We pretty much know that sugar and sweet drinks are a part of our obesity problem. What we don't know is whether one sweetener is better or worse than another.
So Susan Rotts of the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center is hoping to find out. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and a grant from the U.S. Honey Board to study the effect of honey, white sugar and high fructose corn syrup on the body. And she is seeking another 40 people between the ages of 20 and 80 to take part.
What's in it for those who sign up? Well, they get $200 for taking part in the 15-week study. The study involves drinking a Kool-Aid like drink every day for two weeks. Then they take time off and come back to do another sweet drink. The study involves oral glucose tolerance that comes from taking blood samples. It will be finished before Christmas.
Rotts, who has been at the research center here for two and a half years, seeks to answer questions. Does it matter what sweeteners we use? Is one better than another?
John Reilly and Friends
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Meanwhile, the weekend arrives with John Reilly and Friends doing a show tonight at the Fargo Theatre and Saturday night at the Empire Arts Center here in Grand Forks.... One of the friends is Tom Brosseau who grew up in Grand Forks.... The two are said to share a love for old-school American roots music and harmonies of The Everly Brothers....
Saturday marks the beginning of the Farmer Markets downtown.... This weekend there will be entertainment by New Americans including dancing, singing and a fashion show.... On Saturday afternoon at their lodge, the Sons of Norway will present a concert by the Arnstein Killingberg Orchestra from Norway....
If you need a lawyer, you can find dozens of them at the Alerus... Where the State Bar Association has been holding its annual meeting that winds up today.... And the Grand Lodge of Masons of North Dakota is meeting here through Saturday.... The World of Outlaw Sprint will keep things roaring at River Cities Speedway tonight.... And it's batter up for Gerrell's Baseball tournament underway here today and Saturday....
The season's first downtown Art and Wine Walk is set for Saturday afternoon.... And at Fire Hall Theatre, "Ruthless" is off and running for the next three weekends....
Ask Marilyn
Q. How many turkeys are they roasting over the coals at the city park in Aneta Saturday?
A. My faithful source, Debbie Anderson, says 300. And there will be six lines so people won't have to wait too long during the serving at 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. She says there will be 900 pounds of potato salad, 800 pounds of beans and lots of other "stuff."
Q. Is there a restaurant around here where you can get a roast turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy and cranberry sauce?
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A. I am not sure. Here's hoping someone out there in reader land will let us know.
Q. Have you been able to figure out why those shoes are hanging on a wire on 17th Avenue South, between 16th and 17th Streets?
A. No, but readers have suggestions. One tells me that down in Oro Valley, Ariz., it is a symbol that drugs are for sale in that area. And authorities were removing them. Another reader says leaving combat boots hanging in a tree after overseas duty was a reminder to friends that you were there and left something of yours with them.
Cassie and John
Cheerful people of the week: Cassie Gerhardt and John Clayburgh.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.
