Meet the Cooler Crew
The Cooler Crew is a diverse group of individuals. There is no organizational structure with presidents and officers and what-not. There are no requirements for membership. In fact there isn't really "membership" per se as other clubs have. So, with that said, here's a list of some of the great people you will find around the Cooler. It is by no means complete. Much of the information was provided directly by those great people. Some people are comfortable revealing contact information. Some people aren't. All of them have their avatar as seen on the Cooler Crew Discussion Boards included, and many have got actual pictures of themselves. If you're new to the group, new to the pre-dig or the re-hash, feel free to print off this page and bring it with you to an event, or to the Pioneer Press line. We're happy to help you put names with faces! Oh, and if you're not included here and want to be, its not intentional, and chances are its not even an oversight. We just don't have any information on you! Contact us, and we'll get it fixed ASAP!
And now, on with the show!
AKA: Jason
AKA: The Webmaster
AKA: TC's Hubby
Been hunting "full-time" since 1999, running the Cooler Crew site since 2002
Closest ever to puck: Conway 1999, when we decided that where we were hunting had no decent way to hide the puck and went and dug up the field diagonally across the park from where we were at. We should have stayed at our original backstop.
Best hunting memory: meeting my wife. Having a boatload of Coolerheads at the wedding.
That and a bunch of life long friendships.
On the side I run an iPhone Software Development Company.
Email: jdm@Spam Me Not@visi.com
AKA: Dan
I looked for the medallion several times when I was little. My wife the SnowJester got me into serious hunting in 2003. I have since enjoyed the hobby of hunting for the puck and have met many great people. I enjoy many of the kind and friendly people who welcomed me to the Cooler Crew and am looking forward to many more hunts. My favorite hunt by far was the Crosby hunt of 05. I always love to hear a good joke and you can find me usually on the Cooler Crew Chats. Happy Hunting!
E-mail dsbeaubien@NOSPAMyahoo.com
Yahoo messenger - dsbeaubien
I hunted once or twice in Cherokee in 1992 but my kids were small and I lived in New Brighton; and I didn't know anyone! I really don't recall what led me into the 2004 hunt but I had been on the pp boards and Scribe invited me to the Pre-Dig and into the Cooler. I went and saw No Time for Cold Feet (by myself!) at the Bell Museum that day so that I could place faces to names at the Pre-Dig. That helped a lot! The 2004 hunt is very special to me because my daughter (Brooke) covertly convinced my sister, Julie, to fly up from Texas for the hunt, the Carnival, the ice palace, and all of the NHL stuff that was going on that year. I was so surprised! We had so much fun that Julie has come up every year since then! Favorite hunt: Crosby (until I find it, then that will be my favorite hunt!)
Searching for the puck since Newell 2000. Was a lurker on the PP page for a while, posted for Como 2001 and Merriam, and became better known as a Cooler member in 2003. I run my own freelance graphic design/digital art business. More digital art than graphic design really, as I do about 10 or more art fairs a year around the cities and only have one graphic design client who likes to boss me around a lot.
- E-mail: artbygiesla@(mmmspam)aol.com orladyofhifi@(spamandcheese)aol.com or birdieg@(spamspamspam)gmail.com
- Check out my website to see my work! http://www.inkblotsart.com/
I am a third generation medallion hunter and have been looking for the medallion since I was a kid when my mom would bring me along to the parks.
I consider myself a 20 year veteran as I really started to become involved when I was about 10 years old.
My wife Stephanie has now become hooked on the hunt due to my obsession and also enjoys clue solving.
We are expecting a little boy this February and when he is old enough I will have him out in the park as well.
My favorite hunt & medallion claim to fame is Hidden Falls 2007 when I helped Jake find the medallion by cracking the 3rd clue with the word level in Cleveland. After discussing my thoughts with Jake it led him to the discovery and the rest is history.
AkA ICEMAN, Jeremy
He was born not of this world but of a world not to Different from your own well trying to find a place to hid the Lucky Charms he took a wrong turn at Satran and found this crazy thing you call hunting and figured what better way to hid His Lucky Charms then to see how its done by a PRO and has stuck around Never to age after his first year here in 1980! He is now one of the Crazy people that call them self's the Cooler Crew!
His home was frozen like this great place called Minnesota and the people of his home planet had names like Wicked Nick and Zephyrus and they palyed music like Pink Floyd and Pantera!! they rocked out with the greats Like Johnny Cash and Insane Clown Posse!!
- AKA: CM
- AKA: Brad
- Hunting since 1980. First spot I put a shovel in the ground was actually at the frog in the frog pond.
