Faribault Scene as of 2:30 p.m. – Straight River/Cannon River Reservoir at the Faribault Woolen Mills, Straight River at Fleckenstein Park, Straight River at Teepee Tonka Park.
Butterfly in the Sky…
Two of the most influential people in my life, right there. (Screengrab from Butterfly in the Sky: The Story of Reading Rainbow)
“Trapped by a Tornado”, KSTP’s Dave Dahl, April 26, 1996
We’ve learned a lot about tornadoes in severe weather in the past 28 years, and thus I’m posting this primarily as a “what never to do” video. There are several quotes and pieces of video in these clips that will give any modern storm chaser anxiety.
1:45 – Chasing on an Interstate highway, with no easy way to change directions 90 degrees if necessary. Seeking shelter from a tornado under a freeway overpass (never do this, please).
4:30 – More of the above.
6:00 – Even more of the above, with innocent video crew.
6:26 – Putting yourself in a situation where you need to lie flat in a ditch as a last ditch shelter.
6:48 – “Are we OK?” “Yes, we’re fine. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve been doing this for 19 years watching this stuff. Never been this close.”
7:22 – “In a car, Get out, get away from the car, lay flat in the ditch, and that’s exactly what we did. And we stayed safe.”
US Route 65 and the Jefferson Highway
I’ve written about US Route 65 and the Jefferson Highway before, but here’s some added pictures of the mileage signs near Mason City and Northwood.
Iowa has new signs up recognizing the significance of the Jefferson Highway’s route as being one of the first established north-south motorways in the nation.
The Jefferson Highway and US65 traveled into Faribault on Glynview Trail and Willow Street, before turning up Central Avenue, curving left at “The Curve”, continuing to near Northfield and eventually to St. Paul, and all the way up to Winnipeg.
Faribault was enough of a major city at that time to have signs in Iowa 72 miles away, which have been updated and are still there today!
Bethany accidentally scrams the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant reactor
Of course, she didn’t really. This was during a May 2017 open house at Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant in Red Wing, Minnesota, and this was a control room simulator they use to train their staff. Don’t worry, there was really never a risk of meltdown!
I hit the Northern Lights jackpot!
Definitely hit the Northern Lights jackpot tonight! These were all taken near Winjum’s Shady Acres Resort just west of Faribault.
Jordan Motokazie Supercross Practice with a Honda 250R from April 2009
Feeling nostalgic tonight, so posting this old video from 15 years ago of my friend Dave on his Honda 250R at the Scott County Fairgrounds Motokazie Track in Jordan, MN. Check out that old gnarly layout!
Standard definition because that’s what the original GoPro was!
Tornado Season: Here’s how to stay safe, vigilant
Rice County’s new Emergency Manager Joe Johnson, as well as Rice County Skywarn, got a good write-up in today’s Faribault Daily News on how to stay safe and vigilant during tornado season. Give it a read!
Big Nine Music Festival
Really excellent performance by our Big Nine select performers! Since I was at the Jordan Motokazie last night, Bethany and I listened to the grand finale concert this morning, and had a nice homemade breakfast afterwards. If you want to lay back on a rainy, gloomy Saturday and listen to some great music by talented musicians, this is a great way to start!
Leave it to May!
May Bottke, my Kindergarten teacher, surprised me yet again! Today, I received a birthday card in the mail from her, wishing me a happy 46th birthday, along with a special personalized note.
It’s widely known that May has a special gift of remembering birthdays of her former students. It’s astonishing when the fact is May herself will turn the big 100 this coming November!
