Kruzín For Kids raises $2,161
To the Editor:

Our Fourth Annual Childrenís Miracle Network Kruz ënÝForÝKidsÝCharity Poker run was held Saturday, August 11 in the rain.

Can you believe our local River Rats still slugged through each stop? Thanks so very much to all who those generous persons who participated and donated their time, efforts and money.

They raised $2,161 (so far and still counting!)

Special thanks to those of you who really went a step ÝëAbove The Boardí to help - you really madeÝthis Ýa special event ! !

Hope to see you all again next year (August 15, 2008).

Donna & Dan
Lawrence Lake Marina
and Bait Shop,
Brownsville, Minn.

Dairy Queen drops the blizzard
To the Editor:

I was so disappointed with our local Dairy Queen regarding Miracle Treat Day on Aug. 9.

That day we urged several family/friends to go up (ourselves included) and buy Blizzards with proceeds supposedly going to the Childrenís Miracle Network, which is a program that is very near and dear to our familyís heart. The next day I found out (confirmed by an employee) that our particular Dairy Queen did not "participate" in this wonderful cause.

Maybe they had some extenuating circumstances that kept them from participating; I donít know. In that case they should have made this fact known to the public. Instead, all their posters and cups boasted Miracle Treat Day.

How many of us went there that day thinking we were donating to CMN? Perhaps our Dairy Queen in town should make a generous donation to CMN in light of their blunder.

Jennifer Winjum

Caledonia, Minn.

The real story - Shakopee
To the Editor:

This is in answer to Ann Thompsonís letter in the August 15 issue of The Argus.

Shakopee City (31,233 population) is the county seat for Scott County (119,052 population), one of the seven county Metro area. It is the home of Shakopee Womenís State Prison which was built over 20 years ago. When opened in 1986, it housed 93 women. It was built on the site of a former cornfield (ag zoned) on the outer city limits and there was no elementary school or houses in the cornfield. Today, this womenís State Prison is still the only womenís state prison in Minnesota. The facility now consists of 11 buildings and houses 528 women adult inmates in all five levels of security, including homicide (as of 8-13-07). The State and the warden want to build an additional building adding 92 beds to the prison at a cost of about $5 million. The warden and the State wish to build two fences around the prison for the protection of the public. The outer fence would be 10-12 feet high, with black metal pickets between brick or concrete pillars. Inside would be a chain-link fence with alarms and motion detectors. This would replace the 3 foot hedge currently used. It has been stated that children and adults have wandered onto prison grounds. The two fences would prevent inmates from escaping and intruders from getting onto the grounds. The cost is about $5 million. What is the price of a childís life? Any life? In 2004, the OSI apprehended 366 fugitives. Scott Countyís commissioners have little or nothing to do with the Womenís State Prison.

However, Scott Countyís new county jail opened in 2005 in Shakopee City, it was built on the outer city limits. The facility is 88,737 sq. ft., included 160 cells, of which 104 are double bunked for 264 beds. (One bed for every 450 population.) Houston Countyís proposed jail, one bed for every 245 population, 82 beds and 82,000 sq. ft. Scott Countyís population is rapidly increasing and Houston Countyís is decreasing.

In any event, Scott countyís jail has a secure courtroom within the jail. Its mission statement includes, "The mission is to enhance the safety of Scott County citizens:" It is well to note that with the prison and jail, no houses were destroyed and no homes displaced.

In my opinion, jail/prison reform will be happening in the next decade. Currently, there are many acute health care problems with offenders because 90 percent are chemically dependent or abusive and 75 percent are on psychiatric medications. Why build it big if it may be obsolete in 10 years? Why not build it on a site where it can be expanded or changed if needed? God bless.

Larry Salm

Caledonia, Minn.

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Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475

E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com