- E-mail: cluemaster@(spam&mayo)gmail.com
- AKA: Santa Dave and DDY
- Sadly, Santa Dave is no longer with us.
AKA: Kathy
I have been a medallion hunter since 1994. Joined the cooler in 1999. Attended my first PDG and RHB in 2004.
I love to do Cryptogram puzzles. I enjoy hiking, geocaching, camping and fishing.
You will usually find me hunting in the parks with the Diggin' Darlins'
started hunting the year of Chair-o-key. Attended the first rehash bash.
Presently living in Marquette MI. Haven't gotten to hunt much the past ten years, but I follow the hunt faithfully online.
Hobbies include quilting, hiking, snowshoeing and helping lost dogs. Love Carbone's pizza. Two grown sons, Mags and Drummer.
Two daughters-in-law, one for each son. Two grandcats and a granddog.
AKA: ESD or Russell
Time hunting: I started Hunting for the Medallion in 1978 but I did not get Fanatical about it till 1995.
Hobbies: Medallion Hunting, Art, and I collect WW 2 and older Military Fire Arms.
E-mail: rkatuin@NOSPAMmac.com
- Time hunting: First hunt: (seriously) 1998
- Hobby: World Leader
- E-mail: kingboreas@NOSPAMgmail.com
- AIM: King Boreas
- Website: http://websports.8m.com
AKA: Bob
Hunting info: Terry and I have just finished our 39th hunt together. I caught more than hunting fever and we were married shortly after that first hunt.
AKA: Katie
Cherokee was my first hunt, Started "lurking" on PF during the Conway hunt. The first Coolerhead I met was Artemis, who wanted to meet my pet wolf "Hannah", aka "stinky". I met a bunch more 'Heads when we had a fall bonfire/potluck at Crosby. I since then have fallen deeply, and madly in love with all of you, and proudly represent the Cooler Crew in the suburb of Richfield. My hubby Dan will put all of us to shame when it comes to dissecting clues by looking up words like "the", "and" "if" and "should". My son James, aka "The Boy", will avoid both of us for these 2 weeks, but is happy to go out hunting at 2AM, if he can skip school the next day.
You can e-gram me thru the Ableminds, and be nice.
AKA: Kat
I have been hunting the medallion for as long as I can remember. I started hunting with my sister years ago. Once old enough I became heavily involved with the Winter Carnival co-chairing and then chairing Family Fun Day at the Landmark Center after that I became a Tax Collector (button seller) in 2001. I use to read about the Cooler Crew on-line and one year two new Tax Collectors joined (I believe it was 2005); Scribe and Big G… it was then they introduced me into the world of the Crew!
There must be something that I am doing right as I have been in the right park for the past 12 years. The closest I came was in 2000 in Newell Park. My sister and I had been searching all morning when it was time for us to leave to attend my niece’s birthday party. I didn’t want to go as I KNEW it was there and I could hear it taunting me – I took a rest on a wooden park swing to run the clues in my head one more time – I told my sister as soon as we are able we HAD TO come back because it was here. The 5 o‘clock news had the winner – a gentlemen that I bumped shoulders with as I exited the park – he found it about 5 feet from the swing I was sitting on…. I haven’t been to a birthday party during the hunt since.
In my spare time I am an event planner and attempting to have my own business. No matter if you’re an avid hunter, or a leisure hunter or someone who just enjoys the winter… I thank everyone for supporting such a fabulous event as the St. Paul Winter Carnival!
- AKA: Joel, K-corn
- Time hunting: Since 2002, but didn't really get to hunt because it was found before the first weekend.
- E-mail: joel_cd@NOSPAMyahoo.com
- AIM: KC0GRN
- Yahoo messenger: joel_cd
- MSN messenger: KC0GRN@NOSPAMhotmail.com
- AKA: Kitch
- Time hunting: I have dug in prior years (4x) but was just wasting my time. Not really official without the help of the coolercrew. So I'm saying 2004 is my 1st REAL YEAR. I also enjoy Geocaching.
- E-mail: 4kitch@(nospam)gmail.com
- AIM: b4kitch
- Yahoo messenger: b4Kitch
AKA: Redram or Kevin
I have been hunting on and off since I was a kid. I met the crew 5 years ago while just lurking.
My first RHB was 2002.
My first PDG 2004.
AKA: LAM, Jeri Lynn, Lisa and Amy's Mommy
My first year hunting was 1999 at Conway with Mike (MNRoofer1). Our first cooler crew event was Merriam in 2002 we went to the Rehash. That year was also the year I met up with LilSlim and My Dal the first CC members I truly hunted with. Even made it down the paper a few times this year. In 2005 I got even more active with the CC events and hanging out with the members of the CC. Crosby I think it's still one of my favorite hunts to date met so many hunters that year with the fire and just hanging out chatting. When the weather is nice enough I bring out Lisa and Amy to get involved with shoveling but when it's subzero I tend to let them hunt from home only.
