What would "Hambone" say re. our politics, culture?

The image shows Andy "Hambone" Papke as he is presented on the Waseca Alums website. He was a 2011 Waseca High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. The long-time Morris teacher graduated from Waseca Central High School in 1947, and from Gustavus Adolphus in 1951. He was one of several athletes who enlisted in the service during World War II. He returned to complete his education. Before entering the Navy, he distinguished himself in athletics, particularly in basketball and football. " 'Hambone' Papke was one of the greatest athletes to ever play for Waseca Central," the website proclaims.
  
What would Andy Papke, the late civics teacher at Morris High, think of our current political culture? Do the people of today even care about it? Have we become inured to what is going on?
It seems in vain to try to cry out about this, to try to issue a clarion call as it were, that our very nation could face existential danger. Shall we feel numbed as we peruse the news early this morning on May 31?
We could consider several nuggets as examples of the crass phenomena I am talking about. Oh, here's one. The mere act of Mitch McConnell admitting he'd push through a Supreme Court nominee in an election year is bad enough. But, how might a Harvard University professor call out Mr. McConnell? In a reasoned and academic manner? Oh no, we're well past that now. The individual here is Laurence Tribe, Constitutional law professor. Tribe asserted "hypocrisy" and then he added: "What a flagrant dickhead."
How would Mr. Papke digest such commentary in the national news? He is no longer with us. He is in the next life and relieved certainly to be away from all our human failings.
Background: McConnell would not allow hearings for a Democrat-nominated Justice close to an election, on principle or so he said.
Donald Trump has been a massive boil on our whole culture for some time now. We can't seem to see the forest for the trees. Trump is about to use his considerable power to ensure that interest rates get pushed back to zero. There should be alarm bells sounding. But alas, we are numbed to all the various abominations that have been coming at us.
 
Whither Morris with our Chamber?
I included some thoughts at the end of my final MACA softball post, on my primary blog "I Love Morris," about how maybe Morris could have Prairie Pioneer Days restored as a summer event someday. We need leadership from the Morris Area Chamber of Commerce.
There has recently been a change at the Chamber with a new executive coming in, albeit part-time, which is an issue in itself. Carolyn Peterson has evidently moved on? Was it an amicable departure? Usually in these situations, the public statements are always to the effect of "yes, amicable." I have been fully willing to state that circumstances at the time of my departure from the Morris paper were unpleasant. We all know these things happen. I have no reservations about mentioning it.
You all know from visiting my blogs that I still enjoy writing about community things like youth sports. I started doing this way back in high school. Our family monument at Summit Cemetery identifies me as a "journalist." And I'll have you know, my outlets for this have gone well beyond my 27 years with the Morris paper. In the years prior to that, I applied my journalistic energy in many ways.
Above the word "journalist" on the monument you will see "caregiver" and that's higher for a reason: It was my most important role, even though I realize that many people in this community condemned me for years for "living with my parents." These same people will not condemn Donald Trump for any reason. Community icon Neil Schmidgall has a big "Trump" flag flying outside his residence. I can't help but say "heaven help us all."
I sent a friendly email to Carolyn in February sharing about how another community, Burlington IA, put together such a fun promo video: various leaders dancing to a popular song. I was surprised that I got no answer, not even a "thanks for sharing." I worked with Carolyn in "the old days."
The new Chamber exec is Kolby Gausman who I do not know. Would you like to see the video for Burlington IA? Well, it sure is easy to share a link so here it is. This will put a smile on your face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-CttM6BRYQ
 
Since my communications to the Chamber go unanswered, I inquired with a friend about what's going on there. Part of this inquiry had to do with the cancellation of Prairie Pioneer Days in summer, just in case that was a factor. No one ever accuses me of being Pollyannish. Here is what my friend shared, and note that he uses the word "dismember" in a spirit of levity.
 
Yes, Carolyn resigned a few weeks ago. I think I heard why, but can’t dismember. Maybe she found a full-time job? I don’t understand why the chamber manager is a part-time position – you’d think the Chamber would want a person in that office full time. Out-of-towners looking for information on where to live or work can’t always be expected to go to that office during the 25 hours per week it’s open. I think I told you about a friend of mine from Alexandria who wanted to open an office in Morris, was looking for information on available office space in town, and could never get ahold of anyone in the chamber office after many calls and even an ill-fated visit attempt. So, she just opened an office in Alex instead. No, changes in administration don’t have anything to do with the PPD move (I don’t think). The office manager has been a part-time position for a long time, maybe Carolyn just got tired of the situation. I would think that having a full-time person in the office representing Morris would be a good thing, but what do I know? (don’t answer that)
 

Andy as we remember him

Addendum: Andy Papke was a gentle and nice soul. Another deceased faculty member, Gene Mechelke, did not have a high opinion of Andy's intellect. I know that from first-hand observation. I have shared quotes in the past but I don't really care to again. It is not pleasant to reflect upon. In some respects, the public school of Morris from that era could be kind of a swamp. It seems things are well under control today. 
I would describe Mechelke as a "dickhead." Don't speak ill of the dead? Well, how does President Trump speak about John McCain? And, at least one very important community member finds it apt to fly a big "Trump" flag where he lives. I was an admirer of Barack Obama but I would never fly a flag with "Obama." It is not good for your mental health to appear so subservient to a charismatic leader. 
 
