What Happened to Common Sense....?

Someone / some group in Fairmont wants to relocate the liquor store and spend up to $2.5 million in doing so, here is the article: http://fairmontsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/501974.html?nav=5003

I read this and the hair on my neck stood up. I've not been much to "create a ruckus", but now is the time to start making a little noise. Even though I don't currently live in Fairmont (someday, I may return...) it's time to put in my two cents worth.

I wrote the following Letter to the Editor online, and for some reason, it was not published. Wrote a version of it and made my comments online after the article. Well, here is another venue to sound off. Someone / some group in Fairmont needs to have a set of balls and start speaking up and fixing downtown. "Northern Corridor" - my butt.....

It just makes no sense....

"It never fails to amaze me, with so much “flapping of the gums” over the years, of trying to revitalize the downtown and to keep it alive and prospering; you would allow something like this to take place - relocating the liquor store to the "northern retail corridor". Just stop this nonsense - now.

The liquor store attracts traffic DOWNTOWN - why on earth would you want people to go away from where you need traffic the most?

There is so much quality, empty retail space downtown that would provide more than ample square footage for a beautiful, up-to-date beverage and liquor emporium. Parking is available on and off street in many areas of the downtown, attached to or around good, viable retail space.

I would venture that 2 million dollars could be better spent rehabbing an existing property downtown, rather than building a new generic box on the "northern corridor". There are some really beautiful historic buildings that would work very nicely for this project.

Let me stick my neck out; if you want to increase your tax revenue, get help with revitalizing the downtown, turn this business over to a privately owned business and allow me first option. I have some great ideas for you."

Knock me over with a feather, Fairmont, but what happened to common sense?

Just another Story.....

Barb has quite the email list of all us classmates and I will have to say, I saw the "raw power" of our group. I had a fun request of "the list" to visit a contest website and vote for our restaurant as the greatest barbecue restaurant in Milwaukee. We were lagging behind in the polls (not because we're not very popular) but, because no one really goes to this contest site each year. To win, it really amounts to who has the biggest email list and can get the most people to respond and "stack the deck" so to say.

Now, in all fairness, we really do have Milwaukee's most favorite BBQ Baby Back Ribs and can honestly say we are "Award Winning." http://www.sazs.com/Restaurant/Reviews.html

Anywho, after you-all responded, we zoomed ahead 6 points and now have a solid lead. Thanks db for the "shirt-sucking" testimonial, and Vicki - you DO know you're southern style BBQ and the others who posted some fun little testimonials. Thanks Yous Guys! And to those that sent me an email, it was good to hear from you, I'll respond in kind. I like hearing from you.

As it goes from here - it''s Just another story.

jw

More Pics of Class Reunion

Great Picture...

Mike Pedersen, Scott Donnelly

Bob Neal (Bill's brother) & Jim Anderson

Karen Borowiak, Carol Edman & Bonnie Russ

Dave Alm (Deb Rolling's husband) and Scott Donnelly are in the background.

Vicki Meyer, Pat Kinsella, Bonnie Russ and Bill Neal

Greg & Judy Heupel

Doug

Enid

& Lasley

Photos from our Class Reunion

Here are just a few....have lots more to share with you..

Barb Pope and Peggy Stoutenberg

Jolene, Lucy, Bill, Cheryl, Ross and Norma

Ann Simon

Geralyn Fahey

& Linda Gorham

Pat Kinsella & Bonnie Russ.....
we had a surprise visitor.....Joyce Schock

Who is in this picture?

Allen, Kevin, Mark and Carol

Mark, Carol, Muff, Steve, Duane and Kevin...
Where is Terry Duffey? He also was a winner!

Doug Barnett

& Don Lasley

Reunion Photo

Can You name Everyone?

Reunion Pictures

Thank you for another great reunion weekend.
For those of you who were unable to join us.... you were missed.

We have many great pictures ...
Even a group shot!
Will you recognize your classmates?
Stay tuned!

interested in a booklet?
contact Barb or Sue

Oh, ya....

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I
kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a
nearby table.

My wife asked,' Do you know her?'
'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to
drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she
hasn't been sober since.'

'My God!' says my wife, 'Who would think a person could go on
celebrating that long?'

And then the fight started.....

Happy Reunion

Just thought I would start a little post to say that I wish I was able to join you all for the reunion. Couple of "remember when's" to get things off to a an early start.

• Jimmy Kuderer's mom making fresh bread on Blinkman Street
• Bustin' my lower lip and loosing a tooth in Muffy Gould's basement.
• 46 Chevy cruisin' 
• Hanging out at the pool hall (who has the "treats")
• Shooting pool with Gorb at Fred's place.
• Youth Center on Friday nights.
• Partying in the park at night
• Road trips to the Iowa border
• Junior High on fire
• Band trip to California

I could spend an hour on this list and not touch the surface.

