Current Stories | March 29, 2012
Paving Trasportation | Cecilia Engeseth Reporting
As many people consider driving instead of flying for long trips, shorter commutes are a different story. More bikers are evading the gas prices and many communities are trying to accommodate them. For several years, he has ridden to work in a different way than the average Joe. For Joe Vacek, it is not only about being healthy and saving money. "I ride my bike to work every day because it is fun. I thoroughly enjoy it. Some people think I do it for the exercise, some people think I do it because it's good for the environment, but really my motivation is it's fun," says Vacek. With only one car in the family, he started biking to work every day, and he has stuck with it ever since. For bikers like Vacek it is also important that the trails have a certain standard. "They review what we already have, maybe look at some traffic patterns, what are the users doing. They also ask for public input, that's when they will make suggestions for new trail connections or new pieces of trail," says Kim Greendahl, City Planner. Greendahl says the only critique of the bike trails she has had is that the community wants more of them. And the city is not alone. With gas prices at $4 a gallon for one third of the US, more communities are pushing for bike trails. "Just looking at it roughly speaking, I think I probably save about 2,000 dollars a year, so the price of a good bicycle," says Vacek. The League of American Bicyclists say the last time gas prices were this high in 2008, bicycle ridership rose. As the number of people on bikes rises, so does the need for bike paths. "A great opportunity for people to get out and not only save money on gas but also get that much needed exercise, that time outside," says Greendahl. As the motorists drive to the pumps, the average Joe will pump it up with his pedals. The US Senate recently passed a long term transportation bill which bike advocates celebrated. It designates two percent of federal transportation funding to go toward bicycle and pedestrian programs, which includes city bike paths.
Spring Fever | Brittany Konop Reporting
For many farmers March still means winter. But with the mild temperature, spring fever is getting them in the field. Planting season usually begins about the third week in April but for this farm in northwest MN, it is already in full swing. "April 7th is the earliest we've ever started planting. We're a good 5 to 6 weeks ahead of schedule,” says Mike Bergeron, farmer. Spring wheat is the crop of choice and the weather plays a huge factor. Depending on temperatures and precipitation the wheat will emerge seven to ten days after planting. Then it will take anywhere from three to four months before it can be combined. Where some crops thrive in heat, that's not the story for wheat. "Wheat is a cool crop so it likes these types of temperatures and hopefully we'll get a better yield out of the wheat,” says Bergeron. But the risks may be high. Only once in the last century has the Midwest avoided frost between mid-March and mid-April. "Insurance that was our first question we had last week when we were tossing around the idea of going, of planting. We called up our insurance agent and he said there is an April 1st of planting date for spring wheat and that only cover residing costs,” says Bergeron. As long as the wheat plants make it, if anything else happens to the crop besides the frost of planting to early, they will still be covered. Bergeron says he is excited about starting early but has a bit of nervousness on his side. "It's a gamble but you usually can come out ahead if you can get in the ground earlier," says Bergeron. But he knows if you want to win big, you have to risk big. Bergeron says his company R and B Growers have a 12,000 dollar risk right now by starting early. But he says they have risked much more than that in the past.
Baseball Superstitions | Jimmy Gefroh Reporting
Baseball has a history of superstitions such as the curse of the Bambino, which allowed Boston Red Sox fans to believe they would never win a world series. But some players take superstitions on a more personal level. The game of baseball is a sport that it is rich in history and in superstition. Players believe that a certain ritual may help the way that they play. "I started chewing gum three years ago and now it's to a point if I don't chew gum, I feel like I'm not going to do well so, I've grown dependent on it," says Reid Jungling, baseball player. A study from Northwestern University says that to have a superstition in a game can lead to helping a player gain better control of his personal performance. Jungling is not the only player on his team to feel this way. "If I do well the day before, I try to repeat everything I did the day before like before the game like eat the same stuff, try to get the same amount of sleep, play the same video games," says Mark Bearmon, baseball player. It is almost impossible to determine how a player will perform or if these rituals help. But regardless of the outcome, many players swear by them. "A pregame routine when I pitch, I either drink a Starbucks Frappuccino or a Starbucks double shot," says Jeff Campbell, baseball player. Some habits are normal, while others can be bizarre. But when a win or a loss is at stake, players will do anything to keep their heads in the game. "Baseball is a really mental game, but you don't try to overthink because when you overthink, you overanalyze and you [make] mistakes that you wouldn't normally [make] if you were feeling comfortable," says Jungling. Whether it's a silly rule from the past or a unique guideline created by a player, rituals are a staple in the game. The curse of the billy goat superstition still lives for Chicago Cubs fans. It began when a fan’s pet goat ran onto the field during a World Series game back in 1945. Now some fans claim because of that, the Chicago Cubs wouldn't play in a World Series game ever again, and they haven't.