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Trump has us on dangerous precipice

Life in America did not used to be like this. People expressed strong political opinions but we expected an air of civility and stability among our nation's leaders.
Much as the Nixon administration unraveled, and maybe the president was talking to portraits at the White House, the legislative process rolled on with lots of important provisions. Many of those provisions would today be described as progressive and enlightened. Nixon gave us the EPA. He was far more interested in power than in ideology.
The present danger with Trump isn't that he's just focused on power, he appears to be manipulated by people and forces around him. The danger is that those forces don't have the best interests of the American people in mind. Creating the EPA had that purpose, even though you might feel skepticism as an anti-big government conservative.

Being president of the U.S. is the most distinguished honor imaginable. It should be assumed that the holder could put aside his personal business interests. That's even if your business interests are conventional and not shady-appearing.
Need I explain to you the shady nature of Trump's background? He overcame his background on the national stage with his sheer skill as an entertainer and celebrity. This was honed through the particular craftsmanship of that field. Remember, knaves, "reality shows" are quite divorced from sheer reality. They can be based on reality which is commendable. But the element of suspense you can sense in these shows is contrived. I sense that most of you are aware of that. "Call of the Wildman" has a featured performer who has the background in dealing with the wild creatures.
We increasingly seem to be dealing with a wild creature in the White House. We can easily feel that the nation is entering a danger area as the daily developments proceed. We occasionally reach what we swear is going to be a tipping point. But we tune in to the TV news the next day and find that all the fusses just continue.
Trump "files suit" against any enforcement action attempted vs. him, actions designed simply to get information because government is supposed to be an orderly and credible process. If I get a traffic ticket, I can't "file suit" to challenge it, not even to delay it. The big, wealthy movers and shakers can get batteries of high-priced attorneys to dodge and delay on many fronts.
Yes it seems dysfunctional, but historically we have found insulation in the fact we elect basically good people to high elected office. It should be assumed. The fact that this assumption is being pushed aside, is a matter that obviously concerns us now.
Again, there are times when I feel like a "Twilight Zone" character who is normal and rational in a town of deluded souls, manipulated by heaven knows what. George W. Bush was quite the adversary for progressive-minded people. Remember the Keith Olbermann show night after night? How distanced we are from those times. Quaint now to reflect. Bush was properly grounded to become president.
 
Trump sentiment in Morris
I know, Trump's wild-eyed supporters including many farmers across the U.S., would say they liked him because "he's not a politician." We are reaping what we sow now. That "we" includes prominent people of this Morris community. Do we really want such a "red state" badge in our community which is home to the enlightened University of Minnesota-Morris? In the past we would happily describe UMM as "progressive" when that term was more benign.
The wild-eyed Trump-ites seem to be increasingly flexing their muscles. One wonders if our U.S. House of Representatives is going to have the proper authority to be a check on the dangerous man in the White House. Our mayor of Morris has described himself in the state's prime media as a Trump voter. Please, tamp that down.
I was struck by another revelation lately. A man considered to be a prime business success and achiever in our community - compliments I would certainly not dispute - is under the Trump influence. I know this because I recently took some recreational walks north of Morris. It's nice they put some gravel on that road. My, this spring is wet. This is a lightly-traveled road going north toward Wintermute Lake. The road goes past the old Heartland Motors as one goes north. The building has an abandoned look. So does the old Sunwood Inn most of the time. Ditto with "Northern Impressions" and Shopko, the latter officially in a phase of going bust. Remember they don't accept checks now. All this stuff is on the northern edge of Morris.
So, does the City of Morris really think there will be new development on the new service road by Grandstay? If there is optimism about this, I'd appreciate someone communicating with me.
OK so if you go north of Morris on the lightly-traveled dirt road, you'll see something pretty interesting. I innocently took a walk out there and was not looking for anything provocative. In other words, I wasn't looking for trouble, so can I just take a nice peaceful walk without having the thing become political? Huh? I am going out of my way to get exercise because in the last couple years of my mom's life, I got almost none.
 
A not so subtle statement
I see a nice opulent residence going north. Congrats to the occupant on having the drive and enterprise to achieve such a comfortable life. There is a flagpole outside. An American flag is on top, wonderful. Below the flag is something not so wonderful. It's a flag with the name "Trump" on it. Underneath are some small words I cannot make out. Perhaps it's "make America great again," I don't know. Heavens, I don't want to be seen using binoculars out there.
So we have a mayor of the community declaring Trump support to the Star Tribune of the Twin Cities, and now I see a leading captain of industry flying a Trump flag. The name I see on the mailbox outside is "Neil Schmidgall."
The Trump supporters are incapable of being humbled. They can't recognize that the American people sent a message by electing Democrats to a majority in the House of Representatives. The rabid Trump people cannot understand why the public sometimes turns Democratic. Shall we assume the local Apostolics all vote straight Republican? Why is their position not defensible? We might argue that on pure principle, one-party rule is dangerous.
We in Minnesota elect a Democratic attorney general because the mass of common folks need protection from being ripped off by unscrupulous corporations, the likes of Wells Fargo. A Democrat will be vigilant with this while Republicans only shake their heads over excessive regulation. It's a mantra for them. In the real world, government has to ensure that the common citizens have some breathing room for living a comfortable life.
Many of us are not as sharp and savvy as the business leaders and innovators. But we don't want to be trampled on. Nor do we want our churches sucked into the vortex of Trump and Republican mania. We don't want anti-abortion to become like a litmus test, and by that I mean the legal banning of abortion and imprisonment of those taking part in it. We are on the threshold of having to deal with that as more and more of Trump's judge selections get confirmed.
As the "normal" resident of that Twilight Zone place, I'm concerned. Morris MN should not be known as a place full of red state yahoos. We ought not countenance kids being put in cages.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

