Why the delay in the Medallian clues....

The reason for the delay in getting the clues up for the Medallian Hunt is that there seems to be a mixed message coming from the chamber. Evidently not everyone is in agreement. First we were told that we would get the clues. Then we were told that they only wanted the radio station to get the clues. For the first two days we did receive the clues and now today I haven't been able to get a hold of anyone to find out what the trouble is.

It seems peculiar that only the radio station would be allowed to give out the clues. After the clue is announced is it still some big secret? Why aren't chamber members allowed to give out clues?

When one looks at the entire way the Winterfest is set up this year the only benefits are for the radio station, the newspaper, and the EDA. The radio station announces the clues, the newspaper gets the ad, and the EDA serves the chocolate.

Why is every other chamber member being slighted and not allowed to give out clues?

Let me be direct and to the point. I have long noted that certain members of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce have attempted to restrict our ability to report what we consider to be the news.

Even the City of Ortonville under the old adminsitration attempted to restrict the news to their point of view.

The law is clear and here is the law:

MN Stat. 325D.52. Establishment, maintenance, or use of monopoly power

The establishment, maintenance, or use of, or any attempt to establish, maintain, or use monopoly power over any part of trade or commerce by any person or persons for the purpose of affecting competition or controlling, fixing, or maintaining prices is unlawful.

325D.51. Unreasonable restraint of trade or commerce

A contract, combination, or conspiracy between two or more persons in unreasonable restraint of trade or commerce is unlawful.

325D.53. Prohibited contracts, combinations, and conspiracies

Subdivision 1. Price fixing, production control, allocation of markets, collusive bidding, and concerted refusals to deal. Without limiting section 325D.51, the following shall be deemed to restrain trade or commerce unreasonably and are unlawful:

(1) A contract, combination, or conspiracy between two or more persons in competition:

(a) for the purpose or with the effect of affecting, fixing, controlling or maintaining the market price, rate, or fee of any commodity or service;

(b) affecting, fixing, controlling, maintaining, limiting, or discontinuing the production, manufacture, mining, sale or supply of any commodity, or the sale or supply of any service, for the purpose or with the effect of affecting, fixing, controlling, or maintaining the market price, rate, or fee of the commodity or service; or

(c) allocating or dividing customers or markets, functional or geographical, for any commodity or service.

(2) A contract, combination, or conspiracy between two or more persons whereby, in the letting of any public contract, (a) the price quotation of any bid is fixed or controlled, (b) one or more persons refrains from the submission of a bid, or (c) competition is in any other manner restrained.

(3) A contract, combination, or conspiracy between two or more persons refusing to deal with another person, except a refusal to deal by associations, trading boards, or exchanges when predicated upon a failure to comply with rules of membership.

MN Stat. 325D.56. Penalties for violation

Subdivision 1. Civil penalties. Any person who is found to have violated sections 325D.49 to 325D.66, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000. Any person who fails to comply with a final judgment or decree rendered by a court of this state issued for a violation of sections 325D.49 to 325D.66, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $100,000.

Subd. 2. Criminal penalty. Any person who is found to have willfully committed any of the acts enumerated in section 325D.53 shall be guilty of a felony and subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not more than seven years, or both.

Come on Chamber is your Board of Directors that small.

I would strongly recommend that the entire board read:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100216/ap_on_re_us/us_saving_hazelton