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Social media buzzes over hand-holding mystery couple
A Facebook post revealed deep community affection for a couple seen walking the same route for 28 years.
EAGAN, Minn. — This summer in Eagan, mosquitoes weren’t the only thing buzzing.
“Makes my heart smile every time,” one resident posted on the Eagan Neighbors Facebook page.
“They’re our favorite,” wrote another.
Page administrator Jennifer Peery watched as comment after comment landed on the site, and views reached the thousands.
“Eight-thousand views is a lot, I mean there’s only 12,000 people in the group,” Jennifer says.
All that attention, focused on this post:
To the sweet older couple who regularly walks their German Shephard while holding hands in the Town Centre area, thank you. For years I’ve noticed you while driving around Eagan and every time I do it fills my cup. #truelove #daymakers.
The post was written by Heather Erickson, who’s been driving past the mystery hand-holding couple for years
“I always wonder, what’s their story? Who are they?” Heather told KARE 11. “Every time I see them, they’re holding hands. Every time.”
Within hours of posting, Jennifer found her answer among the dozens of responses to her post.
The mystery walkers were Bob and Pat Klecker, who had no idea they were being watched – and admired – while on their daily walks.
“Well, we were kind of surprised,” Bob says.
“Because it just seems pretty ordinary to us,” Pat adds.
Despite the eyeballs being cast in their direction, Bob and Pat aren’t holding hands for attention.
“We both were walkers and we started dating, started walking, doing our walks, kind of always held hands,” Bob says.
Bob and Pat started dating in 1988, eight years after first meeting at a church choir practice.
Thrity-two years after tying the knot, they continue stitching together their fingers at every opportunity.
“I guess if you’ve been doing it all along, it never gets uncomfortable,” Bob says.
He mentions the word soulmate. “A lot of people talk about that, but you’re really a lucky person if you actually find one,” he says.
So, with intertwining fingers, they walk, morning and afternoon, five miles a day — the same route for the past 28 years.
The only variable has been the German Shephard by their sides. Anya is their third.
“It’s just like this steadfast togetherness that gives me that warm feeling when I see them,” Heather says.
“They have absolutely no idea the impact they’re making on the community,” she says. “When I’m 70 or 80 years old, I want to still be that in love with my partner.”
Jennifer smiles, then adds, “I just love them, and I don’t even know them.”
At that point, her KARE 11 visitors mention that they happen to know Bob and Pat’s route and walking schedule, which is how she happened to be giving them hugs that very day on their afternoon walk.
“You guys are like our couple of Eagan,” she tells them. “We love it.”
In that moment, as both Bob and Pat hugged Jennifer, their hands came apart.
But then, seconds later, right back together – where they belong.
Ten fingers, making their way through life, as one.
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Most agree that pharmacy benefit managers entered the market in the 1980s as Americans started using more drugs than ever before.
MINNEAPOLIS — Editor’s Note: The above video was first published on 6/7/2024.
As the election draws nearer both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris — the Republican and Democratic nominees for president, respectively — are speaking up about their respective plans for making health care more affordable for Americans.
Vice President Harris has specifically named PBMs or Pharmacy Benefit Managers as a target for more oversight and transparency and Trump issued an executive order calling out PBMs back in 2020.
PBMs primarily run prescription drug coverage for insurers, large employers and other clients. They also set up formularies, or lists of covered drugs, and negotiate rebates off drug prices.
Most agree that pharmacy benefit managers entered the market in the 1980s as Americans started using more drugs than ever before. The presence of the PBMs initially let pharmacists focus more on their businesses by handling backend tasks and saved insurers money through bargaining with drug manufacturers.
The heightened scrutiny comes as the Federal Trade Commission announced a lawsuit against the three largest PBMs in the country, Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum Rx. Those three companies process roughly 80% of prescriptions nationwide, according to the FTC.
The FTC said the rebating practices of the three companies have led to artificially inflated list prices for people. List prices are what a drugmaker initially sets for a product and what people who have high deductible plans or no insurance are sometimes stuck paying for prescriptions.
Harris’ campaign promises that, if elected, Harris “will increase competition and demand transparency in the health care industry, starting by cracking down on pharmaceutical companies who block competition and abusive practices by pharmaceutical middlemen who squeeze small pharmacies’ profits and raise costs for consumers.”
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which lobbies for PBMs nationwide has long argued that their work is imperative in saving consumers money on drugs.
“PBMs support transparency that empowers prescribers, plan sponsors, policymakers, and, most importantly, patients, with the information they need to lower costs while improving access to needed medications. What we don’t support are measures that would empower drug companies to raise costs.” Greg Lopes, vice president of public affairs., for the PCMA.
Lawyers are preparing opening statements in the trial of Adam Fravel, who is accused of killing the mother of his children, Madaline Kingsbury.
MANKATO, Minn. — After a week and a half of selection, jurors have been chosen for the trial of Adam Fravel, and opening statements could potentially begin this week.
Fravel is accused of killing his longtime partner and mother of his children, Madeline Kingsbury.
While the alleged murder took place in Winona County, the trial will unfold in Mankato, the seat of Blue Earth County. A judge supported a defense motion to change the venue for the trial, saying it would be difficult to select an impartial jury in Winona County due to extensive pre-trial publicity.
Kingsbury went missing on March 31, 2023. Authorities say she was last seen dropping her kids off at daycare. For weeks, a massive search effort was conducted, with hundreds helping in the search. Her remains were found on June 7 in a remote location close to where Fravel admitted to being on the day she disappeared.
Fravel was the last known person to see her. He said he had nothing to do with her disappearance and fought for custody of the children while Kingsbury was missing.
Fravel is charged with two counts of first-degree murder – one for murder while committing domestic abuse and one for premeditated murder – along with two additional counts of second-degree murder.
The jury consists of 12 jurors and five alternates. A court spokesperson told KARE 11 they seated 11 men and six women, with opening statements starting this Thursday morning at the earliest.
Financial advisor Ayo Idowu visited KARE 11 News at Noon to talk about an emergency nest egg and how much you should consider putting away.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — It’s no secret that Americans are increasingly challenged when it comes to making financial ends meet. With the rising cost of food, housing and other necessities – combined with the impact of inflation – many are living from paycheck to paycheck, without a cushion if something were to happen.
According to financial planner Ayo Idowu, that underlines the importance of establishing an emergency fund. Just how much that is depends on whether you are single with few financial responsibilities, or someone with a family, kids, a mortgage and car payment.
- Those who are younger with fewer responsibilities should aim for having enough to cover three months of living expenses (not income)
- Folks with homes, cars, kids and other obligations should shoot for an emergency fund that can cover six months of living expenses
If you’re wondering where to find money to fill that fund, Idowu suggests being creative. He is currently in the midst of an “October Fast” with fewer social outings, eating at home instead of out, putting travel on hold and putting all the money saved into his emergency fund.
If you have questions, check out Ayo Idowu’s web page at Integrate Wealth Management.
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