Baby, it's cold outside, Texas cold

My grandpa said to post this email we got from Lorlee Bartos. She says Tom Obert ought to get a promotion, but grandpa says he's not sure yet. Anyway, here's her note. By the way, how do you like my Christmas dress?
Emily,
7 months

Lorlee writes:
I vote that the cub reporter be upgraded to Junior Senior Cub Reporter or 1st Assistant Senior Cub Reporter or something. He has served the Class of '65 well and deserves our support and respect.
Though I think senior and cub should be mutually exclusive.
Also, from now on, please keep your cold air up there. We would just as soon live without it. Though while it is only going to top out today at 33-- so long as it holds to prediction we should be fine. If not, and it ices over, we are toast.
And NO ONE -- not even the most seasoned Minnesota driver can drive on the ice we get here. And, of course, we don't have a lot of seasoned Minnesota drivers here who would at least understand you don't try to drive 60 mph, so you can imagine the mess we can have.
Lorlee

Annual eagle pix from the cub

By Tom Obert
Cub Reporter
On the coldest day of the year, with wind chills in the double digits below zero all day, a couple of our national symbols alit in our lakeside cottonwood tree. Undeterred by the weather, the cub reporter snatched up his camera (snap shot type, limited zoom), trundled outdoors, and did the best he could with limited equipment!

p.s. to the Trailboss: All who watch talking head shows will certainly note that every guest, whether from the print or electronic media, has the title of "senior writer" or "senior correspondent" (never just "writer" or "correspondent" or, heaven forbid, "junior writer" or "junior correspondent." So, after two years of dedicated service to the Class of '65 blog site, I hereby request that I be upgraded from cub reporter to senior cub reporter. I eagerly anticipate your response.) 

No, this is not Arnold Palmer

It is Charlie Basch, the beloved former Alexandria football and baseball coach. Here he is with Dave Erickson and Roger Melaas, two ' 63 Alex alumni. Basch turned 80 last March, and is retired from coaching at St. Cloud State College (as it was called back in ’65) and lives in St. Cloud. He winters in Naples, Florida. He has been asked more than once on the golf course for his autograph -- people thinking he is Arnie Palmer. He said that one lady was so insistent that he finally relented just to get rid of her!
Photo courtesy David Erickson

My favorite memory of Charlie Basch? Watching him steal home for the Alexandria Clippers baseball team back in the 50s. He played second base on a team that featured school teachers John Gustafson, Al Sheriff, Bob Hawkins and others. -- TB

Been looking for the girls hockey report? Here it is.

Tom Obert
Cub reporter

40-2 is now the cumulative score after 4 games for the Alexandria girls high school hockey team. Last night, in by far their sternest test of the season, our Cards fought off the team thought to be the toughest competition in section 8A, the Fergus Falls Otters, by the score of 8 - 0!

Our big hockey fans family from Indiana, Ruthie's daughter Jami, husband Danny, and grandson Tom, drove all night Monday to be here for the game - and here they are posing with grandma and grandpa at the game (also Tom got to participate in the between periods puck shoot and after the game they all posed with the Alexandria Blizzard's (North American Hockey League, Junior A) mascot). Needless to say, they were mighty impressed with our Cards - and came home to pore over last year's team yearbook to learn all they could about our stalwarts.

The highlight of the game, and what best defines the team, occurred in the 2nd period when the Cards were assessed (incorrectly, no doubt) a penalty. I told Danny that now we had the Otters right where we wanted them - by sending out Abby Williams and Kathryn Del Zoppo, our star junior forwards, to kill off penalities usually results in goal scoring opportunities for us. And sure enough, Abby and Del combined to score TWO short-handed goals on that same penalty!

A reminder to Card alums in the Twin Cities area - the girls play at Mound-Westonka on Saturday night @ 7:15!

Until then, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

LeRoy Meyer of Garden Center dies at 85

Long-time Alexandria businessman and community leader LeRoy Meyer died Sunday at the Douglas County Hospital.
He was 85.
A funeral service will be held this Friday, November 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Alexandria. Visitation will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Anderson Funeral Home and for one hour before the service at the church Friday.
Meyer purchased the Garden Center bowling alley in Alexandria back in 1957 and the business has remained with the family ever since.
A former Alexandria City Council member, Meyer also served on the city’s Board of Public Works for 35 years.
He was a past president of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, the Runestone Museum and the Rotary Club, and served on many other community organizations.


