody who has no money nor a special interest group behind him, does, they abuse the system to make an example of him. Sir, I broke the restraining order because of a love for a woman; it was wrong of me, but to have 86 months of my life taken away is not the punishment fitting the crime. I'm surrounded daily by thieves, gang members, sex offenders, drug dealers, etc., and it seems as if I have a longer sentence than 95% of them. How can this be right? I'm a father of two beautiful kids (who the same county let my ex-wife change the names of because of embarrassment ... [caused by] my arrest). I always worked full-time, and paid my support; I don't do drugs and I'm not in a gang; yet I'm treated as nothing but a number. The courts don't pay attention to circumstances anymore. It is not about justice, is all about money. Sir, I realize you may not be able to help me at all, but I ask you to please print another article about the injustices, and corruption, that can take place if nobody is checked up on and held accountable. Perhaps others can be spared from what I'm going through. Randy Meyer, #178417, 1101 Linden Lane, Faribault, MN 55021 Editor's Note: Probably the best thing we can do here is simply print this letter, so people will know. Mr. Meyer has given his permission for readers wanting more info to contact him at the address above. And we add: So the ex put him away for 86 months (over 7 years) for trying to reconcile their romance, and our current laws support that. The most important thing to be derived, here, is that due to political and social changes over the last 40 years or so, there is no more couple united or unified family. That ended when Bill Cosby told women that it wasn't necessary for them to "love, honor, and obey" and the women, being suggestible, believed him. In the 70s and 80s, in droves, women walked out of long-standing, good and stable marriages and two-parent families to become tramps simply because they got tired of the same sleeping partner and were told that they no longer had to be bound to only one, for a lifetime, to be supported. And laws subsequently passed reinforced this. Indeed, this was the crux of the women's movement: To cause money to gravitate from men (who, mostly, earned it) to women, without the requirement that they be committed or monogamous. In this environment, while you're working for family stability and prosperity, she's working for herself. With a divorce rate over 50%, the notion of "'til death do we part" is pretty much gone with the wind, unless she kills you, too. A faithful and committed wife must be treated, always, like the lady and princess she is. In today's environment, though, in more cases than not, your spouse or (if illicit romance and cohabitation is involved) tramp must be regarded as a potential adversary - such as in a business deal with an unscrupulous trader where you know that after the deal is done, the other party will try to get, after the fact, as much of your money and property, and do as much damage, as they can. As we have said so many times before, in this environment men must act accordingly. They must protect themselves; they must take care not to leave themselves open to liability (paternity, trumped-up criminal charges, or otherwise), and never confide in her as regards assets or other sensitive matters. These matters are no safer with her than they would be with a Bemidji attorney; and the odds have it that your best friend will someday be your legal enemy. Today's woman, particularly in Minnesota, where laws are tailored to support it, is often not someone you can love in the traditional sense of the word - just someone with whom you're just sharing some time and dealing particular commodities and services in a transaction which will end whenever she gets tired of it and wants to trade somewhere else. Guys need to adapt to this environment and plan their actions accordingly. Finally, with (in a majority of, but not all, cases) today's wife or tramp conducting herself like a common prostitute anyway, maybe it's time we simply legalized it and opened up the market. Competition almost always results in improved quality of the product. -- Ed. ------------------------------------------------------- FOR HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS, it's a natural! Although known for their fine handcrafted furniture, one look inside the several showrooms at Whalen Woods, just south of Pequot Lakes, reveals much more. From books and CDs, to figurines, to wine glasses, unique chess sets and games, birch bark switch plates (an elegant natural stocking stuffer that you know will get used), lamps, clocks, household "fancies" and their hundreds of other items, large and small, there is a wider variety of neat and distinctive stuff here than one can imagine - something for every size stocking and every size budget. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Santa's house must look like this. --------------------------------------------------------------- -- Northern Herald Restaurant Reviews -- THREE GOOD PLACES TO EAT IN THE GOLDEN CORRIDOR !! * * * * UP NORTH (WEEKEND BUFFET), HACKENSACK It's rare to find corned beef hash on a breakfast buffet. Finding excellent creamed chipped beef on a biscuit is almost unheard of. But the diners who pack the house at Up North's breakfast buffet find both. This is, hands-down, one of the finest brunches we've rated in the Northland - clearly four-star quality. The buffet also includes a selection of fruits, blueberry muffins, sausage gravy, ham, polish sausage, an exquisite scrambled egg dish with veggies, olives, and lots of cheese, regular scrambled eggs, potato wedges, toast of France w/ syrup, and cinnamon rolls. It's AYCE for $7.50 (adults). Of note is that Up North keeps it's buffet as fresh at noon as it was at 8, frequently replacing the food with fresh, hot trays. It's 8 - 1, Sat. and Sun. Decor (rustic Northwoods ambience) and service are very excellent in both the smoking and non-smoking sections. * * * TASTY PIZZA NORTH is the only pizzeria in the Nisswa-Pequot Lakes area to offer dining ambience to smokers and non-smokers alike. The menu includes not only pizza, but also appetizers; salads; pastas, including lasagne, spaghetti w/ alfredo, and others; sandwiches including their Dago Italian sausage; several burgers; tacos; nachos; chicken; desserts including cheesecake on a stick; and kids' menu. Prices are moderate, and the best deals are daily specials (Sunday's is $2 off any large pizza!) and their combo specials, e.g. a 14" thin crust pizza with choice of 6 toppings for $17.30; a 12" single item pizza is $8.45. An extensive wine and beer list is offered, including domestic chianti by the glass. The Mozzarella cheesebread (free w/ pizza, on some days) is a very excellent appetizer. We sampled a 6 item thin crust and found the crust to be light and flaky, and the toppings excellent: the pepperoni was full and meaty, and the sausage had that good, tangy, characteristically Italian, flavour. * * * LUCETTE'S PIZZERIA features many draft beers, including 1/4 yards of their medium amber Lucette's Lager, (the lady's taste: "This beer, I could drink all night - it's really good, it's really smooth"); and fine Romanian wines by the glass to enjoy with the meal. The smoking area is at tables in the sports bar, but this section also offers the best tableside views of Birch Lake through the tasteful anti-glare filmed windows. Lucette's offers Italian and other entrees, and thin crust pizza in many varieties and specialties. The pizza had a crisp, airy, and light pastry crust, and was full flavoured with lots of cheese. The meat combination on the Paul's Deluxe was a perfect blend; we can see why Paul liked this one - it is exceptionally good. Prices are moderate, with a $10.86 special (sausage or pepperoni) after 10 pm. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Birch Lake as seen from the smoking section of Lucette's Pizzeria Tasty Pizza North Up North's Weekend Buffet Brunch --------------------------------------------------------------- REIF CENTER'S BLUES FEST AT COLERAINE Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): A Well-Attended Evening of Great Blues happened in Coleraine, Sept. 20th, as The Reif presented, at the Greenway Auditorium, Corky Siegel and the Chicago-based Siegel-Schwall Band, including legendary (over 60 albums) drummer Sam Lay, signing CDs after the performance. The event included a good down-home southern BBQ prepared by Chef and cooking instructor Steve Wilson, at Longyear Park before the event; with music on the green donated by Ryan and the Del-Rays. This event was underwritten by First National Bank of Coleraine. ------------------------------------------------------------ "PAGEANT" AT GRAND RAPIDS The Grand Rapids Players will produce only one weekend of performances of the comedy, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!! It'll be at The Reif, Nov. 28th & 29th at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on the 30th at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $5-$9 at the door, box office, or Reed Drug. ------------------------------------------------------------ TOY DRIVE AT REMER With the Hanukkah season approaching, Remer's TOYS FOR KIDS committee is seeking contributions to buy toys and clothing for area kids in need. Donations may be sent to Darlene Gross, Toys for Kids, 4126 State Hwy. 6 NE, Remer, MN 56672 ------------------------------------------------------------ HANUKKAH TREES - FREE A Menorah is traditional at this time of year, but some families also have a tree. If you want one, you can get one free. The Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, near Erskine, Minn., will be open for the annual holidays Tree Cutting Event on Saturday, Dec. 6th & 7th from 10 am to 3 pm. Bring a hand saw (no chainsaws allowed) to cut your own tree. Visitors can enjoy a cup of cocoa, cider, or coffee and a cookie while they warm up in the Refuge's Visitor Center. Trails will be open for those wanting to enjoy the winter wonderland; and volunteers will be on-hand in the Visitor Center to register those who wish to cut a tree, orient them to the field where the trees may be cut and assist with tree removal and tie down. For more info and directions, readers may call 800-841-0172 ------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 09/29/2003 - VOLUME 9 NO. 1 ------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up ----------------------------------- This Is Bemidji SWINDLE VICTIM, TRUSTEE, WON'T LET PREECE GET AWAY WITH IT Victim Files Claims of Embezzlement, Larceny Against Bemidji Police Chief, Bankruptcy Trustee Files Objection to Preece's Claim of Exempt Property MINNEAPOLIS -- You can fool some of the people some of the time, but Ken Schoenfelder, of Rochester, isn't having any of it. As reported last issue (NH of 08/11/03 - archive at northernherald.com), Bemidji Police Chief Bruce Preece, after having swindled several persons, at about $300,000 a crack, on helicopter deals, and facing several lawsuits and at least one judgement against him; filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy July 11th, 2003 (case no. 03-44078) at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court at Minneapolis. The swindle victims were named as unsecured creditors; that means that the bankruptcy asked that those debts be forever discharged, becoming legally uncollectible, with no payment thereon. With no criminal charges yet filed by the Hennepin County Attorney (why?) Preece would have effectively gotten away with scams that appear to total over $1 million in the aggregate - never even having to pay any of it back. But on September 4th, 2003, Ken Schoenfelder, one of the swindle victims, by his attorney, Michael S. Dietz, of Rochester, filed a complaint in the Bankruptcy Court stating that Preece isn't entitled to bankruptcy protection. Debts due to fraud, theft, and other crime aren't dischargable in bankruptcy. The complaint. Although each has its own particular circumstances, the fraud in this case is similar to other deals Preece put together, and on each of which, he received payment, but failed to deliver lawfully titlable helicopters. The complaint of Schoenfelder, and his corporation, Blue Skies, Inc., against Preece, recites: "... 