Bluestem Prairie

Outposts from the Small of America: Smellin’ Red

by Tom Driscoll

August again already. Seein’ red everywhere in unmowed ditches, burning up the sides of steep hills, wheat and corn tops when the light’s right, patches of red quilt-stitched to lawns and flowerbeds. Seein’ Red.

What happened in Kasota on July-22? All the public really knows – based on a media quilt of eyewitness accounts and police statements – is that Todd Waldron, a Le Sueur County Sheriff's investigator and 10-year department veteran, shot 24-year-old Tyler Heilman 4-times. Heilman, whose widely-reported last words were, “I’m done, man. I’m done,” died in the parking lot of his apartment building. Results of the official investigation probably will not be available until September. So all there is, for now, is the discombobulating sensation of seein’ Red.

Seeing red grass and fireweed is one thing. But seein’ Red, the classic metaphor of anger and conflict, communicates in an instant a minefield of complex feelings. Who can say that the Red one person sees is not heard by another, or smelled. In the end, an afternoon of swimming with friends that reportedly involved drinking and driving home and pursuit by a plain clothes Sheriff’s Deputy and a verbal argument that led to a so-called scuffle that escalated to the use of deadly force. I am reminded of Paul Newman’s memorable last words in Cool Hand Luke, “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”

The year Cool Hand Luke hit theaters, 1967, was Neil Haugerud’s last year as Sheriff of Fillmore County. (He was first elected in 1959.) Haugerud went on to serve in the Minnesota House where in 1977 he authored a bill, which passed, requiring all Minnesota law enforcement agencies to report the details of every single on-duty firearm discharge. After leaving the legislature, Haugerud spent time trying, unsuccessfully, to convince those same law enforcement agencies to add extensive communication training to academy programs.

Jailhouse Stories, Haugerud’s 1999 recollection of his years as Sheriff, put him on the thinly-populated small town and rural county literary map. I met Neil some Christmases ago over dinner, drinks and tales. We sat across from each other among half-a-dozen guests, and when Neil began explaining how Neurolinguistics could aid communication between law enforcement officials and citizens, suspects and perpetrators, he looked right at me. “Do you HEAR what I’m saying?” he asked, “Or do you SEE what I mean?”

In a July 27 Star-Tribune op-ed, Neil used the tragic Kasota shooting to once again call for changes in officer training. He specifically recommended that all police, “have extensive training in communications that would include neurolinguistics and other up-to-date methods of interactions before they ever pick up a gun.”

Reaction to Haugerud’s commentary by some in law enforcement has been swift. In a Strib Counterpoint, retired State Patrol officer Steve Mengelkoch called Haugerud’s piece Amazing. “I can think of no other printable word to describe Neil Haugerud's recent commentary.”

Most disconcerting to Mengelkoch – and others – is Haugerud’s assertion that firearms training trains officers to shoot rather than to communicate. A representative to the Board of Training Academy Directors, Mengelkoch does not dispute that officers are trained to shoot, but points out that, “Use of force is a required part of initial and ongoing training. That training has saved the lives of many officers in Minnesota.”

Last Sunday, in a Letter to the (Strib) Editor, Edina Police Chief Mike Siitari took aim at Haugerud’s recommendation that the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST) be eliminated, and that communication training come before firearms training. “The author's suggestion that neurolinguistics would solve our problems,” stated Chief Siitari, “sounds like something Barney Fife would suggest. Unfortunately, we no longer live in Mayberry RFD.”

Wait a minute? Who you calling Barney Fife, Chief? Us bumpkins hearin’ Mayberry? Why, them wrastlin’ words! And, I’m a’smellin Red!

Minnesota writer Tom Driscoll reports on politics, economic development and life in rural America at The Small of America.

Civility and its discontents at Farmfest

During Tuesday's Farm Bill and Beyond forum with Congressmen Peterson and Walz at Farmfest, Bluestem photographer Eric Adams captured this image of the woman who called health care reform a "path to communism."

At her turn at the mic, she soon made it clear that she didn't come to ask a question but to harangue the congressmen on the stage.

