Weekly Wave: Inflation even affects the tooth fairy’s payouts

DULUTH — Baby teeth are worth a lot more now than I remember from my youth.

When my adult teeth arrived and kicked my baby teeth out of my mouth, I recall putting those teeth under my pillow and finding a quarter or two there in the morning. Maybe a 50-cent piece if I was lucky.

But inflation as it is, I shouldn’t have been surprised to see the results of a survey showing that today’s baby teeth are worth a lot more to the tooth fairy than two bits. According to research conducted by Affordable Dentures & Implants and answers from 4,000 Americans, the average baby tooth in Wisconsin pays out $3.93 in Wisconsin and $4.32 in Minnesota.

Whoa, tooth fairy. How do you sneak all that cold cash under those pillows? I’d love to see your investment portfolio.

If I’d known that the value of my baby teeth would skyrocket I would have held onto them a little longer. Like a few decades.

Oh well, I guess in a few years I can try putting my dentures beneath my pillow and see how much the tooth fairy pays out for those.

Reunited … and it feels so good

The Plante family is Northland hockey royalty, and brothers Max and Zam have bright futures after being drafted by the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, respectively.

But first, the Plantes have some business with the Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey team.

The Hermantown natives stopped by the DNT recently to chat on the Bulldog Insider podcast about their years playing in different parts of the country and how they are adjusting to living together again as UMD freshmen.

Check out the Bulldog Insider here.

Let’s do the Transylvania Twist

The Northland doesn’t scrimp on Halloween. When October stops by and summer heat gives way to fall chill, Northlanders use the extra hours of darkness for a horde of haunted uses.

DNT arts and entertainment reporter Jay Gabler tracked down a goblin’s share of October events and activities to overflow your Halloween treat bags.

All treats, no tricks.

If you can’t find a Halloween-related activity to your liking from Gabler’s list, then maybe Arbor Day is more your speed.

DNT takes on the DTA

The Duluth Transit Authority knows how to turn bus driver recruitment into a friendly competition.

A couple of weeks ago, the DTA’s third annual “Your Turn To Drive” recruitment event featured a call for local “celebrities” to climb behind the wheel of a public transit bus and dodge some orange cones.

Two of the DNT’s favorite celebrities — business/health reporter Brielle Bredsten and photographer Clint Austin — dug out their driving gloves and learned what it takes to navigate those big DTA buses. They even made a side bet.

Who was the most skilled driver? Who knocked over the most cones?

You’ll have to read Brielle’s story and check out Dan Williamson’s video (and Clint’s photos) to find out.

Catch a wave

Here are a few more stories from the past week to check out:

Another look at Lester: Reinert relaunches group to explore future of Lester Park Golf Course
New arrivals: Lake Superior Zoo welcomes twin monkey babies
Photos and video: Names never forgotten on 148th Fighter Wing Memorial Wall
Only 257 days under Grandma’s Marathon weekend: Irvin 5K joins Bjorklund Half Marathon as sellout

Editor’s note: Weekly Wave is a newsletter that I publish every Friday morning. Please consider subscribing — it’s free — and hits your inbox just once a week. You can sign up here.

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