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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
10:52 AM on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Sen. Coleman a surprise guest
By Lake Country Echo staff
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U.S. Sen Norm Coleman and Tim Pawlenty
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Notes from the 60th Governor's Fishing Opener, hosted by Breezy Point and Pequot Lakes and headquartered at Breezy Point Resort last weekend.
U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman was a surprise guest. He wandered the community picnic grounds at Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes on Friday, shaking hands and talking to residents. Saturday morning, he headed out fishing as well.
Cheryl Hoag and her daughter, Carica Braren, of Pequot Lakes sang the national anthem at the sendoff ceremony early Saturday outside Breezy Point Resort.
Before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, Gov. Tim Pawlenty told members of the Pequot Lakes and Pine River-Backus baseball teams to keep up with their schoolwork while enjoying sports. "Every day matters and we need you to stay focused in school," he said at the ballfield in Pequot Lakes.
Pawlenty and his wife, Mary, planted a rose bush in Dru's Garden in Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes. "The spirit of Dru is going to blossom in a lot of different ways," Pawlenty said. "In this garden, too, where people come to reflect and meditate.
The Pawlentys and Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau participated in the dedication of the Purple Heart Memorial at the Veterans Memorial in Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes. Pawlenty said we all must respect and understand what service members do for the United States and give thanks for that. "Fishing is fun. Fishing is important. But this is more important," he said.
Pawlenty said the Governor's Fishing Opener event celebrates our heritage and people's love of fishing. He said 2.1 million people per year in Minnesota drop a line, and 1.4 million buy fishing licenses. "Fishing has a multibillion dollar economic impact on Minnesota," he said, noting it also gets people off their cell phones and into boats to have face-to-face conversations.
Mary Pawlenty said a student at Eagle View Elementary School asked about her favorite fish to catch. She named some species, then asked the boy about his favorite fish to catch. "Big ones," he responded. "So that's my plan," she said. "I'm going to catch a big one."
Pequot Lakes Mayor Cathy Malecha and Breezy Point Mayor JoAnn Weaver each presented the governor with a key to their cities.
The Pequot Lakes Oxtrot ox was unveiled at the community picnic. Wildwedge Golf also had its "Fanny the Caddy" ox at the picnic, and Josh Porter of Avalon Studios displayed his "Babe the Blue Gill" ox that hung as if on a stringer at the picnic and Breezy Point Resort. It will be placed at Crosslake Town Square.
Minnesota Vikings players Jim Kleinsasser and Steve Hutchinson participated in the event, signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans.
Hutchinson fished with host Bart Taylor of Crosslake and Eagle View Elementary School student Mathias Carlson and his dad, Neil. The four anglers became the focus on the dock at noon Saturday as they had reeled in a net full of walleye. The Vikings were promoting youth fishing.
"This was the best day of my life," Mathias told the crowd when asked about their fishing success.
Event co-chairs Ryan and Patty Buell received two long standing ovations at the celebration dinner for their hard work.
A record number of guests - 410 were registered - attended the event. Guests came from across Minnesota, as well as North and South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, Missouri and Canada.
More than 400 volunteers, including fishing hosts, made the event happen.
Pawlenty recognized members of the National Guard from the First Brigade Combat Team who served 22 months in Iraq and who were at the event. "Freedom isn't free, but not everybody pays the same price," he said. They received a long standing ovation at the celebration dinner.
Meg Bye, Pequot Lakes, is running for the state District 4B House seat. A DFL candidate, she was introducing herself and shaking hands at the community picnic.
Friday's events started at 7 a.m. with Pawlenty and Molnau conducting interviews with television and radio stations. Pawlenty hosted his weekly radio show, "Good Morning, Minnesota," live from Breezy Point Resort.
Pawlenty participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the resort's Marina II restaurant and learned about the resort's environmentally friendly system to handle water runoff to protect Pelican Lake. The project was installed along with construction of the new building that houses Dockside bar, Marina II restaurant and Lakeview Ballroom.
Pawlenty talked to Eagle View Elementary School fourth-graders who came to the resort; Molnau visited with students at Pequot Lakes High School; and Mary Pawlenty, a former judge, talked to fifth-graders at Eagle View Elementary School about government, with emphasis on the judicial branch.
The governor helped stock walleye fry in Pelican Lake, and he and Molnau visited the sporting clays skills course at Wild Acres in Pequot Lakes, where they talked to owner Mary Ebnet.
Fishing host Dave Shogren of Merrifield and his guest, Mike Noll of Wisconsin, were honored at the banquet for the largest catch of the day with a trophy walleye and northern, both estimated at more than five pounds.
For photos of the Governor's Fishing Opener go to spotted.pineandlakes.com.
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