Rehearsing at the depot From classic cars to chili contests, from flamenco music to progressive country music, from crafters and games, from an historical theatre to reunions, froma a parade to fireworks, this Staples Railroad Days weekend has it all.

And a little thing like street construction centered in downtown Staples and extending on Second Ave. (old Hwy. 10) in both directions isn’t slowing down the festivities.

The contractor for the street construction, Tom’s Backhoe, has said he will try to have everything “buttoned up” but the public should be alert when they walk or drive across the construction zone. He also will try to keep the north-south cross streets open as much as possible.

This is a summary of the weekend’s activities in roughly chronological order.

Medallion Hunt

Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union is sponsoring a Medallion Hunt, a new activity for this year. The credit union began posting clues on Its website and at its Staples office Monday. The winner must present the medallion at the credit union during business hours and will be announced at about 11 a.m. at the chili cookoff.

Young people in the Staples area had the chance to work with renowned folksinger-songwriter Charlie Maguire recently, composing songs for a play about the railroad, which will be performed at the Northern Pacific Depot during Railroad Days. Maguire worked with the students (ages six - 13) for a week and together they penned numerous songs, including “Little Little Snow Flakes,” “It Takes all Kinds to Run a Railroad” and “Please Take Me for a Ride on a Train.” Playwright Nelsen Inz helped write vignettes (based on oral histories of local rails who worked for the railroad in the Staples area) for the play, which will be performed Sunday, Aug. 29, at noon and 2 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Staples Historical Society and is made possible by a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council. Pictured above, from left, are Brooke Jackson, Hailey Koenig, Emily Ladd, Maguire, Megan Lindgren and Hope Dumpprope. Pictured in lower photo, from left, are Maguire, Molly Lindgren, Samantha Mrazak and Rose Han. Not pictured are Cade Bestland, Breeze Bestland, Megan Han and Noah Han. (Staples World photos by Dawn Timbs) THURSDAY, AUG. 26

Michael “Dante” Conley was recently named the 2010 king of the hobos at the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa. Conley resides in Staples and will be available for conversation and autographs at the Grand Opera House in the Batcher Block Thursday, Aug. 26, from 6-9 p.m. during Railroad Days. He’s pictured here with Colleen Donley, owner of the Batcher Block, which will also have a flamenco guitar and dance concert at that same time. (Submitted photo) Batcher Block

Michael “Dante” Conley, the newly crowned Hobo King, will be available for conversation and autographs at the Batcher Opera Hall from 6-9 p.m.

Conley of Staples was crowned “2010 King of the Hobos” during this year’s National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa.

Colleen Donley, owner of Batcher Opera Hall, said the Grand Opera House will be the official home of King Dante’s Exhibit of Dreams.

Donley is also offering a performance Thursday evening of flamenco guitar and dance featuring Sendaro Flamenco, a Twin Cities based group. Tickets are available at the door or at Lefty’s.

The Batcher Block house band, C. Lionel Frost of Retro Cowboy, will also be performing Thursday through Saturday.

Mini-Golf

The Staples Business Group is once again offering a mini-golf tourney at participating businesses during business hours Thursday and Friday.

Businesses design the holes and offer individual prize drawings. Entry forms can be picked up and dropped off at any participating business. Three prize winners will split the entry fees.

Participating businesses include Movie Shack and Electronics, Staples Thrift and Gift, Curves, Iron Hills Gun and Pawn Shop, Stomping Grounds Coffee House, Staples Dairy Queen, Wayne’s Electric, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Longbella Drug, Staples Bakery and Convenience, Staples World, Giza Plumbing and Heating, Coast True Value, First International Bank and Trust and LMH Embroidery.

Special award

A program featuring the presentation of a life-saving award and the announcement of the parade grand marshals will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Staples Fire Hall. The public is invited to attend. See related story on page 1.

FRIDAY, AUG. 27 The mini-golf tourney will continue.

Sales

City-wide garage sales will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday or as the individual sales note. Sacred Heart Area School is also having a sale from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Living Legacy Gardens will have a perennial plant sale from 8 a.m.-noon

The Staples Historical Society and Friends of the Staples Public Library will have a book sale at the depot from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and will continue from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Car show events

Because of street construction the pre-car show has been moved for this year only from Nyhus Chevrolet to the parking lot of the new Ernie’s on Hwy. 10 east. It will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Twisted Sisters will have their kickoff party from 5-8 p.m., including food and music.

Other Friday events

Lakewood Foundation has its benefit golf tournament all day at The Vintage golf course.

National Joint Powers Alliance will have free ice cream sundaes from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at their location at 200 1st. St., Staples.

Water Wars will be from 6-8 p.m. at the Staples Community Center parking lot.

The Grand Opera House will have concerts from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.

R & R Ranch features live music Friday and Saturday nights, part of their Up North Motorcycle Ride.

The Stomping Grounds Coffee House will have open mic night from 8-10 p.m. The evening will start at 7 p.m. with a show by Orvs Avenue.

Fireworks will begin at dusk at the airport.

Staples Cinema will offer “Ramona & Beezus,” a free G-rated movie, after the fireworks.

SATURDAY, AUG. 28

Early risers can start the day with breakfast at Trinity Lutheran Church from 7:30-10 a.m.

All School Reunion

Registration for the All School Reunion is from 8 a.m.- noon at Staples Motley High School cafeteria. Classrooms nearby have been reserved for classes to get together.