It was hard to see the action from the front where the media was seated, but Adams had a good view. According to Adams, the woman not only ranted about health care reform and socialism, but also tried to move to the front towards the congressmen. Kent Theisse, the forum organizer in the yellow shirt, then blocked her path and asked her to give the representatives a chance to respond.

Her path blocked, Adams said, she then stomped off.  At this point, Congressman Walz said that she had left, and that while she might not want to hear his answer, he hoped the audience did.

Farmfest forums have a reputation of being feisty, but feisty doesn't mean rude. Rather, the political forums are a chance for citizens, elected officials and those who seek office exchange ideas. The near-name calling, and refusal to listen didn't fit in this mold, and the crowds weren't impressed by the attack.

It's likely that the confrontational question wasn't a spontaneous outburst. CQ Politics reports in Health Debate Produces Angry Protests, Angry Retorts:

Some experts on political organization say that despite the disruption of Democratic-run events — and divided public feelings on the health care overhaul — the shout-down strategy betrays an essential weakness on the Republican side, not a strength.. . .

But the nature of the protests suggest the GOP has run out of options for fighting on substance, said David S. Meyer, a sociology professor at the University of California-Irvine who wrote The Politics of Protest: Social Movements in America.

“In historical context, it’s a tool of the weak,” Meyer said. He said it is noteworthy “that conservatives have to throw this kind of Hail Mary pass to stop health care reform” in a political system that favors that status quo. . . .

...Meyer says Republicans should be careful not to get too close to the protest movement lest they get hit with the backlash if demonstrators are out of control

“This is now going to be a potential problem for Republicans who have to take responsibility for the actions of the people they get excited and engaged about this type of politics,” Meyer said.

Congressman Walz and Collin Peterson were willing to answer questions. The shrieker, however, wasn't able to ask one nor wait for an answer. And thanks to the skill of the forum organizer, she was stymied in her attempt to disrupt. 

A tool of the weak, indeed.

Photo by Eric Adams, Bluestem Prairie.

Liveblogging the first Farmfest Women's Breakfast

New to Farmfest, the women's breakfast features Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, USDA Rural Development head for Minnesota Colleen Landkamer and MN FSA Director Linda Hennen.

Carol Molnau is sharing her story. First she got involved as a farmer and neighbor in Chaska, which was the fast growing city. She ran for city council, won, but then was unable to run again because part of  her farm was being condemned under eminent domain by the city. She ran for the legislature, then for the executive slot.

She says she got where she is by being there and doing the work. She closes by sharing an anecdote about her daughter who came home talking about  a discussion in school aboutwomen's equality. She told her daughter to set her sights high and not let anyone else establish limits for her.

Pat Hennen starts by saying she had her sights on the FSA director job for 32 years, but often thought that ambition was unrealistic. She's thrilled to be one of the first women heading an FSA ofice in a large state. Minnesota FSA employs hundreds of people in 80 offices across the state. 

Hennen is outspoken and colorfully blunt.

Colleen Landkamer, the final panelist, begins by noting that she believes no one successes without other people. She notes the success of her siblings; her path was different. She started out as a stay at home mom, first seeking an internship in former Congressman Tim Penny's office. It soon grew to be a fulltime job.

She relates the story of how she decided to run for Blue Earth County commissioner. Six ran in the primary. No one thought she had a chance because she is a woman, and no woman had ever served on the county board.

She was elected and became  active in state and national county organizations. She advises the adience to get invovled and build relationships. She notes how rural development is directed toward building capacity, the infrastructure necessary for rural Minnesota.

The panel takes questions from the audience. MFU Doug Peterson asks how many attendees only have dial-up internet service. Very few raise their hands. Peterson notes that he has only dial up. Landkamer talks about solutions for bringing broadband to all of rural Minnesota. She tells the story of how St. Clair kept an elevator company by putting an antenna on top the watertower. Other options include fiber and wireless. Molnau agrees that broadband in necessary for rural Minnesota to compete internationally. Hennen notes that she leave one-half mile from where the broadband lines end in Woodbury, observing that broadband access isn't just a rural issue, but one for the whole  state.

