Criminal identification...

The scene:

You've just moved to a new town and although you know you are innocent... you find yourself lined up against a brick wall by a cop and having your picture taken.
Could be kind of scary.

Or, it could be that with visions of actor Robert Redford in your head and a potential Oscar award winning performance in your heart, you have agreed to be part of an act to help teach folks how to be a good eye witness at a crime scene!

Jim Lauridsen moved to Cannon Falls about eight months ago. His wife’s family lives here. (Although in some of the cold weather lately, he questioned as to why they couldn’t be living in Florida?)

Cannon Falls Assistant Police Chief, Rich Wisniewski, was teaching, How to be a Good Witness, to the Cannon Falls Area Citizens and Law Enforcement Partnership – TRIAD.
Wisniewski thought it would be good to have someone the group did not know sit in the meeting for a few minutes and then leave. He wanted the group to make eye contact with the “guest” and then later on they would try to identify him.
During the time the “guest” was there, Wisniewski led the discussion about what to look for in identifying a criminal. He emphasized that it was important to keep it simple.
If you are calling 911, give your location first – the street and town. Wisniewski warned, “Don’t try to get involved with the crime. Just be a good witness,” and you can remain anonymous.

Things to look for as a witness: the direction the criminal is going. And even a partial license plate can help. If weight is hard to gauge use slim, medium build, or heavy. For age use teenager, young adult, middle aged, etc. If you don’t know the exact color of his clothes just describe them as light or dark.
The discussion continued.

All of sudden, a cell phone rang. The “guest”, Jim, took his phone out and explained to the group that his wife’s car had broken down and he had to leave. The group went back to the study at hand.
It was a few minutes later that Wisniewski explained that the “guest” had been a “set-up”. Now he wanted the group to identify him.


They came up with details like his well-used baseball cap. Ray Kimmes wryly kidded, “The kind I’d wear to the barn!” The group continued, he had a tan or yellow shirt, dark pants, glasses, was tall and slim, had a receding hairline and was in his middle to late 30’s. Agnes Ward commented, “Nice looking.”
Glenn Schulz thought he was right handed. The group eyed him questioningly but were impressed when he explained, well, he held his coffee cup in his right hand and answered his cell phone with it.
Paul Schluter suggested he had boots on.

Wisniewski then had the group work on making a composite sketch of the man’s face with the computer program that was projected onto a large screen. They worked diligently on individual characteristics like the correct chin, nose, eyebrows, glasses, etc.
Wisniewski explained that a regular composite could take many hours to finish.
At the end of this limited session, the “guest”, Jim, was phoned to come back and they got to see how close they had come to identifying him. Jim felt complimented on their guessing his age as in his 30’s because he is actually 44.

The TRIAD group was encouraged and enthused as to their potential as good eye witnesses. A trait they might keep on practicing… just to keep a person aware and just for fun.

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A moment of peace...

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but even in the calm...

one of them stays alert.

Thanks to those who are working for peace...

by staying alert.

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Merry Christmas!

And peace to all with good will.

"Hi, world!"

Cannon Falls has made it onto the world stage with a new webcam that can be viewed from all over the planet!

After several months of research and negotiations and contracts and all that good stuff… a twin cities television station in connection with the Cannon Falls Beacon has put up a webcam on the roof of Park Street Apartments on downtown’s Fourth Street... to show the weather in our area.

The apartment complex was well suited for this role because it is on a higher site in the downtown area. Having researched many other buildings, I decided to access their roof and send my pictures to KSTP –TV’s Eyewitness News operations manager, Chris Meltvedt. I explained that I was too scared to get really close to the edge of the building but I hoped the pictures would show the information they needed.

The station was interested in the skyline to show the weather on their news programs. But I was also interested in showing the world the beautiful scenic area of Cannon Falls.

During normal operation the camera can change its angle so you might see any of the views at a given time. The station can also control which way it is aimed so they can focus on inclement weather that might be coming from a certain direction.
The view is updated every 15 minutes. You can also get an animated view of all the pictures taken during an hour, day or month.
To see the view from the webcam you can click onto the Beacon’s home page, http://www.cannonfalls.com/ and then click on the “button” on the right side.

There have been many frustrations involved in this project. We still have some glitches to work out. If you have a problem accessing the webcam, please try some other time and/or e-mail the Beacon.

But the world can’t wait!

So when you want to see if it’s sunny, raining or snowing in this northland country... or just enjoy looking at the street lights shining in our historic downtown…no matter where you are in the whole world - just click on in.

