The glory of "Marcho Vivo" in Morris' past

Here's your blog host B.W. proudly wearing the Morris High School marching band uniform. I'm posing in front of the family's Northridge Drive residence where I still am. At the time of my graduation I did not have a "reception." My uncle and his spouse from Glenwood were the only visitors and bless their memory for that. The void of having no reception is probably why I really enjoy attending 3-4 receptions nowadays. I had to "walk all the way next door" for a really fine one, for Addison Cihak. The Cihaks did everything right including having balloons out by the mailbox! Congrats to all these kids. I sat next to my own high school classmate and fellow '73 grad Craig Murphy. He and I enjoy reminding people of our edgy class motto: "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead." Our principal Wally Behm always said that motto was a tough sell for him. Wally had the distinctive niche of being principal to the boomer generation kids in Morris. These administrators had unique - ahem- challenges. Wally fell out of favor with the community by the mid-1980s. I don't think my generation had any issues with him. Education can be a turbulent environment. I think Wally loved our marching band. Our band director John Woell is still with us, God bless.

 

Holy mackerel, the furnace came on last night. Is it accurate to say we are in "midsummer' now? Or is that term reserved for July? And once we get to the county fair, we begin noticing a "nip in the air" at night, so fall is coming. A pretty narrow window for what we think of as summer, I'd say. 

And yet, look at what a lot of people spend on their "lake places." Morris legend has it that this class of people was not interested in supporting Prairie Pioneer Days (PPD) anymore. When the wealthiest class of people loses heart for doing something, I suppose the institution dies. I am amazed at how the old PPD, so vigorous at one time, just up and died. It really truly was so special at one time. 

Oh, and here's another summer institution in Morris that was once boffo: marching band! Hey, in writing about marching band I am not suggesting that we should root for a comeback for the institution. That's because I believe that changing times have really made the institution impractical. Oh I certainly believe in it. But kids had other interests pulling at them. I guess No. 1 would be sports camps. 

The No. 1 name associated with the heyday of Morris High School marching band is Bob Schaefer. He even wrote our school song for MHS. Is it "school song" or "fight song?" I think the pacifist attitude is to be encouraged. I grew up during the Vietnam war. If you think at present that Donald Trump and his people are bats--t crazy, just think of when we sent waves of young men to Vietnam where odds were high that terrible things would happen to them including death. Our society basically acquiesced to that for a long time. 

I know, you don't want to talk about it. And the U.S. lost the war. I grew up following the war on the evening TV news. 

I also became active in our marching band when the director was a successor to Schaefer. That individual was John Woell. I feel Woell kept the standards basically just as high as Schaefer. But for some (mysterious) reason, he did not earn the same iconic status as Schaefer. He just was not as endearing. 

Schaefer left here for Brookings SD. That's the home of South Dakota State University. I remember Schaefer's marching band rehearsing on summer mornings before I was old enough to take part. All the way from my home on Northridge Drive, I heard the exciting sounds of the band playing its signature tune of "Marcho Vivo." There was a trumpet flourish that stood out in the tune. 

Our drum major Scott Groth

Let me assure you that marching band was really "big" in this community at the time. And it can't be brought back? An attempted comeback was made in the 1980s when Cal Schmidt was director. The winds of time had turned on marching band. 

Back at the time I graduated from MHS - 1973 -  girls varsity sports was in its infancy, like a young fawn trying to stand up on wobbly legs. It had to be that way because girls were just getting acclimated to the whole culture of sports. I remember the referee Dave Leuthard saying "you have to call traveling every time, or they'll never learn." 

Girls were bound to take to sports over time and they surely did. Perhaps the last step in the evolution was for this lass named Caitlin Clark from Iowa to become the nation's No. 1 celebrity or hero for a time. And she's still doing great after some injury misfortune. Her last two games have been fantastic. Maybe we'll see her on "Saturday Night Live" again (with Michael Che). 

 

Was it art? 

A portion of the "academic" music world has always had reservations about marching band. They'll argue that it is not true music enrichment. Well, the kids play the same tune over and over again, right? Well, I say "so what?" It isn't rarefied-air music enrichment and it probably does not try to be. It's putting on a show, entertaining the folks who line the summer parade routes like at the Glenwood Waterama. Or, at our now-defunct PPD in Morris. 

Can Morris really deny that it is a "loser" community in some respects? Look at the horrible downer of an article in the Star Tribune about our U of M-Morris and its tumbling enrollment. Can we stanch the bleeding with that? UMM had 155 graduates most recently. SDSU in Brookings had 1600. Those "Jackrabbits" are out-pacing us.

 

John Woell leads the band

Oh to witness it now!

I have had a neat fantasy in my head: Have the MHS marching band from the early '70s travel forward in time to today and have it perform at the head of the PPD parade. Actually it's a fantasy to even imagine the PPD parade but indulge me please. 

