KARE-11 to air "River Revival: Working Together to Save the Minnesota River" on June 12

I was born in Mankato, where the Blue Earth River meets the Minnesota at its bend. That's where the cabin that my maternal ancestors the Otts built in the 1850s now stands nearboth rivers in Mankato's Sibley Park. I think that watershed was my first love, and remains so.

Not that it's an easy love, because the Minnesota River can be difficult, flooding, muddying the waters, and dropping a load of dirt at her mouth. We all have our moments.

But I'm not alone in my riparian romance, as the coalition of groups that launched the site for a documentary, "Working Together to Save the Minnesota River" attests. The hour-long documentary (which I haven't seen) will be aired in a week on KARE-11 at 6 p.m.

Those who want to learn more about the river and efforts to clean up the old hag's image can join watch parties along the river and her companion streams. Via Citizens United for the River Environment's (CURE) Facebook event, here's a list:

River Revival: Working Together for a Clean Minnesota River
June 12th, 2011 at 6:00pm on KARE 11 TV

Gather together with friends up and down the river to watch and discuss this documentary which highlights the river's problems but also showcases the fact that citizens are doing something about it.

LOCATIONS:

Ortonville:
Headwaters Grill and Bar
17 2nd St NW, Ortonville, 320-839-2270
4:00-7:30
Hosts: Dale and Mary Homan, Duane Ninneman

Montevideo and Granite Falls:
5014 Highway 212 SW, Montevideo, 320-269-9055
5:30-7:30
Hosts: Patrick Moore and Butch Halterman, Steve Virnig

New Ulm:
Concordia Lanes and Kegel Klub
416 19th St N, New Ulm,507-354-2923
5:30-7:30
Hosts: Scott Sparlin, Jack Lauer
Call Scott at 507-276-2280
Free Refreshments will be served

Mankato:
Rounders Sports Bar and Grill
414 South Front Street, Mankato, 507-388-776
4:30-7:30
Hosts: Shannon Fisher
RSVP Scott Kudelka at 507-389-2304 or [email protected]

Red Wing
Jimmy's Pub 5th Floor Summit Room St. James Hotel
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Host: Mike McKay and the Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance

There's even a location in the Cities for my urban hipster readers who might find it ironic to attend:

Bloomington:
MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center
3815 American Blvd, Minneapolis, 952-854-5900
5:00-7:30
Hosts: Lori Nelson and Shelly Miller
Call Shelly at 952-881-9055

Here's a montage of clips from the documentary, which closes with former Gov. Arne Carlson saying, "It should teach the current array of policy leaders, cut all this negative nonsense out and learn to work together."

The Youtube:

Photo: via The Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway.

Bleg: If you enjoyed this post, please consider throwing some coin in Bluestem Prairie's tip jar during its early June bleg-o-thon. To learn more, read Bluestem Prairie preservation drive: help keep a different prairie voice publishing.