In the necessary effort to raise revenue, the Crow Wing County Fair Board has proceeded to allow the sale of beer at the 2011 fair.
The Oak Lawn Township Board of Supervisors will address this issue at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the Town Hall just east of the former state hospital on Highway 18. Approval by the Township Board is necessary in order to have this beer garden.
Your input is encouraged regarding the sale of beer at such a family oriented event. It is very important you attend this meeting and voice your opinion.
Mary Lou Cody
Lorna Hensch
MADD Crow Wing County
A thank you to Brainerd police
I would like to direct this letter to the men and women of the Brainerd Police Department. I would like to start by saying thank you. Thank you for doing a job that all too often is not appreciated. A vital job that is overlooked or dismissed until someone needs you. A job where politicians praise you in public, while trying to eliminate you behind closed doors. A job where people are happy to know you are around, unless that around places you behind them while they are driving. I would like to thank you for choosing to be a protector and servant of the public while having to put up with all the garbage that goes along with that choice.
I would also like to apologize for personally contributing to the garbage that you have had to put with. For years I have had numerous run-ins with the Brainerd Police Department. You were just doing your job, but I was never able to see it that way. Then on Oct. 29, 2010, I made a crank phone call to your office. Of all the issues that we have had through the years this one left me feeling wrong. My phone call was an unwarranted personal attack on your dispatcher and on your officers. I said things that were crude, cruel and completely uncalled for. You did nothing to deserve my comments and I wish that I could take them all back. It is for that reason that I have chosen to make a public apology for my actions, and to sign my name to that apology, so that everyone will know what I did. I am sorry, and I hope that this will be the last run in that we have.
Jason N. Thompson
Baxter
Comments (52)
Add commentGood letter Jason. I hope
Good letter Jason. I hope this step leads you down the right path.
Letter
Good letter Jason. I hope it came from your good conscience and not because you were ordered to write it.
Beer at the fair.
When the subject came up my first thought was, "Who cares? If you don't want to drink beer, don't buy it." Then I remembered last summer when we were at the county fair in St. Peter, MN. It was a Saturday evening, 7:00 p.m. or so, and as we were coming out of a building, there was a guy peeing on the side of the building. Plastic beer glass in one hand and doing his business with the other. I guess the bathrooms were just too far away. Oh wait, there was one about 50 feet from him. So NO. We do not need beer and all the behaviors that come with it at the fair. Find another way to raise some revenue.
St Peter
You can't compare Brainerd with St Peter. People there behave like that even when they are not drinking.
BEER GARDEN
A icy cold beer might just be the answer for some folks on a hot day at the fair. As an exhibitor at a number of county fairs in our area, the Beer Garden is an active social place for alot of folks. I have yet to see problems arise from the libation stations at other venues. They are generally confined to a certain contained area with the adult beverage not allowed out of its perimeter. Some sell you a couple tickets and limit the imbiber to a couple of beers. Itasca County Fair operates a nice area with some type of free snack (peanuts or popcorn) available. Others have food booths in them or near by. I don't think people go to the fair to get loaded. A properly supervised area could serve both as a "socializing waterhole" AND a money-maker. I think it would be a welcome idea to at least try it out for a year to see its results. At least be open-minded enough to give it a whirl. I usually see a few law enforcement officers strolling the grounds to keep any problems that may arise to a minimum. Enjoy a coldie at the CWCF in 2011.
Give it a try
I agree Uncle Fester.
fair & beer
they need to raise funds to keep it going,sell some beer-good grief! maybe even some pull tabs too-support the fairboard for trying something new.
Beer Garden positive for community
With over 130 members, the Brainerd Jaycees is one of the top chapters in the state of Minnesota. We have a strong tradition of excellence in Brainerd developing leaders and supporting our community. Each year the Brainerd Jaycees donate over $200,000 to local charities and donate over 75,000 people hours to our community.
The Brainerd Jaycees were established in February 1939 and since that time numerous local, district, regional and state leaders have called Brainerd their home chapter.
All this aside, we are certified in Training for Intervention Procedures(TIPS). We are only looking to further our contributions to this community by keeping the fair a family-friendly, free event. The beer garden that we are proposing will be in one enclosed area which will be monitored by our well trained volunteers. Nobody will be allowed to exit the beer garden with any beverage in their hands.
Our program of work includes:
$150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza
Street Fest on 7th
Run For The Lakes Marathon
Big Bill’$ Little Rubber Duckie Race to benefit youth sports
BIR Beer Sales
Distinguished Service Awards Banquet
4th of July Corn-feed
Adopt-a-Highway
Youth Sports Programs:
Punt Pass & Kick
Pitch Hit & Run
Supporters of:
Confidence Learning Center
Junior Achievement
Kinship Partners
Relay For Life
And many more
Angie Nelson
Public Relations VP and proud mother of two.
Brainerd Jaycees
Excellent info, Angie!
Excellent info, Angie!
