NEW LONDON - Members of the New London Water Days committee didn’t release an SOS when the Minnesota Magic Midway carnival didn’t show up, causing them to go over budget, but the Little Crow Ski team answered anyway.
The ski team donated $1,500 to help its New London comrades.
The team benefits from the attendance Water Days helps bring in for its Friday shows, so it made sense to help a mutual partner, according to longtime ski team member Kevin Felien.
“We’re based on family fun and community involvement,” Felien said. “Without Water Days, that’s one festival out of the summer that draws a lot of people to town. We can’t have any risk of that leaving the town.”
The ski team typically gives $1 for every crowd member that comes to its annual Water Days show. Under the current circumstances, though, it increase its donation.
“It’s horrible that (the carnival) decided to skip town and not show up for the anniversary,” Felien said. “That was a big part of the kids’ fun.”
The committee was shocked and, of course, thankful for the gesture.
“It’s very heartwarming,” said Water Days committee member Emily Roediger. “In a town that’s not super huge, it’s really nice to see people come out and help each other.”
Ben Munsch with Thrivent Financial made another notable donation, the size of which was undisclosed. Despite the two groups’ generosity, the committee has not recouped its entire loss.
So, it plans to have fundraiser to make up the rest of the $5,000, along with the estimated income it lost because of the carnival’s absence. The inflatables that replaced the carnival were in New London only from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, while the carnival was contracted to be there Friday through Sunday. According to Roediger, replacing the carnival cost an additional $5,000.
There is still hope that they will get their original $5,000 back from Minnesota Magic Midway. John Mack, an attorney and New London City Council member, served the carnival Tuesday and has since been in contact with Ed “Skip” Reinke who, along with his family, owns the carnival company.
According to Mack, Reinke promised that he would refund the $5,000 as soon as his bank would allow. Mack was skeptical.
“He says he’s going to overnight me the $5,000, and I’ll believe it when I see it,” Mack said. “We’ll see if the money comes through; I bet my secretary a chicken dinner that it won’t.”
Mack said he would drop his legal action once the money is received, despite saying that the overall damages exceeded the $5,000 fee.
“I don’t care if I get it in $10s, as long as I get it tomorrow,” Mack said.
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