An ATV adventure

I was just reading the June/July issue of Minnesota Off-road Magazine and found a feature article including some local highlights.

The story is written by Jerry Bassett (not sure if there is any relation to the local Bassetts or not) and is about an extended ATV trip along the Soo Line Trail.

Isle's Les Pinz is one of the riders featured in the article along with three other riders. The group traveled from Isle to Cass Lake.

The group is a bunch of "avid snowmobilers" who set out for their first ever long distance ATV ride. "As it would turn out, the trip wouldn't be as easy as a snowmobile tour and would offer an adventure or two," Bassett wrote.

The group encounters some challenges as they make their way along the 360 or 380-mile journey. The smooth path of the Soo Line "disintegrated into a seemingly little used and minimally maintained path.... we went from the irregular chatter of the corridor trail to picking our way over ruts, through mud holes ad around downed trees."

Now that sounds like my kind of ATV fun.

All-in-all, the article made me want to try the adventure myself. Having never been on an extended snowmobile trip, I have no idea what it would be like. But I am willing to pack up my Yamaha and give it a try. But it sounds like I may need a mechanic along for the ride.

I made the mistake of mentioning it to my Editor, Brett. Now I have a new assignment.

I am not sure when I will make the journey, but I am willing. After all, the article closes that long distance ATV rides can be quite nice, "if you have the right companions, prepare for the unexpected and enjoy the journey."

So who wants to go for a ride?

Why is this news?

June 6, or 7, 2009 Herb Weyaus was hospitalized.

On May 24, 2009 a veteran New Jersey state lawmaker was hospitalized in Massachusetts after suffering a mild heart attack while watching a college lacrosse game. The 71-year-old Sen. Anthony R. Bucco was resting comfortably and was expected to be released from an area hospital days later.

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-South Dakota, was hospitalized in December 2006 after he suffered stroke-like symptoms in his Washington office, his staff said.

On Monday, June 1, 2009 Sen. Robert C. Byrd, developed a serious infection and was treated in the hospital with antibiotics.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger broke his leg skiing in Dec. 2006.

Singer Beyounce fell down the stairs during a concert in July 2007.

These were all top sotries in various national news publications at different times.

Why is it that these people's illnesses and injuries have became headlines?

Because these people are important to the communities they serve. They may not like that their feet failed them and they fell down the stairs, or that their heart attack was discussed on national TV. But that is the way it is when people are public figures whether political or performers. Sometimes the two are interchangeable.

Yet here in our front porch, Herb Weyaus, Mille Lacs Band secretary/treasurer and one of the areas most influential people (depending on which side of the border you happen to live on) was hospitalized over the last week with what appears to be a serious heart condition. No information is being released by the Mille Lacs Band Government or their public relations firm.

Weyaus holds the purse strings to millions of dollars. It would be nice to know what is going on. Who is in charge while he is recovering?

This would have been an opportunity for the Band to make a public statement and reach out to the community. But instead, they chose to keep his illness a "private family affair."

The Band cries out to be treated as an equal state and then spins on the heals of sovereignty and divine independence and power.

The St. Cloud hospital as of Friday, June 12 has Weyaus listed in fair condition. He was upgraded to good condition as of Monday, June 15. No other information is releasable by the hospital according to HIPPA regulations.Whatever the case may be, Weyaus is a stubborn old goat. It will take more than a triple or quadruple or whatever kind of bypass to keep him down long I am sure.

While I certainly understand privacy issues and HIPPA regulations, the fact remains that he is a public figure. He is a government official. People have the right to know what is happening with their government leaders and who is watching the store in his absence.

My dad was hospitalized this week as well. While my dad had a knee replacement surgery and is now recovering at home, I worried about him. As I am sure Mr. Weyaus' family is worried about him.

My thoughts and prayers truly are with Mr. Weyaus and his family and I wish him a speedy recovery.

Perhaps the Mille Lacs Band government could issue a press release to extinguish all of the rumors that are floating around and help to get the truth out to the people they serve.

We are waiting for the news. Why? Because it is news.