Hardwick kids should set up lemonade stands during detour
We've all heard the old adage, "There are two seasons in Minnesota - winter and road construction." That point is hitting painfully close to home for local businesses who rely on a third Minnesota season: tourism season.
It was an interesting meeting Monday when more than 60 Highway 75 business owners met face to face with the people responsible (indirectly) for making their summer a living nightmare.
I wasn't sure who to feel sorrier for - the merchants whose businesses would be affected by road work, or the state guys and contractors who were about to be lynched.
I got the impression most state highway projects didn't proceed in this fashion. I believe the typical chain of communication comes from the top down: the state decides when and how the work will be done and everyone else obliges.
It's not happening that way this time.
To their credit, local business owners organized and directed their collected voices to the powers that be.
To the credit of the powers that be, they listened. It was great drama, and it was great to see the "Big Bad Government," obliging to the wishes of little ol' Luverne.
MNDOT goofed on early communication efforts, and its staff is sincerely trying to make up for it by bending work schedules around heavy tourism traffic. That counts for something.
The good news in all this is that crappy stretch of road will be fixed when it's all over.
The other good news is tourism season and road construction season will be great for Hardwick
For at least two weeks, business owners there will capture all of Highway 75's detoured traffic from both directions.
If I were an entrepreneurial kid in that town, I'd put my lemonade stand right by the stop sign and offer a "Detour Special."
The Hardwick businesses might be wise to do the same.
It's easier to read the news than to be the news
I'm sorry to report that our Man on the Street has died. He appeared on our opinion page for several weeks and reader response was fabulous. Everyone LOVED it. Who wouldn't love to read about local people's opinions on sensitive topics?
The trouble is, everyone loves to read it, but very few will agree to have their picture published next to their printed thoughts on a subject.
The reason Man on the Street existed at all was due entirely to the enthusiasm of our latest advertising hire, Chantel Connell.
When she started several months ago, she wanted to know why we didn't run an opinion poll in our paper. She even volunteered to take the photos and ask the questions if we provided her with weekly questions.
We agreed, figuring someone with sales skills could coerce participation better than news people could.
The arrangement worked well for a few months, but she eventually ran out of willing participants to poll, and we eventually decided she was spending more time selling the Man on the Street poll than she was selling advertising.
Thanks to all who participated. Man on the Street has been officially laid to rest - until the next enthusiastic sales person wants to resurrect him.