4. Helicopter Flight, Inc. ("HFI") is a Minnesota corporation doing business at 5930 Lakeland Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota [at the Crystal airport]. "5. At all times relevant herein, James Bruce Preece has been the sole shareholder and President of HFI. "6. On August 3, 2001, Richard S. Stanger ("Stanger") purchased a Robinson helicopter, model R44, Serial No. 1090 and registration number 240RM (the "Helicopter"). "7. In November of 2001, Stanger entered into a listing agreement with Defendant [Preece] for the sale of the Helicopter. Under this Agreement Defendant was appointed as sales agent for a period of ninety days to sell the Helicopter for $335,000.00. In exchange Defendants were to receive a commission of five percent of the sales price. Stanger delivered possession of the Helicopter to Defendants at approximately the same time. "8. By the terms of the Agreement, Defendant's appointment as Sales Agent would have expired on approximately February 20, 2002. "9. In March of 2002, Defendant contacted Plaintiff [Schoenfelder] about a loan/purchase transaction regarding the Helicopter. "10. Prior to the contact in March of 2002, Defendant had not communicated with Plaintiff for a period of several years. "11. Defendant represented that he had the present ability to commit ownership and possession of the Helicopter to Plaintiff. "12. The terms of the arrangement proposed by Defendant to Plaintiff was memorialized in a writing signed by both parties and attached hereto as Exhibit "A." [not reprinted here] "13. Under the terms of Exhibit "A" Plaintiff was to transfer $260,000.00 to Defendant for the purpose of acquiring the Helicopter. In the event Defendant did not repay the $260,000.00, plus $10,000.00, on or before May 21, 2002, Defendant was to transfer the Helicopter to Plaintiff and deliver an FAA Aircraft Bill of Sale to Plaintiff for the Helicopter. "14. On March 22, 2002, Plaintiff wire transferred $260,000.00 to Defendant (the "Funds"). "15. Defendant did not use the Funds to acquire title to the Helicopter. Instead he diverted it to his own use for other purposes. "16. At approximately the same time Defendant diverted the Funds, he was involved in a second claim by Dennis Brazier in which Dennis Brazier claimed that he had paid $260,000.00 for a helicopter, but had not received the helicopter. "17. At the time Defendant diverted Plaintiff's Funds, he had no present ability to repay the funds to Plaintiff and he had no idea how he would go about repaying them. "18. Defendant has not repaid any of the Funds to Plaintiff. "19. On May 30, 2002, Defendant made out an FAA Aircraft Bill of Sale for the Helicopter, executed it, and delivered it to Plaintiff. "20. Neither Defendant nor HFI owned the Helicopter at the time Defendant accepted the Funds from Plaintiff, nor at the time Defendant delivered a Bill of Sale for the Helicopter to Plaintiff. "21. Defendant never informed Plaintiff that Stanger owned the Helicopter. "22. Defendant had never informed Stanger that Defendant had ostensibly sold the Helicopter to Plaintiff for $260,000.00. "23. Upon learning about the transaction, Stanger asserted his ownership rights in the Helicopter. "24. Plaintiff commenced a lawsuit against Defendant in Olmsted County District Court in July of 2002. "25. The Olmsted County District Court entered summary judgment determining that Stanger was the rightful owner of the Helicopter. "26. Defendant filed his bankruptcy petition on July 11, 2003, before a final Judgment was entered against him in the State Court action. "COUNT I ... 28. Defendant obtained $260,000.00 from Plaintiff by fraud, false pretenses or actual fraud. "29. Defendant owes a debt to Plaintiff in the amount of $260,000.00 which is not dischargeable in bankruptcy pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523 (a)(2)(A). "COUNT II ... 31. Defendant obtained $260,000.00 from Plaintiff by using a statement in writing that was materially false respecting Debtor’s financial condition. "32. Defendant owes a debt to Plaintiff in the amount of $260,000.00 which is not dischargeable in bankruptcy pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Sec. 523 (a)(2)(B). "COUNT III ... 34. ... Defendant converted $260,000.00 given to him by Plaintiff for the express purpose of acquiring the Helicopter to his own use and deprived the Plaintiff thereof. "35. Defendant obtained $260,000.00 from Plaintiff by embezzlement and/or larceny. "36. Defendant owes a debt to Plaintiff in the amount of $260,000.00 which is not dischargeable in bankruptcy pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Sec. 523 (a)(4). "COUNT IV ... 38. ... the document executed by the parties on March 21, 2002, (Exhibit "A") constitutes an express trust in which Plaintiff is the settlor and beneficiary and Defendant was the trustee (the "Trust"). "39. Plaintiff delivered $260,000.00 to Defendant in trust to be used to acquire the Helicopter. "40. Defendant's use of Plaintiff's funds for a purpose other than according to the terms of the Trust constitutes a defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity as trustee. "41. Defendant is indebted to Plaintiff in the amount of $260,000.00 for the improper use of the Trust res. "42. Defendant's debt to Plaintiff is not dischargeable in bankruptcy pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Sec. 523 (a)(4). "COUNT V ... 44. In the alternative, Defendant's conversion of Plaintiff's $260,000.00 constitutes a willful and malicious injury by Defendant to another entity or the property of another entity. "45. Defendant is indebted to Plaintiff in the amount of $260,000.00 which is not dischargeable in bankruptcy pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Sec. 523 (a)(6). "WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays the Court enter its Judgment as follows: 1. Entering Judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant in the amount of $260,000.00. 2. Declaring that such debt is not discharged by Defendant's bankruptcy filing. 3. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable." Most people can't just put their helicopters in their driveways, they have to keep them at an airport. Mr. Stanger kept the helicopter that Preece had sold him at Preece's HFI base at the Crystal (near Mpls.) airport. At one point, while it was there, Preece delivered it to Schoenfelder, who, as described above, had paid Preece $260,000 for it. Schoenfelder removed the bird from the HFI field. Preece, however, made no payment to Stanger for the helicopter, nor any mention that Preece had sold Stanger's helicopter. Stanger learned of this only later, when he was surprised to discover that his helicopter was no longer at HFI. But despite Preece's fraudulent (he didn't own the helicopter) FAA bill of sale, Schoenfelder was unable to title it, and, eventually, after expensive legal action, had to return it to Stanger. (Initial reporting of this matter may be found in NH of 02/10/03 at northernherald.com See also earlier stories of other similar alleged swindles by Preece in issues of 07/27/02 and 05/04/02. Following the first reported instance, Robinson Helicopter, of Torrance, Calif., discontinued Preece's franchise for their product.) What happened to the $260,000 Schoenfelder paid Preece? Per a credible source close to the story, Preece used Schoenfelder's, and many other customers' money for, "pretty much anything other than use it for what the helicopter buyers were assuming it was used for." In his bankruptcy petition, though, Preece reported only $6,000 as 2002 income from his Helicopter Flight, Inc. The deadline for filing of other complaints objecting to the bankruptcy discharge is October 14th, 2003. James Bruce Preece currently remains the Chief of Police for the City of Bemidji. Trustee files objection. A hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m., October 30th at the bankruptcy court in Minneapolis regarding objections filed by the bankruptcy trustee to Preece's claims of exempt property (this is property that the bankruptcy debtor is allowed to keep, rather than it being liquidated to pay the debts). Specifically, the trustee, Brian F. Leonard, has objected to the following property being considered exempt, as it allegedly exceeds the limitations under 11 USC Sec. 522: 1) The shares in Helicopter Flight Inc., and Preece's other aircraft corporations; 2) Preece's home, located at 2813 Monroe Ave. SW, Bemidji; 3) miscellaneous assets including: an account receivable in the amount of $200,000 owed by HFI to Preece; income tax refunds of approximately $5,000; two diamond rings and a gold wedding ring; a 1997 BMW Z3 auto, and a 2001 Acura TL automobile. It is not known whether Preece will lose his beautiful wife in the bankruptcy - she was not mentioned in the trustee's objections, except for the possibility that she may be called as a witness; we have reasonable question as to whether her value exceeds exemption amounts. -- Ed. ---------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- TIM FAVER REFUSED TO PROSECUTE ASSAULT WITH TRUCK Victim in Land Dispute Claims Continual