And if I happen to be drivin' down main street in my old black an' silver diesel pick-up truck... I'll wave at you!

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Look who we met in Cannon Falls!

We didn't keep him for very long... he's pretty busy!

The right gift…

Are you looking for the right gift?
Maybe for others… or maybe for yourself.

One dark night I picked up a book by Max Lucado. The pages fell open to one story. It was about an old man who was telling a younger man about the perils of looking for love. As I remember it explained that in his own youth, the old man had been searching for a beautiful woman. And he missed his true love.

Lucado’s touching philosophy stated it this way:

Seek beauty and miss love…
But seek love and find both.

What an interesting concept.
How could this affect our lives? Could we actually hinder our hopes from coming true because we were searching in the wrong way?

To test this idea, I reflected as to whether the saying could be adapted to other wishes. As I was recuperating from a bout with a virus I pondered this thought…

Seek health and miss peace...
But seek peace and find both.

I remember the efforts in my past that I have made to get healthy. Sometimes I was needlessly concerned and other times my search included medical procedures. But the “needless concern”, or worry, or struggle, did not benefit me. I was obviously missing “peace”.

Now, what about finances? This has been a concern for me ever since I asked for an allowance as a kid.
So for enlightenment on this topic, I rewrote the above concept to:

Seek money and miss opportunities
Seek opportunities and get both.

This way I can broaden my view. Trying out different opportunities could lead to money but they could also lead to blessings I had never thought of finding.

The value of looking into these concepts appears to be to help me focus on issues or ideas I might have been overlooking.

To insure that I didn’t miss even more of them I came across this comprehensive thought:

Seek first the kingdom of God…
And all these things will be given you. Matthew 6:33

Just a reminder, that what we focus on may lead to just the “right gift”.

A Christmas Party...

at a weekly newspaper

in our Small Town, U.S.A.

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Some of the staff is talented enough to sing their version of a Christmas carol...

telling about all the pressures of getting out a newspaper!

***

And look who thought he was getting a gift

of "wonnerful, wonnerful Lutefisk"!

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It looks more like left-over carp!

***

We all enjoyed the friendship and the dinner.

(Neither Lutefisk nor carp!)

And the cookies for dessert!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

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Leaving a light on for you...

Drive down the main street of Cannon Falls and enjoy the lights on the homes and stores.

It's the holiday season... and the lights brighten up a cold dark winter's night.

We'll leave the light on for you...

The morning star and the winter moon...

Where was it in your world?

It's snowing... again

and again

and again

...

Sleeping in your clothes...

When you've got a sick horse you might as well just sleep in your clothes... or so I figure.
At least you're not so cold when you get out of bed and pull on the snowmobile suit and boots and head out to check on him in the dead of night.
(Why do they refer to it as "dead"?)

Don't know why our old horse is doing as well as he is.
Got a blanket for him that seems to keep him warm.
The medicine hasn't arrived yet... I thought it would be here four days ago.
Can't get hold of the company.
The vet is away for a few days.

Gets lonely out here.

I'll check on him in a while again.

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Surprising conversation...

The Thanksgiving dinner brought a surprising conversation...

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We looked around the dining room table wondering: “There’s a “famous person” here?”

Thanksgiving was being celebrated at our house and since we had guests I had arranged to have a “conversation starter” to be used during the dinner.
I had written out questions that would be drawn individually and hopefully would stimulate the conversation. "Thankfulness" was the theme. You might have drawn this one: “What has happened today that you are thankful for?”

One of the most interesting answers came from one of our young guests. He’s around 10 years old. We had known his dad since he had been a teenager but had since moved away for many years. The whole family was visiting now.

The young boy had drawn this question: “What famous person are you thankful about for influencing your life?”
Since I had written the questions, I had had fun thinking what my answers would have been. I figured they should be quick and spur of the moment responses. Let’s not get too much therapy going here!

Would you think of a movie star or a musician? I immediately thought of my favorite Viking’s quarterback from the 1960’s – Fran Tarkenton. Just because whenever I think of him I start to smile!
That’s because I was amazed at his skill on the football field. Actually, I was amazed he even survived! I have never seen anyone scramble like he was running for his life (do you think?), dashing back and forth, in and out of the clutches of the other team and still throwing the ball.
Or not! (Uffff!)
Perhaps he was symbolic for the pattern my life was going at the time and I kept rooting for him.