2019 UMM graduation on a gray, lousy day

Morris is easing into its slowest period of the year, now that UMM graduation is done. We have given up trying to resist the slow nature of summer here. The Chamber of Commerce has given up, saying "uncle" as it were, by cancelling Prairie Pioneer Days as a summer event. The people who find it necessary to leave town every weekend - they go to "the lake" or wherever - have won.
I know Kevin Wohlers is not comfortable with this state of affairs. I wonder how many others agree with Kevin. Long-time Morris residents know that it is hard to combat apathy here.
UMM graduation more often than not has been held on bad weather days. The 2019 graduation presented this issue in spades. It wasn't just wet, it wasn't just cold, it wasn't just windy. It was all three. I parked downtown and walked to campus. Someone joked with me that I could probably walk from home and the distance wouldn't be much different. It's nice to avoid the parking congestion. I once witnessed an argument outside the RFC involving someone who wanted to park in an RFC parking spot.

(E-Express, Morris News image)

My late mother and I were blessed more than once getting a golf cart ride. Eventually Mom became wheelchair-bound. Technically it was a "transport" which is a wheelchair with small wheels, designed for people who will be pushed around by someone else. Many people like me, caregivers, probably wonder if they should have forced their loved one into a wheelchair sooner. We feel bad about the loss of dignity our loved one might have in this position. My mother was once known for her rapid "gait" across the UMM campus. She managed the campus post office.
 
Not apt for mid-May, certainly
I felt like cussing at the weather as I walked to campus for the 2019 graduation. It was like the weather was insulting us. It seemed worse than unpleasant.
I had made the decision to watch the ceremony from a comfortable seat at the newly renovated Edson Auditorium. Just as I had avoided parking congestion, so too was I going to avoid the crunch of people at the P.E. Center.
We are blessed in Morris having an event like this where the crunch of people and cars is something we have to deal with! Such a big event, and then after it has passed, Morris seems to go into a prolonged slumber. So we must savor the moments on the day when the grads don their caps and gowns.
I observed the big screen at Edson and saw Simon Tillier direct the instrumental musicians. I'm still confused at how the Edson and Morrison names are supposed to be juxtaposed in that building. My late father directed all the early concerts at Edson when UMM was new. He was the only music faculty in UMM's first year.
Speaking of name issues, I guess the P.E. Center has a new name. Cougar Sports Center? It's appropriate but hardly much of a distinction. Usually when there is a name alteration on campus it's because of a benefactor. I guess the gym floor itself is named for James Gremmels. I think if college administrators had their way, they'd like to be relieved of the burden of name issues completely.
I have asked before: What happens when all the main features of a campus become named for someone? How to honor future benefactors? It may become a stretch.
So I'm sitting comfortably at Edson Saturday surrounded by a fair number of other people who like me felt this would be a comfortable way to go. And then there's no image on the screen. Or, I should say there was a faint image that got "frozen" there. Yes, it appeared most certain that this was one of those technical glitches.
I covered MAHS graduation one year when this happened. A production that was supposed to be shown on a big screen became no-go, obviously very embarrassing. I was near Principal George Morrow when Amy Dougherty came over to him and said "we have to re-boot it," and I guess time wouldn't permit that. In the days that followed, the story I heard was that when the choir was assembling on the risers for their part of the ceremony, a member took an errant step and pulled a cord from an outlet.

(UMM image)

I should think that in the year 2019, with tech having progressed so far, the odds of a breakdown would be much less. But it appeared to happen on Saturday at the Edson/Morrison place on campus.
I was patient for a while, seeing if the simulcast could resume. I waited what I felt was a fair period of time, then I departed, joking with the people in back that "I guess I'll go over to where it's actually happening." Which might seem very apt and desirable, but as I've noted, the P.E. Center gets crowded for this affair. People stand all along the upper concourse.
 
