Posted by whostruth (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A Ghost ! with one Footprint !

Posted by cascade (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm surprised this got out- it may make some potential students feel unsafe and insecure...perhaps giving them second thoughts.

Posted by ajohnsonx (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Call the Chinese.......!!!!

Posted by Norse (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is probably a youtube video clip coming forward to document the whole adventure of the 'JoyRide'.

Posted by Granny (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If they are afraid a movie will scare off the Chinese they should just talk to us that went to school or worked at the RTC. Those tunnels scared the bejibbies out of me. Lots of wierd things going on down in the tunnels.

Posted by theweasel (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 1:26 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by SallyRay (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LOL!

Posted by werty (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A gate and steel door sustained 3k in damage? What about the cart? That is one expensive gate and door and a very strong cart.

Posted by ffrogg (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

looks like someone has broken lots of windows out of the memorial building in the recent past too. but that wasnt news i guess.

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If we're not willing to make money off of this building, why not let kids have fun destroying it? Don't tell me FF is allergic to fun! Fergus Falls is so backwards its not even funny..I feel like Fergus Falls is the playground kid that refuses to defend himself, in fact, he brings it on himself.

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 7:35 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by justme (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)

At least someone's getting some use out of the place!!

Posted by autolerfald (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes Fergus IS allergic to fun... There is life outside of fergus people. things that are so stupid like this is what I don't understand about that place just tear the building down and build something for the kids to enjoy!!!

Posted by FFSSG (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish I would have known about the cart that would have been a good time. lol. I think it is too bad that such a stupid mistake was made by not brining in the money to FF from a movie, who cares if it was a bad movie its still publicity. And who cares about the Chineese coming I would rather seen it torn down and a nice Pool put in for the kids in this town that might have givin them somthing to do other than steel a cart and ram a gate.

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i see fergus tearing the building down, and trying to sell it brick by brick to residents as part of a "remember the rtc" type of plan. 3 g's in damage--is it worth fixing? are we going forward with any projects? when do you wake up and say "holy sh*t--we should try and make some cash off of this?"

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We should learn from our European counterparts.
much of why tourists visit Europe is for the historical structures.
We have the only surviving Kirkbride structure in MN.
demolition should not even be an option.
it's not falling apart, and even if it were, what would it hurt if we had the ruins of one of Americas castles in our city?
the movie should have been allowed, and if the CDG deal fails, we should explore other possible options than just demolition.

Jamie Cooper

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mr cooper- with all due respect, i firmly believe that you are comparing "apples to oranges" with your comparison of the RTC with Europes structures. I don't think the RTC really puts FF on the map. However, if it proves to be (in any WAY, SHAPE, or FORM) profitable, we take whatever deal comes first. At the same time, if its too expensive to maintain, tear it down and build the kids a skate park, or a pool..whatever the case, think on a grander scale.

Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jamie Cooper is right, Brighteyes is wrong, It's not apples to oranges, it is a totally fair comparison!
I'll go for the pool and whatever else. But make it next to it, there is plenty of space.
The kids could be using the gym right now to play basket ball.
The large dining area could be used for meetings.
Much of the space could be used for the museum, library, etc.
And don't $pin the co$t upward to justify tearing it down.

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mel- with that comment, you are essentially comparing the RTC to the Sistine Chapel, the Mont Saint Michel, and the Windsor Castle. How out of proportion you are. My comment was "IF its too expensive to maintain, we tear it down." Not-- "Lets tear it down."

Posted by topher (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does any one realize what size of a hole in the earth it would take if the building got tore down. The Castle was just recently restored and is in great shape

Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

OK brighteyes, point taken, but it isn't hard to compare it to the leaning tower of Pisa.
I really don't think that many people know what we have here.
When/if it is gone then it is to late.
It is time to think of how to save it not just give up.

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mel- What do we have here exactly? a skidmark on our history with tales of torture? however, i agree. It is time to save it--not let deals get passed up on it. if a kid wants to sit in there and sell lemonade i would let him. because at least its constructive.

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 2:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"I don't think the RTC really puts FF on the map."
"think on a grander scale." "What do we have here exactly? a skidmark on our history" -brighteyes

why did Dav Kaufman want to make a movie in our RTC?
because its the only Kirkbride structure in Minnesota!

think on a grander scale, you say.
sure we could tear it down and pretend we would do something for the kids with it.
you know as well as the rest of us, the kids wouldn't see a damn thing from it.
the kids had to raise the money to build their own skatepark, and they aren't allowed to use it half the time, and even when they are allowed at their skatepark, people complain.
don't pat yourself on the back for their skatepark.

"think on a grander scale", that is my whole point!
the RTC is much more than a "skidmark" on our history.
the reason you only know about the negative stories is because noone has bothered to tell you the positive.
there were a great many positive things that happened there in it's over 100 year history.
Fergus falls may not have even been here if it were not for the kirkbride building.
it is impossible to hide from whatever is in our past.
so lets embrace it, and find a beneficial way.
our city is not in as dire straits as you may think.
we have an annual budget of $33 million.

