My Stories Of Life

Click To Play *QUICKTIME *PhoneThree Cold Spring residents were honored for their volunteer work at the 2007 Chamber Holiday Banquet held on December 5th at The Great Blue Heron. Chosen to receive the 2007 HomeTown Pride Awards were Joe Willenbring, Theresa Larson and Duane Kuss.In this story you meet Duane Kuss, who is very active at Peace Lutheran Church, the Cold Spring Area Maennechor, the Chamber of Commerce, 2020 Cold Spring, and the 2007 "Vote Yes" Referendum campaign along with other local organizations.Click here to check out other 2007 Hometown Pride Award Winners Joe Willenbring and Theresa Larson

Click To PlayThe 400 Club in Rockville Minnesota hosted their annual vintage snowmobile race on Pleasant Lake. It was the coldest day of the winter this year, but that didn’t stop the racers or spectators from coming out and seeing some fantastic racing. This event serves as a warm-up for many of the riders who are also participating in one of the regions biggest snowmobile races of the year, the One Lunger 100. Congratulations to all that participated in this event and special thanks to the 400 Club for a wonderful job hosting all of the racers and their families.

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Click To Play*QUICKTIME ` *Phone A year ago, the Sand River Hilton V trailer was hauled onto the property. Last spring we took a first try at leveling the 70 foot building, last fall we put in the two gas heaters and the new front door, and in this story we clear the trees around it to allow more sunlight in to keep things dry and to prevent trees from falling on the trailer. This six minute story demonstrates how to fell a tree that is only 4-6 feet away from the trailer you're trying to protect.

Click To Play*QUICKTIME *Phone This story will provide a flash back for many who watch it.Back a dozen or so years ago, my brother-in-law and mybrother were riding snowmobiles on the Snake River betweenPine City, MN and Lake Pokegama... about 5 miles west of town.It was at night and my brother-in-law mistakenly wenttoo wide on the river as he was approaching the lake andended up driving right into open water. The video you'reabout to watch shows the same location he went in at butduring the day. It also shows his nephew, Ryan, purposelycrossing the water on his snowmobile.Here's Ryan's quote about snowmobiling on water..."When first going for it you know that if you go downthere are going to be some big problems!! It was justme and Matt Furlong no other spectators except a vanstopped with it's family on top of the bridge towatch. Huge risk factor on the river and it gets yourheart pumping. You even get short of breath whenthinking over it. BUT THE FEELING GOING ACROSS ISEXHILARATING. It was pretty neat that the snowmobiledidn't slow on the water, in fact it still accelerateswhile going across. A few trips across later I wasable to back off to half throttle."

Click To Play *QUICKTIME Here's a quick story where Duane sets the stage for the Kansas/Tree Felling weekend. Duane is on the road to the Sand River Hilton passing through the towns of Olglvie, Mora and Quamba. He's listening to Kansas all along the way and is pretty hyped for the coming weekend.

Click To PlayHere's a short little clip I took with my video phone just before we were headed in to see the KANSAS concert at the casino on the southwest end of Milacs Lake. Todd, Jerry, Duane, Jason and Jason's buddy Jesse.Our journey actually began back at the Sand River Hilton hunting shack where we all gathered that Friday afternoon. The picture to the left shows Jesse and Todd riding in the back seat of Duane's 1995 Cadillac. Our 65 mile road trip which took us from Sandstone through Finlayson, across to the west side of Lake Milacs and finally around the south side of Milacs through Isle, Wahkon and Cove until finally arriving at the Grand Casino. Click To Play Here's a favorite of many a KANSAS fan. Carry On Our Wayward Son. Although the video is pretty funky, I think most will enjoy the sound track. Click To Play Here Todd and Jerry chat a little about how the concert went as they leave the hall.During the concert each of us were seated in different spots scattered throughout the hall. Jesse, Jason's good buddy, made his way to the front row and before the night was over, grabbed himself one of the drummer's drum sticks as it was flying through the air. Pretty awesome if you ask me.

QUICKTIME (Best Quality) or FLASH (PC Users)Here is another 8MM film clips from back in 1962. Duane Kuss is SLIP N SLIDING with the rest of the neighborhood kids. Rick, Gary & Dennis Vohnutka and Vic Sang are joining Duane in the running, leaping and belly sliding. Lori Jo Kuss also shows up when her father Daune throws her down the Slip N Slide for her first experience. In the very end you'll see a great clip of Lori and Arla (pregnant with Todd).

QUICKTIME (Best Quality) or FLASH (PC Users)Here are some 8MM film clips from back in 1959 and 1963. They show Arla & Daune Kuss along with their good friend and business partner John Godava (Uncle John). This film was shot at C.R. & Selma Moore's lake home on Pokegama Lake just outside Pine City, Minnesota. They were all water skiing behind a wood boat that Daune and John built themselves called the Lori Jo.