WSU sets picnic at Farmers Park

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 5, 2001 -- The county park at the Arches near Stockton has been reserved for the annual Winona State University employee fall picnic. The picnic, at Farmers Park, culminates a faculty orientation week. Activities begin at 4:30 p.m., an outdoor dinner at 6.

Student prez: Smokers getting what's due

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 5, 2001 -- Smokers can blame themselves for a strict new non-smoking policy at Winona State University, said student President Jason Fossum. Nonsmokers in the smoke-free zones inside the dorms had complained for months about smoke coming in through open doors and windows from other students smoking outside, Fossum said. "Unfortunately, smokers stretched the dorm policy too far, which is why the campus-wide one was established," he said. The new policy, effective later this month, bars smoking within 25 feet of all campus buildings. Fossum called the new policy fair, provided it is enforced. "My concern is that it won't be enforced at every building," Fossum said. Reporter: Laura Putzer Background: Draping campus in yellow tape

FOSSUM Enforcement uncertainty

Campus employee strike possible Sept. 17

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 5, 2001 -- Negotiators for Minnesota's largest state employees union, which represents janitors and secretaries at Winona State and Southeast Tech, urged members to vote to strike. Peter Benner, state AFSCME Council 6 president, issued this timetable for a possible strike:

Aug. 18: The union's Negotiations Assembly reviews the state's last offer and decides whether to conduct a full membership vote.

Aug. 27: All 19,000 members vote this week whether to strike.

Sept. 1: Ballots are counted.

Sept. 4: The union files an intent-to-strike notice with the state.

Sept. 17:The strike begins.

Rascals: Still rockin' after 15 years

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 5, 2001 -- For 15 years Craig and Barbara Timm, a brother and sister, have been booking regional bands into Rascals on the downtown bar strip. If it weren't for the live music, Rascals would be "just another bar," Craig says. A national music publication, the band and club review Pro Star, has had Rascals at 2 on its four-point scale for eight years. "A 2 is pretty good for Winona." Timm said. Pro Star judges clubs on band performance quality.

EXPANDED COVERAGE Reporter: Sanjeev Misra

Timm said that Thursday through Saturday performances keep his business "alive." Band-night profits are "generous" compared to the rest of the week, he said The Timms book bands referred by fellow club managers or bands with a "good reputation." Timm said few of the 20 bands that play at Rascals get booked on a regular basis. "Not all of them make the cut," he said. Timm said the crowd decides who stays and who goes. He said sometimes customers pay little attention to a band. Other bands, he said, have led to customer requests: "You have got to get these guys back again."

What bands get the best reviews? Timm quickly names Schwa, Potatopanotis, Tim Mahoney, and the Trippin' Billies. Schwa, a funk rock Winona band, has been playing in the area for 10 years. Potatopanotis, a funk rock Winona State-based band, has been gaining popularity in recent months. Timm said. Timm calls Tim Mahoney, a popular acoustic-rock performer from Minneapolis, a great guitarist. The Trippin' Billies are an alternative-music Chicago band that plays at Rascals in the fall and spring. The Billies are known for their cover songs of the nationally known Dave Matthews Band.

Timm takes pride that one Rascals' performer has gone on to greater feats. Johnny Lang, a 22-year-old classic-rock artist, played at Rascals five times. Now that Lang is with a major recording label, he's far beyond Rascals' budget.

Timm attributes his and his sister's success to 15 years of hard work. The Timms purchased Rascals in 1986. It was a typical Winona night strip bar, even more rundown than some. They remodeled the place to host live performances, adding a stage and first-class stereo system. Performers often comment that the Rascals stereo is the best they have used, Timm said.