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Wiener dog races to add to the excitement of Hot Dog NightThe 2004 Hog Dog Night in Luverne will be particularly exciting this year with the addition of the first annual wiener dog races.Anyone who has a dachshund (wiener dog) is eligible to enter the contest. Chamber director Dave Smith is certain the competition will be fierce and encourages all wiener dog owners to start the grueling training process now.The 42nd annual Hot Dog Night will be Thursday, July 8, this year.The races will start at 7 p.m. Of course, the wiener dog races won’t be the only highlight of the evening.Along with gorging yourself on free hot dogs, other activities will include:
A Tae Kwan Do demonstration; a program by the Stoplight Dancers; and Koch’s mini-train free rides to all the kids.
A Christian music group will also perform in front of the Brandenburg Gallery.
At the Hinkly House, the 4-H clubs will have their annual dress review, along with other entertainment.If you would like more information, contact the Luverne Chamber of Commerce.Would you consider wife swapping?The ABC network would like to make a TV show about it.A new reality show is looking for two two-parent families to participate in the show.Under the concept, the mothers from the two families would change places.During the first five days, the moms try to fit into the routine and adopt the lifestyle of their new family, giving all a chance to become familiar with each other.For the second five days, the new moms make any changes they see fit and run the home in a way that suits them."Wife Swap" will document all the details: how the couples share, or don’t share, the housework and child-rearing responsibilities, how they spend money, and how they spend their leisure time.Are you interested in being one of those families?If so, you can contact the show’s producers at 212-905-6059 or email them at theswap@rdfmedia.com .For more information you can check out their Web site at www.theswaptvshow.com.Time to start watching out for motorcyclesAs the fresh air and sunshine start to lure motorcycle riders out in increasing numbers, the number of cycle fatalities has been on the rise.According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, 55 Minnesotans died in motorcycle crashes in 2003.That is the largest number of cycle deaths in 16 years.According to Kathy Swanson, director of the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, the increase in Minnesota is also a national trend.According to Swanson, although most riders believe other drivers are the greatest threat to their safety, more than half of the motorcycle deaths in 2003 were due to single vehicle crashes.Speed, inexperience, inattention and alcohol impairment are the most common contributing factors in motorcycle crashes.When cars are involved, the biggest problem is the car drivers not seeing the cyclists.Although half of Minnesota cyclists live in the metro area, nearly 60 percent of the deaths occur in greater Minnesota.Riders most likely to be involved in accidents are ages 20 to 29 and 40 to 49.From 1998 to 2002, 86 percent of the rider fatalities were men. But in 2003, 10 women (almost 20 percent), died in motorcycle crashes. Seven of these women were passengers on the motorcycle.If you would like to know more about motorcycle safety, check out www.motorcyclesafety.state.mn.us or phone 800-407-6677.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com