A Leroy story from John Herdan:
I was bowling after school one day when a kid named Bob (no last name to protect the guilty but not in our class) who had been picking on me forever came in and really laid it on thick. I was really ticked and when he said let's go outside and settle it, I went.
I must have been mad because I think it was the only fight I ever won in my life. What I didn't know was that Leroy must have been watching Bob pick on me for quite some time and had come outside and watched the fight.
When the fight was over he grabbed ahold of Bob and told him to beat it and stay out of the bowling alley. He picked me up, dusted me off, put his arm around me and said, "Come on back inside, son and I'll buy you a pop."
I'd even been fighting outside with bowling shoes on and he was still on my side! He got all my business after that.

Anybody else got a memory of LeRoy? Send it to trailboss@swpub.com

The swans on Lake Darling

A thin coating of ice is appearing on Lake Darling. Cub photographer Tom Obert got this shot this morning of the neighborhood swans taking a final swim. 

Daughter is better, thanks for your prayers

Last week Claudia Johnson Brown's 31-year-old daughter was hospitalized in intensive care, unable to breathe. She asked classmates to pray for her daughter. Yesterday we got this email from Claudia, through her friend, Paula Widstrom:

I can't tell you how overwhelmed we are by your support, love and prayers.
For the phone calls, cards, hugs, e-mails, and the warm feeling that we get when we see Gretchen's eyes open and know the power of prayer and love got her through.
She is on so many prayer chains that she had to come out of this. My high school class, people I worked with in previous jobs, and people I knew back in Texas were praying. One of the nurses asked her if she knew how lucky she was to be alive. She wasn't lucky, she was blessed. Now she knows how close we came to loosing her again.
There has to be a reason why she keeps beating the odds.
Gretchen is off all machinery except a nasal tube and an apnea monitor at night. She finally ate some food today after not having anything since Tuesday of last week. She kept it down and was looking for more.
Now she can get her strength back. Her throat is still a little sore and she talks very quietly, which isn't bad. It sure beats trying to do sign language around wires and tubes.
Tomorrow she is going to be moved out of intensive care and into a room on the regular ward. She is looking forward to that big time. She can have a phone again. She can also have visitors and get the backlog of flowers they weren't able to deliver to her in ICU. Hopefully she will be able to go home soon.
Claudia

Rummy fades, Strandberg star still bright

We asked long-time government employee Paul Strandberg for his take on the recent elections and his longevity as an attorney for the state. Paul is our senior class president who is often mistaken for his look-a-like Donald Rumsfeld. Well, Don is out now, but Paul is still in. What's your secret, Paul? -- TB

Paul writes:
After the first election in decades that hasn't put me into a blue funk, I am still at the public trough (as a lawyer in the Minnesota Agriculture Department).

As I have often said, I am the only person I know who has been exiled by a governor (Arne Carlson) and an attorney general (Hatch) who hasn't missed a paycheck. It is somehow ironic that my job would have been iffy if the Democrat won, but relatively safe with the Republican Governor getting re-elected.

In any case, it will be very interesting dealing with a solid Democratic legislature and a Republican governor.
Fortunately, agriculture has been bi-partisan in the years I've dealt with it. The selection of Senator Pogemiller as senate majority leader, however, could make things grind to a halt.

Trailboss says: Thanks Paul. Not much insight there on your longevity. We pulled out photos of you and Rumsfeld. I think your classmates would agree you're much better looking than he. Right, class? Don't he still look good? So ladies, it is time. Who had a crush on Paul during high school? Fess Up. Trailboss@swpub.com


Lorlee remembers: Paul stepped on my new tennis shoes in Mr. Anglin's geometry class --- I can't remember if we got kicked out of class or not -- but if so, it would have been the only time I ever was. You know, goody two shoes --- but in this case, dirty shoes.
Lorlee

Strandberg responds: I remember getting kicked out of a class with Lorlee, but I'm not sure which one. I do remember that it was right before lunch so we didn't have to wait in line. No other punishment ensued.

