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•••••JULY 27, 2022•••••
Early Morning Outing When the temperature is has been near 100 degrees for several days and promises to stay that way for several more, it is wise to get the outside things done early in the morning. I have found there are not too many things that must be done outside when the temperature is that hot. One exception is fishing. It is not good for a person to go too many days without fishing. It was 82 already at 6 A.M. Saturday. I thought it best to get out and get my fishing done before it got any warmer. I grabbed a minimal amount of tackle and headed to the lake with Jag, the terrier. He enjoys hunting along the bank as well as helping me in the boat. Billie, the poodle, had to stay behind. Two dogs in a boat is too much. This is especially true when they are feeling fine on a sunny morning. It is hard to concentrate on the task at hand with two dogs wrestling in one’s boat. Jag jumped into the boat when I loaded the fishing rod and tackle box. He wanted to go boating rather than hunting this morning. The water was like a sheet of glass as we motored away from (Outdoors cont’d on pg 2)
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the dock, past the weed bed surrounding the lake. Jag stood on the bow, watching intently. I am not sure if he was watching for ice bergs or alligators, but he must have done a good job as we did not have any problems with either. I snapped a small orange plastic grub to my line, hoping to chance into a school of crappie out in open water. I ran it fairly deep, knowing the first foot or two of water would be warm. I was not able to find the crappie but did catch a couple of nice bluegill. I thought about keeping them for a lunch of fried fish, but I would rather eat crappie. I trolled near shore and cast toward the weed bed. On the first cast there, I reeled in about five pounds of weeds. I switched to a surface lure after that. I was not going to spend more time getting weeds off my hook than fishing. A red and white hula popper has been my longtime favorite. I cast parallel to the shore and retrieved it with short jerks. This causes the lure to pop as it makes a small splash, mimicking a feeding fish. Aggressive bass are drawn to the sound hoping to either eat the feeding fish or whatever they were feeding on.
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After several casts, I finally got a hit. A nice little bass, about two pounds, came out the water and smacked the lure. Jag, who had been losing interest in fishing, was suddenly on full alert. He was all over the boat watching me reel in the fish and tried to grab it for me when I brought it into the boat. I was able to keep the dog away long enough to get the fish back into the water. Fishing slowed down and I decided to move to the end of the island. A narrow channel runs between the weed beds that border the shore and the island. I cast into the opening and my lure was immediately attacked. A big old bass smacked the lure with a tremendous splash. Jag knew we had something good so
being the helpful little dog he is, he jumped into the water to catch my fish for me. The fish made a run under the boat and Jag lost sight of it. Much to my relief, he swam to the island so I could land my fish without assistance. The bass was able to turn my boat around as it headed for open water. After a good fight, I was able to boat the big bass. I estimated it to be close to five pounds as I released to back to catch again. Deciding to quit on a high note, I headed back toward the dock. Jag spent a bit longer hunting on the island and swam to the nearest shore. He ran around the edge of the lake, getting to the dock just as I landed. We were both satisfied with the results of our early morning outing.
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for more.”
The Illgen City Motorcycle Gang I can’t say that I’ve always wanted to start a motorcycle gang, but the concept has been pressing me for the last year. That’s when I bought a 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650. It was identical to the new bike I purchased in high school. I thought I could stir up a little excitement in Illgen City with my “new to me” ride. Just down the road from our house, Illgen City was once the proud home of the Aztec Hotel. It was a halfway stop for people going from Duluth to Grand Marais and on to Canada. You could get a good meal, fill your automobile with gasoline, and if your timing was right, you could catch a movie. (They were shown every two weeks). As Illgen City grew, there was a demand for more lodging. The Aztec Hotels’ twelve rooms were no longer sufficient to meet the needs of traveling public. So, the addition of the Cabinola Court offered thirty Quonset hut-style cabins. Each had one bed and a small bathroom. Next, the daughter of Rudy and Mary Ann Illgen (the city’s founders) opened The Whispering Pines Motel.
I rode my motorcycle through Illgen City and turned off the highway to my house. My neighbor was in his driveway, so I stopped to show him my bike. “Why are you doing with that,” Gene asked? “I’m going to start a motorcycle gang in Illgen City,” I told him. “Would you like to join me?” “I haven’t had a motorcycle for years,” Gene admitted. “No problem,” I said. “You have a tractor. You can join the gang with your tractor until you get another bike.” “I don’t know about that,” Gene replied, “I’m eighty. I don’t think Lois will let me join a gang.” I asked another neighbor if he’d like to join with his riding lawn mower, but he declined. So did my neighbor, who has a golf cart. I know these aren’t ideal rides for a gang, but living in a suburb (population eight people) of a city with a population of 10 (I only know of one guy who lives there), I had to be somewhat flexible. Starting a motorcycle gang was more complicated than I thought, but I wasn’t going to give up on the notion. Winter came, and I put my bike in storage until spring.
My daughter Sydney, and her boyfriend John, bought a pair of scooters. John’s ride is black; Sydney’s is bright yellow. They’re basically mopeds but have fat tires and look In her day, Illgen City pretty cool. Not only was a vibrant little are they fun to ride, town at the junction of but with high gasoHighways 1 and 61. line prices, it makes I like to tell people, good sense to have a “I live in the suburbs vehicle that gets over of Illgen City.” But one hundred miles per today, it’s just a sign gallon. Sydney needthat marks the intered a couple of things section. A sign on the from the grocery highway once read, store, “Come on, Dad, “Illgen City, population let’s go ride the scoot4 with plenty of room ers.” So, we saddled
up and rode to Super One. It was only seven blocks to the store, but that short ride with another biker rekindled my aspirations to someday have my own motorcycle gang. I feel like you have to have at least three members to be a gang. Still, people seemed to clear a path when they saw us ride into the parking lot. They must have known we were future motorcycle gangsters.
have John come back and get you in his truck,” she said. “You don’t need to do that,” I replied. “You go ahead and ride home. I’ll get it started and be a long in a bit.” I didn’t want my daughter to see her dad doing the walk of shame. So, once she was out of sight, I set out on foot.