Mom and I visited together
The year Al Franken was here, security got a chair for Mom up on the concourse and I stood beside her. We couldn't see anything but we were happy to be there in support of the event. Franken was in his glory as a U.S. Senator at that time. We all know what happened to him since, as our culture has changed and many powerful men now must tremble as they fear what might be coming out about their past behavior. In my case, any missteps from my past would be verbal and not physical. I'm sure I have engaged in politically incorrect banter like a great many men who otherwise would appear sensitive and thoughtful.
Do we really want to erase Garrison Keillor from Minnesota history? At the same time we have monuments named for guys who owned slaves? Our evolving society can make us scratch our heads. We can be so holier than thou in how we make pronouncements now. As if we should have known the right answers all along.
I arrived at the P.E. Center Saturday and found it to be crowded as expected. I noticed some open spots down in the bleachers but decided I'd be intrusive if I went there after the ceremony was on. The concourse did not afford a good vantage point given the congestion, and besides that I'd have to stand. Quite unfortunate. Had I stayed at Edson, my plan was to stick around for the reception at Oyate. You never know who you'll run into.
As things turned out, I got discouraged because of all the circumstances and just headed back downtown to get my car and go home. I had written off graduation 2019. The weather had already put a damper on it. Eric Kaler was here but he's a lame duck UMM leader.
I was at the ceremony long enough to notice that a class speaker got disoriented. There was a pause. This was unfortunate. It's a special skill to get up in front of a large crowd. Not the type of proposition for me.
 
Thanks, but. . .
I heard later on the news that there was a graduation somewhere where some filthy rich dude, a one-percenter, appeared and pledged to pay off the grads' student debt. OK, was this a heartwarming story? On the surface it seemed crafted that way. "What a generous guy."
Well, I certainly don't feel that way. Why should the grads of a particular school, purely because of happenstance, receive such an abundant blessing relative to graduates elsewhere, the latter in a position to have to slave away and combat stress for a long time to pay off their student loans? Why should we have to pray for some benevolent angel to come along for our kid? It just makes us feel beholden to the "one percent" and I resent that. I think it's chutzpah, pretense and vanity.
We should have an equitable national system to make life more fair for all college grads and all young people, period. I don't agree with Elizabeth Warren's proposal for free college education for everyone, because I don't think college is for everyone. Far from it. But if higher education is something you think you need, the burdens on you should not be onerous.
I don't know if the simulcast at Edson got fixed before the end of the 2019 UMM graduation. The problem was bad enough that it was worthy for the administration to at least know about. Edson is a nice alternative for handicapped people. Or, even "handicapped" people like me with claustrophobia.
We'll just hope for better weather next year, and maybe Joan Gabel can come sooner rather than later.
 
Addendum: When I got home Saturday, I laid the commencement program on Mom's bed next to the 2018 commencement program.
 
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Should Mom's Day test our financial limits?

Stone's Throw image from "yelp"

 "Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man."
- Ronald Reagan
 
I guess I hung out with the "poor crowd" on Sunday, going to a restaurant other than Stone's Throw for Mother's Day. I cannot really mark Mother's Day because Mom has been gone from us for a year. It isn't the same, but we must all reflect the spirit of the day.
My restaurant choice had a price for the buffet that was half of what Stone's Throw charges. It might be less than half if you were to skip the beverage. Skip the beverage? This might be a sound approach for dealing with the regularly rising prices for food/drink. I'm surprised there isn't more talk on the street about this. I once read some commentary about how Burger King makes most of its money "on the fries and the Coke." We all seem to need that obligatory Coke or Pepsi, n'est-ce pas?
At Stone's Throw you'd wash everything down with alcohol, perhaps. Certainly that's spendier, but their NPR-oriented clientele probably handles it without missing a beat.
I won't call it the hippie restaurant again. I was groping when I used that term. Anyway, Stone's Throw got good news from the city council, as it got the nod for Sunday liquor sales in time for Mother's Day. Wouldn't your mother be proud? I dunno, my mom would certainly be nonplussed. She'd be proud I had the old fashioned meat and potatoes meal at DeToy's. IMHO that restaurant had all you could ever want for the buffet occasion. Remember when that place opened as Country Kitchen? Was Rich Meiss the first manager, Ron's brother?
Rich had a most engaging smile. He played the oboe. He and I were band-mates at UMM when Clyde Johnson went on a leave of some kind and the high school director, John Woell, took over. John plucked me out of the junior high band. The UMM band needed at least one more warm body in the French horn section.
Seriously it was an uplifting experience and I was humbled by all the musicianship. I could never have performed for my own father. Bonnie Dunnum, later to be Bonnie Drinkwitz, was student director of the band. I think everyone called it "band" before we starting hearing all those "winds" terms. "Winds" makes me think of Spinal Tap and their "Break Like The Wind" album/tour.
 