So, back to our Thanksgiving dinner table. Our young guest was trying to think of a famous person who had influenced him.
He finally decided and told us all: "I think the famous person would be my dad."
We were all shocked silent. It was such a nice thought.
But our young guest must have wondered at the silence and explained… “Well, he’s kind of famous… he gets lots of calls…”
I thought that was really sweet. And what an honor to be the dad of this young man.

Oh yes, when I thought about it, his dad could be considered famous. He has speaking engagements around the world for which he receives $15,000 - $20,000 each. He recently held training sessions and seminars in Poland and England. Another book of his is planned to be published next February.

On the other hand, I think it is comforting to know that even if you are a famous person, there are those folks who knew you before you were. And we just like you whether you are famous or not!

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Vacations - same stuff but different

After recuperating from the recent Minnesota cough epidemic I headed for a vacation on the west coast and then fell victim to their brand of infection.

I was visiting the grandkids and most of the time when I wasn’t slumped on the couch soaking up the heat from their wood pellet stove, I would do the things I don’t get to do back home… like transporting them to their sports activities, music lessons, etc.
This includes figuring out where the right entries are when it’s dark outside at places like the Ceasar Chavez school. I had been circling a military compound and suggested to my grandkids, well, if we don’t find the school we can join the Marines! They chuckled, but with concern it seemed, because they don’t know what their Grandma really will do.
Then I saw two people talking behind a building and asked them for help. They decided it was too difficult to give directions so the fellow on the bicycle said, just follow me. Speed was not my goal here so I was very appreciative.

Another time I had to find the house where my granddaughter takes piano lessons. It was not the directions that caused a problem this time. After I picked her up from school and we were headed to her lesson, her little voice came out of the back seat… “Where are my music books?”
I had no clue. I just follow the orders I’m given, remember? (The Marines idea was sounding better all the time.) So we headed back home and she found them.
Of course we were 15 minutes late for her 30 minute lesson but so was her teacher! She had been caught in a traffic jam. (I was “saved” again.)

But most of the time I spent recuperating from the “west coast plague”, as I thought of it. At the end of our visit I felt pretty good as we packed to return to Minnesota.
Early in the morning I got up and in the dark I grabbed a cup sitting where I always set mine. It wasn’t until an hour or so later that I looked at it and realized it wasn’t my cup! My daughter had put hers there and I hadn’t checked.
You guessed it. She was still very sick. Well, I figured I had at least 24 hours before it would hit me if my immune system wasn’t up to it and by that time I should be home.

The couple of hours spent driving to the airport led to a different problem. I was stationed in the back seat with my little grandson who was watching a video. I got kind of interested in it too. But I should have known better.

A few years ago while in Hawaii I was taking some video from a helicopter bouncing in some hefty gusts of wind. And pretty soon the only scenes on my film were of the floor as I was doing some heavy “gusting” myself!

As I walked into the plane I told the attendants, I’m not contagious… I am just “car sick”, as I glanced down the endless row to the coach seat bathrooms in the back of the plane. They said, just use this bathroom (first class).

Several hours later… it wasn’t a nonstop flight… we were home. Time to recuperate from the “vacation”.

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Morning glory...

Plumes of pink

cascading across a light blue morning sky

dramatically called the light

to permeate the dark

and begin a new day.

Why TV shows like CSI

may not always be realistic!

Crime Prevention Officer David Timm of Cannon Falls explained some of the equipment and technology used by the police department in crime scene investigations at the third annual Senior Health Fair at the community center.

Timm displayed some of the techniques including scene photography, marking and identifying evidence, finger print detection and processing, and using plaster to make molds of tire tracks.
He also explained that crime scene investigation doesn’t end there as all evidence must be packaged individually and sealed to prevent tampering and then the evidence is placed in a secure evidence room to establish the chain of custody for each item of evidence.

It's just an example of how local law enforcement handles a crime scene - as compared to some of the TV shows.

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Like riding a run-a-way horse!

Just like riding

a run-a-way horse!

The horse was a favorite of mine. He seemed to like giving rides to little kids and had the smoothest gait that flowed across the ground. We just rode him with a rope halter.

After an hour or so of treating the kids with rides, I got on old Fiero myself while a guest got on my younger horse and we rode down the trail for a short jaunt.
On the way back my 24 year old steed decided he had had enough of the trail and broke into a run toward home. When reaching the corral he screeched to a stop! Since I was still in the saddle I turned him around and headed back out on the trail to teach him that he doesn’t get away with that type of behavior.