Harassment - Officials Refused to Act BEMIDJI -- Out of towners and newcomers to the area often ask why Bemidji is as corrupt as it is. A lot of it is our top official charged with enforcement of the laws. Beltrami County Attorney Tim Faver came into office in 1989, when his law partner, and then County Attorney Tom Keyes, died of an overdose of cocaine. In office, Faver picks and chooses the cases he wants to charge. It's more a matter of who he wants to prosecute or not, rather then what the crime is. That sets the tone of law enforcement, and all that surrounds it, in Beltrami County. It's why some people can commit crime with impunity, and others are harassed and sometimes jailed, put out of business, and caused immense legal expense, for things they didn't do. The Gould case is a typical example of the discriminatory enforcement of laws that goes on in Beltrami County. Enoch Gould's father made the mistake of giving family real property to his heirs with each having an undivided interest in same. An undivided interest means that no one has a separate parcel, but they all use all of the land as a whole. This type of transfer invariably sows the seeds of disaster and puts siblings at each others' throats. In this case, Enoch's brothers, members of a fanatical branch of the Mormon Church (which is not, in itself, fanatical, but it is obviously apparent that this subcult of it, a small sect located in Turtle Lake township, about 10 miles north of Bemidji, is), attempted, over an extended period of time, to, by harassment and intimidation, drive Enoch off of the jointly-owned land, on part of which Enoch's homestead is located, so that they could devote all of it to church purposes (the Mormon Church supports consecration and deeding of members' land to it). In the course of the harassment one of the brothers intentionally drove a truck over Enoch, dragging him across the property. Rather than charging it as a willful assault with a dangerous weapon (the truck), for whatever reason he may have had, Faver charged only the minor offense of careless driving. Following the incident, and others, including unlawful fires set to the land and damaging Enoch's personal property, including a car, Enoch sought a court-ordered division of the property. But he believes that the specific division ordered by Beltrami Judge Terrence Holter (case no. CX-01-1457) ignored security concerns and the history of violence by Enoch's religiously-crazed brothers, in placing common access roads close to his homestead; and fearing for his family's safety, has sought Minn. Supreme Court review of the partitioning, to move these common accesses to a safe distance from his home. That case (Gould vs. Gould, Gould, et al.) is now pending before the Supreme Court. The Players. Enoch Gould lives with his wife Patricia and their children on a part of the demised property, a lakefront parcel of 40 acres in Turtle Lake township, near Turtle River. Prior to the partitioning by Judge Holter on Nov. 25th, 2002, which divided the 40 acre parcel, it was co-owned by Enoch's brothers, Winfield and Michael Gould, with Winfield also having his residence on a different part of it. Each had an undivided 1/3 interest, and held the property as tenants in common. Winfield and Michael are members of the aforementioned Mormon Church of Christ (Temple Lot), and specifically, the sect practicing near Turtle River, as are Enoch's other brothers, Peter, Stephen, and Joseph Gould. Winfield Gould is the pastor of that sect. Enoch, who is also a Mormon, but of a different branch, was quick to point out that the practices of this Turtle River cult are not generally representative of the teachings of the Mormon Temple Lot, which is based in Independence, Missouri. Joseph was the driver of the pickup in the run-over and dragging incident. Joseph is not a co-owner of the demised land, but lives on a separate adjacent parcel that shares a fence line with the demised 40 acres. One of the problems with undivided interests is that any co-owner can invite or allow other people on the land. Over the years, Michael and Winfield have allowed large numbers of church members to use the land, as well as Joseph allowing to be used his adjacent land, for immense bonfires, camping, and gatherings, very near to the home of, at great disturbance to, and sometimes, particularly as regards the fires, a threat to the safety of Enoch and his family. Enoch works for a Twin Cities firm, and has to be there for several days each week, and is particularly concerned for the safety of his family when he's away. Attorneys for Enoch in the various proceedings are Brian Anderson, Duluth, and Harlan Goulett, Minneapolis. Church cult members Michael and Winfield have been represented by Bemidji attorney Paul Kief. History of violence. As stated in Enoch's Supreme Court Petition, citing author Richard Abanes's One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church, that Church has long embraced the philosophy of consecration of property, "Church members were commanded by [Brigham] Young to 'consecrate' all of their land and even personal property to the Church, ... [and] 'deed it over.'" The Petition continues, citing Abanes (ante), "everyone who refused to comply was deemed an 'apostate' and enemy of the church, and their property (and often enough their lives) were forfeited for that reason." Apparently, some of the Mormon cults still take this historical record as a guide for present activity; indeed, the Petition makes reference to a "consecration firm" connected with the sect in question, which, apparently, was set up to receive and hold the titles to consecrated parcels of land. Hostilities begin. The demised property has been co-owned by the three brothers since transfer, by their father, in 1977. Said Enoch, in interview, that problems began about 1997, "They had a meeting in which they knew [that] they would not be able to get me sell my portion of the property." He said that his brothers began to harass and intimidate him and his family in an effort to get him to vacate and cede the property. "I had a notice from ... [a] Church member that they were going to drive us off the property ... by harassment ... or by fraud. ... I have the discussion on tape, he said the intention was to use the two property owners [Winfield and Michael] against the one [Enoch]." In a court Affidavit, Enoch stated that he later became aware of an agreement "on or before 1999" wherein Michael and Winfield had agreed to deed their interests in the demised property to the aforementioned consecration firm, by quit claim deeds; and, when Enoch expressed to Winfield that he wanted to have the property legally divided (into separate parcels - 1/3 to each brother) to protect his interest and homestead, that Winfield told him, "if I [Enoch] used satan's ambassadors for that I would be sorry for the rest of my life, and that my little family would be destroyed." Burning of 5/12/2001. Enoch addressed the harassive burning of May 12, 2001, which, he said, was during a time when a governor's burning ban was in effect, "they ... the whole Church came over and did this ... built a huge fire right on the property line [between Joseph's parcel and the demised 40 acres], and they burned the property." Enoch said that there was damage to the land, as well as to his wife's car that was parked on it. His house is "right near where the fire was." Enoch said that his wife saw church members building an immense pile of brush, trees and branches on the property line in preparation for the fire, "it was huge pile ... [about] 50-60 feet long by 35 feet wide, maybe 20 feet high;" and, "she called the DNR. ... I was away ... in Brooklyn Park, where I work. ... Mr. John Heineman [DNR] came out and said, 'Yeah, this was going to burn your property - it would damage the property.' My wife said she didn't want the property damaged. ... [Heineman] said that he would contact," the church members building the huge fire pile. Then, recounted Enoch, "Joseph ... wrote me a threatening email, saying he was going to burn it anyway." Enoch said that DNR came out with equipment and broke up the pile into smaller piles, farther away, and performed a controlled burn which did no damage. But right afterward, said Enoch, Church members "built another huge pile in the exact same place where they originally built; they set it on fire, after being told by DNR not to burn there, and burned it. Enoch said that the fire was burned at night, commencing at about 9 to 10 p.m. That fire came across and burned the property ... [and] damaged my car [primarily paint damage]." After the fire, though, officials seem to have tried to downplay the incident. When Enoch found his property burned the next morning, he complained to law enforcement. A report by John Mathweg, DNR Bemidji Area Forest Supervisor, states that Michael told him, "that he had purposely allowed the fire of 5/12 to burn somewhat beyond the fence." Neither Mathweg, nor the DNR, however, issued any citation regarding the fire; and the County Attorney's (Tim Faver's) Office, by Asst. Co. Atty. David Frank, refused to prosecute for the incident. In his report, Mathweg claimed that the fire caused "minimal damage", and Mathweg attempted to deny Enoch's interest in the land, stating, "Nick [Enoch] and Patricia Gould were not listed as owners of the property they call theirs." The warranty deed establishing their Enoch's co-ownership, with Michael and Winfield, was recorded with the Beltrami County Recorder July 21st, 1977 (document no. 246452). Enoch said that on June 18th, 2001, "they began to try to block us from entering our property," along the sole access which crosses the Joseph Gould parcel on an easement. The filed affidavit of Patricia Gould states that while she was on her way home, "Joseph ... screamed at me, 'Get off my land!' ... I informed ... Joseph ... 