February 23, 2016 • Page 18 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Lake Wobe-gone Plans Keillor Contemplates Future As He Steps Away From ‘Prairie Home Companion’ By Tom Keogh © 2016, The Seattle Times “When people hear you’re going to retire, they tell you you’ll be busier than ever,” Garrison Keillor said on a recent broadcast of “A Prairie Home Companion,” the public-radio show he’s been hosting for 42 years. “What they mean is you’ll be learning to make useful things out of clothes hangers and attending diabetes luncheons.” Keillor, 73, has more ambitious plans for life after he leaves “Prairie Home” next July. Before that happens, he has a packed schedule of live performances with the show on a final U.S. tour. Keillor is also finding time for solo appearances. Keillor will share anecdotes about growing up in Anoka, Minn., sing a few songs, read selections from his novels, poems and nonfiction, and report the news from Lake Wobegon — the fictional Midwest setting for Keillor’s comic and poignant stories about life in small-town America. Hanging over the show will be a gloomy awareness that four decades after Keillor hosted the first live broadcast of “Prairie Home” from St. Paul, he is moving on to long-delayed writing projects that will significantly reduce his time in the public eye — and ear. “I’m in the midst of writing a memoir that is racing ahead,” Keillor wrote in an email interview. “I’m up to age 12 when my cousin drowned and I was sent to swim class, but instead went to the public li- “I grew up in a country where racism was openly tolerated, where women were clearly subservient, where jingoism was blatant and open. What I see around me is a people who are kinder, more various, more knowledgeable than when I was young.” Garrison Keillor brary and a radio station in downtown Minneapolis where musicians played in front of a studio audience. It was my first big disobedience, and I took a sharp turn toward what I’d wind up doing in adult life.” Keillor has also written a Lake Wobegon movie called “Homecoming.” “Some people are interested in making it,” he wrote, “but first I need to go back and whack it around a little. I’d love to resume writing a weekly newspaper column. All of which I can do anywhere, in secret, with few deadlines.” Keillor began writing for an Anoka newspaper while still in high school, reporting sports stories with a descriptive, conversational flair under the byline “Gary Keillor.” His radio career took off in 1969 when he hosted a drive-time program on Minnesota Public Radio. A year later, The New Yorker published Keillor’s first short story, “Local Family Keeps Son Happy,” about small-town parents who find a young sex worker to be a live-in companion for their 16-year-old son. The twin tracks of his fledgling career — writing and radio — converged in 1972 with “Prairie Home,” a variety show (with 4 million national listeners) driven by Keillor’s sketches, satirical observations and musical guests. Chris Thile, a mandolin player who performs with bands Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers, will replace Keillor as the host of “Prairie Home.” A frequent guest on “Prairie Home,” Thile often participates in sketches, but he is primarily a musician and not a storyteller or gag writer. “I haven’t talked with Chris about his plans,” Keillor wrote. “He has a free hand as far as I’m concerned. I’m not looking over his shoulder. I always ran my own show and he should have the same opportunity.” In 2007, Keillor got himself in trouble over one of his satirical Salon columns that described gay parents as “sardonic fellows with fussy hair who live in overdecorated apartments with a striped sofa and a small weird dog and who worship campy performers.” The column was in the tradition of his self-consciously cranky “Prairie Home” character but drew backlash from columnists like Dan Savage and Andrew Sullivan. If he could go back in time and talk to himself before he sat down to write that column, what would he say? “I’ve completely forgotten the whole episode,” Keillor wrote. “As a serial monogamist, I have no moral standing to point the finger at anyone, and in the past eight years, being gay has become as unremarkable as having brown eyes.” And how, in his opinion, has America changed since “Prairie Home” began? “I grew up in a country where racism was openly tolerated, where women were clearly subservient, where jingoism was blatant and open,” he wrote. “What I see around me is a people who are kinder, more various, more knowledgeable than when I was young.” “I’ll keep the hours of Tuesday and Thursday 9-12:30 p.m., Wednesday 5-8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” she said. “That way, we’re flexible with the hours so people can come on their free time.” ing,” she added. n gala From Page 17 for us. We couldn’t have a season without this gala.” Why the “Ellen” theme? “The first year of the gala, we did a variety show. Since then, we’ve done our own version of the David Letterman show,” she said, referring to the comedian and former late night talk show host. “When David Letterman retired, we wanted to come up with something new. We liked the talk-show format, but we wanted a different theme.” DeGeneres won’t be the only “celebrity” on hand for the LCTC gala. Other scheduled “guests” include Pit Bull, Kid Rock, the news team from “Anchorman,” Adele and Taylor Swift. And it wouldn’t be an election year without one or two high profile politicos making an appearance. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, is slated to “drop by” the show. And GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump may make a “swing” by the LCTC show to offer his thoughts. Is Gill worried about directing so much “star power” in one show? Not at all, she said. “The cast we have is excellent,” she said, beaming with confidence and anticipation. The gala also provides a (StatePoint) Think you missed this year’s season to make energy efficient exterior upkick-off for the annual memgrades? Many homeowners are reluctant to start exterior remodeling improvements in the bership drive, said LCTC cooler months because they worry about the potential to let in a draft during the installation process. In reality, this is one of the times of year you will most feel the impact of an upgrade office manager Catherine to energy-efficient windows, doors and insulated siding, and the remodeling can be done with Pratt. The Mount Marty Colminimal impact on the comfort of your home. lege junior theater major is working not only with gala Here are a few reasons not to delay: tickets but also the sale of Timing season memberships. Winter can be an ideal time to initiate upgrades. By taking care of your project now, you “The gala is like the start avoid the busier spring season. Plus, the sooner you make enhancements that increase effiof our annual membership ciency and comfort, the sooner you can reap those benefits. Why let another winter pass you drive. Our season runs from by feeling chilly in your home and paying for wasted energy? May to April, and we’re starting our 55th season,” Installation Process Innovations in home remodeling are making year-round upgrades easier than ever. For she said. “We have individexample, Window World, America’s largest exterior remodeler, can use one-to-one window ual levels of membership. and door installation methods, meaning one unit is replaced at a time. By fully sealing the We want to have anything perimeter inside and out using caulk designed to withstand temperature extremes, installathat will fit your budget tion professionals can minimize a home’s exposure to the elements during the replacement and family size. And if you process. purchase a membership, Superior Products you’re guaranteed tickets The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that nearly 50 percent of a household’s annual for the plays and you don’t energy consumption goes to heating and cooling. The right exterior www.missourivalleyshopper.com updates can offer curb have to stand in line for appeal while also keeping your home comfortable. each performance.” The theater has also Today’s highly efficient window systems can provide substantial savings for your home. Check out new technologies, such as SolarZone Low-E Glass, which uses a microscopic, meremained committed to tallic coating on the interior surface of an insulating glass unit. This coating keeps your home keeping performances warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Such glass packages also include features affordable, including the like Argon gas between the glass lites, which has a low thermal conductivity and high density, concessions, Gill said. “An making it an ideal insulating agent. individual can see the show Another efficient enhancement you shouldn’t delay is insulated siding. It provides a therand have popcorn and a mal barrier between you and the outside elements, helping to lower energy bills throughout the year. In addition, the insulative backing improves durability, minimizing the appearance of drink for under $20,” she common dings. said. Lastly, entry doors can be beautiful, durable and high performing. For example, the Pratt has set Dakota fiberglass doors offered by Window World provide considerable insulating improvement over Theatre office hours which wood. While maintaining the aesthetic appeal of traditional doors, the long-lasting materials provide more accessibility stand up to severe conditions to create an exceptional barrier to the outdoor elements. for purchasing memberTo learn more about energy efficiency and high-quality exterior products, visit www.Winships and tickets or taking dowWorld.com. care of other needs. Don’t Let Cold Weather Delay Important Energy Saving Home Upgrades www.missourivalleyshopper.com POSITIVE FEEDBACK The theater has received positive feedback from “Rocky Horror Show,” which could lead to more experiments with new types of productions, Gill said. MEETING EXPENSES The theater has received The gala provides greatinquiries about doing the ly needed funds. Gill said. musical “Rent.” The production, administra“We wanted to do the tion and operational costs ‘Rocky Horror Show’ four are large, even for a comyears ago, but we thought munity theater with unpaid Yankton wasn’t ready for it. amateur performers. We said, ‘Go ahead and let’s “We also have producdo it,’” she said. “It’s one of tion fees and royalties. the best things we’ve ever When you have a ‘name’ done. We received these show, the average royalty tremendously positive