La Crosse Tribune,
September 16, 2006 . . . Medallion
rhymer ready for ’06
hunt
By Autumn Grooms
The clue writer is ready
for another year
Of the Oktoberfest
tradition we love so
dear.
At this point they’re
not saying much,
So we’ll likely just
have to follow our
hunch.
It’s hard to not think
and write in verse when
your Oktoberfest
Medallion fever has
spiked.
And with just days until
one of La Crosse’s most
coveted items is again
hidden somewhere in the
city, I’m sure
temperatures are rising
throughout the area.
My fever reached an
all-time high when I
received the e-mail
response of all e-mail
responses Friday
morning.
You see, I’d wanted to
interview the
Oktoberfest Medallion
clue writer to offer the
hunting faithful a few
tips from the master,
but I quickly learned
President Bush would be
easier to reach. (At
least I know his name
and where he lives.)
As expected, Oktoberfest
officials promptly
declined my request for
a telephone or
face-to-face meeting,
allowing me an e-mail
interview only.
Then “Re: Questions for
the Clue Writer”
arrived, filled with
medallion notes and a
little about the person
behind the tangled
messages. The clue
writer, who took over
for longtime clue writer
Lois Kathan in 2002,
answered everything.
Becoming the clue writer
isn’t something the
writer always wanted to
do, but a love of
history and writing have
made the project
enjoyable.
But as a former hunter
who searched to “no
avail,” the clue writer
wrote that it’s nice to
be assured of where the
medallion is. “That’s
one reason I wanted to
be the writer.”
While the job is
enjoyable, there is also
pressure when trying to
hide the medallion as
well as checking up on
it during the actual
hunt.
“I’m always concerned
someone might be
watching and I’ll give
the site away,” the Clue
Writer wrote.
And it’s hard to not
tell people you’re the
Clue Writer. White lies
are told, as only the
Clue Writer’s spouse and
an out-of-town sibling
know their identity.
But the enjoyment comes
when the hunt is on, the
Clue Writer wrote. “It’s
fun to see those out
seeking — young, old;
male, female; families,
singles, groups. That’s
what makes this a great
Oktoberfest event.
Basically anyone can
play.”
Here are additional
responses from the Clue
Writer:
The hunt becomes more
“exciting and appealing”
the longer the medallion
remains hidden.
You need to have an
interest in Oktoberfest,
local history, knowledge
of the city and an
ability to write to
qualify for the
position.
Site selection,
determined by the Clue
Writer, is shortly after
the previous hunt ends.
Clue ideas are written
during the year, but the
pencil isn’t really
sharpened until June and
July, leaving August for
“fine-tuning.”
Clues lead to a general
area, so the actual spot
can be “tweaked” without
wrecking the hunt.
Different wording —
often using a rhyming
dictionary — is
attempted so previous
hunters “won’t have an
inside track.”
The first clue isn’t a
throwaway clue. “It may
appear that way by just
reading that single
clue. But, when you add
it in with the ones that
follow, it will assist
you in finding the
site.”
Now knowing the true
importance of the first
clue, we’ll all be
reading it a little
different come Monday
when the first of 10
clues appears in the La
Crosse Tribune and on
www.oktoberfestusa.com.
I know my family will be
out armed with
flashlights, scouring
Myrick Park.
We’ve found that’s where
all good hunters go when
they’re clueless.
Autumn Grooms can be
reached at (608)
791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.
