MADD reacts to DUI

MADD responce to Mayor Bergson's DWI. This came from the the papers web site, http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/.

When it comes to drunken driving, an apology only goes so far, said Cal Haworth, founder of the St. Louis County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Now Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson needs to step to the plate and advocate against drinking and driving, Haworth said Monday, reacting to news that Bergson had been charged with and admitted to drunken driving after a crash in Wisconsin on Friday night.
"What needs to be done is for Herb to go out for the next year and talk to every high school and every college and every civic club he can get in front of - and talk about what a stupid thing it was for him to do," Haworth said. "To talk about how fortunate he was that he wasn't killed and to talk about even more how fortunate the area is that he didn't hit somebody else."
Bergson should reach out to at least 100 audiences in the coming year, said Haworth, who helped launch the St. Louis County MADD chapter after losing a son-in-law to a drunken driver in 1983.
Alcohol was blamed for 177 highway deaths in Minnesota in 2004 and 326 in Wisconsin. Minnesota's 2004 total was a 20-year low, said Department of Public Safety spokesman Dennis Smith.
First-time offenders make up the bulk of the drunken-driving charges in both states, but first-time offenders also account for most of the serious- and fatal-injury crashes. In Minnesota, one of out of every nine licensed drivers has a driving-while-intoxicated conviction on record.
Whether Bergson chooses to go on a campaign against drunk driving is a personal choice, said Kathy Swanson, the director of Minnesota's Office of Traffic Safety.
Bergson's admission of his mistake and apologizing for it is an important first step that everyone charged with drunken driving needs to make to keep from re-offending, Swanson said.

More threatening notes in schools.

This is interesting. More notes in our schools I wonder if this will stop. I just hope that a shooting never happens.

Two Duluth middle school students suspended over threatening note
DULUTH, Minn. (AP) - Two Duluth middle school students have been
suspended after a note was found at their school that threatened a
shooting.
The note was discovered at Ordean Middle School yesterday
morning. Principal Jerry Maki says the students responsible for the
note were discovered before classes ended for the day. School went
on as usual.
The threatening note was the third found in Duluth public
schools since late October. The first was discovered at East High
School in October, and the second was found at Denfeld High School
in November.
Maki says there doesn't appear to be a link between the note at
Ordean and the ones found at East and Denfeld. The authors of those
notes have not been found.

Mayor Bergson please step down!

I am asking Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson to step down as Mayor. We have been embossed by his latest actions. He was charged with what is now being reported as DWI on Friday December 9th 2005. His blood alcohol level more then twice the legal limit of .08 in Wiscion.

If you would like to help put pressure on the mayor to step down please leave a message here or email us at duluthneedshelp@yahoo.com .

Twice the legal limit for our Mayor.

This is being reported in the Minnapolis paper. http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5777870.html


DULUTH -- After crashing his car while drunk Friday night, Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson appeared to have been trying to leave the accident scene in Wisconsin before police arrived, authorities said Monday.
"Mr. Bergson was not at all cooperative," said Washburn County [Wis.] District Attorney J. Michael Bitney after reading the reports on the single-vehicle accident that led to Bergson's arrest for DWI. "He was trying to get the hell out of Dodge."
In an e-mail Monday, Bergson, who was home recovering from minor injuries received in the crash, denied that he tried to leave the scene or avoid prosecution. "Are you kidding?" he asked. "...Where was I going to go?"
Bergson's blood-alcohol level was more than twice Wisconsin's legal driving limit of .08, according to a preliminary breath test authorities administered at the time of his arrest. He was booked at the Washburn County Jail and later released to his wife.
Bergson, 49, a former police officer, was traveling south on U.S. Hwy. 53 in northwestern Wisconsin about 6:25 p.m. when he lost control, struck a bridge abutment and came to a stop with his vehicle hung-up on a guardrail, according to police reports. The accident left him with cuts on his forehead and a black eye.
When Spooner Police Officer DeWayne Olson arrived on the scene moments later, motorists who had stopped to help told him that Bergson had asked them not to call police, according to a report filed by Washburn County Sheriff's Sgt. David Dennis.
"Officer Olson...stated that Mr. Bergson was refusing medical attention," Dennis wrote. "Officer Olson also stated that he had talked with some of the motorists who had stopped to assist...and Mr. Bergson had asked the motorists not to call the police and requested that they help him push his vehicle off the guardrail. I observed the damage to the Bergson vehicle, and it was a total loss."
Dennis wrote that he convinced Bergson to go with ambulance attendants, who had been trying unsuccessfully to transport Bergson to a hospital. Dennis wrote that when a Wisconsin State Trooper arrived, he told him he believed Bergson was "possibly intoxicated due to my observation of his eyes, the nature of the accident scene and Mr. Bergson's request to motorists not to call the police."
Bergson responded today that, "I asked them to help me get the car off the guardrail because the car was revving and wouldn't shut off. The car was clearly totaled. Where was I going to go?"
In e-mails over the weekend to friends and some reporters, Bergson announced the arrest, called it a terrible mistake and asked for forgiveness and understanding. He said he plans to plead guilty to the drunken-driving offense - his first. He declined to say how much he had drunk and refused to say where.
He said he was traveling to a environmental conference in Chicago and had hoped to make it as far as Eau Claire, Wis., on Friday night.