I also had to explain to my guest that I had to follow through – just like raising children. (Of course I was totally embarrassed but that also goes along with raising kids and horses!)
I was also trying to figure out why my horse had acted this way. A physical action is a form of communication too.

So Fiero and I walked the short distance to where he had broken away before and then headed back toward the barn. But he took off at a run again! This time he didn’t stop at the corral but swirled around the barn and headed to a fence where he screeched to a stop.
This is when I noticed my right arm was shaking. And my right leg. (I wondered how it could stay in the stirrup!)

But I made the decision to turn the horse around again… and back out onto the trail we went. And yes, this time he walked back to the barn where I got off and unsaddled him. And I pondered what he had been trying to tell me.

So how does this tie in with speaking to the Cannon Falls city council at their meeting? They certainly weren’t running away. But as I was talking I noticed my hand was shaking… and then my leg started shaking!

Now I enjoy these folks. I just wanted to explain some things to them.

I wanted to tell them that although I live outside the city limits, I’m concerned about the city’s residents and their taxes.
That’s when I held up some papers (and noticed how I was shaking!) that stated the potential tax increases that Stanton Township residents might get if they had been forced to be annexed through one proposal. It’s not that folks don’t like you, I explained, it’s just that they were scared.

So I encouraged the city council to take care of their present residents and then other folks would feel a lot better about being made a member of the family.

I don’t remember much about what I said that night even if it was short. I had just read a book about the effectiveness of trust in business transactions. If there is trust by the parties involved, the process is speedier and involves less cost.

This is also true for horses… if there is trust there is cooperation and speed… and that could help all of us get back to the barn more easily!

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Autumn friends!

These little critters were available at the

Cannon Falls Farmer's Market
one recent Saturday morning.

Forty years of riding in the

Cannon Falls Ridge Riders Saddle Club

Some 40 years after it began, the children and grandchildren of the original members are taking part in its activities from trail rides to parades to horse shows.
The club was incorporated on June 22, 1967 by Eldridge Banks, Melvin Swanson, Orlando Norstad, and Merle Larson. Previously it was in Vasa.

Rustianna Mechura, Northfield is one of the kids who grew up in the Saddle Club and has remained active along with her husband, Troy Mechura and kids, Dalton, Dylan, Tate and Mason.

Last summer, Tate, 7, wore part of the Indian costume that his mother wore when she was a child. Here Tate and his mother are with his new horse, Starfire Will, a gift from members, Melroy & Cathy Thompson when they heard Tate's old pony had to be put down due to cancer. (Photos from Dorene Marroquin.)

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And here is his mother, Rustianna Marroquin Mechura, in the costume when she was a child.



Rustianna recalled that “Don Lindahl, now an honorary member, was a member as a kid when we were the Vasa Christian Ridge Riders.” Then he “joined back up with his kids, Jay, Kris, and Holly and eventually the grandkids Jason, Dustin, Matt and Nate.”
She added, Tony Banitt and his brothers Todd and Kerk along with their Dad, Rick, and their uncle, Howard were involved back in the 70's and 80's. Rick and family moved to Nevada but Tony is back as president of the club with his family.
Leanne Ronning of Welch explained that she “grew up in the saddle club. People were willing to teach you.” Later her children, Jesse, Ryan and Jerah got involved.

Dorene Maroquin, Welch, added that most of the members at that time had little kids. So besides riding horses at the shows, they had games for the kids who didn’t ride, like water balloons.
Leanne also recalled the Pajama Fun Show where they were riding in their PJ's! And how they pulled their horse trailers with their cars because they didn’t have pickup trucks.
Jerry & Rose Pederson, Cannon Falls, were very active through the years and now they include their son Mike and his daughter Allison.

Mary Molenaar, Cannon Falls, raised horses for many years and was an avid trail rider until an accident on one of those trails curtailed her activities. But you will see a big smile and hear many stories of her favorite outings with her horses if you ask. Here she is waving from her first parade after her accident. Leanne Ronning is at the left on the white Appaloosa.

The club’s biggest on-going effort was building their arena at the Cannon Valley Fairgrounds and in 1998, the 120 by 300 foot arena was moved to its present location above the grandstand. It also has a warm-up area for the horses, and a 12 x 24 foot building that includes the food stand, entry booth and announcing stand. (Cannon Falls Beacon).
The club received support from many individuals, businesses and organizations in building the new arena. The panels and gates were donated by Jim and Bonnie Simon in memory of their daughter, Jami.

