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Holiday Safety Tips For Men Only<BR><BR>If you're going to cut your own Christmas tree this year, use a handsaw. Do not use a hatchet. If you must use a hatchet or an axe, first make sure the axe head is attached firmly to the handle. And just in case things still go wrong, always bring a shovel to bury the dog. <BR><BR>Do not stand four feet away from the tree and throw tinsel icicles at the branches. I know, it's fun. But it angers and annoys the person who makes the food. <BR><BR>When placing a star at the top of the Christmas tree it is better to use a 6-foot stepladder than to use a child bracing against a stirrup you've made from your hands.

What happens when you put 22 children and an equal number of adults in a confined room with enough sugar products to create a week-long sugar high?<BR><BR>Actually, what you get are some very creative Christmas houses.<BR><BR>Making a change this year with its annual gingerbread workshop, committee members of Ely Greenstone Public Art switched to graham cracker creations and the innovation by artists young and old was amazing.<BR><BR>There were two story Frank Lloyd Wright designs, tasteful courtyards and traditional structures brought forth by the artists.<BR><BR>Decorating the buildings was a huge selection of pretzels, cereals, nuts, cookies, candy canes and more varieties of other candies found in more stores than was probably necessary.<BR><BR>Attendees also could make take-home ornaments for their refrigerators and trees with a variety of art and craft supplies.<BR><BR>A special project was the one where e

Holy Cow! Bust out the beach attire and Mai Tai's. Other than being kinda chilly on Saturday morning, it has been downright balmy for the first few days of hunting. Combine that with the lack of snow and you are presented with some very tough hunting conditions. <BR><BR>Yours truly was lucky enough to get a nice doe on Sunday, but that was it for our crew for the weekend. Other reports that I've gotten have been much the same. <BR><BR>For the first time in some time, I had a hard time figuring out how I should dress for the day. It was just cool enough in the early morning to warrant the heavy coat and pants, but as the day wore on, it got to be too much. If you planned on taking a walk, blaze orange body paint was an option. <BR><BR>In any event, the days spent in the woods were still enjoyable, as they always are.

Truly, we are privileged. Ely is what so many Americans dream of finding - the comfort of a small town.<BR><BR>No, it's not a place where great fortunes are or should be made. It's not even a place where the weather is perfect every day.<BR><BR>But it is a place where you can go to chat with your banker about business matters, find you've locked your keys in your car, get an immediate ride from friends to pick up your spare set and be on your way with very little time lost. <BR><BR>Does anyone lose time in a small town? Maybe at work, but not when you're out and about. When you're out at the Post Office or shopping in a store, it's socializing time. You're seeing people you might not normally see and there are always friendships to be renewed and pleasured with news of the family.<BR><BR>If you're new to town the time to build those friendships is now.

TALK ABOUT REUNIONS!....Here's a dandy! <BR><BR>When Terry Jackson, manager of the Ely tertiary plant, entered the U.S. Navy in 1965, little did he know he would develop a lifelong friendship with a German Navy man in Bremerhaven, Germany. It took 37 years for this reunion to happen, but it is happening right now.<BR><BR>Terry met Richard Stokowski at a German guesthouse (bar) sampling some good German beer. Just two lonely sailors looking for company. They struck up a conversation of sorts, because of language barriers, but managed to communicate with hand signals, drawing pictures and the help of the bar owner who spoke some English. They got along so well, they made plans to meet the next night and many nights after that. Richard was also helpful in finding housing for Terry and Anne, who arrived three weeks after Terry.<BR><BR>This bond of friendship continued all during Terry's tour of duty in Germany.

Take two longtime rivals and put a conference championship and home-field advantage in the playoffs as the stakes and you're bound to get some intensity.<BR><BR>And probably an excellent football game too.<BR><BR>That's what most fans who go to Virginia's Ewens Stadium will probably expect Thursday, when Vermilion and Mesabi square off in a contest that will very likely determine the Northern Division champion.<BR><BR>A forfeit allowed the Ironmen to overcome a home loss to the Norsemen a year ago and still claim a division title.<BR><BR>But unless Northland were to upset Mesabi on Thursday - in a game completed after the Echo's deadline - the Ironmen will need to win this year's showdown in order to secure the division title and get a home playoff game on Nov.

THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO CELEBRATE Octoberfest than in October, right? There's quite a few people who agree with that idea and they know how to do it. Of course, I've always thought Octoberfest was strictly a German ritual, and that is correct, but when you have Octoberfest in Ely, it's done Octoberfest Slovenian style. This was Ely's second year and it looks like it will become an annual event.<BR><BR>The instigators of this celebration are Jeanie Mantel Stueland and her husband Carl of Minneapolis, who have a summer place on White Iron Lake. Dr. Frank Udovich volunteers his home because you need a large place to accommodate 100+ guests.<BR><BR>Jeanie is very proud of her Slovenian heritage (she was the one wearing a tee shirt with the words "I'm 100% Slovenian") in case you didn't know or might have forgotten.

Senate Bill 3930<BR><BR>While you were sleeping, the United States Senate quietly repealed the Constitution of the United States. <BR><BR>"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States." That is the beginning of the oath of office required from each incoming U.S. senator and the president, before they are allowed to represent their country and their constituents. <BR><BR>But on Thursday, September 28, sixty-five U.S. senators violated their oath of office when they cast an "Aye" vote for Senate Bill 3930. The bill has now been signed into law by GW Bush. The new law violates the United States Constitution in a number of ways:<BR><BR>&#149; It revokes habeas corpus (the right to a trial).

A few weeks ago I shared with you my recipe for fried, cheddar-cheese toquitos - a delicious and nutritious snack that even the most pantry-challenged husband can prepare for himself and his family - or maybe just himself - at halftime or between innings.<BR><BR>The response to that recipe was impressive. Six readers e-mailed to thank me for introducing them to this tasty treat. Four more had suggestions on how to jazz up the original recipe with chives and ham and cilantro and celery. Two wrote in accusing me of creating an evil witch's brew . . . and then asked if I'd like to attend their regular incantation and potluck next Thursday evening. (Sheesh!) <BR><BR>But my favorite was from a sports fan who said he throws a hot dog in the center of the bubbling mixture just before he begins to turn it. Oh. My. Gawd . . .

Sports fans in Minnesota haven't had it this good in quite a while.<BR><BR>Barring a collapse that would be even more stunning than their meteoric rise from a sub-.500 April and May, the Minnesota Twins will wrap up a playoff berth sometime this week.<BR><BR>And to top it off, the Minnesota Vikings are a surprising 2-0 after narrow wins over a pair of preseason NFC contenders - Carolina and Washington - and are gearing up for a Metrodome showdown tomorrow against the defending division champion Chicago Bears.<BR><BR>Three months ago, these scenarios seemed implausible, if not impossible, given the Twins terrible start and a boatload of doubts about the Vikes, including the trade of quarterback Daunte Culpepper and the brand-new coaching staff headed by Brad Childress.<BR><BR>But fortunes change quickly in the world of professional sports and Minnesota fans should enjoy it while it lasts.<BR><BR>A run to the World Serie