Abby Faulkner

SARTELL – A Sartell 8th grader has the distinction of representing all of  Minnesota in the 2012 National Geographic Bee in Washington D.C.

Gopi Ramanathan is hopping on a plane today in advance of the contest tomorrow, where 53 other fourth through eighth graders from around the country will compete for the national title and three scholarships totaling $50,000.

This isn’t Ramanathan’s first rodeo. He was the state champion in 2010.

Ramanathan says he’s been fascinated with maps since he was in 1st grade. His family is from Sri Lanka, a fact that has made him particularly interested in the category of human geography.

Ramanathan is excited for the competition – and so are the rest of the students at Sartell Middle School.

The final round of the Bee will air live on the National Geographic channel on Thursday from 8-10 p.m. and will be hosted by Jeopardy’s Alex Trebek.

For more, check out Ramanathan’s video on the National Geographic Bee website.

Abby Faulkner

ST. CLOUD – It’s not uncommon to see canoes making their way down the Mississippi River for long distances – but how many people trek out with a 14 foot aluminum boat and outboard motor to navigate hundreds of miles of river?

A pair of friends is in the middle of doing exactly that.

Drew Erickson of Minneapolis and McKeon Roberts of Grand Rapids, both 22, set out from Grand Rapids last Saturday with the plan to boat all the way to the Twin Cities.

As the two spent Friday night in St. Cloud, Erickson explained how the plan was hatched earlier this year.

The two studied DNR maps of the river’s path prior to the expedition. Erickson says, at first, he and Roberts weren’t entirely sure if it were possible to make it with the heavy boat, fuel and all required gear, through the necessary canoe-sized portage trails.

Roberts says they’ve met with some roadblocks along the 300 + mile trip – one being the Blanchard Dam outside of Royalton.

Roberts adds, making it through the dam site would have been “nearly impossible,” but they were fortunate to meet a fisherman who offered to transport the boat with his car.

Erickson says they anticipate another 2 days of travel before reaching their Minneapolis destination – unless severe weather forces them to make camp for longer than expected.

“Or if we bump into islands,” Erickson says. “Islands usually mean we’re going to have to carry the boat for a while.”

Asked if they’d do it again, the pair agree they would. “Maybe south of Minneapolis, more dams with locks.” Erickson says.

All told, the river trip from Grand Rapids to Minneapolis is 330 miles long, compared to 190 miles by car.

Abby Faulkner

ST. CLOUD – With the State GOP Convention in full swing, it’s definitely been a big weekend for politics in St. Cloud.

However, lawmakers aren’t the only folks in and around the River’s Edge Convention Center during the event.

A small group of ralliers clustered outside the building  on Saturday afternoon with signs.

Their message to lawmakers focused on ending wars and withdrawing troops.

Doug Olson is one of the sign-bearers. He says the group is made up of peace advocates from Brainerd and Little Falls.

Olson says they’re not really protesting the convention. Instead, they’re using it as a stage for sharing their anti-war message. Olson actually supports Ron Paul, who was Friday’s keynote speaker during the convention.

The group decided to break away from a group that had been protesting the convention earlier in the day in front of St. Cloud City Hall which Olson described as “very democratic.”

GOP lawmakers and delegates have been in St. Cloud since Friday, at which time they selected Rosemount-based Kurt Bills as the official candidate to challenge U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar in November’s election.

Today’s news from WJON:

– MN Republicans select candidate to run against Senator Amy Klobuchar
– State labor analyst says unemployment rate drops
– Senator Klobuchar speaking out against hidden phone charges
– Better Business Bureau creates anti-scam program for service members

WJON News.
On the Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

In this afternoon’s WJON News headlines:

– Republicans in St. Cloud choosing Senate candidate
– President to sign soldier paid-time-off legislation
– Campfire restrictions issued in Boundary Waters Canoe Area
– Benton County gets money for Highway 10 interchange

WJON News.
On the Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

Getty Images

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has repeated her pledge to get gas prices down to $2 a gallon.

Bachmann also made that pledge while running for President.  The idea of $2 gas has been met with skepticism from some experts.  What do you think, is it possible?

Getty Images

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann seems to have changed her position on the Bush Era Tax Cuts, which are set to expire at the end of this year.

During an interview with WJON news today (Friday), Bachmann says the tax cuts need to be extended to avoid a tax increase.

However, back in February, she told us she would vote “no” on the extension, and called out Speaker of the House John Boehner for going along with the plan.

We challenged Bachmann on her change of position.

Bachmann also went record on CNN’s State of the Union program in November of 2011 as being against the tax cut extension.  The tax cuts were going to expire at the end of last year, but got extended through the end of this year, Congress man act before the November election to extend them once again.