Mel has brought up great points, there is a gymnasium there, why can't our teens have a teen center there?
there is a large dining area and it could be used for meetings, or a community center!
the castle part was just recently refurbished.
currently there is a CD treatment unit operating in the RTC, why should we abandon that?
the back side of the RTC looks like a Hollywood back lot, and not much different from a European castle.
the tunnels could become an attraction if we just bothered to advertise and give tours.
I know I paid to go into holes in the ground in Tennessee because of the road signs.
as the years go by, we will see greater and greater benefits from saving a structure like the kirkbride.
one of the first things I notice from the interstate is the kirkbride tower.
it has been there longer than any of us have been on earth.
we should respect it and preserve it for future generations.
if we don't. they will read about it and look at us as looters and pillagers who were just out for a quick buck.
just like we we view some of the first archeologists.

if the CDG fails, why couldn't we renovate a little and turn the RTC into a community mall of sorts, hosting our historical society, our public library, a youth center, a community center, keep the CD unit, move the skatepark out front, there is so much potential in the RTC, that its ridiculous to think the best plan is to tear it down.

Jamie Cooper

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 2:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

one more thing brighteyes, why do you say it was kids that broke in?
I didn't read that in this article.
Jamie Cooper

Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 3:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

they are in the process of building a new cd unit over by the bigwood event center. it should be completed late this year and the program will move from the rtc over there and the rtc will be empty.

Posted by BloopTriple (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

On another topic, kudos to the Daily Journal on the aerial photos of the RTC. They're not only beautiful, but they give a true sense of the size of the structures we're dealing with.

Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

why were the post that mentioned anything about anderson deleted?

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr Cooper, What puts FF on the map is the Veterans Walk of Flags, The host of the WORLD barefoot Skiing Competition, our golf course, and our arts. This building is a relic- I've said that, however, i also said "If the costs are too high to maintain, then we should tear it down." Do not misinterpret my words.
Good point- They may have not been kids, but I would put my money down on a couple teenagers..
Community Mall of sorts? Seriously? Look back at how well a "teen center" did in the Westridge Mall. The gym is in good shape, i agree.
Patting myself on the back for the skatepark? I feel you're grossly over-estimating my age.
"why did Dav Kaufman want to make a movie in our RTC?
because its the only Kirkbride structure in Minnesota!" No- Probably because its an eery old building that would fit perfectly into the "Psychosis Of Ghosts"?

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

brighteyes,
Dav Kaufman wrote "Psychosis Of Ghosts" after being invited by our city to make a movie in the RTC just over a year ago.
the screenplay was written specifically for our kirkbride.

when did the westridge mall have a "teen center"?

Jamie Cooper

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Dav Kaufman wrote "Psychosis Of Ghosts" after being invited by our city to make a movie in the RTC just over a year ago."

So--you mean to tell me that we actually INVITED this guy--then shoot him down when he accepts our offer? How lame is that?

The teen center was around when I was still in high school--i believe it did well under Community Youth Partners. But after that program fell apart- the activities came to a screeching halt.

We've deviated from the point of this article enough. Lets just agree to disagree. Theres plenty of room for both of us.

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm not sure we actually disagree, but fair enough!
thanks for the information regarding "Community Youth Partners", I remember hearing that name before and I'll research it.

thanks!
Jamie Cooper

Posted by fuzzybunny (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

what I would like to find out is who are the people that make up this CDG? After listening to all the discussion that took place at the city council meetings some points just didn't make sense to me. So again i'll ask does anyone know who this group is comprised of?

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Richard Anderson is their president.
http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/2...

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 29, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I noticed in this article,http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/2008/may/29/education-partnership-forged/
our city gave the visiting Chinese $15,000.00 to take back with them because of an earthquake in China?
how was that money raised?

Jamie Cooper

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jamie- with our forces combined--we could save fergus falls--then perhaps the world!

Posted by ottergrad (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Who is Campus Development Group:

Doug Burgum, former Senior Vice-President of. Microsoft Business Solutions group. Former president of Great Plains Software. Now involved with Kilbourne group of Fargo redeveloping 5-6 buildings in downtown Fargo for over 10 million.
In 2001 he saved the 66,000 sq. ft. Northern School Supply building and donated it along with a gift of 1.5 million to NDSU which was remodeled into the new architecture dept for NDSU.

Jeff Schlossman, Jeff has over 25 years of diverse commercial real estate experience specializing in retail brokerage projects, ranging from appraisal to property management to development. He is widely recognized as the region’s leading retail expert, having leased many high-profile retail centers in North Dakota including the state’s largest shopping mall West Acres.

Richard Anderson, Richard has been active in the redevelopment of the historic campus in Fergus Falls and was named President and CEO of the Campus Development Group LLP.

CDG is establishing an international business college
with emphasis on international business, language and cultural immersion.
Universities from China and the USA will partner to provide the curriculum and run the college.

Richard is president, publisher of The Midweek Inc and Ad Ink publications since 1980. They publish 5 papers in west central Minesota and agricultural publication that is dirstributed in Mn, ND, and SD.

Lili Pan, Schenzhen China, St. Paul Mn.
director of Minnesota Chapter of US –China Peoples Friendship Association, also the U of M China Center. Pan is an economic development adviser to the city of Loudi, China. Pan also has been appointed to an executive-level position at the company’s Chinese subsidiary, Shenzhen WPS Entertainment Development Co. Ltd.
Pan is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and received his MBA from St Thomas.

Some Fergus Falls business people and the CDG made the donation to the Hunan Red Cross Earth Quake Fund. I heard this at the banquet at the Bigwood when the Chinese delegation was here. The funds were donated on behalf of the residents of Fergus Falls.

They also raised over $10,000 for the Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls for the nurses program.

Posted by ottergrad (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Doug Burgum along with Jeff Schlossman submitted letters of intent on the nurses cottage and the red brick buildings on the rtc grounds. They were involved in saving the campus since November of 2007.

Posted by onlyme (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

2 suspects were charged today - What happened to the other 6?
When will they appear before a judge?