UPDATE November 16, 11:15 a.m.: In a message sent via House Republican spokester Andrew Wagner, Representative Mary Franson issued a statement about this article:
"'I’m disappointed that Bluestem Prairie invaded the privacy of a private individuals. The article was filled with incorrect or unconfirmed information, and shows how foolish it is for the media to try to contact trace from behind their computer screens.' - Rep. Franson" [end update]
City Pages is no longer around to keep an eye on state representative Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, so we'll have to give it a stab with some amateur contact tracing.
An article published Friday online at the Alexandria Echo Press, With COVID-19 surging, alarmed regional health care leaders plead for public's help, came to mind with a reader's tip we received on Saturday.
Those leaders hope the public behaves in this fashion:
“We need all our communities to come together to slow the spread of COVID-19. In addition to protecting our most vulnerable, we can help area businesses and schools stay open. That is why we advise using the tools we have to limit the spread of the virus.”
Those tools include washing or sanitizing hands frequently, avoiding gatherings, maintaining social distancing, staying home when you’re sick and wearing a mask. With flu season here, it’s also recommended to get a flu shot.
And businesses in Alexandria are doing their best. The Garden Bar, for instance, announced on Facebook on Veterans Day:
We regret to inform you that The Garden Bar on 6th will be closed for the remainder of the week [Nov 11 - Nov 15] as we...
Posted by The Garden Bar on 6th on Wednesday, November 11, 2020
That caution is a prudent thing. Our reader drew our attention to an early morning November 3 Facebook event photo album posted by Kalli Kraker with Mary Franson and sixteen other friends (screenshot at the top of this post captures the full list of friends).
The night before Trump’s re-election, we gathered to celebrate these amazing women! They are my rock♥️ During my...
Posted by Kalli Kraker on Monday, November 2, 2020
Update: Looks like she changed the settings on the post so it can't be embedded. Here are a screengrab and a couple of group photos that include Representative Franson:
Note that the Garden Bar staff member in the background in the first photo is wearing a mask at this private gathering.
Franson is in the rear row, second from the left.
Franson is the first on the left. [end update]
No masks and no social distancing at that gathering of amazing women. UPDATE: We've learned from a Facebook comment by Marie Ohren, the owner of the Garden Bar, that this was "a PRIVATE event. The Garden Bar on 6th was not open to the public for this event." [end update]
Sadly, one of the women who gathered is now at home with COVID, if we are to believe Kelsi Malone's recent (November 13) Facebook post:
We certainly hope Malone wasn't positive at the time of the private gathering at the Garden Bar, nor that she picked up the novel coronavirus at the private meet-up.
Update: Using the name Kelsi Timm, Malone emailed let us know that that "I did not have COVID when I was at Kalli's thank-you party on 11/3. On 11/4, I was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID later that week." We wish her a speedy recovery. [end update].
Malone isn't the only person in this vibrant social circle to contract COVID-19. Of those on the list of friends unable to make the private election-eve gathering at the Garden Bar, two may have been quarantined for the novel coronavirus, according to posts they created on Facebook.
There's Kassia Lueck (several posts on Facebook) and a comment on the Kelli Kraker party post by Rochelle Jenson:
We reached out to Representative Franson by email and messenger to ask if she were taking any precautions from a possible COVID-19 contact at the gathering, but have not heard back from her.
As she has for some earlier Minnesota House meetings since the pandemic hit, Franson attended Thursday's special session remotely from Alexandria Township, according to the roll call on the Minnesota House Information video archive for the special session.
We don't offer this informal contact tracing as evidence that Representative Franson needs to be tested or isolate. Rather, it seems to be a metaphor for Minnesota in 'desperate and dangerous place' with COVID-19, when friends risk illness by meeting in a local bar.
Not that Franson has been an advocate for taking COVId-19 precautions in statements made when she has been in St. Paul for legislative meetings. In mid-September, City Pages' Hannah Jones reported in Minnesota Republicans reminded to talk 'public safety,' not COVID:
. . . Just ask Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria), who was present in St. Paul (wearing a mask that depicted the governor as a clown). She called Walz’s response to the pandemic “fear porn” and immediately launched into the den of debauchery that was the city next door.
“You have a better chance of going into Minneapolis and being murdered – being raped – your car looted…” Here she paused. “…Or, what is it called, ‘carjacking?’ Yes. You have a greater chance of your car being jacked in Minneapolis than you do, at my age, dying of COVID.”
We’re not sure what Franson's plan is for people who are not her age (43), but you cannot question the good will or integrity of someone with a clown on her face, and who ran a COVID memes page on Facebook. . . .
We wish Franson and her friends--and all people--good health and speedy recovery to anyone who has the misfortune of contacting COVID-19.
Screengrabs: From Facebook.
This party had nothing to do with Mary. Better check your hate at the door.
Posted by: Anita | Nov 15, 2020 at 06:47 PM
Anita, Mary attended this party with no mask, and was not observing social distancing. She did this during a time her district was experiencing significant outbreaks. It's irresponsible and and a violation of the trust placed in her as a rep. She has repeatedly ridiculed mask wearing, and efforts to contain the spread of COVID. She has misrepresented the numbers of people hospitalized, as well. Her constituents will be calling this out. We deserve better.
Bad choices have consequences.
Posted by: Grant | Nov 16, 2020 at 12:28 PM