A Western theme, so why not?
I liked the French horn because it played the melody for the theme of "The Virginian" TV series with James Drury and Doug McClure. That show was in the heyday of "Westerns." Drury was top-billed but McClure stole the show, remember? Drury didn't seem to mind. Drury previously appeared in the big screen Western movie "The Last Wagon" with Richard Widmark. The movie was unforgettable because it was filmed in Monument Valley.
I not only played in a concert with the UMM band (no solos), I also joined them for graduation. This was at the height of campus unrest for the Vietnam war. The war colored my whole world for when I was growing up, and it instilled in me a defeatism and cynicism that sticks and has been a handicap for me. We infuse youth with such a brimming sense of optimism today.
How would I have turned out, if I had grown up in more sensible times?
Sunday liquor sales for Stone's Throw meant they could have Bloody Marys on the menu for Mother's Day brunch. I mean, what else is there? I live my life today as if alcohol doesn't even exist. I can't imagine what benefits or enjoyment people see in the stuff. It's available because of social expectations. People must be incredibly careful to limit intake if driving a car at all. Or does everyone have a designated driver? Obviously it's a non-issue with me.
Bloody Marys hardly seem an apt way to honor Mom for Mother's Day. I had the obligatory Pepsi at DeToy's, but I'm prepared to abandon beverages with meals (except for water) if it seems prudent. Costs keep rising, speaking of which: $25 for the meal at Stone's Throw? It's outrageous.
By supporting that meal, you send the message that such a price can be "sold" to the public. The restaurant approaches the public as if it's a special needs case, i.e. through GoFundMe. The restaurant says it is "catching up with its first year deficit." I guess we're all catching up with a deficit of some kind, if you want to be philosophical.
"Please consider a small donation this week, as we face our spring property tax bill and refill our wine stock."
Which reminds me: First Lutheran Church in Morris no longer has "New Wine." I shared concern over time re. the name and its use of an alcoholic beverage. The group was for kids. There was a common retort for what I said: "New Wine" is in the Bible. Let's all get drunk, then? Not really, but the people who abide by scripture are persuaded to countenance a little imbibing, I guess. I always had a retort prepared vs. their argument, that in the ancient Bible days, drinking water could be unsafe in many places. Drinks with alcohol were a good way of avoiding trouble. This actually explains why drinking alcohol became so popular all over - a fact we can easily forget today when we think that drinking is just a "cool, adult" thing to do.
I have seen completely through that ridiculousness, just as I now see through the sport of football. Just think clearly and dismiss social norms.
 
This goes back a ways
Remember the "Back Door" at the old Sunwood Inn in Morris, a magnet for the just-out-of-high school crowd when drinking was made legal for them, about 1973? It had live bands all of which played that Doobie Brothers tune with the refrain "without love, where would we be now?" I swear, every one. I was young and peer-influenced. It was a big deal they had an air hockey table. I enjoyed taking on Darrell Sunquist.
 
Keep the wine flowing? Whatever
After Mother's Day 2019, Stone's Throw reported it as "a success" - what would you expect them to say? - "but it depleted our stocks. We spent $900 to restock our wines for graduation."
Yes, we must restock so everyone can get hammered for graduation.
A friend surveyed the situation and said: "Bella Cucina was supposedly doing great, but closed for logistical reasons, so why can't a restaurant in the same location with a similar vibe succeed? And how can a place like Mi Mexico, with a much more specific menu and narrower clientele, succeed to the point of needing to expand again? I wish I knew more about the foodie biz. All I do know is that it's a lot of work and the margins are low."
I hope we never again see a price of $25 for a lunch-time meal in Morris. But we probably will.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Anne and Gary of Stone's Throw Cafe (GoFundMe image)

Kehoe, Wehking pitch in 9-2 MACA softball triumph

Tigers 9, Montevideo 2
The teams were even in hits but certainly not even in runs on Thursday. Our MACA softball Tigers plated nine runs. The opponent was Montevideo who tallied two. Each team had seven hits. MACA had two errors while the visiting Thunder Hawks had one.
We asserted ourselves offensively in the second inning with three runs. We polished things off with four in the fourth and two in the sixth. Monte only scored in the fourth.
The winning pitcher was Kenna Kehoe who shared the work with Katelyn Wehking. Kehoe's stint on the pitching rubber was 4 1/3 innings. She struck out four batters, walked one and allowed six hits. Wehking in her 2 2/3 innings fanned five batters, walked none and allowed one hit. The Monte pitchers were Megan Anderson (the loser) and Maddie Kilibarda.
Offensively LaRae Kram socked a triple for the Tigers. Emma Bowman picked up two RBIs while going one-for-three. Kenzie Hockel had a two-for-four line. Other Tigers hitting safely were Carissa Oberg, Wehking and Riley Decker. Monte's offensive standout was Lexi Brockmolier who had two doubles and a run scored. These other Thunder Hawks also had hits: Noelle Sulflow, Kenzie Hoidal, Sydney Zindel, Zola Olson and Kaylee Pauling.

