ST PAUL, Minn. — For over 90 years, two St. Paul families have braved Thanksgiving cold to uphold their football tradition which has become a cherished part of their holiday celebration.

The Battis-Bohen Turkey Bowl, as it’s now known, began in the early 1930s when Margret Battis, seeking peace while preparing Thanksgiving dinner, sent her children out of the house. 

The Battis kids were joined by the Bohen kids, and a new tradition was born.

Jim Bohen, a participant who has played for more than 70 years, recalls how his grandparents, Tom and Carmella, grew up across the alley from each other.

“I was 6 or 7 when I started playing,” he said. “I missed it in my 70 years maybe for a sprained ankle and one time I got sick.” 

 The tradition was solidified when a Battis married a Bohen, intertwining the two families. 

The annual game has only been missed twice: Once during World War II when many family members were drafted, and once during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Today, the event draws participants spanning about five generations, from toddlers to grandparents.

The game has been held in various locations, including Highland Park, under all kinds of weather conditions.

A custom-made trophy, weighing 43 pounds, features the original football and has become a symbol of this enduring tradition. Jim Bohen, now the most senior player, proudly holds the title.

Laura Bohen emphasized the emotional significance of the gathering.

 “It’s a nice, sweet time to just get together to find those warm memories,” she said, adding that it’s a moment to remember family members who have passed.

While the game is competitive, no official score is kept. The real victory, participants agree, is in the continuation of a tradition that has spanned nearly a century, bringing together generations of family members each Thanksgiving.

MINNEAPOLIS — When you think of Thanksgiving, you likely think of a nice meal with offerings like turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. 

Not everyone can afford that dinner spread, however, due to a variety of reasons. But thanks to volunteers and local nonprofits, free meals will be available on the holiday at areas across the Twin Cities. 

The Salvation Army is offering free breakfast and lunch at the Harbor Light Center at 1010 Currie Ave. 

Daily Work and Shobi’s Table are hosting a free holiday lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 105 University Ave. W. 

Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities is hosting a meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 435 University Ave E. 

Anoka: The Anoka County Brotherhood Council is distributing Thanksgiving food baskets to residents of Anoka, Andover, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Nowthen and Ramsey. Call (763)422-0046 ext. 3 to register as a client of the food shelf, then click on this website to register for an appointment to receive the food basket. 

Mound: The Westonka Food Shelf and American Legion Post 398 are hosting a free Thanksgiving meal from 12-4 p.m. on Nov. 28 at 2333 Wilshire Blvd. 

Duluth: The College of Saint Scholastica is serving a free meal to residents of the Twin Ports area. The meal will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 350 Harbor Drive. 

New Prague: Holy Trinity Church is staging a free Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1300 E. Main Street. 

To find your local food bank, search your zip code on Feeding America’s website. For other free meals across Minnesota, click on this link. 

MINNEAPOLIS — Split power in the Minnesota House will change the state’s political landscape.

Carlton College Political Science Professor Steven Schier said the last time the house was evenly divided was in 1979.

“History suggests the differences are so great between the parties, we’re going to have battles in the valley, not peace,” Schier said.

House leaders announced this week all of the committees will be co-chaired by one Democrat and one Republican, which Schier said is an unusual way to govern. Committee and division membership will also be equally divided between both parties.

Schier said there’s always a possibility that bipartisanship will triumph, but he’s not confident it will for sure happen.

“The idea that a tied legislature can come to some sort of consensus given how different the party agendas are is pretty unlikely which means as happened in 1979, there was a special session where finally a lot of legislative issues were resolved that’s probably what’s going to happen with the budget,” Schier said.

He said Minnesotans will need to be patient because things won’t get done as quickly.

“I think what you can expect from this session is that it will start relatively peacefully but the future has storm clouds ahead. There will be big fights over power,” he said.

Schier said their first big test will be selecting a speaker, the second will be the budget.

“There could be a rotating speakership where every week, or every month there’s a different speaker. This all remains to be seen because we’ve never faced a situation quite like this,” he said.

He said there is a possibility there will be two speakers. A deal was struck in 1979, to elect a speaker, a decision he said wasn’t popular amongst Democrats.

“There was a power sharing deal Democrats were given the chair positions of important committees, appropriations and tax in return for electing a Republican as Speaker of the House,” he said.

Schier said he believes both parties will be looking for any possibility to get the majority, which is why Republicans are challenging the state on Shakopee’s election. He said something similar happened the last time the house was split.

“Also in 1979, the whole session was made turbulent by an election challenge to someone who had been elected. Well guess what, we’re starting with an election challenge in Shakopee,” he said.

He said the two political parties had very different agendas, making it hard to make policy. Schier said he thinks pressure will build as lawmakers get further into session.