Final question: an audience member asks if the panelists have been members of rural and agricultural womens' groups, and if so, how have those groups helped them in their careers. Molnau says that the groups she's a member of have been great for getting reliable information about issues  and policy affecting rural communities and farm families.  Hennen left the farm at 18 and hasn't been invovled in women's ag groups, but she has been in ag related groups. Landkamer hasn't been involved in farm groups, but says she has benefitted greatly from being innvolved in women's organizations.

IBEW Local 949 update: talks resume with moderate progress

Last week, I visited with members of IBEW Local 949 who were walking on an informational picket line. Bluestem Prairie has just received the following update on the contract talks with People's Service Cooperative:

IBEW Local 949 resumed bargaining in federal mediation with People’s Cooperative Services on July 31, 2009. Moderate progress was achieved throughout the day and the parties agreed to extend the contract through August 14, 2009. The parties have scheduled the next mediation session for August 11, 2009.

At the request of the federal mediator and on advice from our assisting IBEW International Representative, Local Union 949 will refrain from picketing mediation on August 11th. We will evaluate how much progress is being made through the session and the need for further concerted activity

Please contact Local 949’s office at 952-890-8484 or Rick Bartz at 507-456-3383 with questions.

Local Union 949 and its bargaining unit members at People’s Cooperative Services again thank you for all the support we have received and greatly appreciate your continued support.

In Solidarity.

Vince Guertin

Business Manager

IBEW Local Union 949

Farm bill and beyond forum: Peterson and Walz

Congressmen Peterson and Walz addressed a large crowd in the forum tent today at Farmfest, addressing recent legislation and taking questions from the audience.

Peterson opened the forum by calling Walz his "Wingman" on ag issues in Congress. The Seventh district representative and chairman of the House Ag committee had thought that it could take a breather after passing the Farm Bill.

However, the collapse of financial markets prompted the committee to look into regulation of credit derivative swaps (the Ag Committee has jurisdiction over commodity trading).

Peterson also discussed his successful fforts to change language in the climate change bill to be more friendly to farmers, and his victory in getting farms exempt from FDA regulation.

Walz noted downturns in the pork and dairy industry, but said that it's impossible to be a pessimist in rural Minnesota. He shared a metaphor from yesterday's renewable energy meeting in Rochester with Secretary Chu: that we need to be like Wayne Greztky, who said he skated to where the puck was going to be.

I'll post more about the question and answer portion of the forum--including an incredible screed from one audience member who accused Representatives Peterson and Walz of being communists taking Americans "down the road to communism."* News to me. [Update Saturday: this will mostly be links to press coverage; most reporters focused on the lively exchange about the cap and trade bill].

Note: Last year, Farmfest arranged for live free wireless for press covering the forums. Not so thi year, so no liveblogging of the afternoon forum on cap and trade.

*One of the Farmfest staff members pointed out this inaccuracy, which we now correct.

Energy secretary Chu in Rochester, part 1

IBEW Local 343 in Rochester played host to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and a host of labor leaders, union members, renewable energy innovators and a handful of politicians yesterday.

In addition to host Congressman Tim Walz, State Rep. Randy Demmer (R-Hayfield) and State Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem (R-Rochester) got a firsthand look at three renewable energy projects. The Post Bulletin described them:

. . .three renewable energy projects championed by southern Minnesota residents: a mobile self-contained ethanol plant, cars created and adapted by students at Minnesota State University-Mankato that run on solar and electrical technology, and the IBEW Wind Turbine Training Facility, where electrical workers train to service the turbines delivering clean energy to southern Minnesota.

Impressive stuff indeed.  Bluestem have more later today or tomorrow; right now, I'm heading to Farmfest with BSP photographer Eric Adams.

In the meantime, enjoy this video clip from the Post Bulletin's coverage. The echoes in the inside of the training tower reminded me of those in an empty silo.

Busy day: reports on Wabasha, Rochester coming in the afternoon

I spent Sunday in Wabasha visiting the National Eagle Center, and will be heading down to Rochester for a look at renewable energy projects later this morning. Stay tuned for posts in the early afternoon