I think the Morris residents at the park and along the parade route would be absolutely wowed by the sense of excitement! We had terrific "majorettes" like Lori Torgerson, plus the "flag girls" ahead of the musicians. People would almost be in disbelief at the quality of it all. But from today's perspective it is "gone with the wind." 

Sad? In a sense. But it is most certainly reality. And maybe the kids, especially the girls, are better off with their sports camps. 

I'll never forget the sound of "Marcho Vivo" emanating from town in my young years. And then I became part of the show as I got older. We played in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Here's from the Morris Sun Tribune newspaper re. that adventure. The headline was "Morris band wins honors at Winnipeg."

 

The Morris High School band won third place in concert competition at the "Manisphere 100" International Band Contest at Winnipeg, Canada, June 26-28. In a field of nine bands within its class, which were rated one through nine, the band from Osage, Iowa, won first place, North Scott High School from Eldridge, Iowa, won second place, and Morris won third place. In addition to bands from Minnesota, other states represented in the contest were Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In all, 24 bands took part in the three-day event. On Saturday evening a massed band of 2500 players, made up of all the bands, played a concert in the Winnipeg Stadium. Climaxing the contest and festivities was the parade on Sunday afternoon in which nearly 200 units took part. The Morris band arrived home at 3 a.m. on Monday.

 

Our uniforms were hot!

John Woell in retirement paid a visit to Sarlettes Music in Morris where he enjoyed talking with past pupil Del Sarlette. Woell has been blessed with a long retirement. He led us at Winnipeg and so many other places. I believe we played the Aquatennial in Minneapolis. The Sarlettes store is like a museum in some respects, a valuable resource. Look at the uniforms on display. Woell would sometimes discipline students by fining them "a quarter." He'd look at you and say "you, a quarter." I don't think a teacher could get by with that today. Today it seems, or based on what I hear, "the kids walk all over the teachers." It is hard to have sympathy for the teachers based on their union and their constant grievances. 

 

And I wasn't even Jewish!

I was in junior high playing under Bob Schaefer. I remember a concert at the old, now-razed auditorium where we went through some rudimentary pieces. And I remember Schaefer turning and facing the audience and saying "and here's one I'm sure you all know, 'Hava Nagila.' "

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com

Kennedy Center must remain a bastion

See the two guys wearing the maroon blazers at the foot of the JFK bust at the Kennedy Center? The one at left is your blog host, B.W.! Quite the thrill to have been at the opulent and inspiring place, way back in the summer of 1972. We could see that the place was just getting established. The surrounding land was rough, not landscaped yet. Look at the massive chandeliers in the photo! I had the privilege of being with a music performing group that traveled extensively over roughly a month. We of course performed at the newly-minted Kennedy Center. Goes without saying it was memorable. Just like today, there was discomfort at our national government level. 

 

We read daily about the issues connected to President Donald Trump, a person who had no government or military experience before becoming president. We all ought to be realizing the liability of that now. But we've had a decade to have the liability sink in. Yet we get up each morning and see a new batch of headlines that ought to have a profoundly depressing effect on us. 

Are we lemmings? Are we just bitter? Are we bitter because we've lost so many jobs to places like China? Do we regret the "free trade agreements?" And we just don't know what to do about it? We're flailing. Ten years after DJT was first elected (with three million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton), we're still flailing. 

So now a judge had to rule to get Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center. Why did it come to this? Has Congress been so totally neutered? Well, kind of a rhetorical question. Republicans like our congressperson Michelle Fischbach appear petrified, not wanting to let DJT's endorsement slip away for the next election. 

There is such a vast body of "sheep" out there, the common citizens who have signed up for Trump and MAGA and who consume "conservative media." We have the Jay Thomas radio show coming out of Fargo. Can you imagine him coming down hard on Trump about anything? He's a very intelligent guy and he must know the absurdity of letting Trump rename the Kennedy Center for himself. But just like our elected folks, he is scared. 

I should be scared myself, as I have a lifetime ban from Facebook. I tried signing up for the service or "club" and had the door slammed on me with a terse message. I have not gotten an explanation so I am left to guess, speculate. Maybe it's my writing about the E. Jean Carroll case. Or, my writing about Israel vs. Palestinians. My sympathies with the latter. And because I have such skepticism about Israel, I could get labeled as "anti-Semitic" or even a "terrorist sympathizer." 

A ban from Facebook has all the effect of a legal sanction. Our City of Morris has used its "Facebook page" to post snow emergency announcements. I would have to explain to the city that I cannot get in. 

I actually shared my current travail with none other than Mike Lindell. Yes it would seem we are polar opposites but I find I like the guy with his basic deportment, his zest for life and even his smile. So I sent an email to him, care of his gubernatorial campaign. I didn't get a personal response from "Mike Pillow" but I did hear back from a campaign official. He was sympathetic and he talked about how free and unfettered expression is so important. I say "thank you."

Mike's predicament? He got "locked out" of his iCloud account. He did an extensive interview with WDAY Radio about this. 