'This is my right-of-way.'" Patricia Gould (Enoch's wife) called the Beltrami County Sheriff; a deputy came out and told Joseph that he couldn't block the easement and not to cause further trouble. A few days later, Enoch recalled, he and Patricia were disturbed at about 10 p.m., by Joseph, "screaming and yelling, banging on the door." Enoch called the Sheriff. Joseph maintained to the deputy that he wasn't on Enoch's property, and no incident had happened; but Patricia Gould had turned on her tape recorder while it was happening, and played the tape for the deputy. Per Enoch, the deputy told Joseph not to create further incidents, and recommended that the Goulds apply for a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) to keep Joseph from contacting them. They did so, but the application (case no. C2-01-1940) for a temporary order was denied by Judge Benshoof on November 30th, 2001, because, "the Petition fails to allege an immediate and present danger of harassment." This, notwithstanding that in his Affidavit of 11/28/01, Enoch told the Court, "members of the Church, including Joseph's wife, suggested that our home might be burned." And a permanent order was denied by Judge Rasmussen on 01/03/2002 on the grounds that "the circumstances do not warrant the issuance of a restraining order." (We note that in domestic situations - i.e. a gal vs. a guy, these same courts freely issue restraining orders restricting constitutional rights - handing them out as one would give candy to children - and often erroneously, on evidence which is far less credible, and with a much lower standard of showing a threat, than was presented here.) Disturbances continued as co-owners Winfield and Michael permitted members of the Church on the property for various purposes, including an attempt to use it as a religious camp, and other fires. Due to this continuing harassment, Enoch and Patricia commenced an action to legally partition the property. Although in the end they prevailed, in part, during the pendency of the proceedings the courts would do nothing to prevent continued harassment, particularly by Joseph. Finally, Enoch said, he arrived at an agreement with Winfield and Michael whereby Joseph was not to come on to the demised property, and "If I told him to leave, he had to leave," he said. Running Enoch over on 05/12/2002. By May 12th, 2002, the Beltrami courts and authorities, by their permitting the previous harassment with impunity, had made it abundantly clear to this crazed and criminal group of Mormon zealots that they could continue their pattern of harassment of Enoch and Patricia Gould, doing pretty much whatever they wanted, with impunity. Such is as the law (if any) runs in Beltrami County, depending upon who the perpetrators, and/or the victims, are. So, apparently, Joseph thought he'd try to kill his brother Enoch with a pickup truck, thus fulfilling Winfield's prophesy of a few years before, and helping to secure the land for the Church. On that day, finding Joseph and his ex-wife in Joseph's truck, on the property, Enoch attempted to defend the property and, standing in front of the truck, told Joseph to leave. "As far as I understood, he was trespassing," Enoch said, adding that Joseph then threatened to run him over, calling him an evil spirit and the devil. "I didn't move, so he put the ... [truck] in gear and he pushed me down." The incident was witnessed by Patricia Gould, who wrote in a summary, "Enoch grabbed the bumper [to avoid the wheels] and held onto the bumper until Enoch was under the truck's engine block. When Joseph believed that he had run over my husband he stopped his truck, and Enoch climbed out from under the truck and again asked Joseph to leave Enoch's property. Joseph put the truck into gear and again ran over my husband and dragged him some 15 to 20 feet." Patricia called the Sheriff and Joseph and his ex-wife fled the property. Per Patricia, deputies took pictures of the drag marks and Joseph admitted that he had said that he was going to "run down" Enoch. Patricia said that she immediately spoke with Beltrami County Attorney Tim Faver about the incident. She told him that it was an assault, and additionally, an assault motivated by religious bias (i.e. a hate crime), which, she believed, elevated the degree of the charge. She told Faver that she wanted both Joseph and his ex-wife charged, and that additionally, she would make a new application for an Order for Protection (OFP) barring Joseph from the property. Patricia relates that Faver "strongly advised me not to ask for an OFP," and, at that time, refused to prosecute the assault. However, shortly thereafter, Faver, perhaps responding to pressures, issued a charge against Joseph of Careless Driving, for which, on December 6, 2002, he was found guilty by a judge from outside Beltrami County. Joseph was ordered to pay $243 in fines and fees, and otherwise received a stay of adjudication, on conditions including that he have no contact with Enoch. Meanwhile, Enoch and Patricia insisted that their temporary OFP application be heard by a Judge other than Rasmussen, and Judge Berger, a judge from outside the Ninth Judicial District, immediately granted it. But when the hearing for the permanent order went before Bemidji's Judge Holter, he dissolved Berger's order, again denied the OFP and in a memorandum, advised Enoch Gould to "get a life". At that hearing, Joseph was represented by Ryan Kieson of the Bemidji firm of Drahos, Young & Kieson; and, as with prior hearings, it was attended by members of the Church's consecration firm in the audience. On May 17th, 2002, Faver sent to Enoch a letter advising him that he had asked the Sheriff's Dept. to cite Joseph for Careless Driving; the letter then continued, chastising Enoch, the victim, for attempting to defend his property and the security of his family, and indicating that Faver wanted to charge him, but, unfortunately, he had not committed any crime. Faver wrote, "Unfortunately, I was not able to find any statute that would cover your inappropriate behavior on this occasion. While I in no way condone Joseph Gould's behavior, that does not mean you are without fault in this incident. Quite frankly, it is beyond my comprehension to think that a grown man would stand in front of a motor vehicle under these circumstances. Your childish behavior was only matched by the similar childish behavior of Joseph Gould in forcing the issue with you." Faver also refused to bring a charge of trespass, stating in the letter that it was a civil, not criminal matter (although, in Beltrami County, people have gone to jail for it, when they're people that the prosecutor wants to charge; under Minnesota law, trespassing is a crime). Faver wrote, "If you believe that Joseph Gould is trespassing, you should speak to your civil attorney...." [Emphasis added.] Enoch and Patricia Gould brought Faver's response, and continued inaction, to the Minnesota Lawyer's Professional Responsibility Board (LPRB), but as this board is essentially foxes watching the henhouse, they refused to act. Patricia wrote, "the Bar said basically that Tim Faver could do what he wanted." Finally, however, on July 24th, 2002, with another application for restraining order brought by Enoch's attorney in the land partition suit, Judge Holter signed the order barring Joseph from the property, and from certain burning on his property, during the pendency of the partitioning suit. On October 23rd, 2002, Judge Holter issued an order partitioning and dividing the property. But the order placed a common access way to Winfield's house, which could be used by Church members, passing close to Enoch and Patricia's household, causing them concern for their safety and security. Said Enoch, "If they agreed to move it [the access road] away from my home, so they couldn't come up and harass me," he would otherwise be agreeable to the divisions the other brothers have proposed. But on this access road issue, "every time, they've refused to do it." Holter's division was upheld by the Minnesota Court of Appeals. In their Petition to the Minnesota Supreme Court, Patricia and Enoch (Petitioners) allege that in the original division proceedings, 1) the surveyor who submitted a signed report to the Court never actually visited or surveyed the property; 2) appraisers who did visit the property made no effort to locate an existing survey stake, their property description did not refer to landmarks and included two different lengths for a critical line; 3) that Judge Holter solicited ex parte communications from attorney Kieson (the attorney for Joseph Gould, who was not a party to the partition proceedings), without notice to Petitioners, thusly denying them due process; and, perhaps most importantly, 4) the referee's, and Judge Holter's division should have taken physical security into account, given the history of hostilities that the Petitioners had endured. In fact, Judge Holter would not allow that information to become part of the record. The petition recites, "Ultimately, counsel were called into chambers and Appellant's [Enoch's] counsel was advised that the Court would not tolerate the introduction of any other such information," regarding hostilities and past criminal acts. At this writing, the Goulds' Petition for Review, signed Sept. 18th, 2003 is pending before the Supreme Court. Note: Northern Herald can make no statement, at this time, as to specifically which member of the Mormon Church, if any, Co. Atty. Tim Faver is "in bed" with, or otherwise deferred to in this instance. If any reader has this information, it will be appreciated and will be used in follow up. In any event, Mr. Faver's duty is to the people of Beltrami County, and to enforce the laws of the State of Minnesota uniformly on their behalf. ------------------------------------------ LAMB HELD OVER A YEAR WITHOUT TRIAL AT CLEARWATER COUNTY "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial ...." -- Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution The Sixth Amendment is pretty straightforward. It doesn't have any exceptions. It says that once accused, a person shall be brought swiftly to trial to determine whether the charges are valid. This is particularly important if a person is held in jail pending trial. But in Minnesota, this amendment has been abridged and is frequently violated; an accused's remedy is to take habeas corpus to the federal courts - something which many do not know how to do from a jail cell. (The simple Habeas Corpus forms and instructions can be ordered, without charge, from the U.S. District Court, 290 N. Robert St., St. Paul. If the filing fee is sought to be waived, then an Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis should also be requested. These forms are also available on the net (and can be filled-in on the computer) at http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/ The federal court may require that the habeas corpus have first been presented to state courts of appeal. ) Nature of the problem. Why this happens is threefold: Firstly, it has been held, in Minnesota, that an accused's right to a speedy trial (which should happen automatically) must be expressly demanded. If the accused fails to insist on a speedy trial, in open court, or in a written filing with the court, he need not receive one. It's an opt-in, rather than opt-out (as should be) situation. And often, the attorney, speaking for the accused, does not make the demand. Secondly, in Minnesota, the demand generally is not accepted before the omnibus hearing. Omnibus may take two