Scott Schmeltzer, Thanks for Listening

Mark your calendar. I would like to invite you out to the Geri Murtaugh Cancer Benefit on Sept. 16 at Wedgewood Cove from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. This is only one week away from today and will help benefit my friend Geri’s family.

Geri, as many of you know, was our cannot-be-replaced, do-it-all editor here at the Tribune for 24 years. The benefit will help offset medical expenses that my friend incurred while in the hospital for cancer.

Sadly, my original plan to have Geri better and attending this function will not come true, as she passed to a better place a few weeks ago, but we are still carrying on with her benefit with all of our thoughts firmly of Geri and her engaging smile.

This benefit has opened my heart to the powerful amount of giving this area shows in all they do. We as a community have just passed the Relay for Life goal of $134,000 and still have the time to donate so much to Geri’s benefit. The money, auction items, and time that people are giving is absolutely amazing.

While attending this benefit, you will see beautiful auction items that range from handmade quilts and blankets to sports memorabilia from all of our major professional sports. You will see unique items such as a magnificent meal for eight made by our local chefs in your own home to local artisans and their framed one of a kind prints. If a week’s stay at a cabin up north or handmade woodwork is for you, this benefit has that as well. The kindness of giving sure will be shining on this night.

So please join us and stop out as we would love to see you.

If you are wondering if there is still time to either donate an auction item or a monetary donation, there is.

Please just send to:

Geri Murtaugh Cancer Fund

c/o Scott Schmeltzer

Albert Lea Tribune

808 W. Front St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

(Or if you need us to pick up item, please call me at 507-379-3420.)

We also set up an account for anyone wanting to donate money directly.

It is:

Geri Murtaugh Cancer Fund

Farmers State Bank

1452 W. Main St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

Thank you so much for your generosity and help.

Vikings at Saints

Good luck to all of my friends who are Vikings fans! I, too, hope that they will beat the Saints as I would like them to remain unbeaten until they face my Packers, which, of course, will then be the Vikes’ first loss.

Go Pack!

Twins are in

Go Twinkies. We need to not take our eyes off the scoreboard for our Twins, who are playing good ball as of late and are in a tight race with the White Sox. I sure am glad the White Sox could not use Jim Thome anymore as he has been on fire for us. What a class act and a future Hall of Famer. I can’t wait to see him in the playoffs.

Go Twins!

On a personal level

Happy birthday to my son Brian on Saturday! Enjoy!

Thanks for listening.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.