November 17, 1998 - After more than twenty years, the public face of Menards is going off the air ... for a while at least. The septugenarian Ray Szmanda (zih-MAN-duh) is known for his grey hair, his glasses, his crooked smile, and his LOUD delivery. Back in the 1970s, Menards was looking for another Pat Summerall, and picked the broadcast veteran as its pitchman. Since then, he's done an estimated 35-hundred spots seen tens of thousands of times in nine states. Szmanda, who lives in rural Wisconsin, is taking at least six-months off for health reasons. He's mystified by all the attention, which he says has really taken off in the last five years or so.
November 17, 1998 - It's been nearly six months since a tornado destroyed the town of Spencer, South Dakota. Before the storm Spencer was a town struggling for survival. Now some say the outlook is completely different. New construction will rebuild the town's basics... a watertower, apartments and a community center. There's hope that longtime residents will return and new families will find the town. Spencer residents are hopeful but skeptical. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports: Spencer. a town settled before the turn of the century looks like a new housing development. Three days after a blizzard every street is plowed to reveal a 14 square block area. The streets are clear...
November 17, 1998 - Minnesota farmers faced with their worst financial outlook in a decade received some good news the past month. Congress approved emergency federal aid for agriculture and farmers finished harvesting a record corn and soybean crop. The extra dollars from the government and the extra bushels in the bins helps improve the economic outlook but falls far short of returning profit to agriculture for most farmers. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: Driving through southwest Minnesota on a cloudy fall day it's easy to spot a new color brightening the autumn landscape. Look for a grain elevator, then next to it, a splash of gold, glowing like neo
November 17, 1998 - The University of Minnesota and the federal government have reached a thirty-two million dollar settlement of a lawsuit over the organ transplant drug ALG. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo report.
November 17, 1998 - Some well-known political figures signed up as volunteer advisers to Governor-elect Jesse Ventura today (TUES). The eight-person advisory committee includes outgoing Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson, Republican state representative Charlie Weaver and former Congressman Tim Penny. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has this report on Ventura's growing circle of advisers -- and their role in the future administration. Jesse Ventura's new advisers come from a variety of political backgrounds, but as far as the Governor-elect is concerned, they have a common pragmatic approach to politics: ((VENTURA: committee members were chosen for their independent thinking, and their ability to work in a non-partisan manner.))
November 17, 1998 - MPR’s Dan Olson reports on how some Minnesota farmers are putting a few extra dollars in their pocket by selling what they usually plow under. A St. Peter company is making building materials as strong as wood from the straw left after farmers harvest soybeans and wheat.
November 18, 1998 - As part of the Our State, Our Forests series, a Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from MPR studios in Duluth, highlighting the Minnesota Northwoods. In this hour, MPR’s Rachel Reabe presents stories by reporters Leif Enger and Mary Losure which portray the timber industry past and present and describe its impact on the environment and economy of Northern Minnesota.
November 18, 1998 - As part of the Our State, Our Forests series, a Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from MPR studios in Duluth, highlighting the Minnesota Northwoods. Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion/debate on forestry in Minnesota with Jim Sanders, forest supervisor for the Superior National Forest; Betsy Daub, forest program director for the Minnesota office of the National Audubon Society; and Wayne Brandt, executive vice-president for Forest Industries.
November 18, 1998 - As Ventura prepares to take office, he is sure to remember the political experts and lobbyists who gave him little respect before the election. Now some of those same people are flocking to his office asking for jobs. Morning Show humorist Dale Connelly imagined how those ‘career politicians’ are feeling about now with the song creation "Governor Body"...(with apologies to Leonard Bernstein and his "Officer Krupky" from West Side Story).
November 18, 1998 - The interim chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is getting a big raise and some added job security. The MnSCU board voted today (Wednesday) to offer a new contract to Morrie Anderson, who's served as chancellor for 15 months. MnSCU officials hope the move pays off in the legislature as they seek a big funding increase. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... Morrie Anderson took over as head of the newly merged system of state universities, technical colleges and community colleges in July 1997. He replaced Judith Eaton, who resigned after getting on the wrong side of many legislators. Anderson served as Governor Carlson's chief of staff, and his state capitol know-how, helped repair a lot of the damage. Mn