Ramsey County Sheriff Fletcher Visit 4/3/09 April 3, 2009

Hi everyone at the Sheriff’s office! I had such a great time. Sheriff Bob Fletcher is such a nice man. He took the time to show us all around the beautiful new building they have. When people like the Sheriff work hard and have to deal with bad guys all day long they should have nice surroundings to be in. The Sheriff let me go into the firing range and showed me how the bullets are caught in the shredded up tires. OK, I went into the coolest room. It looks just like the NCIS (TV) show. It is the 911 area. They have TVs all over and the room is dark with glowing computer screens. Everything is set up to see the monitors and the TVs. The Police, Fire Department, Sheriff calls all go through there. The jail is there and I saw a holding cell, They took me on a police car ride. Sheriff Fletcher presented me with a book about the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office ( the funniest page is 141, Synchronized booking) and a beautiful lt. blue zip up sweatshirt with a Sheriff’s patch on it and my name and onegirloneride stitched on it from  Linda Schwartzbaur of Corporate Mark Inc., Thank you for the presents and for the donations.

Now for some of the people that made my day so great. If I forget your name please blog me. We did not get a card from everyone.

Sheriff Bob Fletcher

Angie Steenberg (the person who holds the group together)

Jeff Henriksen

Jason Anderson

Dickey Joe Turner

George Altendorfer

Kabao

Holly Drinkwine

The floods that are still receding from the Red river were terrible and many people were in danger for their lives and property. Our Ramsey County Sheriff’s office had many volunteers help the people of the area. Mom and I are not surprised that they went to help. That is what Minnesota does.

Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department Patrol Division Red River Flood Detail 2009

Moorhead, Minnesota

Undersheriff George Altendorfer

Sergent Tony Waldo

Deputy Jason Anderson

Deputy Mike Norstrem

Deputy Joe Stradinger

Deputy Pete Baldwin

Deputy Greg Sattler

Deputy Spencer Peham

Deputy Bill Rzeszutek

Commander Joe Paget

Deputy Mike Soucheray

Deputy Paul Haider

Deputy Bruce Rossini

Sergeant Kurt Krinke

Commander John Maslowski

Sergeant Gordie Anderson

Deputy Greg Barr

Deputy Mark Suchy

Deputy Seven Olson

Deputy Scott Jorgensen

Deputy Mike Servatka

P/T Deputy Jeremy Bolen

CSO Mark Atendorfer

Say Hi! and smile to a person in law enforcement. Next time you see them they may be saving your life, finding your lost child, or putting their lights on to protect you while you change a tire. Thank you for my wonderful day with Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department.

Mom and I are headed out to the horses to trim up their legs with the clipper. Keep you fingers crossed. If you have ever seen Lucky after mom trims him. It’s sad.

June 6, 2009 Saturday ride March 26, 2009

Hi, everyone.  I am going to start my ride this year on June 6,2009 at 9:00am at the State Capitol.  I need and want 1,000 riders to ride with me to Plymouth where we live. 

If you don’t think your horse can make 20.7 miles (half hard surface half ditch) then join us half way.  The point is that you should be there to show the men and women that serve our country that you care about them.  I really need your help.  I want this to be the largest horse ride in the country.  We are Minnesota.  We get things done.  We volunteer.  We help our neighbors.  We care.  So let’s show the country what Minnesota riders can do.  My mom says that we are a fly over state on the way to New York or California.  That no one pays much attention to.  Let the country know that we just “get er done” without whining.  Minnesota has the largest number of horse owners in the country.  Let’s show them our pretty horses.   Ride Minnesota.

Horse clubs, trail riders, MTRA members, Horse Council members, and wagon drivers please join me.  There are men and women at the VA hospital who where there when we called them. Wouldn’t you sit a little taller in your saddle if you rode for them.  Western, English, or Dressage we love horses, our country, and the men and women who serve.  Saddle up.

There are soldiers marching with us that day. If you have a wagon to carry injured soldiers please call us soon.  We need to let those who cannot march be a part of the event.

Donny Smith Bike Show Saturday and Sunday March 26, 2009

I will be at the Donny Smith Bike Show on Saturday and Sunday.  We will be there to sell t-shirts and meet people.  See you there.

