Editorial: Tribune Thumbs

To the Lakes Foundation and Anheuser-Busch.

By late August, Frank Hall Park will have a launch for canoeists and kayakers to set their boats afloat on Albert Lea Lake — all thanks to a $50,000 grant from Anheuser-Busch as part of its Celebrate Your Lakes grant contest. In fact, it will be the first project awarded under Celebrate Your Lakes. How cool is that? The Lakes Foundation applied through distributor Krieger Beverage, and they were successful. The boat launch will be between the fishing pier and the Pelican Breeze II boat dock. The community thanks Anheuser-Busch for its generosity.

 

To the attempted robbery of two hotels.

Pardon us if this comment seems glib about a man facing serious felony charges, but we can’t help but wonder if there is a kernel of truth to this, if the suspect is guilty: When a man attempts to rob with a BB gun pistol two hotels across the street from each other, steals a cellphone and tries to steal a car, that guy probably believes too much of what he sees in the movies. To be sure, we aren’t blaming the entertainment industry. Plenty of people watch action movies and don’t go commit crimes. And it should be noted that in real life, even dumb criminals aren’t that daring. But when someone tries to do in real life what seems like the behaviors seen in the movies — like what happened last week in Albert Lea on East Main Street — we have to shake our heads, roll our eyes and wonder where do the ideas for such outlandish actions come from. Hey, criminal: The movies are just make-believe. Don’t try this at home. Most of all, don’t try this in our town.

 

To citizens and a handful of businesses who donated hanging pots for plants for downtown.

It is great that so many people came forward with an interest in making our community dazzle. Flower pots could be purchased for $60 each through the Albert Lea Tribune, and we experienced an overwhelming number of donations. These folks had an interest in beautifying the Albert Lea downtown. Now, that is what you call “community spirit.” The pots will hold an array of flowers, all meant to spruce up Broadway. Spring has been unusually chilly, but city workers will hang the flower pots soon. The city also will maintain the flowers through the summer. Donors were mentioned in several advertisements that printed in the Tribune.