I had a friend in college who told me about how when you get further toward the two political extremes - left and right - you find that the members of the two camps actually start having things in common. That thought has always stayed lodged in my head. So, I feel a little affinity with "Mike Pillow." It would be fun to meet him. 

I think Amy Klobuchar is rising to the top. A nice centrist realist. But as a Democrat she could never smoke the peace pipe with Trump. 

Back in 1972 when I visited and performed at the Kennedy Center, the controversy called Watergate was bubbling up. I probably walked right past some people whose names were emerging in the Watergate coverage. It was a complicated thicket of problems and corruption. In the end, Richard Nixon really did respect the rule of law. Whereas today, the MAGA folks are trying to overcome it. Will the American people let them succeed? And if they do, what sort of hell to pay is coming for all of us? 

Chief Dan George

"Hell is coming for breakfast." That's a line from "The Outlaw Josey Wales" spoken by "Chief Dan George." The Chief almost stole the movie! 

Let me say I cherish the memory of visiting the Kennedy Center in the long-ago summer of '72. I was awestruck getting to play my "ax" the trumpet in one of the concert stages. Opulence everywhere. Trump should not be allowed to touch the place, he would only wreck it. 

"JFK" was the real deal for American leadership. He was a bona fide war hero. His story was in the movie "P.T. 109" which I remember seeing at the Morris Theater. Cliff Robertson played JFK. JFK  insisted that the movie be historically accurate. Aw, that probably kept the movie from being a "blockbuster." Usually when Hollywood uses a real wartime event for a movie script, some liberties are taken with the facts for dramatic, sensational effect. But I laud JFK for the realism requirement and the movie was a moderate success. 

IMHO the movie was a character study with Kennedy, showing him before he was famous just doing his duty in WWII. We saw his character traits that would help lift him to leader of the free world. This includes modesty when it was called for. Always listening and learning from the people around him. Staying composed. 

I watched "P.T. 109" on YouTube in the last couple years (for free, "with ads"). 

Thank God the Trump name has come off the Kennedy Center as of early this morning (Saturday). At least I think the job has been completed. 

Can we complete the job of getting Trump removed from office? I lack confidence on that. I can only write my views. "Mongo just pawn in game of life."

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com 

CC provides needed moment of ecstacy

Superlative talent

We're in difficult times for people who simply want to report the truth. It should not be a heavy lift to do that. The truth about how the U.S. is operating on the world stage. Or, the truth about how the U.S. government is affecting its own citizens right here. Are there any other stages I should mention? 

I will counter this down note on this Wednesday morning with a note of true joy. I aspire to feel such even when storm clouds are out and about. And my joy was lifted with the Caitlin Clark heroics at the end vs. the Washington Mystics. A script of perfection as if it was a movie. No need to rely on Hollywood concocting something like in "Hoosiers." The "real deal" was Caitlin Clark making a long 3-pointer right at the end to give her Indiana Fever the win over the Mystics. 

The highlight video ought to induce joy at the highest level. Thanks to YouTube we can watch it repeatedly, endlessly. 

Clark is the epitome of someone operating "in the arena" with all the scrutiny that so often turns negative. Remember, we in America like to build up our heroes and then tear them down. Let's say we relish the revelations about a famous person showing their human failings. An equalizer? This principle was displayed in the Woody Allen movie "Zelig." It's an underrated film IMHO. 

Clark has not been the endless highlight reel as a pro, as she tended to be in college. At Iowa. I suspect she has the savvy to fully understand the reality of her changed surroundings. Yes the pros were bound to challenge her talents more strongly. She is no longer playing to overcome the guards of Northern Iowa or Drake. 

She has had injury misfortune probably because of her own failure of judgment at times. She should not have tried to "bulk up" for her second season in the pros. Not such a simple solution of course. Yes she was playing in a more rugged environment than before, but bulking up left her more injury-prone which left us bereft of the pleasure of watching her play. 

She has done a turnaround and decided to be light and fast. She isn't totally free of the injury distraction and this worries me. But she is in fact playing. She knows the challenges are more rigorous than what she ever had to deal with in college. Cheryl Reeve of our Lynx is bound to cook up a strategy with effectiveness vs. her, in all likelihood. A commentator the other day said of our coach Reeve that she night be "the best coach in all of basketball." There, see how far women's basketball has come? 

Reeve has our Lynx looking mighty good but what did you expect? And here I have to show humility and candor and admit that I can only name one Lynx player off the top of my head: Natasha Howard. I always have to smile at the name "Natasha" because it reminds me of the old "Rocky and Bullwinkle" cartoon show. I laughed when I read a movie critic criticizing the accent of an actor by saying that it reminded him/her of "Boris and Natasha" from "Rocky and Bullwinkle." 

I apologize for being behind on following our Lynx. It's just that I assert without any guilt or hesitation that CC is totally special, unique. Some will say that CC being a white girl is a reason. I'm not admitting to that, I'm just saying that some will assert this. On a subtle level this might actually be true: we are attracted to our own kind as a matter of reality, n'est-ce pas? 