Email: LA.Mommy@spam me not@gmail.com
AKA: LiL'Man or Rich
I've been hunting seriously since '93 but have been digging for 25 yrs (parents you know). My favorite park has to be Indian Mounds Park Clue Master knows what I'm talking about it's his too! Best hunt by far was Chair-O-Key they had me @ mounds for longest time, damn them all to hell for doing that to me! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
By the way if you ever need a DJ to help you be the Hostess with the mostest. Just call on your neighborhood friendly DJ LiL' Man!!!!!!!!!
E-mail: RPEXTREME@NOSPAMaol.com
AKA: Stephanie
I have been on the hunt since Como in 2001. I am on the wrong side of the river, but the crew let me in!
AKA: LL, Kelli
Time hunting: started hunting in 1991.
My favorite park is phalen and favorite hunt was conway.
Email: kgschewe(nospam)@netzero.net
AIM: liquorlady2000
AKA: Sunny, Samantha
1st and only hunt so far - was 1986, went to see the Ice Palace and when I got smudged by a Vulcan - I yelled at him calling him a Meanie - and then burst into tears. When we got home I broke the zipper on my snowsuit - and well, lets just say the rest of the night was down hill from there.
- EMAIL: love4vino@yahoo.com
- Yahoo messenger: Love4vino
AKA:
E-mail: goldenbear21@(nospam)gmail.com
AKA: Jesse
First Hunt: 1989 (State Capitol) after being transplanted from Wisconsin.
Hobbies: geocaching, building web sites, Nascar and American Cancer Society Relay for Life
Email: medhunter@(nospam)hotmail.com or mrmedhunter@(nospam)gmail.com
Website: http://www.wintercarnival.8m.com/
AKA: Mike
I was born and raised on the east side of St Paul and I've been hunting all my life! Meeting new hunters is the best part of all of it! I've never found it, but was next to the finder in 2001 in Como Park. Came very close a few times since. I was really close and in the right spot/tree on day 2 in 2005 in Crosby. Maybe this year will be my year! Hope to see you all in the parks!
Contact me on Able Minds or visit my Flickr page.
AKA: Nicole
Time hunting: My first hunt was in 1988. Since I was 10 years old, I'm 26 now.... so about 16 years :) Haha I sound ancient!
E-mail: evensonwbl@(nospam)aol.com
AIM: TelStarWBL
Yahoo messenger: Mystical_Muzik
AKA Conrad
I was first introduced to the hunt as a toddler from East St. Paul. My parents would partake in a little snow-kicking as part of the Winter Carnival events. I; however, took the bait. I remember years I wasn't old enough to cross a major street, but I wanted to hunt. So, I would go "hunt" on the Scenic Overlook by Mounds Park. Boy how I could make those clues fit that overlook. My childhood imagination mostly remains.
Forty years later, I still cruise by the overlook-every year-if only for a moment or two. For me, the medallion hunt is more about who I am than what I'll win.
Three years ago, I was pulled from the PP chat-site and was welcomed to the Cooler Crew. The first CC member I ever met; oddly enough, I met at that same overlook.
I chose the name Nimrod, the great hunter... before my wife chose "Mrs. Jack Ass"... which would have really locked me in.
email ConradELee@gmail.com
AKA: Gordy
Time hunting: Hunting since 1994, you don't see me post often during the hunt because liquor lady hogs the computer!
Contact me on ableminds if you can find me
AKA Old Timer
You can contact me on Ableminds.
- AKA: OTiS or Dan
- Time Hunting- First hunt was 2003 (Como). 2004 was my first hunt with the Cooler Crew. Minnesota transplant, yes I am after my time in Germany we moved to Minnesota in 2000.
- OT led me to Cooler Crew in 2004. Never lurked just hoped online. Green invited me to the PDG and the rest is history.
- Yahoo messenger: OTS-ON_THE_SEARCH
- AIM: OTS Coolertimes
- AKA: Steph
- Time Hunting- First hunt was 2003 noodling from home (Como). 2004 was my first hunt with the Cooler Crew.
- Minnesota transplant. :)
- AKA: Randy Rust
- I'm a Hugo resident and have been hunting since 1998 - Cherokee Sock Year!
- I have have been posting since 1999.....
- E-Mail: randyrust@NOSPAMcomcast.net
Hunting history: Inks and I have just finished our 39th hunt together. Inks caught the fever from me. Inks and I started hunting in 1971. Wakefield Park - found on the lake in a bike tire. Tons of snow that year to shovel.
