What’s a poor, struggling professional player to do?

From Jim Thoreen,

Glenwood

My, how the travails of Major League Baseball keep piling up. Pitchers flummoxing batters more than usual. Folks just not coming through the turnstiles due to… what? Boredom? Games too long? Lousy hot dogs? So, the 906 players on the season’s opening day rosters among the 30 teams bear immense pressures, starting with “nobody likes a loser!”

But then that doggone pest, COVID, throws a real screwball into the scenario and those frozen-brained Canadians complicate this tragic scenario with a mandate. No vaccination; no coming across the border. Period.

What’s a poor struggling player to do? There’s more than enough pressure in everyday games without some government knucklehead (who doesn’t know a single from a home run) telling players what to do. “Get a vaccine,” say the Canadian pencil-pushers in Ottawa and some would add, “It’s for your own good and it keeps us healthy too.”

But we are each entitled to our own opinion; that’s the American way. At least until it bumps up against our friends to the north. Among the four unvaccinated Twins players who can’t be admitted to Canada is Max Kepler, a player who fans love to watch. He will lose $108,829 of his $6.7 million contract because he won’t be allowed into Canada. Tough week at the ball park, but he has his reason though he declined to specifically state it. He did say, “In my opinion, it’s sad that I can’t join the team, especially now where we’ve lost a couple games. Everyone needs to be together. It’s sad.”

Now there’s an understatement. Option one: to keep everyone together is to simply have the Twins cancel all Canadian-held games this year. “We’ll not travel to such a restrictive, rigid climate where individual rights take a back seat to egg heads in Ottawa who can’t appreciate a knuckle from a foul ball. Let ‘em watch hockey!” Option two: all players and staff get the COVID vaccine. Period.

Anything else happen in the news this past week?

Writer hopes for a response from establishers of yard display

John Messenger,

Glenwood

Hate. It’s a mighty powerful word…and often misused. “I hate mosquitoes,” “I hate driving in the city,” “I hate kohlrabi.” “Strongly dislike” is more appropriate in cases such as these. But, if you want to see real hate, you need drive no further than 210th Avenue on the outskirts of Glenwood. What you will see is far from political and has devolved into pure hate. The vulgar display there is an ugly blot on the landscape, not to mention it forces busloads of schoolchildren to pass by it twice a day. Do the windows on busses traveling that route need to be blacked out? And, what about visitors? Granted, a tiny few may view it with approval, but the vast majority will find it offensive.

I am baffled how anyone could harbor that much apparent hate in themselves. 

Myself? I don’t believe I truly hate anyone, although I certainly don’t wish good karma on several world leaders–both from the very recent past to today. In fact, I don’t hate them for taking the time and money to erect a sign (complete with a vulgar abbreviation) aimed at myself.  And this may be hard to believe, but I actually view it as a badge of honor. I can’t count the number of people who’ve come up to me and expressed their appreciation for the viewpoints I present. And, conversely, not ONE person has come up to me and said, “Who the @#%* do you think you are?” The only conclusion I can come to is that the vast majority of community members agree with the First Amendment…up to the point of hateful public vulgarity.

So…here’s what I propose: Using the public forum of this newspaper, I would like the establishers of this display to:

1). Outline the motivations they used to erect this display.

2). State the wrongs they have suffered from our government…both real and imagined. Factual accounts, please.

3). Describe what they would do to change things for the better.

So, there it is. The gauntlet has been cast down. I certainly hope for a response.  It should make interesting reading. And, if there’s no response…feel free to draw your own conclusion

 

2022 Waterama Pontoon and Boat Parade registration, theme is set

From the Waterama Pontoon and Boat Parade Committee

We would like to invite you to partake in Waterama’s Lighted Pontoon and Boat Parade on Saturday evening, July 30th, 2022 beginning at 9 p.m. This event is unique to Waterama and always draws a large crowd to the shores of beautiful Lake Minnewaska. Whether you’re on the water or on the shore, it’s sure to be a fun event. Join in the fun by registering your own entry!

This year’s theme is Welcome to the Jungle! Here’s your chance to get creative, showcase your families and friends, business or organization, and have fun making new Waterama memories. Our goal is entertainment so bring the music and the lights and we look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Entry Forms

The registration form for your float is on the Waterama website at waterama.org. You will receive a confirmation email and periodic updates as details, parade line-up and logistics are finalized.

Email your registration form or submit questions to wateramapontoonparade@gmail.com or mail to Waterama Pontoon/Boat Parade, 19557 S. Lakeshore Drive, Glenwood MN 56334.

Prizes

First and second-place cash prizes are awarded in each of the three categories: Businesses, Organizations, and Families & Friends. First place receives $200, and second place receives $100. To be eligible for judging and prizes all pontoons and boats must be registered by Tuesday, July 26, 2022 and be appropriately themed.

 

Writer should be more concerned with traffic, roads, than yard display

From Timothy Fiala,

Glenwood

A couple of weeks ago there was a Pope County Commissioner that was “whining” about a yard display (Freedom of Speech)on 210th Ave. Maybe that county commissioner should be more concerned with how bad 210th Ave. is being tore up with the heavy amount of traffic on it because there are people driving 70 to 80 mph down the road running the yield signs on 165th Street without yielding and running the stop signs on 150th street and maybe that county commissioner should use some of that wheelage tax money that Pope County is taking from us here in the county and use that to maintain the roads around here. Maybe that commissioner should also do something with the graffiti on the side of the wall of the Soo rail line underpass. 

I think its time that “WE THE PEOPLE” need to remove all these politicians all the way from county commissioners to the President Of The United States.  After all, if our voices held no power they wouldn’t try to silence us. After all, we are just ignorant   YAHOOS, according to A prior whiner. If someone called someone that back in the day you would have gotten your mouth washed out with soap.

 

Please return Stihl weed trimmer

From Phil Stumpf,

Glenwood

To the individual or individuals who took my Stihl weed trimmer yesterday ( Sunday) June 5 at about 12:30 p.m., I respectfully ask you to return it and set it back right where you took it,  next to the fire hydrant on the grounds of Pope County soil and water. Thank you.