If CC disappeared from Indiana and Kelsey Mitchell became the high-scoring star, would the Fever have anything close to this ebullient mass following? Well I guess it's a sad answer to this question: "No." 

I of course am anything but a racist. Nor am I homophobic. Yet I'm sad as I realize the preponderance of gays or lesbians in women's pro basketball. I find it distasteful but I try to understand. Be tolerant. That's more than you can say about a lot of churchgoers out here in rural Minnesota. Look how organized religion has been disrupted by "gay rights." And I have been sticking to my family's ELCA of the Lutheran faith which has alienated so many, so many who have quit and found their own refuge in places like Good Shepherd Church of Morris. These people will say they left their regular Lutheran churches because those churches were "not following the Bible." You can find quotes from the Bible to justify almost anything. 

I try to ignore the lesbian reputation of the WNBA and root for its continued growth. No one has done more for this than Caitlin Clark. As our nation tumbles under the recklessness and meanness of the president, we can find joy in the highlight reel stuff that Clark gives us. The ending of the Fever vs. Mystics game was a godsend in this way. It was absolutely classic Caitlin Clark. God bless that moment. Bless the sheer talent and charisma this girl possesses. 

We balance that with the anger we must feel about how the Trump forces will likely try to "J-6" the mid-term elections. And I do think this is likely to happen. There should be more judicial restraints and guardrails but those have fallen off. 

Can God even save us? Are the Good Shepherd people saying the appropriate prayers? Well obviously not. It's to the contrary. They want their orange god to prevail even more. I can try expressing caution but it surely seems to no avail, pilgrims. Heaven help us all? Well I certainly hope so. Let us root heartily for CC. And, for Kelsey Mitchell. And Aliyah Boston.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com 

Eyes to the south for sports challenges

Fans can raise a toast to southern Minnesota after the prep softball season. MACA fans know full well how tough the southern Minnesota teams can be. This happened in boys basketball: our high-achieving Tigers did not survive the challenge vs. Jackson County Central. A heartbreaking night for the orange and black faithful, to be sure. A spectacular season for the Tigers even if we fell short of the "big show" of state. 

And my, look what happened in softball. The spring sport with all its usual weather hurdles saw MACA produce lots of highlights. Oh but that's typical for the program coached by Mary Holmberg. The indefatigable Mary Holmberg: she's the same age as yours truly. Other age contemporaries are Jerry Witt and Lyle Rambow. 

The Witts have gotten invested in Alexandria Cardinals athletics now, to the extent people might need some reminding of the Morris background. That's how things go when one epoch of time gives way to the next. One of my traits is that I keep my arms wrapped around the past. Exciting things happened then that ought to stay fresh. Like the football Tigers under Witt making Prep Bowl and playing in the "Metrodome." 

Man, we might forget about the ol' Metrodome now. Ever more spectacular sports venues come along now. It's assumed that every big-time team in the Twin Cities has its own venue - we take it for granted. I remember the past time when it was considered a breakthrough to have the Metrodome on the drawing board as a shared-use facility for the Vikings, Gophers and Twins! And it seemed like an amazing and futuristic thing at first. 

The Metrodome with its Teflon roof! Like a miracle. Years earlier when the Houston Astrodome was unveiled, it seemed futuristic as all get-out and was called one of the "wonders of the world." Houston needed an escape from the oppressive summer heat (and mosquitoes). As for Minnesota, we all knew what we needed escape from. Ahem, in the winter for Vikings games. And we got the Super Bowl here during the Metrodome years. 

Toward the end of its lifespan, the once-cherished Metrodome got the curious reputation as a gathering place for overly-rowdy 20-somethings. The issue arose and was discussed in the Star Tribune. People who brought their families would leave a game early, it was reported. And I just don't know why this happened or how it has been overcome at present. Prices so high, you cannot justify so much foolish behavior? 

I am far from poverty-stricken but I would not consider attending a big league game in "Gotham" (the Twin Cities) now. I have read some of the prices for concessions - outrageous. I just follow the teams on my home Internet device. 

My reminiscing does not end with the Metrodome, heavens, as I made many trips to the old "Met Stadium."

 

High school softball

Well, Jackson County Central (JCC) had a heckuva softball season that included getting past our vaunted Tigers in the section tournament. In fact, the Tigers lost to two southern Minnesota teams on the same day in Marshall: JCC and Pipestone. Darn those southern Minnesota powerhouses. How about establishing a committee to research how we might overcome the forces from the south? 

But congrats to JCC which achieved third in state. Oh to see our Tigers in that position. 

In recent weeks I have reminisced about covering the Tigers in state with trips to St. Cloud and Mankato. And then it dawned on me: I also remember traveling to Fridley one year to cover the Tigers in state softball. I stayed overnight in a motel in fact. I remember an Ersted girl was on our team that year. Oh, and a Tate. 

The softball tournament of course coincided with the time of year for graduations. So hectic and exciting. Man, I covered everything for the Morris paper. It might all seem like a dream now. I walked out of the Sun Tribune building for the last time on June 2, 2006. So 20 years have now passed. Seems absolutely surreal. 