Photographer Ken Klose will be available from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to take class and group photos.

Pieces of the old gym floor will be offered for sale to alumni and other interested individuals. The floor was saved when a new floor was installed as part of the renovation of the high school auditorium and gym. It is expected that the center circle will be offered for sale in a silent auction.

LHS Bus tours

Lakewood Health System will be offering tours of their facilities to alumni and other interested people. Mini-buses will leave the cafeteria door at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Stops will be made at Lakewood Pines, Lakewood Health System Senior Campus, Lakewood Manor and the main campus, which includes the hospital and clinic.

Railroad Days Dash

The Railroad Days Dash, a 5K run/walk, is back for the second year.

The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Staples Alliance Church. Registration will close at 8 a.m. Four or more runners can race as a team this year.

The route will run north and south primarily on 8th and 5th streets in Staples, with Prairie Avenue, Warner Road and 3rd Avenue being the main east-west connections.

This year the course will be certified by USA Track and Field.

Another new feature will be a Junior Dash beginning at 9:15 a.m. for children 12 and under. Registration will be from 8-9:15 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Kinship of Todd and Wadena Counties.

Anyone interested in being a participant or a volunteer, in putting together a team or being an event sponsor can contact Nick Schultz at schultzn5@yahoo.com or call 218-894-1201. See www.railroaddaysdash.com for more information and for registration forms

Car show

The Still Cruisin’ Car Club is expecting over 700 cars for their 15th annual car show Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Staples Elementary School.

Vehicles entering the show will be directed off Highway 10 onto either First (NJPA) or Second St. NE (Burger King) to head north and enter the elementary school grounds. Participants will be eligible for many door prizes including two engines. A used car corral and a swap meet of auto related items will be available.

The car club also has arranged for vendors and concessions on the grounds.

For more information see www.stillcruisingcarclub. com or call Russ Jenkins at 218-894-3450.

Chili Cook-off and Craft Show

The location of the Chili Cook-off has been changed. The teams and all other activities associated with the cook-off will be located at the school athletic area off 3rd St. NE just south of the tennis courts and north of the baseball field.

The two blocks of 3rd St. from Summit Ave. to the school (behind the fire hall and Twin City Optical) will be closed for the event.

Tents will be set up for the teams, who will be able to start cooking at 8 a.m. Saturday. Teams are encouraged to bring in their equipment the night before.

Chili will be available to the public from 11:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. This year will also feature a Hot Pepper eating contest.

Bandstand entertainment begins at 11 a.m. with the Just For Kix dancers. From noon-3 p.m. there will be a karaoke contest.

Craft vendors, food booths and informational booths will be set up on the grass on the north and east sides of Twin City Optical’s parking lot from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Congregational UCC Church of Staples will once again have their penny auction from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

A beer garden will be available on the west side of the fire hall sponsored by Captain Ron’s Sports Bar and Grill. The Staples Fire Department will grill brats and hot dogs in the same area from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

A two-person bean bag team competition will be held across 3rd Street west of the fire hall from 10 a.m.-noon. Children’s games sponsored by Sacred Heart, Wadena Armory and Early Childhood Education will also be set up in that area from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

CT Pedal Pull will be on Dower Ave. with registration opening at 10:30 a.m. The pulls will start at 11 a.m.

Parade

The Railroad Days parade will begin at 5 p.m.

Any unit that has pre-registered should go north on 6th St. to Michigan Ave. NE. The registration desk will be set up on the southeast corner of the 3M property. Numbers and placement can be picked up there.

Veterans are being encouraged to be part of the Motley American Legion unit and ride on their float. Any veteran interested should come to the corner of 6th St. and Michigan by about 4 p.m.

The parade will go south on Fifth Street to 3rd Ave. NE where it will turn west for one block. The route will then run north on 4th St. NE to Staples Elementary School and back to the 3M area, where it will disperse. The announcer’s stand will be in front of the Staples Community Center on 4th St. NE.

Call the chamber office at 894-3974 for regis. form.

Other Saturday events

Dollars for Scholars will hold a fund raiser car wash at North 4th Laundry and Car Wash from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

A Farmers Market will be held in the Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union parking lot from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Grand Opera House will have concerts from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. or after the parade.

The Up North Motorcycle Ride is Saturday at R & R Ranch and will feature live music Saturday night.

A Schwan’s fund raiser will be at the corner of the tennis courts.

The Staples Alliance Church will have their annual sweet corn feed beginning at 6 p.m.

Twisted Sisters will have a street dance Saturday from 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m.. in their parking lot on 3rd St. between Highway 10 and 2nd Ave. NE.

SUNDAY, AUG. 29

A Belgian waffle breakfast fund raiser will be offered at the Northern Pacific depot from 8:30-11:30 a.m.

The Staples Historical Society will have historical displays at the depot.

Railroad History Play

Performances of a railroad history play are set for noon and 2 p.m. at the depot.

This project is a narration and dramatization based on interviews with local people who worked for the railroad in the Staples area. It includes original songs developed with Charlie Maguire, singer/songwriter and an original script developed with Nelson Inz, playwright/director. Local students ages 6- 13 will be performing this show.

Wayne Renn concert

Wayne Renn will have a free concert at Lincoln Park from 4-7 p.m. People are invited to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. In addition are guest artists Katie Ziegler, Lee Compton and Victoria Christmas.