This year the club is working to add lights to the arena. Some of the horse shows are lasting into the evening and lights would add safety and the ability to accept the increasing number of horses. A grant from the Minnesota Horse Council for $5000 has begun the effort to raise the approximately $15,000 needed.

Present officers are President, Tony Banitt; Vice President, Barb Dralle; Secretary, Rustianna Mechura; Treasurer, Troy Mechura; Board of Directors, Margo Reichert, Dorene Marroquin, Don and Colleen Fogle and Cheryl Tollas.
Through their efforts they have created a new website: http://www.cannonfallsridgeriders.com/ and have brochures at the Chamber of Commerce.

Because of contributions by companies like the Cannon Falls Beacon, Cannon Trailer Sales, Cannon Valley Fair Board, CVR Country Supply, Sir Speedy, etc. the club is growing and plans to be part of future generations sharing friendships and their love of horses.

***

Saddle club meetings and shows still have the generations taking part.

Meeting. Front row: Cheryl Dahl, Cheryl Tollas, Lexi Banitt, Queen Jenna Dralle, Leah Banitt. Back row: Julia Dahl, Brian Dahl, BOD Margo Reichert, Vice President Barb Dralle, BOD Colleen Fogle, President Tony Banitt, Beth Banitt, BOD Don Fogle.


Show. At the Cannon Falls Ridge Riders arena at the Fair Grounds. Front row: Lexi Banitt, 2007 Queen Jenna Dralle, 2007 Jr. Prince Tate Mechura, 2007 Jr. Princess Alaina Dettling. Second row: Beth Banitt, Cody Banitt, Rose Pedersen, Leah Banitt (in front), Allison Pedersen, Dorene Marroquin, Rustianna Mechura holding Mason. Back row: Tony Banitt, Jerry Pedersen, Mike Pedersen and Steve Dettling.





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Because readers could relate to a "mouse in the house"...

When my friends think something is funny, I then feel good writing about it. I ran this idea about the "mouse in our house" on a blog recently and because of the response (you understood my problem) it grew into this column in our local paper.
Thanks a lot!

Sherlock “Homes”… I need you!

OK - So I'm NOT Sherlock Holmes (corrected spelling). But I could use some detective help.

Every autumn out here in the country it seems like a mouse decides to move in with us for a while. But then the little critter gets lost and ends up staying permanently!
And that leaves quite a smell! Whew!
The problem is that until the smell gets REALLY BAD you can't pin point where it's coming from! It's just ALL OVER the house!
(I know I'm using a lot of exclamation points but THIS IS REALLY GETTING BAD!)

Even the very cells of your nose seem permeated with the odor of dead mouse. Every sniff you breathe reeks of dead mouse.
When you go to town you wonder… maybe it’s not just my sense of smell. Do my clothes smell too?
You worry as you walk into the city hall council chambers for a meeting… is everyone going to turn and point and cry out… “Euuuch! Dead mouse smell!”

It’s actually a relief to head out to the horse barn because it smells good out there! Although as I pulled open a drawer holding some tack supplies, a fat brown mouse was peering up at me. I took the drawer outside and tipped him out into the grass.
No barn cats in sight. They’re nice and fat already I guess.
Maybe I should let the barn cats in the house for awhile. They’re allowed in the laundry room on especially cold winter nights. But by now this mouse is probably stuck somewhere inside a wall.

Maybe I should move into the barn!
It might be a compliment if someone said, “Where you living… in a barn?”

Last year I found a decaying mouse in the air return vent in a downstairs bedroom. This morning I heard something drop in the attic.
I guess that means the whole house gets a cleaning! (That's an overwhelming thought to this "housekeeping challenged" person... hopefully I can find the mouse first!)

Which way to safety?
The decision could mean their lives.

If they had taken the shorter route to safety, they might not be here today.
They could see the car ahead of them on the flooded highway reaching higher ground. It looked like they would be out of the rising torrent of mud and water soon. But they could not see that wood and debris had been caught under their car and would stall them and mean they would have to just try to save themselves.
Mike and Lori Fraser of Cannon Falls and sons Joshua, 10, Jacob, 4 and their 12 year old border collie/lab mix, Abby, had been camping in their pop-up trailer at the Pla-Mor Campground and Marina located about six miles south of Winona on Hwy 14/61 on the weekend of torrential rains in the area.