Califorina has interesting people to run Govnor.

http://www.melgibsonforgovernor.com/


Minnesota had Govnor Ventura, but Califorina may have many interesting people run for they Govnor. Click on the link above for more info.

Top ten athletes that give back

This is according to fox sports, http://foxsports.com.

I find it interesting that there is no small market teams on this list. Yet if you look at it the small market teams and the players that play for those teams are the ones that always seem to give more to there community's.

I thought the list was interesting.



1. Dikembe Mutombo, Houston Rockets
Dikembe Mutombo has made some major donations to help his native Congo. (Catherine Steenkeste / Getty Images)
Mutombo has donated an astounding $15 million to build a hospital in his native Congo. The hospital, named after Mutombo's mother, is about 75 percent complete, and the gentle giant is trying to raise another $2 million by the end of the year. He also has donated $150,000 to help underprivileged children in South Africa.
What makes Mutombo so committed to helping the poor in his native land? In many ways, he is honoring his father. "I was raised in poverty — so poor," Mutombo said. "My dad made only $37 a month. But he was so strong that he raised 10 children and taught us everything right. My father did so much for me that I want to have an impact on other people's lives."
Helping others can turn into a chain reaction, Mutombo pointed out. "Maybe you can contribute to someone else's life, and they in turn can make a difference in so many others' lives," he said. "We're here to help others help themselves."

2. Lance Armstrong
As a cancer survivor, the seven-time Tour de France winner has shown a deep commitment to help others afflicted with the disease. The Lance Armstrong Foundation spent $13.7 million last year on education, advocacy, public health and research programs related to cancer.
The foundation recently joined with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address issues faced by the growing number of cancer survivors. The joint venture has a national action plan, which specifies ways the public health community can better address issues faced by cancer survivors.
The plan aims to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors, including a focus on preventing secondary cancers and recurrence of cancer; promoting appropriate management following treatment to ensure the longest possible healthy life for cancer survivors and minimizing pain, disability and psychological distress for survivors.

3. Tiger Woods
Golf's shining star has gone to great lengths to help children through the Tiger Woods Foundation, which spent $1.5 million helping kids in 2003 (the latest year for which spending figures are available).
The foundation's work includes the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a 35,000-square-foot, education facility scheduled to open in Anaheim, Calif. early next year. The center will offer after-school programs in science, math and language arts. The $25 million facility will house seven classrooms, a computer lab, a student lounge and a 200-seat auditorium.
In the third quarter of this year, Tiger's foundation gave out almost 30 grants to non-profit organizations around the country, including the Community Resource Center in Nashville, Tenn. and the Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program in Seattle.

4. Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets
The high-flying Carter donated $2.5 million for the design and construction of a new gym at his alma mater, Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Fla. Through his Embassy of Hope Foundation, founded in 1998, Carter has helped huge numbers of people in need.
Among the good deeds performed by the foundation were donating money to the Wings of Hope Foundation for abused, neglected and abandoned children in Central Florida; giving money to the Kiwanis Club of Daytona Beach for a first day of school outfit for underprivileged kids and providing Toronto Raptors tickets to Canadian children doing well in school (Carter used to play in Toronto).

5. Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Lemieux, who overcame a battle with Hodgkin's disease, established the Mario Lemieux Foundation in 1993 to fight cancer. The foundation spent $997,000 on its mission in 2003. The foundation spends most of its money to fund promising medical research projects. The foundation gave $5 million to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to establish the Mario Lemieux Centers for Patient Care and Research in 2001.
The foundation also established the Austin Lemieux Neonatal Research Project, in honor of Mario and Nathalie Lemieux's healthy son who was born prematurely. This grant supports research in the division of neonatology and developmental biology at the Magee-Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh.

6. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation has been working to keep kids off drugs and alcohol. (Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)
Jeter founded his Turn 2 Foundation in 1996 to encourage kids to stay away from drugs and alcohol, adopt healthy lifestyles and focus on academics and leadership development. The foundation spent $742,000 on programs in 2003.
Since it was created, it has awarded more than $5 million in grants for signature Turn 2 programs along with existing substance-abuse prevention and treatment programs, which reach thousands of children in the New York City area and Western Michigan — where Jeter was raised.
The foundation's after-school program in New York City allows almost 400 kids to participate in cultural arts, physical fitness and educational enrichment programs.

7. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Manning's PeyBack foundation focuses on assisting programs that help underprivileged children. It has donated more than $900,000 to programs and events in Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana since its 1999 inception.
One of the programs is Peyton's Pals, which offers monthly outings and activities for abused and neglected kids with Court Appointed Special Advocates. In June, Manning took 20 of the kids in the program on a four-day Disney cruise.
Last December, Manning's foundation treated the entire student body at Desire Street Academy in New Orleans to holiday gifts, including a shopping spree at Barnes & Noble, where each student was allowed to buy $20 in books.

8. Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat center
Mourning's foundation, Alonzo Mourning Charities, assists underprivileged children and their families. It spent $716,000 in 2003. The foundation helps finance 100 Black Men of South Florida, which provides educational and economic assistance for all minorities.
Alonzo Mourning Charities also gives financial support to Children's Home Society of Florida in Miami, which serves abused, abandoned and neglected children, including those suffering from HIV and developmental disabilities. The foundation also delivers complete Thanksgiving meals to 333 families in South Florida communities.

9. Jeff Gordon, NASCAR
Through his Jeff Gordon Foundation, he assists children with serious illnesses and their families. The foundation spent $574,000 in 2003.
The foundation's beneficiaries include the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Marrow Foundation, Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital at NorthEast Medical Center in Concord, N.C., which is scheduled to open late next year.

10. Derrick Brooks, linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Derrick Brooks enjoys taking underprivileged kids on trips around the world. (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)
Brooks started a program in 1996 to give free Bucs tickets to disadvantaged children to encourage academic achievement. That turned into the Brooks Bunch, a group of 14- to 18-year-old students from Tampa-area Boys & Girls Clubs, whom Brooks takes on trips around the world each year. He helped finance two trips for the kids to South Africa. His foundation, Derrick Brooks Charities, spent $123,000 in 2003.
Brooks began the travel program after a child at one of the clubs couldn't understand how he could get back to Tampa so quickly from away games. "She was 10 years old and didn't know what an airplane was," Brooks said. "I wanted to give them that experience." It started as a one-day trip to Fort Lauderdale and grew from there.
And what does Brooks get out of it? "The smiles on kids' faces and to see them go out in this community and be driving forces for others," he said. "I like to see kids take effort and change the world they live in. To see them help other people change their lives, that's when I know the message is being passed."

Is this not a great picture.

Hard times for Mayor Bergson. Mayor Bergson after embarrassing Duluth.

Lew Latto blast bloggers

The kind of short of republican talk show host Lew Latto blast bloggers for saying we are writting that he did not allow people to talk about Mayor Bergson's DUI over the weekend. Lew untill you got an email form Howie Hanson you did not let anyone talk about it.

Councilors react to email from a friend of mine.

An email send out by a friend of mine about mayor Bergson's DUI and the councilors responces.



thanks for the note. I began working in EMS in 1972 for WilcolAmbulance and today work for Mayo Medical Transportation (Gold Cross.) Many of those years I was a street paramedic. I have seen much and haveno tolerance for drinking and driving above the legal limit. I am theSafety Manager for MMT at fifteen sites across WI and MN. Years ago we(MMT)implemented a policy that our employees could have no blood alcohollevel while on duty. One strike and you're out. I have very strongopinions on DUI's. Thanks, Jim.


