Remembering Tom Keith, Dayton: votes don’t add up for Viking stadium, mining battle heats up in Wisc.
There are a number of memories of Tom Keith emerging after his passing this weekend. He was known nationally as the sound effects man on A Prairie Home Companion, and he also co-hosted The Morning Show on Minnesota Public Radio for 25 years.
Tom was one of radio's great clowns. He was serious about silliness and worked hard to get a moo exactlyright and the cluck too and the woof. His whinny was amazing -- noble, vulnerable, articulate. He did bagpipes, helicopters, mortars, common drunks, caribou (and elands and elk and wapiti), garbage trucks backing up, handsaws and hammers, and a beautiful vocalization of a man falling from a great height into piranha-infested waters -- Garison Keilor.
Midday looks back at the life and career Tom Keith.
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Guests
Tim Russell: Cast member of A Prairie Home Companion
Sue Scott: Cast member of A Prairie Home Companion
Dale Connelly: New Director for KFAI. Co-host of The Morning Show
Mike Pengra: Producer for 'The Morning Show'
Garrison Keillor: Creator and host of A Prairie Home Companion
Tom Keith, a showman but not a showoff
Tom was not a prima donna or a showoff, which was ironic given that he had such showy talents. His name was known to millions as one of the last surviving radio sound men, but he was not terribly interested in increasing his profile (MPR News).
MN Today has an exhaustive collection of stories about Keith here.
Dayton: Arden Hills Vikings stadium tax plan won't work
In what appears to be a major blow to the chances of a new Vikings football stadium in Arden Hills, Gov. Mark Dayton this afternoon said the votes are not there in the Legislature to let Ramsey County go ahead with a sales tax increase without a public referendum (Big Story Blog).
Minnesota residents will have opportunity to name turkeys being sent to President Obama
Minnesota residents have an opportunity to submit name suggestions for a pair of turkeys that are being raised in order to be presented to President Obama later this month. The top names will be submitted to the White House to be considered for naming the 2011 National Thanksgiving Turkeys (Hometown Source).
Political climate, metal prices heat up mining applications
There's a lot of interest in prospecting for minerals in Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.Three companies want to begin exploration there (Superior Telegram).
Worms ruining Minnesota forests
Many people don't realize that western Great Lakes region has no native earthworms, or that they can harm trees, plants and forests that developed for 10,000 years without earthworms (Duluth News Tribune).
Acme Comedy Co. celebrates 20 years of stand-up
Minneapolis, it turns out, is a very good town for comics. Given the brief life expectancy of comedy clubs, the fact that the Acme Comedy Co. on 1st Street in the North Loop is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week, and by all accounts is going stronger than ever, counts as no small accomplishment (MinnPost).