I wasn’t feeling like such a tough guy pushing a motor scooter down the sidewalk. “I had no idea there was a slight Sydney put the groincline on Superior ceries in her backpack, then started her Street,” I complained. Although it was a bike. Unfortunately, my bike wouldn’t start. small bike, it started “I’ll ride home and (Just the Other Day cont’d on pg 4)
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(Just the Other Day cont’d from pg 3)
getting heavy after three-tenths of a mile, pushing it up a steep hill. “When I get my motorcycle gang, I’m Wapello County has over 500 active warrants. War- going to make all the rant Wednesday’s are designed to help law enforcemembers check their ment locate wanted persons, with the public’s help. gas before we take a Do NOT attempt to apprehend these individuals. ride.” So, I filled the Instead, call the Ottumwa Police Department at (641) 683-0661 or Wapello County Sheriff ’s Depart- tank to the top – it ment at (641) 684-4350 if you have any information only took a little over on their whereabouts. Your tips can be made anony- one gallon. After that, mously. the bike fired right up, and I rode back to the house.
Warrant Wednesday
Name: Damian Wayne Barndt DOB: 02/15/1978 Warrant Issued: 07/20/2022 Warrant Details: Failure to Appear Original Charge: Theft 3rd Degree
Name: Maria Theresa Clark DOB: 01/30/1981 Warrant Issued: 07/18/2022 Warrant Details: Criminal Mischief 5th Degree
Name: Gerald Orval Porter DOB:11/30/1966 Warrant Issued: 07/18/2022 Warrant Details: Violation of Parole Original Charge: Prohibited Acts
Name: Angela Turner DOB: 07/29/1970 Warrant Issued: 08/05/2021 Warrant Details: Failure to Appear Arraignment: Possession of Methamphetamine & Marijuana
A few weeks later, John stayed with the kids at home while Sydney and I rode our bikes to Canal Park. We were going to Vitta Pizza, but this time I rode my own motorcycle and followed Sydney on her scooter. While cruising down London Road, another rider joined us. “Three biker’s riding together,” I said, “I wonder if he would want to join the Illgen City Motorcycle Gang?” Unfortunately, the third cyclist turned off on a side street before I could ask him. I was enjoying the sensation of having my own gang, even if it only lasted for about a mile. We’d have to be together for at least a day to call it a real gang. Our pizza was delicious. We bought an extra pizza to take to John and the girls. They would have to reheat it anyway, so Sydney and I rode down to the canal, hoping to see a ship pass under the lift bridge. We decided to head home with no ships scheduled to arrive or depart. I re-checked the bungee cords to ensure the box wouldn’t come loose from my luggage rack, then we headed home. I grumbled, “I’ll bet real motorcycle gang leaders don’t deliver pizza.” A few weeks later, my friend Ann sent me a message. Her husband Roger and two of his friends (possibly two or three more) would ride their motorcycles around the Lake Superior area. They would spend one day riding up the north shore from Two Harbors to Grand Portage. She asked if I had any suggestions for places to visit while they were here. I sure did, but first, I had to ask, “Do you think they would mind if I
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rode along with them.” the line. When we returned to Illgen City, I met Roger (77), I turned onto Highway Donavan (72), and 1 and pulled off on the Gerry (78) for breakshoulder. I was going fast at Judy’s Café to tell the members in Two Harbors. Two of my plan: We would things came to mind: stop at each house 1) I don’t have to in my neighborhood, teach a bunch of kids revving our motors, how to ride, and 2) I and demand they pay sure hope I can still for “protection.” I was ride when I’m 78. So thinking a nickel a I told my new compa- week, but if anyone dres of my plans then didn’t have the cash, asked if they would we would accept like to join the Illgen cookies or fresh garCity Motorcycle Gang. den vegetables. (As a “We’ll drive through new gang just starting, Illgen City on our way we’d have to be flexto Grand Portage,” I ible.) said. Unfortunately, two Breakfast was finmembers were tired ished, and we were and wanted to ride ready to ride. Before back to their motel leaving, I inquired, in Two Harbors. You “Does anyone need need three members gas before we head to be a gang; only two north?” With plenty of of us were left. That’s fuel, we fired up our okay; I talk tough, but bikes. I expected to we weren’t the kind hear a ground-shaking of gang that would rumble, like when bother people anyway. The Patriot Guard Roger and I rode up rides through a town. the hill to my hood, However, with two where I showed him Honda Goldwing’s, my house. After he a midsize Kawasaki, left, I cracked open an and one Harley David- ice-cold New Glarus, son, the noise wasn’t Moon Man, and sat on very impressive. Later my deck. that day, I told one member on a GoldI thought about my wing, “If it wasn’t for now disbanded gang. your tachometer, you We’re a little older, wouldn’t even know and our motorcycles your motor was runweren’t very loud. ning.” We shared a We’re probably the good laugh about that. only gang in America with business hours We enjoyed stops at from eight to five. I Gooseberry Falls and laughed, “The Illgen the Cross River. We City Motorcycle Gang: had lunch in Grand membership four, with Marais along the way. plenty of room for After touring the Trad- more.” ing Post at Grand Portage, we filled our gas Say what you will, but tanks before heading at the end of the day, south. The four of us the Illgen City Morode together for a full torcycle Gang finally day; we were officially came to be, and you a motorcycle gang. can’t bet your last dollar; I’ll be reorganizing As the gang leader, the members and we I rode at the head of will ride again!