MN House, Carlton County Posse, & Delano Legion March 26, 2009

I was asked to speak at the Minnesota House on Friday about “The Ranch”. I was really honored to be there.  Representative Sarah Anderson guided us through the meeting.  Thank you. After I was finished speaking at the Minnesota House of Representatives, Veterans Affairs Division Committee, mom and I drove up to Duluth.

There we saw Sherriff Lake and her son, Barbe Zimny, Lori Olean, I am going to have to come back and add the others.  I need the spelling of their names.  We played trivia at the fundraiser.  We might have come in last, but we had fun! They made a horse backside with a tail to put at the table that was a “little behind”, not funny Lori.  It never left our table.  Just wait untill next year! I missed all of you so it was really nice to be together. 

Then the next day we went to the Delano American Legion.  Rudy invited us to be there and participate in the Legion Riders membership drive.  We had a fun time.  I got to sell tickets and meet many people.  Thank you everyone for the fun I had. The band, “The Red Dot Garage” was really good!  I spoke a few times and ate pizza. Delano and Rudy thank you for the fun night!

State Capitol on Friday, March 20, 2009 March 18, 2009

Representative Sarah Anderson, District 43 A, called today and told my mom that I will be speaking before the Veterans Affairs Division Committee.  I will speak about my ride, meeting with veterans, the people of Minnesota, and “The Ranch”.  I will ask for land to build “The Ranch”.  Minnesota House you Rock!!!!!! Thank you for caring about our military and their families.  Representative Sarah Anderson you really ROCK!!!!!

Chuck Erdahl is letting us use the trailer again this summer.  Mr. Erdahl, you ROCK!!!!  Please anyone buying a trailer this year buy at Cannon Falls Trailer Sales in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.  Chuck Erdahl is a great friend to all branches of the service.  Because of his help “The Ranch will be built.  Mr. Erdahl you are a true patriot.  Mr. Erdahl will be right around the corner from us at the Horse Expo in the Cattle Barn.  See you there. Love ya.

Miller Chevrolet is letting us use a truck to go to the Capitol on Friday.  Miller Chevrolet you ROCK!!!!!!! Love ya.

I am so excited about how everything is happening.  Thank you, everyone, who has helped with the ride.  Remember, we are riding from the Capitol in St. Paul to Plymouth on June 6, 2009.  Maybe it will be a celebration ride!

Monday, March 16, 2009 March 18, 2009

Hi,  Mom and I drove to Golden Valley  to meet  Chief of Police Stacy Altonen.  While we were waiting to meet the Chief, Erika Motsick, a community service officer said, “You were the ones who found my dog”.  Last year before the ride started we were leaving KSTP channel 5 going down University Ave.  A little Pug dog was running down the street.  My mom stopped the car and I jumped out and chased the dog.  She finally got on the sidewalk and then went around the corner.  I chased her until we got to the parking lot at Target.  There I crawled under cars and chased her until finally she went under a truck at the end of the lot.  I crawled up to the truck and got under it.  There we stayed until she trusted me to pet her.  Violet the dog was safe.  We got the tag number and called Erika and told her we had Violet.  Erika was so happy when she came to get Violet.  Erika was sure she was dead.  They had been driving around looking for her.  Remember, do kind acts for strangers because you never know who you might meet at the police station!  Ha! OK, who you might meet later.  Instant friends.

Chief Stacy Altonen came out and talked with us about the ride on June 6.  Thank you Chief for all the work you will put in on this ride for our Vets and current serving Military.  You Rock!

Friday, March 13, 2009 was exciting March 18, 2009

Hey everyone!   Mom and I went to Minneapolis and met with Mayor R. T. Rybak.  He is very nice and said if his daughter’s graduation party does not interfere he would ride his bike with us on Saturday, June 6.  Chip loved when my mom rode with him.  Mayor Rybak also said he was very excited about my ride and the ride on June 6, 2009.  We took a picture of him giving me the Proclamation declaring Saturday, June 6, 2009 as onegirloneride Day in Minneapolis.  Thank you Mayor Rybak and your great staff.  The Mayor suggested that we go and see if Sheriff Stanek was in his office so that we could meet him.  I got to meet Hennepin County Sheriff, Richard Stanek.  He has a really beautiful office with a cool gun collection and some really old sheriff’s badges.  Sheriff Stanek put us intouch with Sergeant Steven Hartig, Volunteer Liaison Coordinator of the Patrol Unit.  We talked about the ride on June 6.  Thank you Sgt. Steven Hartig for all you hard work.  Hi! Minneapolis Mounted Patrol.  I can’t wait to see your beautiful horses and ride with you.  You Rock!

