I would say call the local authorities as they must check on it. Follow up with them and if they haven't done anything (because it's a person they don't want to do anything too) call the State Health Department

Yeah.Some facilities seem to have their own rules,and,some seem to never have to follow the Law like the rest of us do. The CourtHouse
here in town has a Smoking Lounge for the employees inside the building and I have been to the above mentioned business establishment
myself and have seen the same person puffing away too. I went once and didn't go back because of a customer service issue. Hmmmm...
I wonder if we could gather some smokers up and bring our own bottles and head on up there and have a few drinks and smoke indoors at the same time...then mosey on over to the CourtHouse Smokin corner have a shot or two and puff to go with it. Seems like a solution since smoking in the Bars has been banned. Two warm indoor places where smokers can hang out in town.

Do you think if someone were to "light up" in the Bar, got cited, had to go to Court over it,would the Judge let them use the lounge in the Courthouse to smoke in until their case was called??? ;0)

Doesn't the smoking ban only cover bars, restaurants and bowling alleys?

Just remember, what goes around, comes around!! I had a guy down here who owned a locksmith shop, and he and all his workers smoked, and it was disgusting in his business. He even had a sign at the front counter, that said, "thank you for holding your breath, while I smoke"! Well, he now has to use oxygen full time, and has lung disease! Guess, what? He now has "no smoking" signs (oxygen maybe), has air purifiers to clean the air, and his employees have to smoke way out back. So, let them smoke! I think I will open up an oxygen business in the Falls. And they blame it on the paper mill, yeah right!!!!

I think people just need to quit smoking. They put a ban on it for a reason. It can KILL you!! And besides it looks completly dumb! And I wont go in to Soundnorth anymore either. I also got yelled at for wearing perfume, and I don't wear it!

Peanuts, just curious if the city smell has any effect on you? Did you read about the school that banned perfume a few weeks ago? I don't think it was because of allergies so much as the boys dousing themselves with that Axe stuff instead of showering after gym, but I can see how that would be offensive to the average person, let alone someone with allergies! lol :o)

The following was found on wcco.com after doing a simple search for MN SMOKING BAN:

Q. What is prohibited?
A. Smoking -- or carrying a lighted cigarette or cigar -- in most indoor public places and workplaces. That includes bars, restaurants, private clubs such as VFWs, bowling alleys, country club lounges, hotel and motel lobbies, public buses and trains, taxis, home offices where employees work or customers visit, home day cares when children are there, and smaller commercial vehicles if more than one person is present.

Q. Where can I smoke legally?
A. Private homes and cars, hotel and motel rooms, buildings on family farms, cabs of heavy commercial trucks and farm vehicles, a disabled veterans camp in Washington County and tobacco shops if you're a customer trying out the products. Smoking remains legal for scientific studies, American Indian ceremonies and actors performing on stage. The ban also doesn't cover casinos and other establishments on Indian lands.

So, according to what I found, this business owner should not be smoking. The ban went into effect at the beginning of this month, so he's a little behind schedule... or maybe he's being deliberately defiant? I wonder what the penalty would be?

Anonymity has a way of bringing out the worst in people. It releases inhibitions and allows people to say rude things they wouldn't normally say to someone in the "real world." I'm a die hard optimist, so I refuse to believe that these people act this way on a day-to-day basis. I don't know anyone on here personally, so I guess I could be wrong. Beyond a shake of my head and the occasional eye roll, I generally ignore the rude comments and try to concentrate on the topic of discussion, but you're right Fallsy; we learned the Golden Rule early on and it would be great if everyone would remember it. At the same time, we have to remember that not all insults are meant to be taken that way. Sometimes it's very hard for a person to convey something in a humorous way... then again, one person's sense of humor may be offensive to another. Ugh! lol Can't we all just... get along? :oP

P.S. Fallsy, you're quite welcome for posting the info... I just happened to put the kids to bed early and got here first! lol :o)

Now that you have come up with the correct information, there are sveral other businesses in the area, that are retail stores
where I saw people smoking indoors. I think when the law went into effect people thought it only applied to bars. I would also like to know what the fine is.

