Update for Shiela Kromer of Barnacles.

Hello Everyone,

A little activity going on today. Have you noticed that the MDH always seems to do their work late in the week, especially Fridays. I wonder why??? Perhaps to heighten their effect? Robert sent a copy of the MDH letter and I have forwarded it to Greg to post on the website www.freedomtoact.com . Please keep checking the website. The bar owners that were contacted either by phone or in person are Bullseye Saloon (& a bar next to him), Bugg's Bar, Bird's Nest and Dusty Eagle. These are the bars that we know of. If anyone else has been contacted, please let Mark or myself know. To date, we (at Barnacles) have not been contacted at all. Mark will be issuing a press release probably on Monday. Below I have included e-mails from Birdie (Bird's Nest) and Robert (Bullseye Saloon). You go guys!! We are with you 100%.


From Birdie:
Sheila, I have just received a phone call from Dale Dorschner with the health department. He asked if I was still having Theater night and is sending a letter for me to sign and send back to him. It will state that I will quit Theater nights.I told him I would not stop because I would have to close my doors and put all my help out of work. He said the Theater exemption was for real theaters like the Guthrie etc. So that's where I am at this point. I will send the letter to Mark as soon as I get it. Birdie


From Robert:
Hey guys-Robert Ripley here at Bullseye Saloon. The MDH (his name was Dale) physically stopped into my bar yesterday at about 3pm. I was not there so I insteadtalked to them on the phone. They asked me to come down immediately and sign this letter. I politely declined. (ok, not super politely). Dale told me thathe saw "evidence" of smoking going on, (but he did not actually witness anyone smoking) and asked if I was holding theatre nights. I told him we were. He thentold me that, and I quote, "The MDH is of the legal opinion that these theatre nights violate the MCIAA." I responded that "I am of the legal opinion that weare NOT breaking any laws whatsoever." He asked if I could give him a "verbal" agreement that we would cease theatre nights immediately, and I asked if hecould turn around and let the bartender know that she was being laid off today... I explained that I am trying to keep as many Minnesoatans working as possible, and I would like that single-motherbartender to be able to bring a paycheck home to her 4-yr old son this week. I think he got the point. He left the form for me telling me that if I did not faxit back before morning they "could" impose legal action like court, $10,000 fine, and loss of license. I asked him if he had the power to ticket anyone, andhe said no. I asked him if he was going to take away my liq license... and he said that I was "jeopardizing" it. He started snapping pictures ofeverything in the bar until the bartender told him to stop taking pictures of her. They then went to the bar next door to me and did the same thing. The barowner over there did the same thing I did.Blowhards.I have the letter if you want me to fax it.Here is my number if you would like to speak further on this matter.Robert Ripley