I'm not sure which comment you're referring to, so I'll assume it wasthe statement in the DNT regarding forgiveness. Please keep in mindthat I agree that the Mayor's indiscretion was an embarassment to thecity and showed phenomenal bad judgement. I believe he should bepunished in accordance with law, and should take whatever personal stepsare necessary to see that it never happens again.However, I stand by my statement. We all do make mistakes, and I hopethat if I ever do something foolish, I hope that I will be forgiven if Ishow genuine regret as the mayor has.And for the record, I would respond the same for any of my colleagues onthe council.Sincerely,Russ Stewart

Wallace talks about his dad comments.

This is from http://newsmax.com, Chris Wallace said his dad has lost it.


"Fox News Sunday" anchorman Chris Wallace says father Mike Wallace has "lost it" - after the legendary CBS newsman told the Boston Globe last week that the fact George Bush had been elected president shows America is "[expletive]-up."
"He's lost it. The man has lost it. What can I say," the younger Wallace lamented to WRKO Boston radio host Howie Carr on Friday.
"He's 87-years old and things have set in," the Fox anchor continued. "I mean, we're going to have a competence hearing pretty soon."

Wallace Jr. quickly dispelled any notion that he was joking. When Carr suggested that his comments were likely to be covered by NewsMax, he responded: "You know what? Fine. Go ahead. Call them. That's fine. I'll stand by that."
Returning to the topic of his father's competence, Wallace Jr. explained: "He's checked out. I don't understand it," beyond the fact that Wallace Sr. has "problems with the war."

Councilors react to Mayors DUI.

These reaction were in the Duluth paper Sunday. One is from councilor Stewart. I hope he would say the same thing about some one not on his side. I sure he would not, he would use it as a political issue. The other reaction is by councilor Stauber again I also hope he would say the same thing about some one on the right.

I agree with councilor Stauber's comments, over councilor Stewarts.



Duluth City Councilor Russ Stewart said he didn't know details of the accident but was glad Bergson appeared to be all right.
``We all make mistakes,'' Stewart said. ``This is a season of forgiveness and I hope people keep that in mind.''



Duluth City Councilor Jim Stauber said Bergson should have known better.
``I'm very disappointed to learn this occurred. He's supposed to be setting an example to Duluthians,'' Stauber said. ``As a former police officer, Herb has seen himself the damage and devastation drunk driving can do. Yet he still chose to drink and drive.
``Hopefully, if he learns from this and becomes an advocate for zero tolerance, it will come out OK.''

Heffernan retires

Duluth News Tribune journalist Jim Heffernan will retire after 42 years of service at the paper. The paper is calling him a legend, now because he has worked there for ever does not make him a legend.

I was excited to hear he was retiring I was like good I will not have to read his oven pointless and left wing column on Sundays. Unfortunately he will continue to write his column on Sundays only it will be from his house in Hermtown.

Reader letter.

This editorial was in the northland reader it is a free weekly paper, I am not sure if they are online or not.

I believe this letter says what a lot of people want to say. The council and Mayor need to be more accountable for there actions. The Council did not bother to take the time to look at the facts on the SMDC parking ramp and now we are in a spot were business are being forced to make room for the ramp as the cost of the ramp continues to go up. The tax payers will again be on the hook for something we get nothing out of.

Reaction to DUI for our Mayor

The citizens of Duluth have ever right to mad, disappointed and anger with Mayor Bergson over his DWI in Wiscion on Friday night. The citizens of Duluth should be mad disappointed and inverses about Mayor Bergson's actions on Friday afternoon.

The mayor was on his way to Chicgo for a conference when he lost control of his car and hit a guardrail, it was a result of drinking and then getting his car and driving. This is a huge inbarshment for our city. The Mayor who was a cop in Superior should have never gotten in his car and drove . He knows what driving well under the influence can do to people and know puts Duluth on the map for having a mayor that drinks and drives. I am sure he has done it before but has never been caught, you can go to almost any anti-driving well drunk website and see static on this just because you have only been caught once does not mean you have not done it in the past.


Again we have every right to be mad, disappointed and what ever other feeling you may have.

New York Times repots on Duluth health care problem.

Articale in the New York Times about the health care retiree problem for Duluth.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/business/yourmoney/11retire.html

Mayor Bergson's Christmas list wish.