I don't think anyone was letting you or Peanuts "have it," Roj. lol :o) Just asking for a little more politeness, that's all. And if not politeness, then maybe at least a little bit of tact. You can still say what you want to say without being completely offensive! lol :oP How about showing us some of that Southern charm that surely must have rubbed off on you? :o)

Thanks for the offer to find out who you are Roj, but you will remain anonymous to me. There's really no point in knowing since I'll never meet you face-to-face anyway. And besides, I think it's more fun to discuss/debate when you have no idea who's on the other end! :o) But most people on here aren't so free with their personal info, so the general (I should have been more clear about the GENERAL part instead of assuming people would understand that) statement that I made still stands. I wasn't just directing it to you, so maybe clearing that up will take a little sting out of things. Had I meant for my post to be to you and Peanuts only, I would have stated that. Anyway, this is something I have noticed in several forums/blogs by several people, so I just took the opportunity to say my piece about it on here.

I have no idea who this business owner is, so I can't help anyone "stick it to him." I don't even know what business they are talking about. However, I can and did help clear up the confusion regarding the smoking ban and I'd encourage whoever visited this business to take necessary action to ensure that the owner is complying with the new ban. And maybe these owners are just as confused about the ban as others are? I'm not quite sure of that, but I'd like to give them the benefit of doubt. You'd think that a smoking business owner would have a keen interest in whatever may affect his/her business, but you never know. Maybe those visiting these places could kindly inform them that the ban doesn't only apply to bars and restaurants? If they continue to smoke, then I'd get authorities involved. But Roj, you are right. If people witness this kind of thing they need to do something about it... I just don't like your way of goading people into action! :oP Remember, tact! lol

Roj, this message isn't to "let you have it again" in anyway, because I don't on any level consider this a fight. I simply would like to say that I never accused you of deliberately hiding your identity on here...that's not the point...because your identity shouldn't matter. Even if I knew who everyone on here was, it wouldn't make the rude things you say any more appropriate or right. And it also doesn't give you a reason to generally refer to us as "lazy people." I live, work, recently bought a home and raise a family here in the falls and am definitely not lazy. And if according to you it's "over the line" for Peanuts to think old ladies wear too much perfume, then should it not be over the line to call people "big fat slobs"? That's really the main thing I took issue with. This is just pointless. It's great to get people stirred up about issues, I'm just suggesting that there are more effective ways to do it. You take the focus OFF of the real issues when you fill these blogs with comments such as that. There are just better ways to get your point across, but if for you, there really isn't, then I am truly sorry for starting this. I'm bowing out.

To get back to the smoking ban, though, I was really glad to be hearing that all the local bars seem to be sticking to the ban. I used to be a smoker, and when I was I guess the smell didn't bother me because I was one of the ones producing it; now that I don't smoke I really take notice of the smell when I'm around it. I'd still deal with it if I had to, but it's great that the ban has made that unnecessary. Even all my friends that still smoke love being able to sit and have a beer without the smokiness all around.

Oh, and thanks for your resonse, Peanuts. :)

Falsie and Marty,

I hear you, but I am not running a "liberal" touch/feely radio station here. You know, that great program that your Minnesota Senator wannabe was running. You know "Air America"!! But, I will try to tone down my remarks and keep on subject, without upsetting you two. But, I just would like to know what kind of business the "Sound North" is. Is it a music shop that sells cigars?? If not a cigar shop, then I don't know how the jerk owner can sit there and smoke "illegally" and give ladies hell about their perfume. Sounds like the tail is wagging the dog!! Marty, yes I can use some Southern Gentleman Charm when I blog on here, but I live down here in "Republican" country, and that has also rubbed off on me. I don't roll over, and say, "yes sir, yes sir, give me more". So, I'm sorry if I offended any "fat slobs" who may be reading these blogs. Maybe just sit by the perfume ladies, and we'll all be happy. Your smoking ban up there is just like the immigration laws. They're only good if you have the b**ls to enforce them. A friend of mine visited MSP a while back, and when entering the restaurant, ask for a "non-smoking" table. They looked at him like he was from Mars, and said, WE don't allow smoking indoors in Minnesota. How bout that??