Bless Joel Beyer who I encountered at the county fair a couple years ago and said to me: "You look like you could still be doing it." It's in the realm of imagination only, Joel, but thanks for your thoughts. 

The end came under a real cloud for me. My sports work had come to be judged as 100 percent unacceptable. Maybe the explanation was that Forum Communications was experiencing pressures. They ended up leaving town most unceremoniously. 

You might think I'd be thankful having been completely relieved of work pressures over the last 20 years. Actually I would have loved continuing to do so many of the things I did, to share in the atmosphere of excitement and accomplishment for a high school graduation for example. It was my lifeblood in a way. But indeed, life goes on and we can't always get what we want. 

Online platforms have given me a means to feel somewhat connected. My family fund for UMM music enables me to feel connected to that place. Now we have to sweat through the summer of wondering what cuts might be coming for UMM. To repeat: one epoch of time gives way to the next. "Time waits for no one?" I guess that's true.

 

JCC 11, St. Cloud Cathedral 1

The game for third place in Class AA was shortened to five innings because of JCC's dominance over the Crusaders of St. Cloud Cathedral. JCC took care of business 11-1 to wrap up third. The Thursday success in Mankato left the Huskies' final record at 27-2. JCC broke the school record for wins in a season. 

JCC scored in every inning. The Huskies stole eight bases. And the pitcher? It was the well-known Hadley Wachal. She struck out eight batters and allowed just one hit and one unearned run.

The JCC Huskies, third in Minnesota AA!

  

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

State softball and a sense of history

The higher you go in the softball tournament, the more you're likely to see pitchers who are close to unhittable, or can seem that way. Jackson County Central is a high-climbing team. The school is quite a ways from our Morris and yet their athletes can get pretty familiar to us. The JCC Huskies defeated our Tigers in the section tournament at Marshall. Ouch: the loss was one of two that the Tigers were dealt that day. 

I feel sorry for the MACA fans who had to drive the considerable distance back home with the bitter taste of two losses. The section tournament is double-elimination. I always get nervous writing about double-elimination tournaments because of the potential (at least for me) of getting confused. 

My background as a community journalist includes making trips to the state softball tournament. In fact I covered the Tigers in the "olden times" when we played in state at St. Cloud. Mary Holmberg developed the program quite far in its earliest days. In fact she developed it to the max when other schools were just edging out of the starting gate if even that. I know our Supt. Fred Switzer was very excited and enthused about Mary's ambitions. He never forgot that either, as his name is among the donors for the "softball complex." His name is on a sign. I don't know if he ever visited the place or made his evaluation. Oh my: there's my setup for yours truly to again suggest negative things about the place. Really there's no need for me to go into "repeat mode" with that. 

Many of us were reminded of Fred and his role here recently - this was with his passing, RIP. He reached a ripe old age. I think the last time I saw him was at Barb Stevenson's funeral. We had very pleasant repartee that day at the funeral home. 

Fred was supt. for a very long time. I scanned his obit online yesterday. I was a little surprised that the community of Morris did not stand out more than it did. It came across as a mere blip really. I have seen a cemetery marker for the Switzers here in Morris. So he certainly built an attachment to this place. I was close in age to his son Steve and I also knew Rod well. 

I remember Fred as adviser to the MHS "Key Club" which was affiliated with Kiwanis. I believe Kiwanis has vanished from the scene in Morris. Like a lot of other things? Ahem. 

Mary Holmberg is still the softball coach of the Tigers - amazing longevity. And to stay so fired-up after so many years. Some teachers get jaded after a long time. 

The JCC "Huskies"

The Tigers of '26 may have been stopped by those Jackson County Central Huskies this time around. As well as by the Pipestone Arrows. 

The section tournament is so far away, reducing the convenience for MACA fans to attend of course. I will repeat that that is unfortunate. And our basketball fans had to go to Southwest State for what turned out to be the boys' final game. And we lost to? Well, it was those Huskies of Jackson County Central. I recall the starting time being at 8 p.m. 

Man I'd need some No-Doz for getting back home. Is that product still on the market? The Star Tribune editorial cartoonist Steve Sack had references to NoDoz in some of his panels. I don't see the Star Tribune anymore. I have completely migrated to online for news etc. The Star Tribune was once a part of my lifeblood. Oh, so was our local Morris Sun Tribune. It was actually my career until things got derailed in 2006. 

For the record, it has been exactly 20 years since I walked out the back door of the Sun Tribune for the last time. The paper is now called the Stevens County Times. It was such an abrupt change in my life. One day I'm in my standard routine for the paper, 100 percent. Then I walk out of the building and I'm totally finished. I had friends telling me "let it go." Easier said than done at the time. 

Each year at the end of May I'd get involved covering the area graduations including UMM. Plus I covered Memorial Day in its various facets. It was hard for me to internalize that "never again." Even now I am troubled. 

