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Crystal, union need to start talking again
Maybe we set the bar too high by asking over the past couple of weeks for American Crystal Sugar management and members of the union to get together and agree on a new contract that is at least reasonably satisfying to all concerned. If that is indeed the case, then this week we’re scaling back our expectations and simply asking that both sides start negotiating again in the hope that the current lockout of the union workers and the employment of the replacement workers end sooner rather than later. Anything is better than nothing, which seems to be what’s going on right now, other than both sides attempting to win the public relations battle through the regional media. Start talking, people; if this drags on too long, decent, hard-working people are going to really start hurting, and that pain will inevitably spread to the communities that they call home.
Get a jury seated in Fairbanks murder trial
Jury selection seems to be a slow process in the murder trial against Thomas Fairbanks. Only five jurors have been selected after four days of jury selection at the Polk County Justice Center. Thomas Fairbanks is facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Mahnomen County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Dewey in 2009, and several assault charges. Last week, Judge Jeffrey Remick believed opening arguments for the trial would begin Aug. 10, but now with a limited number of capable jurors, opening arguments are thought to begin Aug. 15. Hopefully this week the defense and prosecution can agree on acceptable jurors for the trial so Thomas Fairbanks and the family of Christopher Dewey can come one step closer to justice and a fair trial.
Twins are done
Can all of us, finally, even the most stubborn occupiers of the bandwagon, concede that the Twins aren’t going to win the Central Division this season and they’re not going to make the playoffs? For months, fans and team apologists have been saying the team first has to get back to .500 and then they can make their run for another title in a weak division. Well, after getting smoked by the White Sox at Target Field, the Twins are 12 games under .500. They’re just not good enough and because of all the injuries, very rarely have they put their so-called “A” team on the field. But the bigger problem might be that even when they’ve been relatively healthy, they have underachieved mightily. When they hit, their pitching’s no good. When they pitch well, they can’t hit. The writing has been on the wall for months, and yet they made no moves as sellers at the trading deadline, meaning they got no prospects to stock their farm system, and they’ll lose free agents in the off-season and get nothing in return. A bad season all around.
Crystal, union need to start talking again
Maybe we set the bar too high by asking over the past couple of weeks for American Crystal Sugar management and members of the union to get together and agree on a new contract that is at least reasonably satisfying to all concerned. If that is indeed the case, then this week we’re scaling back our expectations and simply asking that both sides start negotiating again in the hope that the current lockout of the union workers and the employment of the replacement workers end sooner rather than later. Anything is better than nothing, which seems to be what’s going on right now, other than both sides attempting to win the public relations battle through the regional media. Start talking, people; if this drags on too long, decent, hard-working people are going to really start hurting, and that pain will inevitably spread to the communities that they call home.
Get a jury seated in Fairbanks murder trial
Jury selection seems to be a slow process in the murder trial against Thomas Fairbanks. Only five jurors have been selected after four days of jury selection at the Polk County Justice Center. Thomas Fairbanks is facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Mahnomen County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Dewey in 2009, and several assault charges. Last week, Judge Jeffrey Remick believed opening arguments for the trial would begin Aug. 10, but now with a limited number of capable jurors, opening arguments are thought to begin Aug. 15. Hopefully this week the defense and prosecution can agree on acceptable jurors for the trial so Thomas Fairbanks and the family of Christopher Dewey can come one step closer to justice and a fair trial.
Twins are done
Can all of us, finally, even the most stubborn occupiers of the bandwagon, concede that the Twins aren’t going to win the Central Division this season and they’re not going to make the playoffs? For months, fans and team apologists have been saying the team first has to get back to .500 and then they can make their run for another title in a weak division. Well, after getting smoked by the White Sox at Target Field, the Twins are 12 games under .500. They’re just not good enough and because of all the injuries, very rarely have they put their so-called “A” team on the field. But the bigger problem might be that even when they’ve been relatively healthy, they have underachieved mightily. When they hit, their pitching’s no good. When they pitch well, they can’t hit. The writing has been on the wall for months, and yet they made no moves as sellers at the trading deadline, meaning they got no prospects to stock their farm system, and they’ll lose free agents in the off-season and get nothing in return. A bad season all around.
A fun, productive week for Summer Arts Safari participants
Summer Arts Safari draws dozens of kids each year for a fun week of drama, and not the variety they engage in at home, thanks to the generosity of Crookston Community Theatre. During this time, many of these kids are bitten by the acting, singing and/or dancing bug and go on to participate in other productions, either onstage or behind the scenes. A few may even decide that this is their life's calling. Regardless of the long-term outcome, participants are sure to go home every night excited about their action-packed day, looking forward to the next day's adventures. Come Friday evening following their performance, these kids' faces will be beaming with pride and self-esteem on a job well done. And so will their parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles.
Vikings issues aside, are you ready for some football?
Even with the Vikings having one of their worst seasons in recent memory last year, both on and off the field, the team and fans have reason to be optimistic heading into the 2011 season. College football is heating up all over the country with practices starting this week. The University of Minnesota, Crookston team begins Thursday, Aug. 11 and the Pirates have already started holding captain's practices. The season of falling leaves, pigskins and sweatshirts is drawing closer and closer. Are you ready for some football?