Responsibility lies with consumer
The Brainerd Jaycees are extremely adept at running beer gardens - they are TIPS trained, propose a fenced/designated beer garden, supply adequate security, and regulate the quantity of beverages any one consumer can purchase - they have been running beer gardens at BIR and throughout the Brainerd-lakes community for over 30 years and are often asked for their expertise in this area of event planning and sales. All of that being said, the responsibility for safe consumption and appropriate behavior lies with the individual consumer. I think it's ridiculous that we cannot give adults the benefit of the doubt when it comes to control and moderation of alcohol consumption.
Beer Sales at the County Fair
I think the beer sales should be allowed and everything done to protect the public from any adverse behavior. I have personally seen people at the CW fair standing behind buildings or parked cars to do their thing with the restroom not far away so you cannot blame this on beer sales as there wasn't any as of yet. If people want to drink and attend the fair they will prior to coming to the fair. Teenagers will keep it in their purse or car if they can't obtain it at the fair if they really want to drink. There are some things you just can't totally control. I have faith in the Jaycees and that they will do their best and the law enforcement will also do their best. From there it is up to us to take personal responsibility to do our best so the revenue can be a positive for the fair.
GRANDIOSE THINKING BY JC ORGANIZATION
The Brainerd JC organization can/ will pump themselves up all they want. As a parent & Grandparent I can tell you when you raise a child in today’s world do you really want to raise them to respect an organization that has to sell alcohol to raise funds for their community. I DONT find that ONE bit impressive & don’t think a majority of our community is in agreement with the JC fund-raising tactics.
If you need a drink, stay home...I prefer to drive on a road knowing that I am safe from drunks. Look at the CWC jail stats and I am sure you will find we have enough drunk drivers in this community without promoting it at the CWC fair.
This world has become what it is due in fact & because of those that promote what is wrong by stating all their grandiose excuses for what they seem to believe are benefiting others.
Fund-raising can be accomplished through, silent auctions, raffles and parking fees that go to the fair.
JC organizers will not be patrolling our streets..
The CWC Sheriffs Dept has enough to do without babysitting another JC beer event.
Will all of you folks who agree to this beer garden be happy when another innocent person is harmed due to your ignorance.
NO BEER AT THE FAIR!
4TGOG - You have got to be
4TGOG - You have got to be kidding!
"This world has become what it is due in fact & because of those that promote what is wrong by stating all their grandiose excuses for what they seem to believe are benefiting others."
Wow!
@4TGOG
As a member of the Brainerd Jaycees I find it disheartening that a member of the community, a caring member of the community like yourself, would try to link the illegal act of drunk driving with the charitable mission of the Brainerd Jaycees.
As a child of former directors of the Jaycees I thank my parents for raising me to care about the community and teaching me about responsible stewardship and healthy living.
I am proud of my eight year old daughter who can't wait to clean the ditches along highway 371 twice a year, rings bells for the Salvation Army in December and thinks up her own ideas of how to help people in faraway places like Haiti. I would say I look forward to her being valuable member of her community as an adult, but I guess we didn't need to wait that long.
It's all good and well that you want to play some small part in preventing alcoholic beverages from being available at the Crow Wing County Fair. Maybe you are correct with that stance, but you are incorrect about the Brainerd Jaycees. The good things our organization does for the community, for our members and for our families cannot be quantified.
Gabe Johnson
Membership VP
Brainerd Jaycees
The JC'S claim to fame, disgraceful!
Bill’$ Little Rubber Duckie Race to benefit youth sports
youth Sports Programs:
Punt Pass & Kick
Pitch Hit & Run
Supporters of:
Confidence Learning Center
Junior Achievement
Kinship Partners
The above is just a portion of the list the JC's want credit for "helping" in the community...
Hey kids the adults will sell beer so you can play sports! That sends a great message.
I have raised thousands of dollars in this community through fundraisers that had NO beer sales, yet these fund raisers helped others.
I have seen the proof that it can be done.
We are not debating those that want to be responsible drinkers. This has more to do with the message you send to the next generation, when you tell them "the only way" to get money for the fair is through beer sales.
Numerous people in the community have given fair board members sugestions on how they can raise money for the fairs needs. However, it seems to me the fair board would rather pawn beer to folks than try the other less controversial ideas.
The JC'S claim to fame by raising money from the sale of alchohol at their events to donate to childrens activities that promote health is truely disgraceful.
I raised billions
It's nice to see that someone cloaked in anonymity on the internet shamelessly attacking a nonprofit group has raised untold thousands of dollars.
I'll see your thousand and tell you that I have raised Billions of Dollars! No wait, Trillions!
good grief
Nathan, Responsible adults
Nathan,
Responsible adults dont need to sell beer for fundraisers.
Designated drivers are wonderful, the JC'S have not offered that to the fair, nor have they offered the use of a breathalizer test to ensure that those they sell beer to are or are not intoxicated when they decide to stumble out of the beer garden...
Self control, thats a wonderful thought, however until/ unless you have ever had an alcoholic friend or parent, you will not/ cannot understand how self control is not in their mind when they are consuming the beer your promoting at the fair.
Name calling does not become you Nathan....
beer at the fair
The top two ? ask at the information booth at the fair are has the medalion been found and were is the beer garden.Why is it such a big deal if someone wants a beer and some cheese curds.We do differant things every year at the fair lets try this if it works great if not dont do it again.The brainerd J C will do outstanding job we all no.