Here is a look at the mayors wish list for Christmas.


1. More money for GLA. ( the fishtank)

2. Beer

3. Parking ramp for SMDC

4. Beer

5. Post-it notes to fire people with

6. Beer

7. To solve the heath care problem

8. 3 cases of Beer

9. a new car

10. Beer

11. Stop homelessness in Duluth

12. Beer

13. The last thing on my list is BEER

Mayor Bergson slapped with DUI

It seems like Mayor Bergson did not care about the city when he was on his way to Chicago. The Mayor like anyother officail is always representing our City and with his DWI on city business to Chicago the mayor gets a DWI and slams into a guard rail.

From what I understand he was going to Chicago for city business. If that is the case there could be many issues that involve the city and lawsuites as well. I wonder now if this is grounds for a recall vote? Anyone know.

The following was printed in the Duluth News Tribune, http://duluthnews.com





Mayor asks forgiveness for 'bad judgment'BY JOHN MYERSNEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson was involved in a one-car accident Friday evening near Spooner, Wis., in which he suffered minor injuries and was later cited for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Bergson was southbound on U.S. Highway 53, on his way to a conference in Chicago, when his vehicle struck a guard rail along the highway.
The incident was reported at 6:35 p.m. just north of Washburn County Highway H, said Karen Snearly, police communications operator for the Wisconsin State Patrol.
According to the preliminary report filed by Trooper Tony DeSteffano, the accident remains under investigation.
Bergson told the News Tribune via-e-mail this afternoon that he was alone in his 2002 Mercury at the time and had hoped to make it as far as Eau Claire for the night.
The State Patrol did not confirm today that Bergson had been charged, but Bergson, 49, admitted to the citation in a message to the media.

Just a question?

Here is a question, I am sure I know the answer to it. I still want to know why you think it is this way.

You hear in the media all the time President Bush approval rating is down down down. A couple weeks ago it was a it's lowest point at about 32% now it is up to about 40% not a big jump but a jump.

So why do not hear that the Presidents numbers are going up like you do when they are down?

Just a toss out there question look forward to hearing from you all.

Here is a group of people I would not want to be part of. This is part of a story about TOokie Williams case in California.

I am for the Death Penality and I hope Williams does not get Clemancy.

But that hasn’t stopped Williams and his supporters. In recent weeks, they have launched a media campaign that suggests they know as much about crafting a compelling biographical storyline as Schwarzenegger once did during his bodybuilding and movie days. In recent weeks, a parade of celebrities, including rapper Snoop Dogg (a former Crip himself), the Rev. Jesse Jackson, human-rights activist Bianca Jagger and actor Jamie Foxx have visited Williams on death row and championed his cause before television cameras outside the prison gates. Other celebrity supporters include Russell Crowe, Mike Farrell, Ted Danson and Richard Dreyfuss. On Tuesday, the NAACP sponsored a series of “Save Tookie” rallies around the state. Williams’s coauthor and publicist has arranged death-row interviews with major media outlets and his supporters have even hired a public-relations firm to organize news conferences and rallies on his behalf. At one recent San Francisco gathering, participants in SAVE TOOKIE T shirts waved signs saying BECOME THE REDEEMER, NOT THE TERMINATOR. More than 60,00 people have signed online petitions supporting clemency
http://msn.com or http://msnbc.com to read the whole story. Any comments are always welcome.

Maybe there is still hope for our area.

This was in the opion page of the Duluth news Trib today. It makes me think there is still hope for us after all.

Here it is for you that did not get a chance to see the paper or refuse to read it.


Northland liberals have closed minds
Regarding the Nov. 17 letter, "Duluthian display unexpected bigotry:" This is not an open-minded area.
In the Webster's Dictionary the word liberal implies tolerance of others' views as well as open-mindedness.
This area is mostly Democratic. Anyone who has an opposite viewpoint that differs from the liberals is met with open hostility. Our local colleges and universities teach diversity classes that openly bash Catholics and the religious right. Is this being tolerant of others' views?
When I grew up in the Northland, I thought this area was wonderful. When I moved away, I missed my family and the beautiful landscape. Returning home, the local people were not as nice as I remembered.
Whether you're liberal or conservative, religious or atheist, none of us are all-knowing. We need to get past our arrogance. How does being nasty to someone with an opposite view improve the quality of life?MELANIE KACER