 

Joy of C-A 

I'm so thankful that I got invited to the reception for a Chokio-Alberta graduate - it allowed me to be present at the C-A graduation for the first time in 20 years. Man, 20 years seems like a long time. Do I really look 20 years older? I'm thankful my health is as good as it is. 

I gather that some people are concerned when they see me out for my long walks. Maybe I look older than I realize. Denial! My hair is white. Walking seems rather small potatoes for me. In the 1980s I ran the Twin Cities Marathon three times. 

Let me emphasize that I never really trained for a marathon. I did not consider it necessary to do so, because my belief (reinforced by some reading I did) was that you do not have to run very long distances in preparation. And for certain you do not run a marathon in order to try to get better for another marathon! IMHO and based on experience, just run some good hard 10Ks. Push yourself as hard as you can in those and you'll be as ready as you're ever going to be. 

I almost broke three hours in my first marathon in 1984. Interesting way to see a swath of the Twin Cities. I was a good runner considering my size. The sport is really for those who are "wispy." 

Hadley Wachal

Let's take a look at how Jackson County Central softball is progressing in this year's post-season. Hadley Wachal is the premier pitcher. Tuesday was the day of the state quarter-finals for the JCC Huskies. The opponent: DGF. Senior Wachal led her second-seeded squad to a 4-0 win over DGF at Caswell Park, North Mankato. I visited Caswell Park once for state softball when Holmberg's Tigers ascended that far. I remember our ace pitcher had the last name Giese. Sara Giese? 

In the category of remembering trivia, I remember that I had a pen in my shirt pocket that "exploded" and wrecked a very nice shirt! Small potatoes of course. 

Once I walked out of the Sun Tribune for the last time, my self-confidence was never going to be able to return to what it was. I was beaten down so bad. But let's all count our blessings. 

Our ace pitcher for this past spring, Haley Kill, was among the C-A grads who I witnessed getting their diplomas. Congrats to all, especially to Izabelle Motz who had the thoughtfulness to invite me. I also attended the graduation reception for MACA softball player Addison Cihak. The commitment for that?. All I had to do was walk next door! 

The online world means I can still make journalistic contributions. But it will never be the same as being on the go all the time. Thomas Wolfe once wrote "You can't go home again."

Mary Holmberg, MACA coach who has reached tremendous milestones. Fred Switzer was squarely behind her when she started Tiger softball. Are you a cat person? Not everyone is a cat person. Someone told me Mary attends church in a "six-point parish." It's a challenge finding a pastor these days.
  

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com 

Esau Nelson too much for our Tigers

Oh shoot, the end came too soon for our MACA baseball Tigers. Had a great season, the boys did. Won regularly. Some great individual performances. But in the end, Paynesville got the edge by one run to end it all. The score was 2-1 on Saturday as the green-themed Bulldogs prevailed. The site was Richter field in Granite Falls. 

The Tigers had three games total in post-season. We got past Minnewaska at the start 1-0, then got stopped by top seed Montevideo 6-3. Monte's Griffin Epema fanned 15 batters. A top seed is likely to have a stellar ace pitcher. Well, we had our own pretty high-caliber pitching. But we just came up short in the Saturday effort. 

Two losses means you're out in double-elimination, of course. Just like our MACA softball Tigers had to exit section with two losses experienced in one day. Softball had a familiar problem at the end: struggling against teams from southern Minnesota. I would like to see an analysis sometime of why this happens. 

The books are closed on baseball and softball for our '26 spring in Motown. Lots of great memories of course. 

Now let's enjoy the summer? Awfully wet yesterday (Sunday) and today. Another very wet summer unfolding? A sign of climate change? Our president says climate change is a "hoax." If I suggest anything negative about our president, I'll be on the receiving end of some worn-out lines: "You have Trump Derangement Syndrome," "You're a Trump hater." 

How do you feel about the Iran war? How do you feel about the new round of inflation that will surely be on the way? Are you willing to take it in stride as a gesture of supporting the president? People were already struggling to keep up with costs. 

Government largesse aggravates inflation. Here's a comment I saw to a Yahoo! News article this morning. Please read!

 

So far estimates put the cost of the war at 32B and counting. Oh yeah, no money for health care or to fix our infrastructure, but plenty of money to waste on BS.

11 hours ago · Live tracker of US spending on the Iran war (Operation Epic Fury). Currently $32.94B over 93 days since Feb 28, 2026. Phased model from CSIS, Pentagon, and Penn Wharton estimates.

 

We have a congressperson here in western Minnesota who I don't think has ever spoken a word of criticism about Trump. She has to be worried about getting primaried from the right. Look what happened to John  Cornyn in Texas. And now America's 250th birthday is going to be turned into a giant MAGA rally. This only happens because we allow it to. 

I have wondered for so long how a majority of Americans have lost their basic grasp of good common sense. Maybe it goes back to about 15 years ago when "gay rights" was suddenly such a flashpoint. Looking back, I think this caused something to "snap" in the minds of a lot of people. In their view, the issue was so fundamentally unpleasant, they gravitated to the political party that they felt was most positioned to resist this and other progressive things: the Republicans. 