Preserving Pastimes | Dag Amdam Reporting
People find them fascinating, intriguing and sometimes even beautiful. At the same time they have a reputation of being an expensive form of entertainment. We’ve met a man who has devoted the last 20 years of his life to fixing a piece of history. It has a reputation of stealing our pennies, nickels and dimes, the slot machines haven't always been able to keep their friends over the years. Even so, people line up to form new friendships. Skip Larson felt sorry for the cast iron slots of yesterday. He opened them up and kept them spinning. “This is a nickel machine, this has been completely restored,” says Skip Larson, Antique Slot Machine Collector. Even though he seldom hears the never to familiar sound of rain, the friendship between the fixer and the one armed bandit is evident. "Everybody's been to Las Vegas or have heard about and what's goes on there and seen one and wanted one," says Larson. This handyman didn't only want one little bandit friend. Today Larson owns more than 70 antique slot machines. "It is fun to have them in your home, because if you have a party it is kind of a little masterpiece, they'll get over there and play," says Jill Schmieg. When not hosting parties the couple travels from Chicago to Las Vegas in search of new slot machines. "I understand, everybody collects something," says Larson. And as long as the friendship with the old one armed bandit is there, Larson will make sure his reels will keep on spinning. It is legal to sell one antique slot machine a year without having a federal license. Larson told us many of the slot machines he sells make their way to the Netherlands. He says there is a big market for collectors.
Conjoining Genres | Caitlin Mullally Reporting Most people compartmentalize music. We talked to a musician who likes a mixture of sounds. The beating of the drum fills the air as skilled fingers strum out one of Bach's creations. It is a blend of sounds like no other, and for Cellist Dawn Avery it is the combination of her musical training and heritage. "To have those two worlds together is like having the best of two worlds," says Dawn Avery, Cellist. Avery is a professionally trained Cellist who has toured worldwide. It was during her travels that she was inspired to learn the music of her people. "After about ten years of touring I started studying and going back to my people to learn my own music," says Avery. She began integrating the sounds of her Mohawk heritage into classical songs. The cross pollination of genres created an outlet for expressing two cultures. "There is something about how they can grow together, because if you're cross pollinating you're going to grow together and creating something new and that can be very beautiful," says Avery. Avery's performance was part of a series at the ND Museum of Art dedicated to the combination of musical sounds. "Cross pollination is you know the bees do it, the flowers do it, it's when you bring one tradition into another and they change both," says Laurel Reuter, Museum Director. Avery says the change isn't about taking away from either sound. "I really feel like they don't have to merge and be perfectly together because that might be forcing something. But they really can coexist of themselves," says Avery. A combination of sound and tradition. A blend of new and old. Dawn Avery's music represents the perfect balance between two worlds. She started playing the Cello at the late age of 17. During her career she has worked with many musicians including Sting. She's also received a Grammy nomination.
Fiery Forces | Kellen Peters Reporting
Many people are taking advantage of the nice weather and performing outdoor activities. But, there is a different risk. In the spring, people are normally concerned with flooding. But this year, it’s fire that could cause problems. With little snow cover, things have been drying out rapidly. Burn bans are placed in order to prevent fires from breaking out. “Somebody will report their neighbors burning some things and we’ll go out and investigate and if they are and they are violating the burning ban they will be cited into court,” says Sheriff Rost. This year burn bans have been issued across North Dakota and Northern Minnesota. This is about a month earlier than normal, and Sheriff Rost says the bans could last longer than usual. “You know we didn’t get much snow the snow cover is gone and we have had very little precipitation since then,” says Rost. Wind is also a huge factor in issuing burn bans. Wind dries out the environment faster and can spread fires swiftly. With these factors, the tiniest spark can start an outbreak. “When somebody flicks a cigarette out the window, railroad cars go down the line and sparks come off the wheel and ignite,” says Rost. News media and forest signs will inform the public when bans are in place. Sheriff Rost says people should also help keep watch. “People just need to be alert. If there is a ban out and they see a fire let us know, so we can take action," says Rost. Personal responsibility and prevention is the best action against fires. Sheriff Rost says there are no exceptions.
