Week of calamity and such

Richard Thomas 

 

Photo credits: Richard Thomas
Photo credits: Richard Thomas

 

Photo credit: Connor Riley
Photo credit: Connor Riley
Photo credit: John Gilbert
Photo credits: John Gilbert

 

In the days prior to President Trump’s June 20 rally in Duluth, storms and floods swept the area and a ship called the American Spirit ran aground right outside the DECC where the president is scheduled to appear. Is somebody up there trying to make a point?

Friday, June 15, brought dark clouds and knocked out power in parts of the city. West 27th Avenue was flooded by the freeway, as was parts of London Road. Menards in West Duluth partly flooded, though not enough to close the store.

Grandma’s Marathon on Saturday experienced perfect running weather, damp and cool. But more storms hit Sunday, resulting in geysers of water spewing out of drains near the bottom of the Hillside. Wisconsin had flash floods, road washouts and two deaths.

The 1,000-footer Spirit hit bottom in the Duluth harbor 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, and came to rest with its nose uncomfortably close to the concrete seawall by the Paulucci building. Six and a half hours, later the water rose and set it free. How the incident occurred is still under investigation.