Thumbs Up/Down - August 24, 2012

• Captain Eddy

Alexandria Fire Department Captain Chris Eddy knelt beside the dog, Harold, that was taken out of a smoke-filled house at 812 Lake Street Wednesday afternoon. Chief Jeff Karrow said that the firefighters make a special effort to search for pets and are sensitive to how much they mean to their owners. “Sometimes people’s pets can be as precious as their siblings or children and we have to remember that,” he said. (Photo by Al Edenloff)

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Firefighters show compassion

Thumbs Up: The house fires that happened in Alexandria late Friday night and on Wednesday afternoon didn’t claim any human lives or injury but there was still the very heartfelt loss of two pets, a cat named Callie and a dog named Harold. Alexandria firefighters found the dog, barely breathing, and rushed it to the Country Vet, where every effort was taken to save its life. Unfortunately, the dog died later that night from smoke inhalation but the firefighters’ efforts at least gave the owner time to say goodbye. A veterinary technician at the Country Vet noted, “Kudos to the two firefighters who rushed Harold to us and stayed with him, very concerned, until they were certain he was critical but stable. They were essential to us reuniting Harold and his owner so that they had some time together before he lost the fight. Our deepest condolences go to his owner for all of her losses.”

Partnerships make event a success

Thumbs Up: Partnerships are essential for a healthy community, according to Alexandria Police Chief Rick Wyffels. On August 7, many partnerships worked to make the annual Community Night Out at City Park a big success. Wyffels sends appreciation to the following contributors – Walmart, Eagles Lodge, Target, Viking Coca Cola, Henry’s Foods, Culvers, Paul’s Small Engine, Frito Lay, Pete’s County Market, Bernick’s Pepsi, Holiday Station Store at 3rd Avenue East, KXRA AM/FM and Z99, and the Beetles baseball team. More than 500 residents came out and enjoyed a picnic type environment with family, friends, and fun, and also learned about city government, police enforcement, and what kind of services are available in the community. “I want to thank the mayor, city council, as well as the different city departments for helping the Alexandria Police Department make this a success,” Wyffels said. “It takes work to put on an event like this, but I assure you that it is worth every ounce because of the partnerships that are created along the way and the commitment that many people give to help make this a success…Partnerships take a commitment and I want to assure the community that our commitment to provide you the best police service possible to keep our community safe without fear and repercussions is our goal, each and every day.”

Road rescuer

Thumbs Up: Latresse Snead of Alexandria sends a “thumbs up” to the gentleman who flagged her down one evening to let her know that her car was leaking. “It was a gas leak and I had my son in the car with me,” she said. “It could have turned into a bad situation, but he took the time to help me out. As I waited for the tow truck he went on his way. My son and I waited on the side of the road in the chilly weather when the gentleman returned to check on us to see if we were OK and if we needed anymore help. This is a reminder that there are still really good people out there in the world. He was one of them.”

Help with a flat

Thumbs Up: Another traveler “thumbs up” comes from Melissa Ashbaugh of Eagle Bend. She and her family were at the Douglas County Hospital on August 15 to get a cast on her broken leg. When they came back to their vehicle, they found a completely flat tire. “As we were sitting there waiting for a tow truck, a family with small children, one also in a cast, asked us if we needed help,” Ashbaugh said. “They so happened to have an air compressor built into their van and filled our tire so we could get to a repair center. They were such nice people and didn’t need to help but did anyway and we were so very grateful.” She also sends a big thanks to Plaza Tire and Auto. “They not only got us in right away to fix my tire but dropped us off at a local restaurant while the repair was being done and then picked us up again,” she said. “Both of these experiences made a less-than-perfect day/situation much easier for me and I will hopefully be able to pass it on in the future.”

Papa John’s delivers

Thumbs Up: Linda Baltes, on behalf of Tastefully Simple’s Relay For Life team, gives a thumbs up to Papa John’s for the pizzas at the Douglas County Relay For Life event. “We were impressed that Papa John’s offered a discount for this event, and as expected, the pizza was fantastic!” she said. “Thank you for supporting Relay For Life in our community.”

A beautiful, peaceful place

Thumbs Up: The many outdoor improvements that have taken place at the Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum in Alexandria are drawing rave reviews far and wide. Here’s one e-mail we received: “Bruce Olson, director, and his untiring team of volunteers have created a magnificent work of art. The Maritime Gardens are becoming the most beautiful and peaceful place in all of Douglas County. The meandering pathways and beautiful water feature create a lovely escape from our busy and sometimes hectic lives…We look forward to seeing what else is to come as the next phase of the gardens is developed.”

Tags: opinion, editorials