It was an early morning, just after 6 AM and I was in Downtown Minot picking up something at my office on the corner of Burdick and Main. The wind hadn’t come up quite yet, so the smoke that was predicted had not filled the early morning sky.
I stopped for a moment and just took a brief look down Main Street and enjoyed the many hanging pots of flowers that had recently been placed on the light poles by the Minot Park District. They seemed perfectly aligned this morning as it seemed that on each side of Main Street there was a continuous cascade of flowers.
The flowers on Main Street have always amazed me, because as easy as it seems to plant, hang and water the flowers, it’s really pretty orchestrated. First, Lowe’s Gardens will call and confirm with someone on the Downtown Minot committee that indeed, we will have flowers again this summer. This decision is made when there are sub-zero temperatures and snow on the ground. “Why do they call? Of course we want flowers, that’s kind of a no-brainer” you say. The answer is pretty simple. The flowers in Downtown Minot come at a price north of $3,000.00. Not only are there hanging flowerpots, but also a number of flower beds on the street corners and they need to be planted, too.
Ok, the flowers are in, what’s so hard about that? All of you green thumbs that are reading this article know that flower gardening is not a “one size fits all” process. You can certainly have a planned calendar for watering, but if it’s hot and windy, you may need to water more often. Or if we have been blessed by recent rains, then maybe you skip a day. That whole decision is left up to the Minot Park District who graciously waters the flowerpots and gardens one at a time with a pickup truck and a water tank…and of course a very long hose. Every year I make sure that I stop and thank those folks that are watering the flowers. It’s not a hard job, but I am guessing there are over 60 pots and flower beds to water, one at a time.
So back to my early morning experience in Downtown Minot. Recently we had a bit of maintenance to do on the famous Downtown Fountain, the one at the corner of Main Street and 1st Avenue SW. I was curious as to whether or not the fountain had been fixed, so I headed north on Main Street to see, and yes, indeed the fountain was running. It’s all good, I thought. But as I turned to head back to my car I heard a song being sung, by a person on the other side of the fountain from me. The song? “You gotta stop, and smell the roses, except the young girl had replaced the word roses with “flowers”. Hey, I remember that song. It was made famous by Mac Davis. What a morning I had experienced, and it wasn’t even 7 AM. So, I invite all of you to take a trip through Downtown Minot some morning before everyone arrives. You may have to provide your own music because I am pretty sure that the young lady who was singing by the fountain is probably gone. But you know what? It isn’t really the song that’s so important, it’s what the song suggests. There are some days and there are some times when you just gotta stop…and kind of let the world come to you.
How About A Shout Out! …or a pat on the back!
Col Schlabach of the 91st Missile Wing shared a story that I think should be repeated. Col Schlabach explained at a recent Military Affairs Luncheon that at any certain time there are a standard number of Minuteman III Missiles in the United States that are considered to be at an operating standard. These missiles can be located at one of the 3 Minuteman III bases, Minot Air Force Base, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana or F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
As Col Schlabach explained on Memorial Day they were short, albeit probably had enough, Minuteman III missiles ready to launch. But, on a 3-day weekend, a crew from Minot AFB decided that they had a missile that could be brought back on line with a maintenance trip, and so without being summoned to do so, took on the task and got it done.
As Col Schlabach said, “That’s what makes us proud of the folks who serve right here at Minot Air Force Base!”
So, to whomever those Airmen were, a big shout out and thank-you! Thank you for keeping America secure by maintaining our nuclear deterrent 24/7/365.
Today’s “Place on the Map!”
(Kind of replaces best kept secrets) Our place on the map is just up the road a bit in Burlington, North Dakota. Next weekend the Pioneer Village is having a great event, their 2025 Old Settler’s days. Every year the Pioneer Village ads a few new items to their every growing inventory of museum pieces. Look for the ad in this week’s edition of the Northern Sentry. Mark it on your calendar, June 21st & 22nd. Old Settler’s Days at The Pioneer Village, located along Highway 2 in Burlington.
Today’s Chuckle
Rumor has it that the guy who invented the credit card also invented the boomerang.