I will again bring up the late Truman Carlson of Morris. So iconic and respected here. But something in him seemed to "snap." And I'm sure he'd favor Ken Paxton in Texas. Has an "R" next to his name. 

Carlson was a teacher and athletic director here in the days when Fred Switzer was superintendent. Switzer moved on to the next life recently. I remember when the Morris teachers hated the guy and had no hesitation about expressing this all over town. I found that to be an undesirable, dysfunctional situation. 

Even today our teachers act so aggrieved so much of the time, getting in our faces by coming to school board meetings and complaining about their lot in life. Teachers all over are complaining about their health insurance. The whole situation may be solved when "AI" simply replaces teachers. Oh how I'd like to see that. 

Teacher unions have been the bane of our existence. They'll be with us for the immediate future, so try to hold your nose.

 

Paynesville 2, Tigers 1

This was an "elimination game" in the 3AA affair. And it became a pitchers' duel. On the Paynesville side: Esau Nelson. For Motown: Alex Asmus. Nelson's complete game gem saw this Bulldog strike out 13 batters. Asmus did fine by the strikeout yardstick himself: 11 K's. 

 

Esau Nelson is committed to Southwest State University.

 

Heartbreak: the Tigers scored one run in the first and ran up against a brick wall after that. Our line score was one run, three hits and one error. And Paynesville's line was 2-6-0. A cleanly-fielded game. 

Paynesville's Nelson issued no walks. Asmus walked two batters and allowed six hits. 

Our three Tigers who hit safely were Riley Saito, Ozzy Jerome and Kye Suess. Saito stole a base. Jerome's hit was a double. 

Two Bulldogs each had two hits. Reed Johnson doubled as part of going two-for-three. Matthew Hemingson also had a double as one of his two hits. Two other Bullsogs hit safely: Brayden Vanderbeck and Eric Paulson. Vanderbeck's hit was a double. 

A loss at the end for MACA, yes. But look at our final W/L under coach Sayles: 16-8.

   

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Tigers fall to Monte but it's not over

School is done but high school sports certainly is not. We can say that softball is done for our MACA Tigers. Two losses in one day ended our Tigers' hopes to reach state play. That had to hurt. 

On the baseball front, the Tigers were stopped in Thursday play by Montevideo. End of the season? I might be at risk of assuming as much. Your average fan might be at risk. But you have to be aware of the double-elimination format that can emerge this time of year. It exists for some sports and not for others. I have always confessed that I can get confused by double-elimination tournaments. I'm being honest. 

Right now I can report, as I consult the "Minnesota Scores" site, that the Tigers remain very much alive in post-season. Yes we lost Thursday to Montevideo at Monte, 6-3, but look what lies ahead: a Saturday contest vs. Paynesville. We'll take on the green-clad Paynesville bulldogs at noon. The site: Richter Field in Granite Falls. Go Tigers! The team won its first post-season game on Tuesday, 1-0 over Minnewaska.

 

Montevideo 6, Tigers 3

Oh, here's the name "Griffin Epema" again. Hear that name and you think "Montevideo." With good reason, as Epema has the talent to shine with those Thunder Hawks like in this game versus our Tigers. Wow, Epema set down 15 Tiger batters on strikes. 

Monte owns the top seed in the North. MACA is No. 4. The T-Hawks move on to play Windom at noon Saturday. The site for that is Legion Field, Marshall. The Tigers' game vs. Paynesville is in the "elimination bracket." 

Griffin Epema

Monte won Thursday with a line score of six runs, seven hits and no errors. The MACA line score was 3-7-3. Epema's superb pitching was complemented by the homer bat of Isaac Albrecht. Albrecht brought cheers at the Monte diamond with his three-run round-tripper.

Monte relied on a big four-run third inning. MACA was held to one run until the sixth when their other two runs came in. 

MACA employed three pitchers on the day: Jack Kehoe, Parker Nohl and Ozzy Jerome. I got to see Ozzy get his diploma in Chokio on Sunday. Kehoe was our pitcher of record. Epema not only struck out 15 batters, he issued zero walks. He must be a top college prospect. Good luck to the young man. 

Kehoe struck out four batters in his three innings. Nohl and Jerome each fanned one batter. 

Alex Asmus

Kehoe at bat had a double and an RBI. Jonah Huebner went one-for-three. Jerome went two-for-three with a run scored and two RBIs. Alex Asmus socked a two-bagger. Riley Asmus had a double and a run scored. Riley Saito had a hit and scored a run. 

Monte's Albrecht had a two-for-two line including his big homer, plus he walked and stole a base. He drove in three runs and scored one. Ben Guglogson had a triple. 

It is sad that yours truly cannot continue writing about MACA softball.

