TWTWTW 2006.45 Crossing party lines

Sorry Marlys, I just can't get over how great your storefront looks without the canvas awnings.

Larry put the "Last day of business November 13th" sign on The Rapids door Tuesday and a chapter of 56572 history comes to a close. A Quarter Century at The Rapids.

Things were quiet and somber at The Pool Hall as the owners prepared to bury their son on Sunday. Three framed photos of Troy were on the round table in the corner. Occasionally people stopped in with food.

The rest of the week was relatively mild and quiet with the exception of a PRFD call to Lida Township to extinguish a fish house - deer stand ignited by a corn stove. It was a welcome relief to fight a small fire instead of search for a body.

PRHS students practiced "lockdown", "shelter in place" and "evacuation to safe area" (Viking Elementary) drills. Nevermind. It's what students do in the 21st Century. Remember getting under your desk for Civil Defense drills?

Six hundred plus were fed a Thanksgiving turkey dinner at Trinity Lutheran complete with lefse and flatbread. Jeremiah G. a four month Muddy Moose veteran waiter now working in Fergus commented on 56572 about working for Patty. Jeremiah was an asset to the Moose, as were several other employees. We miss you all. There is a SOLD sign on the Blyberg-Korda house. Rumors abound. Will somebody actually live at 22 SW 5th Avenue for a change? Josie Norgren and her folks bought the Erhard General Store from the unnamed Iraqi. We wish her well. Go for it Josie!

We watched with dismay how a school bond issue in Lake Park-Audubon and excess levy votes in Frazee and Breckenridge went down to defeat, again in the first two districts.

At week's end the Hawley Nuggets, who beat our Vikings in the Fargodome last week, won their quarterfinal football game at home and are off to the Metrodome. One hundred three points were scored in the game. They let the boys run to keep warm. Go Nuggets. See you on our basketball court on December 15th.

While we waited for Larry to make up his mind about closing yet another 56572 eatery, this one after twenty-five years, the 942 voters of 56572 voted:

PRECINCT: PELICAN RAPIDS

• US SENATOR Totals
Independence ROBERT FITZGERALD 17
Republican MARK KENNEDY 268
DFL AMY KLOBUCHAR 274
Green MICHAEL CAVLAN 1
Constitution BEN POWERS 3

• US REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 07 Totals
Republican MICHAEL J. BARRETT 173
DFL COLLIN C. PETERSON 386
Constitution KEN LUCIER 4

• STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 10 Totals
Republican CAL LARSON 295 (Cal lost)
DFL DAN SKOGEN 264

• STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 10A Totals
Republican BUD NORNES 296
DFL MARYJANE WESTRA 261

• GOVERNOR & LT GOVERNOR Totals
Independence PETER HUTCHINSON AND MAUREEN REED 27
Republican TIM PAWLENTY AND CAROL MOLNAU 284
DFL MIKE HATCH AND JUDI DUTCHER 242
Quit Raising Taxes WALT E. BROWN AND WESLEY C NELSON 9

• SECRETARY OF STATE Totals
Independence JOEL SPOONHEIM 21
Republican MARY KIFFMEYER 282
DFL MARK RITCHIE 215
For Independent Voters BRUCE KENNEDY 34

• STATE AUDITOR Totals
Independence LUCY GEROLD 27
Republican PATRICIA ANDERSON 269
DFL REBECCA OTTO 236
Green DAVE BERGER 13

• ATTORNEY GENERAL Totals
Independence JOHN JAMES 19
Republican JEFF JOHNSON 283
DFL LORI SWANSON 241
Green PAPA JOHN KOLSTAD 9

• COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 Totals
Nonpartisan MARY RYAN 167
Nonpartisan EVERETT P. ERICKSON 367 (PP won by 8 votes)
Write-In WRITE-IN** 2

• MAYOR (CITY OF Pelican Rapids-315) Totals
Nonpartisan WAYNE RUNNINGEN 470
Write-In WRITE-IN** 28

• CITY COUNCIL MEMBER (CITY OF Pelican Rapids-315) (Elect 2)
Nonpartisan JOHN WALLER, III 296
Nonpartisan BEN L. WOESSNER 326
Nonpartisan CURT MARKGRAF 288
Write-In WRITE-IN** 22

• HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE (Pelican Valley)
Nonpartisan BONNIE WEAKLEND 297
Nonpartisan SHANNON ERICKSON 207
Write-In WRITE-IN** 2

• HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER (City of Pelican Rapids-315)
Nonpartisan SUSAN BRUGGEMAN 465
Write-In WRITE-IN** 5