Last run on Duluth News Tribune Press...

Here's a fascinating You Tube video of the January 18th final run for the last press to put out the Duluth News Tribune while I worked there. (See it HERE.) My memory is vague but I think this one was purchased from Houston many years ago (around 25 years ago) and upgraded a few times. When I started work in 1963 an older press was running and that lasted a good 10-15 years before this press replaced it. My understanding is that there will no longer be a downtown press running, with a new press and system operating out of an Air Park.

Twin Ports–Duluth Minnesota and Superior Wisconsin–politics reflect national divide...

From "Twinned Cities Now Following Different Paths" by Monica Davey, New York Times, January 12, 2014: 

• "But these days, when residents cross the bridge, they enter starkly different political territories. Since Republicans in Wisconsin took control of the State Legislature and governor’s office in 2011, and since Democrats gained full dominance in Minnesota last year, people here have watched essential elements of their daily lives — their savings plans, job expectations, personal relationships and health insurance — veer apart."

• "The states did not always seem so different. Animosity between Packers fans and Vikings fans once seemed the widest divide. Both Duluth and Superior lean Democratic. Both have their share of Lutheran and Catholic churches. People buy their clothes in Duluth, their cigarettes in Superior. They ride mountain-biking trails and join book clubs in Duluth, then cross back for a burger at Superior’s Anchor Bar."  

Today's front page of the New York Times  includes an interesting story by Monica Davey (read HERE) about the political dilemma now facing our own Twin Ports, Duluth Minnesota and Superior Wisconsin. The political divide between the two states' politics has grown wider since the last gubernatorial elections and the divides in our nation as a whole. Minnesota returned to a Democrat governor by electing Mark Dayton and Wisconsin voted in Scott Walker who soon after brought war on labor unions and changed that state's politics drastically.

Interestingly enough Times reporter Davey did not consult Mayor Don Ness of Duluth or Bruce Hagen of Superior–or any the usual political leaders. Instead she relied on tapping into the culture of the communities by interviews with owners of the Flame Bars (located in both communities), teachers living in Duluth but working in Wisconsin and a Duluth business executive.

A video in the Times web site does give a more positive perspective than the print story interview of the business executive. The executive shared that while faced with what is assumed to be temporary added business taxes that has hurt his company, Minnesota did give his company incentives initially for expansion and also discussed the high quality of life these taxes afford.

This dilemma facing our Twin Ports reflect the conflict in our nation. The story is well done and definitely worth the read.

World War Two reflections...

Check out my upcoming post on Zenith City Online about Duluth Civil Defense blackouts during World War II. My dad, too old for this war and having served in WW I, served as a civil defense leader in charge of the West End neighborhood blackouts.

Jim Heffernan's December 1941
Pitman calendar relic

While writing the post, I glanced away to notice a special piece of art hanging on our wall that reflected the war efforts during that era. 

This picture of a 1941 calendar kept by my dad in our basement, remained in the home I grew up in for 30 years–until the home was sold following my parents' death. The statue of liberty, surrounded by elements of war, is a testimony to the impending involvement by the U.S. in that war and most prophetic in view of December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was bombed.

A good friend was nice enough to save the calendar relic by delicately framing it for us and it now hangs on the wall in my home.

It's a piece of history and a wonderful work of art in itself.

January 6, 2014 update. Read the ZCO post HERE.