 

Media notes

I'm delighted to share timely reports on MACA baseball and softball this time of year when frankly the local commercial media can show shortcomings IMHO. How is the newspaper doing with its website? I find it's a waste of time to even check that. The old "paper" version will (eventually) have a review of all games but how timely is this? 

I would guess that my own writing has advantages much of the time. And I do appreciate any and all who consume my writing, some of whom might "stumble upon it." Whatever it takes! It's here for the reading if you wish. And no paywall, glory hallelujah. Click, read and enjoy. 

Meanwhile I feel some fascination with what is going on with the Willmar newspaper. High school sports has long been a stock-in-trade of that paper. But they suddenly turned thumbs-down on MACA several years ago. Is this because they "fled" Morris after having owned our paper for a time? And they felt bitter? Certainly would be a valid theory. 

But in recent days a strange trend began showing itself from Willmar. They're paying some attention to MACA again or as they errantly call us, "Morris/CA." They don't listen to me - I have tried correcting this. I'd be the last person they would listen to. 

Speaking of "fleeing," that's what I did exactly 20 years ago when I walked out the back door of the Sun Trib for the last time. It was a stunning experience. I had to give up my health insurance. I "survived" for the next several years until I qualified for Medicare. Not an ideal way to live. 

I experienced a "toxic workplace" at the end of my Morris Sun Tribune days. Sue Dieter was not primarily to blame though she was certainly not an ally. The main problem was a different individual. And I figure that person may have gotten "marching orders" from higher up, because Forum Communications is known to have "hatchet men" in the system or hierarchy. They take care of business pretty decisively when they feel it has to be done. I was knowledgeable about this before the hammer came down on me. 

I should not have been surprised based on what all "went down" after the goalpost incident at UMM. My skeptics saw an opening for blood. I was no friend of the Morris public school teachers union. And as you ought to know, unions are all about power - it is their raison d'etre. 

As an isolated person with no one to advocate for me, I was finished. Special interest people with UMM wanted to protect the institution from any suggestion that the football team as a group was involved in the goalpost incident. But to this day I feel the team as a group was implicated. Not that I stated this as fact, because I could not have done that. Some might say it was implied. 

Someone eventually told me that the one person who was held internally responsible for the incident was the athletic director. But that former AD is today in the "UMM Hall of Fame." 

I had no force field protecting me. I was a free agent and I did appreciate the freedom of being a journalist. I was a Watergate era of journalist. I had those stripes. I hope you capture a little of my soul when you consume my writing. 

I'm delighted to follow MACA athletics and to get invited to 3-4 graduation receptions. I even attended a reception in Chokio on Sunday! I covered the old C-A Spartans for the newspaper over many years. This was when the graduation was in the Alberta building. I covered the graduations in Morris and Hancock and covered the Memorial Day program. And in the end, I believe my career got shut down because of one particularly damning letter to the editor from Mike Busian, this after the goalpost incident. 

Is it true that "Dr. Sam" didn't want to operate on anyone whose primary care physician was Busian? Dr. Sam was a lifesaver for both my mom and I. I would choose his judgment over Dr. Busian anytime. 

I shall continue here on the subject of the Willmar newspaper. This I'll do by sharing a portion of an email I sent to my Bonanza Valley friend Randy Olson on May 18. My comments are really about the WC Trib's website, if I need to make that distinction. Thanks and God bless for visiting my blog today.

 

This has been a strange spring for the West Central Tribune online. SOME Morris games are being covered there and when they are, it is with great detail like hit-by-pitch, stolen bases etc. for individuals. But other games are ignored. I can only guess what the system is now. I am sure they get complaints from parents who decide to "subscribe" and then find that a lot of games aren't covered. I wonder what they tell people. I really don't think about the Morris paper much anymore.

I blogged about being at UMM graduation and maybe you caught that. Remember that the chancellor change happened because the U president was insisting on cuts that Ericksen did not want to make. So I'm waiting now for word on what cuts are coming. I would not rule out a dramatic mission change for the place. Maybe we'll become more like NDSCS. Imholte would roll over in his grave. NDSCS really has its act together, I mean for staying viable. What else matters?

No vocal group of any kind for our graduation? Compare that to the past.

I constantly weigh whether I should take a break from blog writing. Might be good for my health. My posture isn't good when I "work" on my laptop. I'm a little concerned about "blue light" effect. I'll let you know if I decide anything. I'm already slowing down a little. My eyesight is badly strained.

I am a "marked man" for getting access to some online platforms. Don't put anything past Trump and MAGA. All my opinions these days are counter to those people. My best theory is that I have been quite critical of Israel and sympathetic to the Palestinians. I tried signing up for Facebook and was rejected on the "community standards" thing. But, I have never contributed any comments through Facebook. Mike Lindell complains how he has been "locked out" of his iCloud account. I tried sending an email to him and got a response from one of his top campaign guys who sympathized with me. I will never be able to escape my past writing. If I try posting a comment to a YouTube video, I am the only one who sees it, it does not get out there like in the past.

My God the wind has been terrible lately. Climate change I think. 

Good luck to the Jaguars.

- BW