Tigers 15, Minnewaska 2
The hitters ruled on Tuesday as the Tigers took on Minnewaska Area. The bats were robust for both teams. But it was our Tigers with the far more robust run total. The hits were pretty close: 15 by the Tigers and 12 for the Lakers. But in runs scored, the orange and black ruled in this 15-2 triumph.
We owned a 6-2 lead after two innings. We polished things off with eight runs in the sixth inning, turning the game into a rout. Our fielding was clean: just one error compared to the Lakers' four. 'Waska's only two runs came in the third inning.
Kenna Kehoe pitched the whole way for the winner. I'm sure Janet Kehoe was delighted. I once covered Bill Kehoe when he was a kid playing for the Spartans. Kenna scattered 12 hits as she helped the Tigers outlast the Lakers. Rare: she had no walks or strikeouts. Her pitching opponent was Kyla Koob who worked for 5 2/3 innings. Three of the runs she allowed were unearned. She fanned two batters and walked four. Elizabeth Murken also pitched for 'Waska.
The two teams combined for 27 hits.
Carissa Oberg slammed a grand slam for the Tigers. She had two hits and stole a base. Bailey Marty had a potent bat with four-for-four numbers. She homered twice, scored four runs and drove in two. Emma Bowman had a 3/5 line with a run and an RBI. Liz Dietz rapped a hit, drove in a run and stole a base.
The hit parade continues with Jen Solvie going three-for-four with a run scored. LaRae Kram had a triple as part of going two-for-four. She scored a run and stole a base. Mackenzie Hockel scored a run and drove in a run. Katelyn Wehking crossed home plate twice and picked up an RBI. Jordann Baier scored three runs.
'Waska had a number of offensive standouts too. Koob, Sara Giese and Hannah Orlowski all had a 2/3 boxscore line. These Lakers also hit safely: Olivia Richards, Michele Stai, Sydney Metz, Avery Hoeper, Elizabeth Murken and Alyssa Erickson. Sarah Juetten scored a run.
 
Baseball: Tigers 5, Melrose 4
Morris Area Chokio Alberta achieved an early burst of important momentum on Thursday: a three-run first inning. Then the Tigers proceeded to score one run each in the second and fourth. Each run proved vital on this day when the orange and black of baseball achieved a 5-4 win over Melrose.
We scored our five runs on six hits and committed three errors. The Melrose line score was 4-3-1. The Dutchmen scored two runs each in the third and fourth.
Jack Riley was a force with the bat for the winning Tigers: three-for-three with two runs scored and a stolen base. Zach Bruns went 2/3 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Jaret Johnson had a hit, a run scored and an RBI. Colten Scheldorf drove in a run. These Dutchmen hit safely: Grant Moscho, Rowan Nelson and Sam Heller. Mosche and Heller each picked up an RBI, and Nelson scored a run.
Bruns and Cade Fehr had their pitching arms put to work. Bruns got the win and Fehr the save. Bruns fanned four batters, walked five and allowed three hits in his 6 1/3 innings. Fehr hurled for 2/3 of an inning and allowed no hits.
 
Our distance runners at Montevideo
Thunder Hawk country of Montevideo was the site for the Section 5A Class A True Team meet on Tuesday. Our boys team took No. 1 while the girls were fourth among the nine schools in action. Yours truly focuses on the distance running specialists, partly because I see old friend Tom Carrington often early in the morning at DeToy's Restaurant. I want to stay informed for when I talk to Tom.
In the 1600 meters it was Maddie Carrington taking No. 1 with her time of 5:36.06. And it was Meredith Carrington taking third, clocked at 5:50.69. Meredith also ran the longer 3200 meters! Here she was runner-up behind Macy Carlson of Paynesville. Meredith's time was 12:46.61.
For the boys, Noah Stewart was the 1600m champion with his time of 4:38.32. And it was Solomon Johnson taking third with his time of 4:52.57. Noah Stewart was also up for competing in the 3200m challenge and here he was the champ, timed at 10:16.69. Way to go, Tigers!
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Our chain-owned paper reflects industry's retreat

It was common ten years ago to hear pronouncements about the impending death of newspapers. The author Michael Wolff made an especially overblown pronouncement. I guess Wolff is nothing if not an attention seeker. He's the author, you'll remember, who wrote an early, supposedly very revelatory, book about the Trump administration.
The appearance of the book caused an uproar of attention in the news media. I arranged to have the book special-ordered at our Morris Public Library. Thanks to the library of course. I got about a fourth of the way through the book and abandoned it. Anyone who watches MSNBC for several hours a day would have already known everything in it. An early book by David Frum was much the same. Are we supposed to be shocked that unusual things began happening when Trump assumed the presidency?
Are we supposed to be shocked now to realize that nepotism might actually be a bad thing? Nepotism had that reputation for a reason. So now we have the matter of Donald Trump Jr. being subpoenaed - you know, "Fredo." So there's a firestorm of Republicans lining up like on cue to express outrage over the subpoena. It has been said that the best way to bring down a mob boss is to go after his kids. Hmmm. I wonder if Richard Burr has something up his sleeve here.
Anyway, I remember when author Wolff made a sensational assessment of the newspaper industry. He suggested a huge percentage of newspapers were going to go under within a pretty tight timeline - 18 months as I recall. Everyone knew that newspapers were coming under new pressures because of online. However, it was far from certain that newspapers would have their role simply wiped out. That wasn't likely to be the case back then. It is much closer to being the case now.
The online world has steadily evolved to meet people's needs. On-paper communications of all kinds have been in retreat. I told a friend the other day that writing out a paper check feels like more of a chore than in the past. Paper thank-you notes certainly feel like more of a chore and are being phased out by many.
Newspapers have been under a slow and steady assault. Had they simply disappeared ten years ago, it would have been a bombshell development. So, this wasn't likely to happen. I wrote long ago that when papers finally seem all but gone, vestigial or whatever, it will not be bombshell news. That is because we will have moved on from them. Absent the need, we will simply pay no more attention to the issue. All that matters is that our needs are being met.
 