It was a “cruddy weekend”, Lori recalled, so at 3 a.m. Sunday morning they decided to pack up and leave. It had rained all day Saturday so the ground was mushy and it meant everything would be packed away while wet. And it was difficult for Lori who has rheumatoid arthritis in one knee.

Driving back up the “switch-back” road and onto the main highway was OK, Mike recalled, just slow going.
But when they got outside Minnesota City they realized they were in trouble. Although the car was still running it wasn’t moving. It had gotten hung up on debris. Joshua looked out the windows and exclaimed, “I think you’re moving.” But Lori explained that it was the water running by the car that was moving. They were stuck.

Lori called 911 and was told they would send a boat. The family watched the water rise outside their car. Soon the water covered their headlights. It got half way up their door.

They saw flashing police car lights about one block ahead of them. That’s where the car they were following had made it to higher ground.
What the Fraser’s did not know was that the road ahead of them had a dip in it. This meant that the water would probably have been up to Mike’s chest and the current was violently pulling everything with it.

In their rear view mirror Mike saw some flashlights. Two young men who had just graduated from high school were with the Goodview Police Reserve. They had also heard Lori’s 911 call and canceled the boat because they would help the family out.

And Mike decided to go back towards them instead of straight ahead.

They believe this likely saved their lives.

The police directed them to walk diagonally to the current for about a mile. Lori had their dog on a leash and Jacob was carried by one of the police reservists. The little boy recalled wondering, “Are they going to take us to jail?” He was happy to see that when they got to a safe area “They gave me a police dog puppy!” (Stuffed animal.)

But even with the rain gear they were soaked and only had the clothes they were wearing.

Joshua had had to leave his “Game Boy” (a hand held game console) in the car and the little stuffed black bear he had had since he was two years old. But after wading through muddy waters up to his waist he realized he probably wouldn’t have been able to save his stuff anyway.
Their clothes dried out while they wore them.

They spent about 45 minutes sitting in a fire truck while people were being rescued from a nearby motel. Then they were brought to a station were volunteers were handing out coffee and umbrellas and even socks. Yes, one person had gone to a nearby store and bought packages of socks for those rescued.

Later they were taken by a city bus to St. Mary’s University where the Red Cross was headquartered. While watching the TV they saw footage of their car and camper on the road! Here Jacob received another stuffed animal. A bear. He was so concerned about his brother leaving his in their flooded car that he insisted on giving this bear to him.

Jacob exclaimed to Joshua, “You’re the BEST brother in the world!” Older brother Joshua retorted, “I’m you’re ONLY brother!” But little Jacob insisted, “You’re still my best brother…”

Soon they called Lori’s Mom, Gay Gellert to see if she could come and get them. Not knowing the flooding dangers still going on, Gay asked a friend, Lyle Noble, to come along.

Several days later, the Frasers were able to see their impounded car and camper. The car was a total loss. The camper wasn’t covered by insurance so they brought it back home and were surprised to find that only a little mud had seeped in on the floor. But Lori explained that they used a lot of bleach in cleaning it up!
And they had been able to salvage just about everything else… including Joshua’s Game Boy and bear!

(Lori is a Goodhue County Social Worker and part of the South East Minnesota Behavioral Health Team that was organized to help in crises. Lori volunteered to go back to the area a few days later. She explained, “Our role is to assess the needs and talk to people and advise of the available services.”)

Sherlock "Homes"!

OK - So I'm NOT Sherlock Holmes...

Each Fall of the year, it seems like a mouse decides to move in for the winter.

But then it seems the little critter gets lost and ends up staying permanently!

But what a smell!

The problem is that until the smell gets REALLY BAD you can't pin point where it's coming from!

It's just ALL OVER!

I know I'm using a lot of exclamation points but THIS IS REALLY GETTING STRONG!

Last year I found a decaying mouse in the air return vent downstairs.

This morning I heard something drop in the attic.

I guess that means the whole house gets a cleaning!

Who is lying? The politician... the salesman... you?

Can you tell when someone’s lying?

Can you tell when someone is lying just by watching their hands or feet? Would you like to know what signals you might be sending out unknowingly? This type of communication may be the least understood and most important facet of communication according to Kevin Hogan of Eagan, MN.
Kevin has a background in psychology and authored 11 books plus several teaching series including Body Language: Decoding, Interpreting & Mastering Nonverbal Communication.

He has assisted all four major television networks and the nation’s largest newspapers. He also teaches Persuasion and Influence at the University of St. Thomas Management Center. He is an international public speaker, consultant and corporate trainer.

