Some would call this networking

Palm Sunday

'Tis the time of year for meals that are open to the public. I have to be careful because my diet is restricted. The meals are a good opportunity for social interaction. We missed out on so much of that during covid. 

The two ELCA churches of Morris have public meals today (Sunday, Palm Sunday). There's an "egg bake" at First Lutheran and a pancake breakfast at the church "across the tracks," Faith Lutheran. 

Yesterday at the Federated Church public event I was able to take in some pretty major news about the Morris ELCA churches. There has been talk for a long time of "pairing." But Whoa Nellie, the "hot" news now is not about a pairing of First and Faith Lutherans! No, it is the pairing of First and Federated! And now based on pretty unimpeachable sources that I have, it is official. 

I got home from Federated yesterday and wrote a "hot off the press" so to speak blog post in reaction. The post is on my companion blog "Morris of Course." So if you want to get in the weeds some with religion, here is the link to my post:

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2025/04/wow-first-luth-federated-to-totally.html 

 

I am refreshed at the moment having just gotten home from my Sunday morning breakfast at Caribou Coffee at Willie's. It's a highlight of the week to meet with some of the Sunday a.m. "regulars." These are mainly the Apostolic Christian men. I crossed the parking lot and met up with someone who reminded me there was a high school softball tournament here yesterday. It was an invite that ought to be a showcase for our still-new "softball complex." 

The softball complex

Fans would be coming here from elsewhere for our invite. So how would these people react to the fan seating situation at the complex? You must know that such accommodations are minimal. "Minimal" might be generous. My friend in the parking lot agreed that there was an issue with this. He said "they'll have to do something about that." Well (expletive) shouldn't the place have been designed smarter in the first place? Or am I just talking too much sense? Trying to talk sense in this town can be a little hazardous. 

"Do something" about fan seating? I responded that any changes to the place would be difficult to accomplish. You have the long dugouts and high fences. The aluminum bleachers behind home plate at Holmberg Field are only good if you sit at the exact center, otherwise you don't get a view of the whole playing field. 

Of course I scouted out the whole place before a game was ever played there. I have a trait of wanting to know what's going on and whether there is accountability with our local government entities. 

The city rankled some people, I'm sure, when it said "no" to the second request for a money infusion from the City of Morris. I think the city took the attitude that "you should appreciate we gave the first time." 

The complex was a "partnership" with more than one entity involved. And the end product was so underwhelming. And I'm sure the ground was wet out there on Saturday. I'd advise not wearing good shoes out there. Look how the price of shoes has been soaring upward. 

The softball complex is on low elevation ground close to the river. A river is always the low point in any given region. 

 

How did Tigers do?

I just checked the "Minnesota Scores" website to see if any scores are reported from yesterday's games. I only see a list of participating teams, no scores. I mostly expected this because early-spring sports are a downer in so many ways. Many games postponed or canceled. Mother Nature isn't ready. Each year this grates on me: the "letdown" from winter sports with its "March Madness," to the spring sports amidst unsettled weather and sparse fan turnout. 

Fans should know they should bring their own chairs for softball out there. I see them very often sitting out by the outfield fence. Is that where they really want to be? Baseball in Morris has the advantage of a full grandstand at Chizek Field. Girls ought to get the same assets. 

There was much ballyhoo at the time the softball complex was first announced. Of course these people get the media to turn out and really turn on the promo. That's what our Morris commercial media does so much now: turn on the promo and happy talk for so many things. Oh, "junior council member" with the city council! And there's a photo that includes a smiling Kevin Wohlers. 

Hell's bells, when it comes to city government I don't want to see "fluff" like this - insert expletive - I want more understanding of this catastrophic matter of our public library. The public library of all things! Should be a subject that suggests total peace. And there has been such a horrible dearth of information for the public. So, you can't blame people for guessing or let's be more frank, gossiping. 

So, what did I hear at Caribou this morning with my Apostolic friends (plus one or two non-Apostolics)? Well I heard the whole library matter boiled down to "two women who don't get along." Yes it's an example of misogyny. But such talk does circulate. I won't sanitize it. 

Morris library

I heard from two well-placed sources over the weekend that the library matter is not yet resolved. And we get no official word about it. The city council has had to be protected by sheriff's deputies as they consult in private! Three Barney Fifes present for the second of these meetings, I'm told. 

Three! The crowds were turning out to support the librarian who I think we can say is under siege. Such a likeable person. Family has been well-known here for a long time. She builds bonds with the all-important UMM in Morris. Should any of this matter? Frankly I think no. 

The city manager is not nearly so well-known. I refuse to be biased against her. People can get hurt by narrow biases, by networks of friendships that are based on little more than personal affinity. 

I have little solid info to go on now. Is it true the city has hired its own outside attorney? And I assume as fact that the librarian has her own attorney. All these billable hours for attorneys! And over what? My friend at Federated Church told me yesterday the whole matter boils down to an apparent discrepancy of $15. I cannot believe that. 

Furthermore, if you hire an attorney to try to keep your job, your employer is not going to appreciate that. If the librarian survives it would be because of the massive wave of vocal support she has gotten. But she would have to co-exist with the city manager, n'est-ce pas? 

Really can't this whole matter just be resolved? Maybe UMM could find a position for the librarian if she moves on. Of course this would not be proper if it was just done to bail her out. But I have seen this kind of thing done before. The state always has money to throw around. Oh but we're thankful for that in Morris. 

 

UMN-Morris travail

Now I wonder if UMM could literally be snuffed out by the heavy hand of the Federal government. The heavy hand would come down at the Twin Cities which would then direct that UMM suspend operations until "DEI" is completely eradicated here. Haven't you seen the headlines about other colleges? The spigot of Federal grant $ being turned off? Because of DEI? 

It is Palm Sunday as I write the first draft of this. Religion should maybe cheer us up. But not at Easter with its images of Christ being literally tortured to death. I'll be happy to resume normal worship after Easter. In the meantime, a chocolate bunny would be nice.

 

Update: I'm clicking to publish this post after getting back from church at FLC. My head is swimming because some important people there tell me that it is NOT a done deal with the permanent paring of First Luth. and Federated. And yet I heard to the contrary yesterday from more than one person. Perhaps this "networking" by going to public meals in the spring just is not prudent. Maybe I should spend time flying kites instead. I personally am not going to rule out the permanent partnership story. So I'm going with it in today's post. 

 

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