months or more. Following omnibus, the demand may be made which, as it is interpreted here, means that trial must then generally be had within 60 days (incarcerated persons) of when the demand was made. In some cases, (e.g. Roy Martin, Floyd Cloud) this has meant being held, without proof of guilt or an opportunity to demonstrate innocence, for over six months. The Public Defender. Thirdly, after the demand for speedy trial, it would be blatantly unconstitutional for the prosecutor or the Court to stand in the way of the speedy trial; but the public defender (who is supposed to be on the accused's side) can get away with it and sometimes does. The public defender has the ability to delay the trial beyond the 60 day period (See Floyd Cloud Held Without Trial ... For 210 Days, NH of 08/11/03 at northernherald.com). This is sometimes done simply because the defender does not feel ready to go to trial; or it may be for other reasons, none of them lawful. Kris Kolar, Chief Public Defender for the 9th Judicial District, is Ben Lamb's attorney. In a recent interview (in The [Bemidji] Pioneer of 09/07/03), Kolar said of the state public defense system, "The quality of public defense has never been better ... it is quicker and more efficient - you won't find old cases." She must have forgotten about her client, Ben Lamb, who has been held in the Clearwater County Jail at Bagley, awaiting trial, for over a year, since July 2002. At present, no trial date has even been set. This kind of lengthy incarceration without trial is something Americans equate with justice in Mexico and other third-world countries without civil rights. That it happens here is not so well known. If any one can be held, at length or indefinitely, without formal proof of guilt, then anyone can be held without proof of guilt. Said Lamb, in interview Sept. 21st at the jail, "I want to get done with it. ... I never talk to [Kolar]," who, Lamb said, hasn't been in to see him in 4 months. Lamb said that Kolar has never offered to demand a speedy trial; never informed him that such a demand is necessary to result in trial within 60 days; and "I think she's keeping me here until I take a plea bargain." Lamb is accused of 1) Controlled substance crime in the 1st degree; 2) Conspiracy to commit controlled substance crime in the 1st degree; and 3) Possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unlawful container. Although police claim to have convincing evidence of a drug violation, Lamb said that he doesn't want to plead guilty to the severe charges, because there are allegations charged that he didn't do. At the conclusion of the interview, Lamb said, "If I'm going to prison, I want to go," and reiterated that he just wants the trial over. Confronted with the Lamb case, Kolar said that "you won't find old cases" was a quote out of context, and agreed that the Lamb case has been dragging for quite a while. But she explained that there were strategic defense reasons for allowing the delay, and that her client, Lamb, was aware of them and had agreed to it. But when recontacted, Lamb said that he never agreed to anywhere near this long a postponement. He said that he'd agreed to a two week continuance, but, "this is ridiculous. ... There's no way I wanted [more than] six months in jail without trial." As of Sept. 24th, he said he wants to move forward now, and is considering submitting a request for speedy trial on his own behalf. Lamb reiterated that he has not been able to contact his attorney; that when he tries to call her, "I just get the run-around," he said, being told "she just stepped out," or some similar thing. Kolar has, apparently, not returned Lamb's calls, not even when he's had an appointment to speak with her. Editor's Note: At trial, it is very possible that Lamb may be found guilty of an offense. But that isn't the issue here. If any one can be held, at length or indefinitely, without formal proof of guilt, then anyone can be held without proof of guilt. That's a scary situation, and not the American way of justice. There are many reasons why a person, wanting one, might not get a speedy trial. None of them are valid, in keeping with our nation's highest laws and foundation. Recently, the underfunding and almost impossible caseload of the Public Defenders has come to public attention. It may be that, with already high taxes, we cannot afford to defend everybody. Under the Constitution, the defense, and right to same, is as much a part of trial as the prosecution - if we cannot afford to defend cases, we cannot afford to try them all. Sometimes building a defense actually takes more manhours than merely prosecuting the charge. Lawfully, the 9th District public defense must have available to it at least the same amount of resources and manpower as do all of the combined prosecutors in the District. To do less is not providing an equitable and competent defense. For now, to meet Constitutional muster, the Governor would do well were he to simply order, that after a near date certain, any person who had not expressly and specifically waived a speedy trial, and had been held without trial for 120 days or more, be released. Prosecutors would then have to try the important and more certain cases, and dismiss the flimsy ones. This would also relieve financial pressures on the prisons. If too many cases were being dismissed, that would then be a strong argument for more defense manpower - a higher percentage of cases could then be tried. UCLA law professor Susan Estrich once said that, in America, we will release 10 guilty people before we will imprison one innocent one, which, she said, is as it should be. As imperfect as it may be, that is the American system of justice - any other approach would be disastrous - it would result in the type of system found abroad, where a person has no rights and can be imprisoned on only an allegation - the type of system which we, as Americans, disdain, calling it "third-world", and look down upon. If we cannot constitutionally try every accused, we certainly cannot unconstitutionally detain and jail them, at length, without trial. --Ed. --------------------------------------------- In Focus LAKELAND TV OFFERS MORE CHANNELS, OPEN HOUSE BEMIDJI -- Lakeland Television, which offers Northern Minnesota's (Bemidji to Brainerd) only local news source, held open houses at it's Bemidji and Brainerd studios, Sept. 6th & 7th, respectively, and unveiled its new digital system which allows digital TV users to receive five additional Lakeland stations, as well as the analog 9 (Bemidji) and 22 (Brainerd). In the studio, Bill Sanford, General Manager and Director of Engineering, using a wide-screen digital TV, demonstrated the new digital signal and capabilities. "Picture quality is better ... [and] people can get six channels now, instead of one," he said, explaining that the additional channels can be received on the new digital TV sets, or on regular sets if a special digital tuner box (about $200-400) is added. The extra channels are not available to some cable users, although Paul Bunyan Cable is carrying some of them. (Paul Bunyan also now offers Lakeland Plus on channel 174, which airs some of PBS's most popular series, during primetime, and again in daytime.) The new channels will carry 1) popular PBS series shows in higher-definition; 2) a 24 hour kids' channel; 3) educational television; 4) other PBS series shows; and 5) coverage, from St. Paul, of the Minnesota legislature during the session. About 250 people attended the Bemidji open house, held at the Lakeland TV studios, located in Deputy Hall, on the Bemidji State University campus. In addition to offering the area's only local news coverage, Lakeland TV carries many popular Public Broadcast System (PBS) programs, such as the NOVA science series, which recently featured a program chronicling the invention of the transistor (and, hence, the integrated circuit), how it was made, and how it works; the NATURE series; kid's shows such as the classic Sesame Street; one of TV's best off-the-cuff comedies: the Red Green show - kind of a Home Improvement-style spoof, set in a Northwoods lodge setting (two programs usually air Saturday nights at 8 and 8:30); drama and the arts; and highly informative biographies on the lives and works of innovators such as Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. A public station, Lakeland TV is supported by individual (viewer) memberships, as well as over 500 business sponsorships by familiar large and small businesses throughout Northern Minnesota. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Guests arrive at the reception center for cake and face painting (at inset, Anna Peterman and Rachel Munson) at Lakeland Television's Open House, Sept. 6, 2003 at their studios at BSU. A slightly different news team appears as Frank Wakonabo, D. J. Wakonabo, and Andrew Powers man the anchor desk at the open house. Guests at the Open House got to meet News Anchor Dennis Weimann. "Great place to work!" he said. Children see themselves on camera (on the studio monitor TV) with Clifford, The Large Red Dog! -------------------------------------------------- Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): NORTHERN CRITTERS The Walking Stick is rarely seen in Northern Minnesota. That doesn't mean that there aren't a lot of them - they're just rarely seen. A master of camouflage, this wild specimen happened to be on a contrasting background when photographed. Can you pick it out of its more usual environment? About 4" long; at rest, this insect projects its slender antennae and forelegs straight forward, folding them together as a single extension, to complete the illusion of a small twig. Although black & white here, the walking stick occurs in full colour in the wild, it's lime green very closely matching new growth twigs. ------------------------------------- AUDITOR'S REPORT DISCLOSES MAJOR MISSPENDING BY WOMEN'S SHELTER ST. PAUL -- A recent Legislative Auditor's report uncovered severe misappropriations of money contributed (including, largely, state grants), to the "charitable" and "non-profit" St. Paul-based Women's Advocates, Inc., which operates both shelter and advocacy services, and received almost $5 million in state dollars during the 2001 through 2003 fiscal years. The report states that the Women's Advocates Executive Director, during that period, was allowed to set her own compensation at $170,000/yr., and additionally misappropriated $20,000 to her retirement account, $30,000 for a loan, and $200 for contributions to the political fund of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone. She also gave herself 13 weeks of paid vacation (over $23,000), and a "bonus" of approximately $17,000. For