Then mom and I called Hoofed Animal Rescue and talked to Drew.  We want to cart at “The Ranch”.  There are two donkeys at the rescue.  They are so cute.  There are some really beautiful horses there too.  The fillys and the colts are so cute.  They love attention.  They were running and playing.  Please think about adoption.   Thank you Drew for all the work you do to save and help the animals.  See you soon.

Then mom called Jim and Joyce Johnson of Princeton and told them that we were near by.  Just like we hoped they invited us over for dinner.  Mrs. Johnson is a really good cook.  Wyatt, Sydney and Dylan were over and we played in the basement while mom and the Johnsons talked.  Until 1:45 am!!!!  I have not heard mom laugh so much in a long time.  Seeing the Johnson family made me miss all of the great people we met last summer even more.  Hi, Grandpa and Grandma Sloot!!

My brother Blake found this March 15, 2009

The Sack Lunches

 I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat.  It was going to be a long
flight.  ‘I’m glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,’ I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.  I decided to start a conversation. ’Where are you headed?’  I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. ‘Petawawa.  We’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we’re being deployed to Afghanistan .  After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars.  It would be several
hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.  As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.  ‘No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn’t be worth five bucks.  I’ll wait till we get to base’’ His friend agreed.  I looked around at the other soldiers.  None were buying   lunch.  I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.   ‘’Take a lunch to   all those soldiers..’’  She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.  Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me.  ‘My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it’s almost like you are doing it for him.’  Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated.  She stopped at my seat and asked which do you like best – beef or chicken?’  ‘Chicken,’ I replied, wondering why she asked.  She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. ‘’This is your thanks.’’  After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the restroom.  A man stopped me. ‘’I saw what you did.   I want to be part of it. Here, take this.’’ He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers, as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.  When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an said, ‘I want to shake your hand.’  Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain’s hand.  With a booming voice he said, ‘I was a soldier and I was a military pilot.  Once, someone bought me a lunch.   It was an act of kindness I never forgot.’   I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.  Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.  He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.  When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to exit the plane.  Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.   Another twenty-five dollars!   Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.   I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars.  ‘It will take you some time to reach the base.  It will be about time for a sandwich.  God Bless You.’  Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.   As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return.  These soldiers were giving their all for our country.   I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little… A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to United States of America ‘ for an amount of ’up to and including my life..’    That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.’

 Thank you Blake for sending us this.  Love ya.

Our 5013c has been granted!!!!!!!! March 9, 2009

Thank you Wanda Weber (Wanda Weber Law Firm) for all the hard work  and time that you put into getting the 5013c for onegirloneride.  We have always said that we are blessed to meet and know so many wonderful people. This proves it.  Again, thank you Wanda. 

Our web is in the process of being updated and all of the events E’leese will attend will be up shortly.  Here are a few that are coming up soon.

March 13,  Mayor of Minneapolis, R. T. Rybak.

March 20, “Trivia Night” Carlton County Posse fundraiser.

March 21, Delano American Legion fundraiser

March 28, 29,  Donnie Smith Bike Show, St. Paul River Center. 

April 24, 25, 26, Horse Expo Booth L934 in the Cattle Barn

April 28, University of Minnesota 11:00 Northrup Auditorium 

June 6,  The start of summer ride from the St. Paul Capitol to Plymouth.

Come and say hi.

R.S.V.P. to the ride March 5, 2009

Hello.  I looked at (read) the letter that E’leese sent out.  It was not until days later that I sat up in bed and realized that she had not put a place to R.S.V.P..  Please R.S.V.P. to 763-222-5656 or onegirloneride@yahoo.com with your name,  phone number, county, department, group, the information I will need to contact you and assign your parking place.

Thank you, the mom