Getting a bit older, and my warranty running out - hope you all have fun!

Kasper

Reunion Reminder

The invites are out. Some have been returned with incorrect addresses. This is just a reminder to please get your info in ASAP so we can start the booklets. We need to know if you are planning on attending.

A couple of updates. We now have current information on Tony Jeffrey and Steve Hulberg. Ain't the internet great!

Looking for current addresses on the following:
Jim Anderson
Diane Boesch Day
Jim and Cindy Cassem
Deborah Dege Miller
Patrick Kinsella
Laurie Luhmann
Bruce Rixmann
Cheryl Schultz
Debra Sorrell Phillips
Renee Swift Larson
Jon Wickert
Ted Weiby
David Gallagher

If you know the whereabouts of these classmates or a contact, please let Sue or Barb know.

Class Booklet

By now you should have received your registration form.
Please complete and return ASAP.
We have a booklet to create.
Thank you for your prompt responses.

July 19th is just around the corner...
See you soon!

"Decades Night" in middle school

Well, well, well, we have made it. The middle school students of today are researching our decade. They are learning, in school, about the styles, music, events, culture, and people of the Seventies. Sigh. Deep sigh.

I decided to do some research, middle school style. Here are some sites, if you are interested!

The Streaker at the Oscars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IIl3zSYL8k

Barbara Walters on Gilda Radner as "Babwa WaWa"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HOMtOzoVM8

1 9 7 3 B E S T S E L L E R S

F I C T I O N

1. Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach
2. Once Is Not Enough, Jacqueline Susann
3. Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut
4. The Odessa File, Frederick Forsyth
5. Burr, Gore Vidal
6. The Hollow Hills, Mary Stewart
7. Evening in Byzantium, Irwin Shaw
8. The Matlock Paper, Robert Ludlum
9. The Billion Dollar Sure Thing, Paul E. Erdman
10. The Honorary Consul, Graham Greene
N O N F I C T I O N

1. The Living Bible, Kenneth Taylor
2. Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, Robert C. Atkins
3. I'm O.K., You're O.K., Thomas Harris
4. The Joy of Sex, Alex Comfort
5. Weight Watchers Program Cookbook, Jean Nidetch
6. How To Be Your Own Best Friend, Mildred Newman, et al.
7. The Art of Walt Disney, Christopher Finch
8. Better Homes and Gardens Home Canning Cookbook
9. Alistair Cooke's America, Alistair Cooke
10. Sybil, Flora R. Schreiber

The History of the Smiley Face (peak of popularity, 1971)
http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/04-01/04-14-01/a04wn028.htm


Hot Pants
Hot pants were the rage in the early 1970s having found great popularity years earlier among European prostitutes. Hot pants were the successor to the miniskirt, succeeding in showing more leg, more cheek and more attitude than had been previously displayed.

The #1 Song for May 5, 1973: 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree' by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando.

Kojak
1 9 7 3 - 1 9 7 8 (USA)125 x 60 minute episodes
The favourite detective show of police around the US, Kojak made the streets of New York safe, baldness sexy and Chuppa Chups (Tootsie Pops) an acceptable vice. Developed from a telly (no pun intended) movie, the show centred around the incorruptible Lieutenant Theo Kojak from the Manhattan South Precinct.

Do you know where any of these people are??

Invites are out and some are coming back already with insufficient addresses or our classmates are not living there anymore. Here is a list as of 5/5/08. Deborah (Dege) Miller, Cheryl Schultz, Jim and Cindy Cassem, Laurie Luhmnann, Ted Weiby, and David Gallagher. If you know where any of these people are, please contact Sue or Me.

What's for dinner?

Menu
"Martin County's Best"
Pork Loin
Pasta Salad, Potato Salad
and Fresh Fruit
catered by Nancy Jo

Reunion Itinerary

.............UPDATE !!!!....................

Attend the Ice-Breaker at
The Goose
Friday, July 18th
cash bar and menu

Knights of Columbus Hall

Saturday, July 19th 2008
Social Hour begins at 5:30pm
Dinner at 7:00pm

35th Reunion

Date: Saturday, July 19th 2008
Place: Knights of Colombus
Fairmont, MN
Time: to be determined
Menu: to be determined

Preparty...Friday ????

You will be receiving an invitation soon! Please watch your mail. Follow this blog for updates.
Please share this address with classmates.

35th Class Reunion

35 years later.... internet technology....we have created a blog!