this complete Associated Press story, readers are directed to "Audit finds state-funded charity misspent money" in the 9/7/03 issue of The [Bemidji] Pioneer; or online [St. Paul Pioneer-Press version] at http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/6703836.htm --------------------------------------------------------- Editorials - Opinion A TIME OF HOSPITALITY A friend of your editor was, a few years back, the President of the Minnesota Restaurant and Tavern Owner's Association. Funny thing, though, in conversation, he seldom spoke of either restaurants, or taverns. He spoke only of "places of hospitality". When one thinks about it, this makes sense. Whether for dinner or drinks, out, that's really what the customer is buying. If it was just food, well, the same Cordon Bleu for which he might pay over $10 at a restaurant, he could get frozen at Wal-Mart for about $2 or less and just put it in the oven. Clearly, when people dine out, they're paying a premium for an evening of hospitality and elegance. It's being waited on and served in pleasant and relaxing surroundings. It isn't sustenance, it's an event. That's what you're paying for. But now, at some sit-down restaurants, people who smoke aren't getting the hospitality for which they're paying. For people who enjoy tobacco, many can't enjoy a comfortable and leisurely dinner if they can't smoke. And anyone whose spouse smokes cigarettes knows that it's hard to tarry over coffee, dessert and good conversation when the person you're with is counting seconds to when they can go outside and have one. Confronted with this, one particularly arrogant restaurateur, at The Brauhaus, countered, "We have a smoking area - it's right out there," as he pointed to the door. Let me suggest that for people who enjoy tobacco, their money should stay out there too. Your editor, of course, is very old. Old enough to remember a time when some people smoked, some didn't, no one cared - they all got along. People knew back then that smoking wasn't particularly healthy for the smoker; the difference was that there weren't groups using scare tactics to stir mass hysteria and create an issue to divide people when, in fact, none existed. And with all of the real concerns in the world, one thing that's not needed is another divisive issue. The facts. Despite the propaganda that's sometimes spewed, even on TV, using tobacco settlement proceeds, there has never been conclusive proof that second-hand smoke ever hurt anyone. Indeed, on a radio talk show a few years back, Dr. Daniel Weeks, a Chief State Medical Examiner, talking frankly, stated that if one could remove all of the second-hand smoke from the environment tomorrow, the public health effect would be "zero to nil." The Bottom Line is, if at any place of hospitality, you're not getting the hospitality you're paying for, well, you might just want to keep your money in your wallet, where it belongs. The food will be a lot cheaper at the store. And relegating people who smoke to the bar area, or other noisy or less desirable areas of the restaurant isn't any more acceptable than in the old days when Negroes had seating - but in the back of the bus. Smokers are not second class citizens either. Their money is as good as anyone's - if a restaurateur is so lucky that they decide to spend some of it there, they deserve the same ambience as any customer. It's what they're paying for. ----------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor RENTER DISCUSSES "SLUM" CONDITIONS We have all heard the term "slumlord"; however, few of us in the north country would imagine that such a person(s) existed outside of the big cities. Well they do. Let me tell you about a local slumlord that I have rented from for three (3) years. I won't tell you his name, but to say that he is also a local electrician should be enough.... My husband and I moved into his trailer house in July of 2000 and all was well. When the kitchen water kept on freezing up, he was always here to fix it. When the ceiling boards started to come down, he was there, and then we started on our second year, and it started to get harder and harder to get him here to fix things. By the start of our third year, the only way we could get him here to fix things was to write him a letter and even then it was like pulling teeth to get him to do anything. Still we stayed because the rent was the cheapest around. This summer will be our 4th summer here and his newest trick is to send us an eviction notice every time that we ask him to make repairs. We are not talking just minor repairs anymore, these are things like the skirting isn't fastened on the one end of the trailer house, the fire escape door won't close unless you tie it shut and then there is still a crack along the door jamb so that it frosts up in cold weather, as do the walls in the bedroom where the skirting isn't fastened down. The floors are sagging in the one bedroom despite the fact that he replaced a 4 x 8 section earlier this spring (only because we were ready to fall through it). We have fought with him tooth and nail, we have even gone so far as to go to HUD and HRA. We have threatened him with a retaliation suit and made copies from "Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities" and still he refuses to do anything more. We really can't afford to move, but neither can we afford to stay since we do foster care, and our home must meet certain guidelines, and the constant fight to get anything done is affecting my health and the health and well being of others who live in the household as well. We are the lucky ones though, because as of today, ... we were fortunate enough to rent a larger trailer house just 5 miles from here, and will no longer have to put up with the hassle of TRYING to get him to fix things or the threat of eviction every time that we turn around. I only wish that we could name names so that no one else will fall into his trap and be treated as we were. Doris Winger, Laporte Northern Herald replies: Whether on the east side of Nicollet in Minnenoplace, or here up North, every now and then, people speak of slums in Minnesota. When one has seen, however, the project housing in Atlanta and L. A. - well, the word takes on a different meaning; and nothing up here quite meets the gravity that the term demands. Still, your problem can be appreciated. Some rental housing can fairly be referred to as substandard - less than what most people would find comfortable. That you stayed because it was the cheapest around says a lot - that's why people rent that kind of housing - they're trading price for ambience; and very importantly, sometimes it's all that they can afford. If bottom-level housing wasn't available, their choices would be either a nicer apartment that they couldn't pay for and from which they'd eventually be evicted, or sleeping under a bridge. And then we'd have to build more bridges to meet the demand. We can look at Bemidji (thanks to our city council, a handy bad example in so many ways) which recently built two new bridges: A few years ago, Bemidji had abundant low-income rental housing. Then the City passed tough rental laws, which involve mandatory inspections (at cost to the landlord, and ultimately, the tenant) whether the tenant wants them or not - so there's also an invasion of privacy issue here. As a result of the new rental control, much of the lower cost housing dried up. As they were no longer profitable, lower income rental houses were sold off or torn down en masse. The reduced supply of housing increased the price. That's one reason why it's hard to find a reasonable rental in Bemidji. Conversely, in much of Minnesota, landlords have free rein, but when the housing truly becomes uninhabitable, a tenant's only remedy is to move out. That's not right either. It's a thin tightrope: Tenants do need to have rights, but it can't be so tough on landlords as to cause them to evaporate, and it mustn't impose new costs which ultimately result in higher rents. What seems to work is the type of state laws that are in effect in California (not a great place, but some of their laws make sense), and some other places: 1) The landlord's rights to manage his property as he sees fit are generally upheld; but 2) if the premises are truly uninhabitable, the tenant can withhold from the rent the money needed to make repairs (the tenant has the legal burden of showing, however, that the repairs were necessary); and 3) the landlord may not evict, without cause, for six months following said withholding and repair. -- Ed. --------------------------------------------------------------- In Focus ABOUT 200 ATTEND HUBBARD POSSE FUN(D) RAISER LAKE GEORGE -- There are many things the Hubbard County Sheriff's Posse knows how to do well. One of them is eat. And on Saturday, Sept. 6th, area residents got to eat like Posse members at their annual fundraising outing and barbecue. The event was expected to raise about $1,500 for the posse, leaving about $750, after expenses, to be put toward the annual taxes of $900 (shouldn't they be tax-free?) on their horse training camp, nestled into the deep woods around Lake George, where the BBQ was held. The whole hog for the fundraiser was contributed by Meyer's Meats. As always, the BBQ pork was done to a turn, and absolutely splendid. The dinner also included turkey, potato and macaroni salads, roll (a lot of people made BBQ sandwiches), bars, beverage, and Julie Eiklenborg made her incredibly good baked beans. In the raffle, David Kowalke was the big winner taking the saddlebags and half of the pot ($148). Following the feed, the extra food was sold at auction - one could buy a whole BBQ'd turkey for $10! Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): County 20 entertained during the dinner and throughout the evening! Can't have a horse camp outing without the horses! Sheriff Gary Mills presents Certificates of Appreciation to Robert Wattenhofer, above, and Roger Luth, below. After filling plates on the chow line, above, diners enjoy the meal under the headquarters' shelter, with some overflowing on to nearby lawn chairs. -------------------------------------------------------- In Focus SAND LAKE JAM HACKENSACK -- Evenson's Deer Acres Resort (218-682-2361), located near Deep Portage Reserve, about 10 miles from Hackensack, held their 2nd annual Sand Lake Jam Sat., August 23rd, 2003, and it was so well received that Mr. Evenson announced toward the end that the 2004 music jam would be the whole weekend, rather than just one day. Because it's held on the resort grounds, in addition to the music, horseshoes and other recreation are ongoing. Camping is offered, as well as, of course, lots of good food and beverages. This year's jam featured all day music, starting with the Twilight Blues Band; followed by the Ramona Fritz Band; and from the Twin Cities, the Hillbilly Voodoo Dolls (www.hillbillyvoodoodolls.com), who performed varied "American roots music", from rockabilly to jazz, tunes from their new CD; and the Lamont Cranston Blues Band which sometimes performs with Jm Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Cranston's music is a favorite in the Grand Rapids area, where they frequently perform at La Rosa at the Rainbow Inn; and it was easy to see, at the jam, why his sound is so popular. The very professional, very appealing, very dancable Cranston combo includes guitars, sax, bass violin, drums, keyboard and harmonica. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Vickie, of Backus, and Dave, from California, enjoy the resort facilities and the laid-back music environment. Steve, of Hackensack, and Diane from Blaine, enjoy Gyros The Hillbilly Voodoo Dolls Band, Jeremy Cashman, Paul Bergen, Brad Mattson, Paul Manske Jammers dance, or just groove, to the Lamont Cranston Blues Band; Pat "Lamont" Hayes, Ted Larsen, Dale Peterson, Jeff Rogers, Jim Greenwell on sax, Michael Carvale on bass ---------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- At Backus, The Hub of North Central Minnesota --------------------------------------------- CORN FEST AT BACKUS!! The City of Backus, Minnesota, now in it's 101st year, celebrated with its annual Corn Fest, August 9th, 2003! In addition to events shown here, this year's Corn Fest included morning coffee & rolls at the Senior Center, where craft, bake and rummage sales were held; Karaoke by Jan's Heart and Soul; food booths; airplane rides at the Backus airport; kids' treasure hunt; pontoon rides; a money scramble; relay races; and a cake walk. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Swap Meet: A festgoer peruses Tiffany lamps by vendor Ryan Beavers, Brainerd. Woodcarvings by Jim & Jill Jall, of Fargo The Parade: The Nisswa Billie Brown American Legion Post marches with Hackensack Post 202. Color Guards also included the Pine River Post. The parade was led by Backus American Legion Post 368. The Red Pine Log Homes float in the parade's "Home Sweet Home" theme. The 50s "At The Hop" float, complete with Elvis, produced by Friends Forever, took Best Entry Overall in parade awards. Gordon Ford, of Hackensack, brought his replica of a 1903 Wright Flyer The games & amusements midway Dime Toss Backus firemen fight water wars. Always on-call, they had to put out a fire just before the parade. Making a splash! A splash of water is all that remains as Backus Mayor Kathi Breccia takes her turn in the dunk tank! Minstrel Lee Bone entertains under the pavilion Dancin' in the Street: Legal Limits play the well-attended dance How a Sheriff becomes a Judge. One of Northern Minnesota's best and most just lawmen, Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher helps judge the parade entries before taking his turn in the dunk tank. Doug and Betty Halvin came from San Diego to Corn Fest. Royalty: This fest was the last official function for 2002 Miss Backus, McKenzie Sepin. Newly crowned Miss Backus 2003, Kristianna DeVore; and Princess Lacee Rice Corn Feed! There are many things to enjoy at Corn Fest, but if one asks, most people will say they came for the corn! Each year, a special crop is locally grown to be at its peak of ripeness at just the right time, and it's prepared exceptionally well! People line up outside the fire hall for the corn feed that follows the parade. Enjoying their ears are Joyce Mead, Backus; Gary Semmler, Columbia Heights; Grand Marshall and retiring Corn Fest Coordinator, Cloie Smith; a volunteer serving up the corn; Don and Myrle Dabill, Pine River; and Stanley Frank, Pine River. Napkins and cups were provided by the First National Bank of Walker. With Smith retiring to a consultantship, after many years of service, future Corn Fests will be coordinated bt the McAllisters (Backus Locker & Store). The $7 meal included fresh baked ham, a roll, wild rice hotdish, watermelon, beverage, and, of course, all the corn one could eat. This year's corn, a bi-colour, was superb. This year's corn feed & fest was made possible by contributions from: Al's Bakery, Backus Fire Dept., Backus American Legion, Backus Lions, Backus Locker, Backus Lumber, Brad Travis Construction, Bruce's Contracting, Centennial Bank, Chitwood Oil, Carl's Market, Don Fowler, Dale Rogers, Denny Williams, Chuck Dufour, Jerry's Supervalue, Jim's Off-Sale, Godfrey's True Value & Rental, Eveland's Scamp, Inc., Johnson-Lindenberg & Assoc., First Nat'l Bank of Backus, First Nat'l Bank of Walker, Mark's Market, Mechlenberg Construction, Mike & Kathy Martin, Mike's Sand & Gravel, Minnesota Corn Grower's Association, Mary Sheley, Nei Bottling Co., Northland Septic, Minnesota Pork Association, Paul's Large Garage, Pine River Ready-Mix, Pine Mountain Lake Assoc., Pine Motors, Sara Lee Coffee & Tea, Viking Coke, Northern Air Nazarene Church, Willard's, and other people and businesses; with special thanks to the Backus City Council, and the volunteers and helpers at the event. --------------------------------------------------------- SIGHTS FROM THE CLEARWATER COUNTY FAIR AT BAGLEY For a good down-home deal on a downright good fair, in the Bemidji-Bagley area, it's the one to go to. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Entertainment in the Commercial Building In 4-H handmade clothing, grades 9+, First Place and Grand Champion went to Kayla Ferrie Amanda Drewlow's (4H) consumer information and research exhibit, comparing two common bandages, took a Grand Champion award. ------------------------------------------------------- Direct Answers from Wayne and Tamara WALKING THE WALK I have a very important question. My wife moved out of the house last year with our young son and daughter. We have done some excellent counseling and made excellent progress. She actually moved back home two weeks ago. You can’t believe the relief. We broke up because of my controlling personality, but there were no financial or drug problems, nothing of that sort. I am a physician. We had a stable home and job for 15 years. I think she just got tired of not being heard and appreciated. I believe I have made many important changes for myself and her. There may not be an answer to my question, but how long does it take for things to be okay again once a couple reunites? Days or months or years? I am a patient soul, but life is quite short. I guess I am asking, what does it take to soften a hardened heart and how long? -- Hal Hal, it may be possible to say how long an illness takes to run its course, but it is not possible to say when, or if, things are going to be okay with your wife. In Stephen King’s novel "From a Buick 8," there is a state police sergeant whose men trust him and know they can always rely on him. The author says, "They knew this, not because he said anything, but because he walked the walk." Do you walk the walk of a man who loves his wife? Do you walk the walk of a man your wife can love? Are you alive to her presence? Those things cannot be faked, and your wife is sure to know the difference. Your profession makes heavy demands on time, but life is like a box. There is only so much space. If you try to pack too much in, some items will be crushed out of existence. Do you make the time for your wife and family? Do you have that genuine desire? We would not say you should be thinking of your wife when you are with a patient, but when you are with a patient, do you forget you are a married man with a wife you love? To the extent the future is yours to decide, it depends on your genuine feelings. In one of the Martha Grimes mysteries, a man explains why his relationship didn’t last. When I passed a flower store, he says, I didn’t have the urge to buy her flowers. --Wayne & Tamara And your Northern Herald Editor suggests: OK Clod, let's have a little reality here. You are obviously a henpecked husband whose wife is putting through the hoops. And she's doing that because you're letting her. She has you convinced that your ways are the problem. They are not. Your ways have provided a home and security for her and her children for 15 years. There is no such thing as a husband being too controlling as regards the family. That is your job. Tried and proven, this concept goes back only about as far as the sixth day after creation. No ship can have two captains; neither can a family. That's why, for a good and lasting marriage, the wife vows to love, honor, and obey. "Too controlling" is just a transient buzzphrase now popular with spaghetti-brained people (such as some counselors) who have newfangled ideas about how, in their concept of a perfect world, they'd like things to work; but things don't work that way. Soon it will go the way of other buzzphrases that were faddish, but over time, demonstrated to be worthless (examples: "marriage is just a piece of paper", "people shouldn't have expectations"). As a physician you probably make more than $5.50 an hour; your devotion to your job is what supports your family; you have avoided the most common problem that couples have: money, and your wife, whomever she may be, should be grateful for that. Count your blessings. You are also what women call "a good catch." But you can't "walk the walk" while you're walking on eggshells. Your concern about your marriage being okay again is misplaced. You are not the problem, so you can't make it OK. It won't be okay as long as traditional roles and the importance of lifelong commitment are disregarded by your wife. That she left says a lot here. And it won't be okay as long as she can feed on making you feel guilty about it and make you waste time in counseling and other nonsense, which time would be better devoted to your profession, or sailing, or otherwise having family good times - things which really build family strength. In short, it won't be OK as long as you let her run you ragged. Men, these days, often tend to be panty-whipped. No man should be - there's no need. By walking out, she has already broken the vows of marriage. Do you really think that she was chaste while you were apart? You may be much wiser to simply show her the door; but first, contact as crooked an attorney as you can afford to be sure you have custody of the kids (who should be with the parent that supports them) so she can walk out of the marriage with the same nothing that she brought to it. If you want to be charitable, send her a case of red light bulbs for her front door. Then get on with your life and find a woman who knows how to live well and properly, and how to reciprocate the benefit that her husband brings her. Sometimes people buy something that's overpriced because they think that solely because of that, they're getting better quality. This is obviously a fallacy. And in marriage, sometimes husbands think that if they work harder and let their wives put them through a lot of heck they will have a more worthwhile union solely because of the work done. This is equally false. Let me draw a metaphor: your Editor once knew a very beautiful tramp who lived in the southwest. She demanded, and her husband provided her with, a palatial house, pool, hot tub, one of those enormous TVs, and all the other toys. To do this, he worked a high paying job that required that he be out of town most of the time. He gladly worked his rear off, and endured her demands, moodiness, and henpecking, for the high quality of the time that he got to spend with her about once every ten days. But when they put in a new driveway, the backhoe driver got that same quality for a lot less. Now, the question is, do you want to be the fool, or the backhoe driver. Even if you wouldn't particularly want, in this sordid scenario, to be the driver, we would venture that most men certainly wouldn't want to be the fool. It's your choice. -- Ed. Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at www.WayneAndTamara.com Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@ WayneAndTamara.com Direct Answers appears in newspapers in the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK, Grenada, Guyana, Spain, Lesotho, South Africa, Antigua & Barbuda, Papua New Guinea, and Kenya. ---------------------------------------------------- Public Service Advertisement THE ENVIRONMENT Every environmental problem on Earth, from destruction of the rain forests, to nuclear waste, to depletion of the ozone, can be traced to a single cause: Overpopulation. We are producing more people than world resources can support. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Research has shown that, at current rates, human population growth by about 2040 can come only with the extinction of most other terrestrial species - the kind of thing we're seeing in Brazil right now. "Environmentalists" always have half-reared solutions that address the symptom, but not the disease, and often, in the name of the environment, make things worse. Actually, no one that's made more than one kid can really call themselves an environmentalist. For a better tomorrow: TAKE HEED; DON'T BREED Presented as a public service message of this newspaper. --------------------------------------------------- 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 THEY CALL THIS PROGRESS? Two Small Steps Backward For A Man (or Lady) ... A Giant Leap For Mankind Used to be, service was the name of the game in business. You tried to please the most customers. Indeed, Wall Drug of South Dakota made it's name (and fortune) not on what it sold, but what it gave away - Free Ice Water! But, nowadays, as far as some businesses are concerned, it's not the product or service - just how much money one can make. American Free Enterprise, generally, of course, is a good thing; it is moderated and kept in place by customer demand and satisfaction; so here are some sensible things you can do when it gets out of hand. Buying Water? Not so long ago, there were drinking fountains everywhere. Cities put them in public areas, businesses in private. Water, after all, is a necessity - particularly when you've been on the road for a few hours. Perhaps the merchants discarded the drinking fountains in favor of greater pop sales; and, for those who just asked for water, they're now selling water in little bottles. How long will it be before someone tries to sell us air? What you can do: A thermal jug kept in your car, and filled with cool, MINNESOTA Water (yep, it's the almost free stuff that comes out of your tap) can save you some real bucks on the road in the long run. Even more if you're so unfortunate as to be traveling with kids. (Oxymoron: a contradiction in terms, e.g. "family vacation".) And actually, water is more thirst-quenching than pop, or even beer, anyway; with pop, you drink one, and after a few minutes, you're thirsty again. Pop is one of the highest-profit items at many fast food restaurants. $1.59 for a few cents worth of syrup?!!? Come on!! Acclimating your family to enjoying pure Minnesota Water with the meal is more thirst-satisfying and makes your recreation dollars go a lot farther. MINNESOTA Water. Best water going! Always ask for it by name! THE VAST WASTELAND. Do you have time to sit down and watch 36 minutes of TV commercials? Well, if you're watching a 2-hour TV movie, that's what you're doing. Like Free Enterprise, TV commercials, in reasonable number, are actually a good thing. They've kept TV free to the public for the fifty years or so that it's been around. But lately, the TV execs have gotten greedy and are selling as many as the market will bear. Some stations have even replaced a lot of their entertainment programming with, instead, 30 or 60-minute "infomercials." You can always get cable or the dish - then you'll have even more channels of the same garbage to choose from (remember when Congress and the legislatures OK'd pay-TV touted on a no-commercials campaign?) Or, if your time is more valuable than to waste it idiotically stupefied as a chain of eight or more commercials in a row rolls by, you can get smart (not the TV show): With what few worthwhile shows there are on TV, if you make a practice of recording them and watching them, at your convenience, from your VCR, skipping over the commercials, you can cut your viewing time by about a third; or in other words, watch three half-hour shows in about 60 minutes, instead of two. Families who watch a lot of prime-time TV might want to have two VCRs, so they can watch one, while recording with the other. Yes, it does defeat the purpose of commercial TV, but then if the network execs are going to beam out that much garbage, they can't really complain if you put out a dumpster to collect it. "I can't understand why anybody would want to devote their life to a cause like dope. It's the most boring pastime I can think of. It ranks a close second to television." -- rock star Frank Zappa as cited in The Best of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader; The Bathroom Readers' Institute, Berkeley, Calif. THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK "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." This column is cumulative, and provided for consumer awareness. Signed consumer submissions are welcome. HI-VAL(R) (I/O MAGIC(R)) CD-RW drives. In our test case, this product appeared to perform satisfactorily upon installation, but failed within 6 months. There have been other reports, including by technicians, of this product failing. The product is sold by Office Max and other retailers. SYMPHONIC(R) VCRS. Certain of these products are known, after a year or two of use, to sporadically malfunction, going into an error mode when the rewind or fast forward button is pressed. The machine then has to be manually turned on again, which ejects the tape and resets the counter to zero. As a result, frequently, when the consumer tries to fast forward or rewind, he may have to get up and reinsert the tape, and the counter place is lost. This product has been sold by K-MART(R) and other retailers. LEXAR(R) Compact Flash cards. These are touted as being compatible with most digital cameras, and Kodak(R) agrees. But in our test case, the Lexar 32Mb card produced sporadic errors when used with the Kodak DC120. The Kodak card (less than $1 more) did not give this problem. OFFICE MAX(R) REBATES. How can they make money rebating that much? Mail-in rebates are predicated on the theory that a lot of people won't send for them, and a lot of people will fall through the cracks. Office Max makes a practice of drawing in customers with offers of large rebates. But in our investigation, many people didn't get theirs. Firstly, there's lots of fine print on the rebate form, like rebates won't be sent to P.O. boxes. This lets out the entire City of Walker, where that's the only way people get their mail. There are lots of other loopholes that keep you from getting your rebate, and even compromise the returnability of the merchandise if you send for it. The bottom line is that if a manufacturer really wants to offer a bona-fide rebate, you'll get it at the checkstand - not by mail. HEWLETT-PACKARD(R) was once one of the most dependable brands of computer peripherals one could buy. But no longer. Consumers should be aware that particularly for long-term data storage and retrieval, HP products can no longer be relied upon because HP policy is to not continue support for those products. For example, people who, only a few years ago, bought the HP Colorado 800 MB backup device, sold as a permanent storage device, will now find that if it needs maintenance or repair, those services are unavailable. HP will tell the customer, effectively, that they're SOL (Simply Out of Luck). Data archived with the device is now, for all practical purposes, irretrievable and lost. Due to HP policy, users may find service for other HP products to become unavailable not too long after they are purchased; more dependable and integrious brands, in the long-term, may be a more worthwhile option. CELLULAR-ONE(R) is glad to take your money for monthly service, but they make no guarantee that you'll actually be able to use your phone when you need it, or that it'll ring when people call you. If the "tower's busy" with other calls, your clients will just reach your voicemail - if you wanted that, an answering machine would cost a lot less. Cell-One is now reducing it's analog channels. That means that if your use an analog phone, for more power and range (important up here), you're going to increasingly get a fast-busy signal when you try to use it, even in an emergency, and callers won't be able to reach you. Cell-1 did this without any notice to present customers - people who depend on their cell phone to stay in contact with clients were, one day, just missing calls and unable to dial out. (This makes a good case for these jokers being government regulated as a public utility.) There aren't presently many service options in the Northland - Cell 2000, in the overall, also has their problems. With any firm, customers may want to sample the service before entering into long-term contracts. ------------------------------------------------------- **************************************************************** Copyright (c) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 by Northern Herald and Northern Herald Publications, Inc. 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