As a young child, I would noodle clues with my Mom who hunted at night with a neighbor. It's what gave me the fever. We still talk about the clues every year. The first hunt, 1952, was the same year I was born. Born to hunt! :-)
Contact me on ableminds
AKA: Jason, TMK, Kids
Started hunting in 1998 with the Cherokee hunt.
EMAIL: roget44@NOSPAMaol.com
AIM: roget44
- AKA: Timmers
- Hunt history- been hunting since 98.
- Favorite hunting tool- Gonkulator.
- Closest I have ever been to the medallion- within 2 feet and moving towards it at Crosby in 05, left the spot because I released a nasty Chipotle Burrito fart.
- Favorite hunting partner- my dad. close second is OTiS, the big teddy bear.
- Favorite medallion hunting book- The one by Mr. Med Hunter.
- Favorite Map book- hudsons street atlas. Distant second is mape gui's book.
- Perpetual hunt prediction: Battle Creek
- EMAIL: tim_the_hunter@(nospam)hotmail.com or mnwildfan79@(spammenot)gmail.com
- AIM: mnwildfan79
AKA: Sue, TC, Ares' Wife, Pedro's Mom, and Honey's and Nadia's and Storm's
Email: susiec1313@spam me not@aol.com
The History Of Wicked Nick (the beginning - 2006)
Basically i've been hunting for the medallion, since I was a little kid.... but only got "serious" about it, back in like 1995 or so... when I met a good friend in highschool....During that time.... we discovered the old Pioneer Planet website, and their water-cooler message boards, complete with the "Cooler Crew" group....
Ive considered myself a member of that gang ever since... around that time, we also discovered the band - "Insane Clown Posse", and took the idea of doing face paint, with their designs while out hunting.... I took "Violent J", and he became "Shaggy 2 Dope"....------- throughout our hunting time, we made it loud and clear that since Phalen Park is in our "hood", should it be hidden there, we would stop at no costs to find it....
2004, brought us that chance.... From the 2000 Newell hunt, on to that very year, we had come closer (we felt) than anyone in the history of hunting, anyplace.... and were determined to not let "our park" be another one on that list....we were convinced it was there after clue 2, and were out looking every day and every night..... as hardcore as hardcore can be, basically....but alas.... it was found the morning of clue 12.... and we were standing less than 15 feet away.... details are still sketchy, but I believe it was dropped there, that morning by the "hider".....
throughout that years offseason, things were set in motion to change the outlook of our famed team, known to the hunting world as "The Klowns"....and we went our seperate ways.....for myself, the paint came off, and I re-emerged all through that off-season and into the next Hunt... still determined to not let phalen happen to me again....we felt that we were onto something, as of clue #2, and headed to Crosby Park.....With the help of fellow cooler crew member Mr. MNMikey, we discovered the famous "downed tree" that night.....the same very tree that the medallion was found under, after a few more clues lead to that exact spot....Once again, the following offseason lead to more happenings, to change the landscape of hunts to come for myself....
Will 2006 be THE year? What events will this hunt bring forth?
Stay tuned.
AIM - wickednick408899
Yahoo - wickednick81
Wolfpac consists of Jim, Kathy, Paula, Chris, Patty, Ian, Shannon and Kevin and baby Connor. We must take full responsibility of getting Tim-the-Hunter involved in the hunt.
Some day we'll find it!!!!
AKA: Jason
I have been a full fledged member of the Cooler Crew since Jan 2005. I have posted with the BB on the PP site for a few years prior to that. My first actual in the park hunt was 2002 or 2003, but have off and on kept up with the clues with my mom since I was a kid... (her dad found the treasure chest in 1954)
I was all about last year, see if you can find me this year!
During the 1990’s, the St Paul Pioneer Press opened online discussion forums. These forums were called Water Coolers. The forums had discussion topics related to sports, politics, news, and current events. Each year, the Pioneer Planet – the online section of the Pioneer Press – opened a discussion forum as a media for hunters to discuss the clues for the Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt.
During the earlier years, one might find a few hundred posts during the hunt. As more hunters had computers, those numbers jumped. From 1997 to 1998, the number of posts increased from the hundreds to the 5-digit thousands. It was during the 1998 hunt the Cooler Crew was born.
The community spirit and teamwork displayed in the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt thread was inspiring. The group of hunters found themselves at the end of a hunt not wanting to let go of new friendships and the camaraderie found on the Water Cooler board. The idea emerged to do what anyone would do in the middle of winter in Minnesota. A picnic in Cherokee was planned - the first Rehash Bash!