comis $4,000,” she said. “That ments, and we also brought doesn’t include the scripts, in new people who became music or costumes. It’s just involved with the theater. to get the rights to do the We’re looking at coming show. If you do five shows back to something like that, a season, that can amount but we’re also going to con$20,000.” tinue doing the productions The royalty fees are that many of our current usually higher for musicals, members and audiences which is why ticket prices enjoy.” are higher for those producThe theater will contintions, Gill said. In addition, ue scheduling plays for two musicals are generally of a weekends, Gill said. The grander scale and require extended schedule requires larger sets and more cast more of a time commitment members and costumes. from the cast and crew, but The 2016-17 line-up it also provides audiences offers a variety of offerwith more opportunities to ings with “The Lion, The catch a production or see it Witch and the Wardrobe” again, she said. in partnership with the Gill credited all those Yankton Children’s Theater; who make the LCTC a con“Footloose,” including a tinued success, including Riverboat Days matinee; the board of directors. the murder mystery “Clue” “Our board is very supwith a different killer each portive. They attend not performance and the audijust our meetings but the ence offering their choice at performances,” she said. each show; “It’s A Wonder“They’re a working board ful Life” for the Christmas and not just a sounding season; and the Neil Simon board for us.” play “Rumors.” Gill has already received The theater is also inquiries from both LCTC seeking sponsorship for veterans as well as newshows and is offering a comers about upcoming fundraiser where a patron productions, particularly can “purchase” a seat to young performers interhave it upholstered with a ested in “Footloose.” vinyl cover. The material “We have so much talent comes from Truxedo, and working together with LewPat Sparks has offered to is and Clark. We become upholster four seats at a one big happy family,” she time for a cost of $50 per said. “And our audiences seat, compared to the usual find, when they come to the cost of $300. theater, they have the best Even when not in use, time.” the theater requires upThe Lewis and Clark www.missourivalleyshopper.com keep, Gill said. Theatre Company is a “The Dakota Theatre treasure that needs to be building was constructed in maintained, Gill said. 1902,” she said. “It’s a grand “The theater is so imbuilding, but the square portant for Yankton and the footage is huge. We need to surrounding communities,” maintain the heating and she said. “We’re really lookair conditioning, and we ing forward to the gala and have problems with frost our next season.” and the water table in the For more informabasement, as well as leaking tion, visit online at www. in the roof. I would also like lewisandclarktheatre.org. to see more remodeling and restoration of the marquee Follow @RDockendorf on and front façade.” Twitter. “It’s a great old building. We just need to keep it go- www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com Visit our Web site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Annual Township Meeting Mission Hill Township (N) Tuesday, March 1st, 2016 at 7:00 pm As per South Dakota Codified Law 8-3-1 The Citizens of the Township of Mission Hill Township (N) in the County of Yankton, South Dakota and who are qualified to vote at Township elections are hereby notified that the Annual Township Meeting for said Township will be held at Vangen Lutheran Church, Mission Hill on Tuesday March 1st 2016 at 7:00 PM, for the following purposes: To elect One (1) Supervisor for the term of three years; One (1) Township Clerk for the term of one year, One (1) Treasurer for the term of one year, One (1) Supervisor for the term of one year to fill a vacancy, and other regular business as required. The agenda will be posted at the meeting place 24 hours in advance. George Wathier, Township Clerk Mission Hill Township (N) Visit our Web site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com RON’S AUTO GLASS Auto Visit our Web site at Visit our Web site at Home Commercial www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com ALL 1915 Broadway, Yankton, SD GLASS 605-665-9841 www.missourivalleyshopper.com Annual Walshtown Township Meeting The citizens of the Township of Walshtown in the County of Yankton, South Dakota and who are qualified to vote at township elections, are hereby notified that the Annual Township Meeting for said township will be held at the George Sees residence, 29822 NE Jim River Road, in said Township, on Tuesday, the 1st of March, 2016, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. for the following purposes: To elect on Supervisor for the term of three years, one Township Clerk, one Treasurer, each for the term of one year, and to do any other business proper to be done at said meeting when convened. www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com Jamesville Township Annual Meeting www.missourivalleyshopper.com Tuesday, March 1st, 2016 7:30 p.m. Kevin Kirschenmann www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com Residence Gerald Keeley, Township Clerk dated Feb. 8, 2016