Wisdom of a big business guy
Warren Buffet is now quoted saying most newspapers are "toast." The job cuts at newspapers are continual. In 2016 the newspaper industry's ad revenue was about a third of what it was ten years earlier. It went from $49 billion down to $18 billion. The people who work in "news" can go into much hand-wringing. I used to be involved in news production of course. I loved to be all over the community paying attention to endless things.
People like me over-emphasized our role in the business. It was never really about us. I answered to people who thought all the issues in connection with sports coverage had such tremendous gravity. News department people were notorious for losing their temper and getting into arguments over how we did our work. A newspaper owner should have just been amused. It was never about us, it was about the advertising. "Ads were the most important editorial content from the standpoint of the reader," Buffet said.
 
Dispiriting situation here
Our newspaper in Morris has been under chain ownership for a long time now. The strings are pulled out of Fargo ND. Chain ownership is of course very cold and calculating. If we thought we might be surprised by Forum Communications, like maybe they'd just leave us alone and let us follow precedent, well no, it doesn't work that way. I think Jim Morrison was guilty of being a little Pollyannish.

Chains are run by bean counters who want to maximize profit in the short term. The most cynical view is that they are engaged in "harvesting." This means the sacrifice of future business health to make sure you can rake in the maximum profit now. This is done with "legacy advertisers," interests which as much as anything advertise because it's an established habit.
The people who still try to sell ads for papers try to seize on the legacy habit. They'll call and immediately remind the business that "last year this is what you bought for such-and-such special section." It might be the spring ag section. That's a totally outdated thing now. It hangs on. Don't sucker for it.
Buffet says "the world has changed hugely." And on other fronts we see the rapid retreat of bricks and mortar like with our Shopko store in Morris. What's going to happen with that building? That store opened with the name "Gibson's" and it was a huge deal. Gibson's represented the cutting edge model for retail, away from the old main street (with its "pool hall") and on the outskirts with free parking. We called it a "discount store." Del Sarlette who was involved with main street was probably showing defensiveness when he joked that you could get your "19-cent Gibson window scraper."
It was no joke. The old prevailing notions were being whisked away like the notion that you had to pay to park downtown. The parking meter system lasted longer than it should have.
It takes a while for new systems to really take hold. Some people hesitate because change in itself intimidates them some. I can be in that category myself. Only recently did I obtain my first debit card. I'm getting there, don't worry. Newspapers? It's yesterday's news.
Hopefully the day is coming soon when there will be no more Morris paper, so we don't suffer the indignity of "getting your name in the paper" when we get a minor traffic ticket. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Aren't you already annoyed by that? Stop buying it.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Considerable highlights in MACA softball & baseball

Softball: Tigers 10, Melrose 0
We wait patiently for the springtime weather to get more stable. It can happen suddenly. Weather cooperated for the Thursday, May 2, prep action. This was good news for the softball Tigers and their fans. The softball story was a 10-0 win over Melrose.
We came out of the starting gate strong with two-run rallies in the first and second frames. Then came three each in the fourth and fifth to put away this impressive win. Melrose couldn't assert itself offensively. The line score for the orange and black was ten runs, ten hits and one error. Melrose's numbers were 0-1-2.
Two pitchers share the credit in the shutout performance. Liz Dietz worked on the pitching rubber for two innings, walked one batter and gave up a hit. Kenna Kehoe gained the pitching win by going three innings and striking out three batters, while walking none and allowing no hits. Melrose also had two pitchers working: Makiya Luetmer (the loser, four innings) and Lexi Kvistad (2/3 of an inning).
Jen Solvie's bat resonated with a double in the fifth that proved to be the game-ender. She had three RBIs on the day. Dietz was a perfect three-for-three including a double, and she drove in four runs. Carissa Oberg also had the perfect 3/3 line. LaRae Kram's bat resonated with a triple. The hit parade also included Katelyn Wehking and Bailey Marty. Luetmer produced the only Melrose hit.
 
Baseball: Tigers 5, ACGC 0
The Thursday weather allowed our Tigers of the baseball world to face the ACGC Falcons in not one but two games. Our highlight was the 5-0 win. It was Jaret Johnson showcased on the pitching mound. He was one out shy of a shutout performance. Austin Berlinger strode out to the mound at the end. Johnson's stats: 6 2/3 innings, two hits, no runs, two walks and six strikeouts.
The Falcons had Josh Kinzler pitching almost the whole way. Chase Litzau also pitched.
We scored all the runs we needed in the third: four of them. An insurance tally was added in the seventh. Nice job, Tigers. Our line score was 5-8-2 compared to 0-2-2 for the Falcons. Kinzler was the only ACGC player to hit safely: a nifty two-for-two.
Michael Halverson wielded an effective stick for the Tigers: two-for-four including a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Johnson had impact with two hits in four at-bats and a run scored. Brandon Jergenson added to the mix with a hit. Zach Bruns went one-for-three and crossed home plate twice. Cade Fehr was 1/4 and drove in a run. Colton Scheldorf had a hit and pushed a run in.
 