@4TGOG
4TGOG if you are going to insult something the Brainerd Jaycees do, please have your Facts right. It is Called "BIG BILL'S LIL' RUBBER DUCKIE RACE" which is a rubber duck race on the Mississippi River. We are helping Youth sports in the lakes area by Adopting out Lil Rubber Duckies. All proceeds will go to LAYSA and other youth sports. So what about this makes you as a grandparent unproud?
And if you were out of town this last weekend. You should check out www.icefishing.org about a little fishing contest we put on. There is a list of all the groups and charitys we help with this event.
So as one of the founders of "BIG BILL'$ LIL' RUBBER DUCKIE RACE". Me, my wife, and son give many hours every week to plan a rubber duck race and other events. These events bring people and money into the community that we all live in.
I respect your stance on Beer at Crow Wing County Fair. That decision for or against the beer garden is up to elected officials. Not the Brainerd Jaycees. We just want to make sure if it goes though that it is managed by trained and experience group. Because the Jaycees care about our community that we all raise our families in.
Don't worry, BE HOPPY
http://www.anokacountyfair.com/BeerGarden.htm
http://www.scff.org/BeerGarden1.htm
http://www.freeborncountyfair.com/?page_id=22
They seem to be all around us, and have continued over many years at these venues without problems. I would be lead to believe if there were any problems, the libation stations would have been nixed. But obviously, they are money makers and succesful programs. One could even call these fair boards to gather more information as to their success. Enjoy a coldie at the CWCF.
JC 's -Putting lipstick on a pig
The duck race sounds like good clean fun! I applaud your inginuity, a fundraiser with a worthy cause completed in a family friendly activity.
My point was & still is that any organization can hold a fundraiser, however if your selling beer to donate to causes that help children in the community that sends a whole different message.
I'm well aware of the fishing event, another good excuse for the JC's to sell more beer....I read the police blotter and saw the evidence of some of that fishing fun! Go JC's.
There would be no reason for elected officials to have a vote on another beer event run by the JC's if the JC's would find another avenue to raise funds for the fair, better yet JC Reps bragged at the Oak Lawn Township meeting in January that they are a million dollar business....maybe they could donate some of their millions to the fair if they want to "help" the community.
Beer gardens are not what draw people in the community to the CWC fair. Having an alcohol free fair is what makes our CWC fair one of the best in Minnesota!
Beer sold at the fair is not a new topic of discussion.The idea has come before the officials of the community in the past and it failed.
One would hope that the JC' s could have respected that the majority of the community said NO BEER last time this was brought up!
However they chose to ignore the communities response to the last time beer sales at the fair was brought up and instead of respecting what the people want and helping in other fundraiser avenues, the JC 's will give it another shot.
No matter how well trained and experienced the JC's claim to be in sales of beer ( not anything I'd brag about) if there is the chance of just one experienced drinker leaving the fair and driving while intoxicated from beer sold at the JC's beer garden and that intoxicated driver kills someone you know, will you still feel a beer garden was such a wonderful idea?
Promoting the sale of something that can create a disaster to raise funds is pathetic!
To donate money raised by selling beer to ANY child activity is a disgrace!
JC 's- Lip stick on a pig
Calling it what it is....
4TGOG needs to go pontificate
4TGOG needs to go pontificate somewhere else.
message
what message are we sending our children go to the fair eat a bunch of fatty food become obese and have a heart attack and die, thats what could happen if they consume to much of the corn dogs, cheese curds, firemans brats, and about everything else you eat at the fair. We should send a message to our children and grandchildren and only serve healthy food at the fair. Kinda sounds ridiculous doesnt it, I'm pretty sure if they had a beer garden at the fair most people might only have one and then walk around and enjoy the fair. The ones that go there and get drunk would I'm sure be in the minority and are more then likely the type that would bring there own and drink anyways. I personally would probably never buy a beer at the fair but if I did it would only be one. But I do buy corn dogs.
I think we should get rid of
I think we should get rid of the booth that sells 25c milk. I am sick of seeing a bunch of obese kids with chocolate milk mustaches, wobbling around the fairground, while the lactose intolerant are puking on the side of the building.
NO MORE MILK!
NO PETTING ZOO AT THE
NO PETTING ZOO AT THE FAIR!
Petting of animals at the fair should not be allowed. The risk of a child being exposed to a zoonotic disease is unacceptable. How are we all going feel if a child contracts brucellosis or anthrax?
Chickens
It also leads to them wanting to keep chickens in the backyard!
It may not become him..
"Name calling does not become you Nathan...."
But it does define him.
Beer
Just charge like $8 a beer and I dont think you'll have too many drunks walking around. Lets not forget the tards that show up already drunk, which im sure happens.
for the record
Once again fish, you are pretty much clueless
Bigot: A person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs.
In other words, calling someone a bigot is not name calling, for the record.
And I am pretty sure we know who has committed bigotry over people who enjoy a cocktail and those that want to raise money for charities by the sale of beer.