Only one gloat allowed per person, Tom

Tom Obert and his patient, long-suffering wife with Senator-elect Amy Klobuchar.
Photo was taken last March and retrieved from Obert's copious files. Only one gloat is allowed per classmate, Tom.
Surprised we haven't heard from that old Dem at the State Capital, our president, Paul Strandberg. He's been a public servant for lo these many years and has survived many power changes. Not sure how this will affect his opportunities. Paul?

That's not all, folks:
Did you know that Vince DiNino's mother gave piano lessons to Jim Klobuchar, famous columnist and father of Amy, when Jim was growing up in Ely?

Now, you ask, who the hell is Vince DiNino? Friend, you are obviously not a regular visitor here.

Please pray for Claudia's daughter Gretchen

Hi Stan,
I thought you might put this in the blog.
Claudia's daughter Gretchen is very ill and in the hospital ICU. She is in her early 30's. Claudia has asked for people to pray for her recovery and I thought if you put it on the blog she might get a lot more prayers.
Thanks,
Paula (Widstrom) Hanson

Arnold McPhee, 83

Arnold F. McPhee, 83, died October 27, 2006 at Bethany Home in Alexandria.
Arnold was born on July 4, 1923 to James and Isabella (Rickert) McPhee in St. Cloud and graduated from St. Cloud Cathedral High School.
Arnold was married to Sylince Norenbeg on August 7, 1943 at the Parish Center in St. Cloud by the Reverend Kroll. In 1948, they moved to Alexandria and managed the Red Owl and later moved back to St. Cloud where he managed the National Tea Grocery Store. They then moved back to Alexandria to manage the National Tea Grocery Store. Arnold opened a Super Fair Grocery Store and sold it in 1964 and went to work for Ludkes Grocery Wholesale and worked there for 20 years.
Arnold enjoyed playing golf, playing cards, talking about the grocery business and driving around the lakes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Isabella; brother, James McPhee; sisters, Mildred and Donna.
Arnold is survived by his wife, Sylince of Alexandria; son, Jim and wife, Melissa McPhee of St. Cloud; daughter, Jan Marie and husband, Roger Horn of Brentwood, CA; four grandchildren, Julie, Jeff, Kristin and Susannah; and four great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass was held November 4 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria with the Reverend Al Ludwig officiating. Music was provided by Sonny Osterberg and readers were Kristin Horn and Jeffrey McPhee. Interment was at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.

Bummer. . .

By Cub Reporter
This is not an eye-witness report - it's now early Saturday morning, and we're soon off to the Gopher homecoming game. But last night in the Fargo Dome, our Cardiac Cards lost a heartbreaker to Sartell in the section finals - 10 - 7, in overtime! The game was there for the taking - in the 4th quarter, with the scored tied at 7, the Cards had a second and goal at the Sabres ONE-YARD line - and FUMBLED!

Thursday, the girls volleyball team was swept by a once-defeated Moorhead team in Fergus Falls for the north sub-section championship. On Tuesday, our Cards struggled at home to a 5-game win over Detroit Lakes. As in the first-round game, the Cards seemed nervous throughout, befitting their youth (D.L. was a senior-laden team and the Cards are mostly freshmen and sophomores). I assume it was probably a similar scenario against the Spuds. But the future is bright - we should be really good the next couple of years.

So now we turn our attention to the hockey and basketball seasons.

Leaf-looker Lorlee went to New England, got these

Well here it is -- (top photo) supposedly the most photographed church in New England -- in Litchfield, Connecticut.

And the bridge shot is some where in Northern Connecticut about 20 miles from Vermont. We figured since we were that close we would make it a three-state day so we drove into Vermont, crossed the bridge to New Hampshire and then drove back to Connecticut.

The cemetery shot was close to Deerfield with graves back to the 1700's with some people born in the 1600's -- hard to fathom.

The leaves were just past peak, but pretty spectacular, we were cursed with overcast days.

So there you have it.

(Had probably 50 Trick or Treaters tonight.)

Lorlee

Thank you, Lorlee! TB