Here’s this morning’s headlines on WJON:

- St. Cloud bank robbed
- Get a tour of hospital expansion
- Waite Park mail facility to close in February
- GOP convention in St. Cloud
- Nominate someone for ‘Rock On’ award

WJON News
On The Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

In this afternoon’s WJON News headlines:

– Minnesota’s unemployment rate dips in April
– St. Cloud man indicted on weapons charge|
– State Republican Convention held in St. Cloud this weekend
– Mosquito hatch nearing

WJON News.
On the Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

Here’s today’s headlines on WJON:

- Wind Advisory today
- St. Cloud felon caught with a gun
- GOP convention in St. Cloud
- Whooping cough cases up
- Conditions ripe for mosquitoes

WJON News
On The Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

I was a country kid going to a school filled with “townies”, which automatically meant I’d better know my place.

There were so many rooms and floors to try to remember which class was where, especially confusing to a kid who had 3 other students in his class in one of the last “country schools” in Minnesota.

And of course, all those new girls…

Good thing I had my trusty new wristwatch to look at whenever I met one in the hallway!

The Lincoln students seemed so much more confident and ready to make the change than I remember being at that age.

Listen to what I mean:

iStockPhoto

ST. CLOUD – The Republican State Convention is coming back to St. Cloud for the first time in several years.  They’ll be at the River’s Edge Convention Center on Friday and Saturday.

GOP Chairman Pat Shortridge says one of their biggest tasks is endorsing a candidate for U.S. Senate.

Shortridge says Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul is scheduled to speak to the crowd on Friday night.  They’ll also elect national delegates and alternates to the GOP convention in Tampa in August.

This is expected to be the largest event ever held at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

Here’s this morning’s headlines on WJON:

- Eugene Rivetts sentenced
- United Way hires new CEO
- Red Cross offers preparedness test
- Mosquito season has arrived
- Food truck popular in St. Cloud

WJON News
On The Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

In this afternoon’s WJON News headlines:

– Minnesota National Guard members have their paid leave restored
– Eugen Rivetts sentenced in fatal Hummer crash
– Father who abandoned son gets probation
– North Dakota moves to number 2 in oil production

WJON News.
On the Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

Jim Maurice

ST. CLOUD – With popular TV shows like “The Great American Food Truck Race” on the Food Network, food trucks are a hot new trend.  For Joey and Melissa Ryan of St. Cloud the show inspired them to buy a truck of their own.

It’s the second year they’ve owned The Grub Truck.  Melissa says they offer a few unique menu options for their customers.

They set-up on the street in downtown St. Cloud every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Melissa’s mom, Sandie Hawn, also helps out.

The menu includes a variety of flavors of rice bowls and tacos.

They plan to run through October.

Jim Maurice

Today’s top stories from WJON News:

– Eugene Rivetts sentenced to 10 years in prison
– United Way names new CEO
– Red Cross develops tool to assist in emergencies
– More Memorial Day travelers to drive over flying

WJON News
On The Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

Here’s this morning’s headlines on WJON:

- Car runs into convenience store
- Iowa man accused of assault
- Sartell-St. Stephen settles teacher contract
- District 742 makes energy upgrades
- St. Cloud Band turns 125 years old

WJON News
On The Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

Jim Maurice

ST. CLOUD – The St. Cloud Municipal Band is celebrating it’s 125th anniversary this year, and they’re just as popular as ever.

No one seems to be sure of the specific year the band started, but the first recorded mention of the band was in 1887 — 125 years ago.  They bill themselves as one of the oldest municipal bands in the nation.  At one time the band was known as the only band in the nation to play while riding bicycles.  They’ve performed all over the world including trips to Beijing, China, Spalt, Germany, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Mark Kaehler is the business manager, and also a member of the band.  He says part of the reason for the band’s longevity is their members tend to stick around for a while, including a few members who just left the band after 50 years.

Kaehler says they limit their numbers to about 50 members, and they have a waiting list to join.  They’re funded by the city and they also get grant money from the Land and Legacy Amendment.  Kaehler says they practice every Monday night and perform about 25 free concerts every year.

They kicked-off their 2012 season with a concert on Monday night at the Paramount Theatre.  One of the members of the audience says she’s watched the band perform several times.

You can find the band at the VA for their Memorial Day ceremony, they perform regularly at Barden Park, and at Hester Park on the Fourth of July.

Short video of their performance at the Paramount Theatre on Monday, 14th, 2012.

And here are some photos from throughout the history of the St. Cloud Municipal Band, courtesy of The Stearns History Museum archives.

In this afternoon’s WJON News headlines:

– Sauk Rapids woman critically hurt while trying to cross road
– Supreme Court denies Petters hearing
– Teen crashes car into Holdingford convenience store
– Toll road bill stalls in Minnesota House

WJON News.
On the Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

Today’s top stories from WJON News:

– One man injured, another jailed following crash in Paynesville
– Two teens arrested for alleged robbery
– Sauk Rapids votes to buy land for possible liquor store
– St. Cloud Municipal Band celebrates 125th anniversary

WJON News
On The Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.