On political news programs, Kevin was asked to predict the outcomes of the Bush/Gore and Bush/Kerry campaigns.

He explained how a superior candidate blew his clear lead and position in large part because of body language.

Also, Kevin revealed he was the “ first person to identify that Bill Clinton did indeed have sex with Monica Lewinsky.”

A lawyer explained that they used Hogan's research when coaching defendants, in witness preparation, and selecting a jury.

So what are some hints to look for in body language? Kevin cautions that “… certain body language signals might mean something to one person and something entirely different to someone else. And body language differs culturally… just like different languages. For example: gestures, like raising your middle finger in the U.S. may be derogatory but in another country it can mean “good job."
But deception can be detected by understanding body language. Some people like celebrities, lawyers and politicians may cloak their feelings when in public. Kevin feels you can learn to read them.

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Talk about “Body Language!” An invitation to a “party-networking event and charity auction for the homeless” for the top internet marketers in the world recently found Kevin Hogan at the Hugh Hefner home in Los Angeles known as “The Playboy Mansion”.

***

Clue #1: Look at their feet. “People generally have no trouble controlling their torso, even their hand gestures and sometimes facial changes. But it is hard for the person who is lying to pay attention to their feet!” Kevin explained that he tries to get “a sense for how their feet normally move in conversation. When someone deceives, their feet "behave" differently. That's my best and probably most reliable cue.”
Clue #2: Look at the pupils in their eyes and watch for changes. “Some peoples’ pupils get bigger and some get smaller. It’s the change he looks for.
Clue #3: Check their attitude… expressions of “boredom, indifference, and unconcern. These are tough states to fake for most people because they are typically unaware of their behavior...” Kevin continued: “The person will try to look indifferent, but because they aren't used to behaving this way they are trying to guess what they are acting like. Unfortunately for them, it's usually a dead giveaway.”
Clue #4: How are they speaking? If people stumble over their words, repeat phrases or words, when this is not their normal behavior, this is a pretty useful "tell" as well.
Clue #5: “Scratching around the mouth or cheek area is considered a dead giveaway that you are lying. And even under the best of circumstances, it looks kinda weird and gross…”
Clue #6: Crossing your arms - people read this as a defensive, nervous gesture. You might not feel this way; it might simply be a position you find comfortable. But perceptions are what count here.

It sounds like a good idea to pay attention to your unconscious perception of what a person really means. And you should check on what you might inadvertently be saying with your own body language!

(Kevin Hogan will be leading a seminar on The Science of Persuasion in London, England in October plus his training series are available at: http://www.kevinhogan.com/.)

When doing a follow-up training program for the account executives at Fortis MeesPierson, the seventh largest private bank in Europe, Kevin was invited to tour the Maserati automobile plant in Bologna, Italy. This Maserati was priced at about $450,000. Two days earlier Kevin had fallen in the street and broken two ribs so there was some pain behind his smile!

Wild grapes... summer's end.

The sweet-sour tang

of wild grapes...

clinging to the old fence

as it lines down the gravel road

to the farmstead...

just the thought makes your mouth tingle

with its memory.

Snorkel Horse!

The recent flooding in the Midwest brought memories

of the 500 year flood

that hit our area a few years ago.

Twenty-one people came to sandbag our house

from the torrential rains.

We were safe.

After it was over we had the mud and muck to clean up.

.

Finally I had to do something that would make me smile!

Although I'm not sure that my horse thought it was so funny!

.

I bet Martha Stewart doesn't vacuum her trees!

This could be carrying "house cleaning" a bit too far!

But a steady stream of box elder bugs was heading up the tree...

and across the fence panels...

You see it's an ongoing competition out here with the little critters.

They can massively cover the south side of the house.

I've tried soapy sprays but they didn't seem to do the job.

So far, the best results have come from using a "wet vac"...

a vacuum that has water inside with a bit of liquid soap.

And you suck up the little fellows and dispatch them.

.

Yup... I think Martha Stewart would be proud!

Morning "Light Show"!

While going about my job while listening

to Talk Show Host, Ian Punnett, read the poem he had written

relating to the death of his father…

my eyes were drawn to a spectacular view of the sky…

and my heart was touched…
and I wrote:

As I stepped outside this morning...
I was overwhelmed by the sky being lit up in a vibrant red
while you read your poem about “stepping into the light...”
and then the clouds became iridescent pearl white in their glow...
and as you finished reading your poem...
I noticed the clouds had covered the sky in gray...
but they said softly, we are good too.
And the light still shines...
through us...
and through you.