ACGC 9, Tigers 5
The story of this game was not so positive for MACA as it was the foe getting the advantage, 9-5. Josh Kingery of the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Falcons got the pitching win as he worked 5 2/3 innings. Josh was overpowering much of the time as he set down 13 Tiger batters on strikes.
Kingery is a prominent baseball name from over in those parts. Congratulations to the talented family. Josh walked three batters and allowed three hits and two runs (one earned). Chase Litzau was the other ACGC pitcher for a short stint. Litzau struck out one batter.
ACGC won despite some struggles in the field: six errors. Their hit total was ten. The orange and black line score was 5-4-2. Cade Fehr had a 2/4 boxscore line for the Tigers. Jaret Johnson socked a double, drove in a run and scored one. Jack Riley went 1/4 with an RBI and a run. Zach Bruns crossed home plate twice.
We had a good start with a run scored in each of the first two innings. But ACGC pitching throttled us for the next four innings, before we rallied for three runs in the seventh. ACGC fans had to wait until late in the game to relax. Eight of their team's runs came home in the sixth.
Josh Kingery made noise with his bat as he went two-for-three with an RBI and two runs scored. Connor Barker had a double as part of going three-for-four. He drove in two runs and scored one. Zach Bagley had a hit, an RBI and a run. Nate Essendrup went 1/4 with an RBI and a run. Michael Trebil scored two runs while going 1/3. Chase Litzau had a hit, an RBI and a run scored. Ryan Peterson's contributions were a hit, an RBI and a run. Josh Kinzler tallied an RBI.
ACGC went on the attack against MACA pitcher Austin Berlinger who took the loss. Zach Bruns also pitched.

Distance runners doing great
I don't attempt thorough summaries of MACA track and field performances at the various meets, as it's too hard to ferret out all the MACA info from the extensive small-print summaries in area media. However, I do wish to recognize the distance runners in the MACA effort these days. I often see Tom Carrington in the early morning hours at DeToy's Restaurant. I'm sure he's delighted with granddaughter Maddie Carrington and her track exploits for the Tigers.
Maddie took first place in the 1600 meters in the Little Crow Invitational, held Thursday in New London. She reached the finish line first with her 5:33.52 time. Taking a look at the boys, let's laud Noah Stewart on his championship effort in the 1600 meters, achieved with a time of 4:36.09. Benjamin Hernandez took fifth with his time of 4:54.53.
In the longer 3200-meter challenge, it was our Solomon Johnson arriving at the finish line first with his time of 10:39.06. Bradley Rohloff took third with his 10:59.74 time.
 
Girls golf team in meets
Athletes of the golfing links traveled to Minnewaska Area for a Tuesday meet. The host Minnewaska/BBE golfers took No. 1 while MACA was No. 3 among the seven teams. Madi McGinty of the host team was No. 1. Here's a review of the golfing Tigers: Hannah Zimmel (43), Peyton Hennen (56), Miranda Hesse (52), Mackenzie Stahman (48), Chloe Mogard (60) and Shayla Kill (61).
Another meet on last week's slate had the golfers vying at our Pomme de Terre Golf Club. BOLD led the way in this affair. Jacqueline Gossen of 'Waska/BBE was top individual. How the Tigers fared: Hannah Zimmel (51), Peyton Hennen (49), Miranda Hesse (51), Mackenzie Stahman (61), Chloe Mogard (59), Shayla Kill (59) and Megan Lindahl (70).
 
The Morris newspaper
We're all wondering how the already-retrenched Morris newspaper is going to fare without the weekly Shopko circular. Also, it seems there are fewer display ads for Heartland Motors than in the past. Valu Ford? Do they run any? Remember when Morris Auto Plaza ran big ads?
So, I'm looking at the current Motown paper at the Morris Library Saturday and I'm wondering about the feature article on page 2. It says the humanities building on the UMM campus used to be part of the WCSA. That is not my understanding. My understanding is that the HFA was built long after the WCSA went out of existence. I looked at the photos and couldn't even be sure where they were taken.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding some terminology or whatever. I'm getting distant from local institutions.
The new Heartland Motors even confuses me a little. I am getting the impression that if you use the service department, you're supposed to do so through a front desk which is away from the garage. Well, I'm 64 years old and I'm in the habit of going more into the garage area directly and talking to the nice folks there like Mark. Maybe I'm so detached or hopeless I should cease driving a car. Seriously, I'm thinking of that.
Item No. 2 from the Morris paper: The editorial page says we need a spring pickup day by the city for stuff you want to get rid of. Well, my first reaction: Wasn't this done once? And then it was ended? There were reasons given for ending it. What I heard, is that people would put stuff out only to find that a lot of it wouldn't be taken. The people who came along to collect would say "oh, we don't take that. We don't take that" etc. So, the city manager eventually wrote publicly that if you have stuff to get rid of, just contact Engebretson's and they'll make arrangements. That system is always in place.
In theory the annual pickup is a great idea. Maybe government needs to pay a little extra to make it work. Sometimes we need government to do things.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com