Thanks for your poem, Ian.


Ian’s song – read on the air – August 23, 2007
'Step into the Light'
--a country song written by Ian Punnett

You said you were happy in the background
You never minded the sideline
For every basket, run and touchdown
You just loved to see me shine
But my playing days are long over
Except for playing the guitar
As I'm sitting here on your covers
I am "me" cause of who "you" are

(bridge)

Is it dark there where you're sleepin'?
The nurse says I'd might as well just go
But your heart is more than this thing beepin'
And I wanted you to know......

(chorus)

It's time to step into the light, Dad
You fought the good fight, Dad
Time to embrace your victory
Just step into the light, Dad
I promise I'll do right, Dad
Please don't stay here just for me
Step into the light, Dad
It's not good-bye, just "Night, Dad"
Your workday's at its end
So step into the light, Dad
Let your angel wings take flight, Dad
We will always be best friends....

(second verse)

You said you were happy in the shadows
I'd see you standing in the wing
Give a proud elbow to some strange fellow
Just before I'd start to sing
And I know you said, "Don't bother"
You said, "Son, just act your age!"
When I'd ask the crowd, "Who else loves their father?"
Because you wouldn't come on stage

(bridge)

It is dark there where you're sleepin'?
The nurse says you're not feeling any pain
But life is more than this thing beepin'
So, I'll sing it once again....

(chorus)

It's time to step into the light, Dad
You fought the good fight, Dad
Time to embrace your victory
Just step into the light, Dad
I promise I'll do right, Dad
Please don't stay here just for me
Step into the light, Dad
It's not good-bye, just "Night, Dad"
Your workday's at it's end
So step into the light, Dad
Let your angel wings take flight, Dad
We will always be best friends......

***

.

CSI: crime scene investigation techniques

A bloody knife lay on the counter… a baggy with marijuana and empty liquor bottles were strewn on the floor.
The mock crime scene was organized by Cannon Falls Assistant Police Chief, Rich Wisniewski for a program sponsored by Triad, local citizens interested in learning about local law enforcement.
The popularity of television programs like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation shows the interest of the public in the investigative techniques used by modern law enforcement. Of course on TV it's all done within a 60 minute time period! The downside to this perception is that “real life” police may have to work under other conditions.
Cannon Falls Police Officers Scott Mattingly and David Timm along with Goodhue County Investigator Glen Barringer explained the process and how it can be handled at last Tuesday’s meeting of Triad - Cannon Falls Area Law Enforcement Partnership at the Shepherd’s Center.

Although local law enforcement might not have some of the fancier equipment shown on TV, they have many methods to use. Timm and Mattingly walked through a mock crime scene they had set up in the craft room of the Stone House apartment complex to show their expertise.
The perimeter of the crime scene actually starts at the outside door and could include access and/or escape routes and a vehicle.

Timm handles the photography angle. He starts taking pictures as they enter the building and head for the room where the “crime” took place so anyone can follow it by looking at the pictures. Timm explained that he will “shoot the heck out of the scene!”
You make note of what is present, like whether the lights are on or off, are the windows open or closed, etc. and what might be missing that would be normally there.
You check if there is damage to the door as you enter. Look for evidence and put numbered markers by each one to more easily identify them later. They have small rulers to place in the photo for size definition. Some have adhesive on the back so you can stick them on a wall next to a bullet hole, etc.

Mattingly pointed out a knife with possible blood on it. This could mean someone might have been wounded. Timm gets pictures of it first and then it’s moved.
Mattingly also pointed out the empty bottles that may produce fingerprints. They pointed out that it is difficult to get good ones since they are usually smeared or just partial prints.
Also, there was a baggie with possible marijuana inside.
The meticulous investigation techniques continued as the officers also covered questions from the approximately 20 observers.

Triad, Cannon Falls Area Citizens and Law Enforcement Partnership meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Shepherd's Center. The public is welcome.
For more information contact Cannon Falls Assistant Police Chief, Rich Wisniewski at 263-2278 or Goodhue County Deputy, Thomas Wolner at tom.wolner@co.goodhue.mn.us.

Choo! Choo! once again...

There she is...

a train is using the tracks again

after a few years of vacancy.

Highway 52 between Randolph and Cannon Falls.

Question for the day...

why do we call a train a "she"?

What gender do we call the caboose?

(Sorry, that's two questions!)