"It's still cold in North Dakota."

- Scott Mandrell, portraying Meriwether Lewis, as the recreated Corps of Discovery entered North Dakota waters last week on its way up the Missouri River. The group is following the explorers' schedule day by day, and Mandrell has been away from home since last year. Even with 50-horsepower outboard motors in their pirogues, bucking a 30-mph wind on the river was no picnic.

"Sauerkraut Day is known within a 200-mile radius, and the reason for that is it's a German meal and a free meal."

- Stan Deile, chairman of the famous annual merchants' appreciation feed in Wishek. Event attracted thousands to its 79th renewal last week, and Ferdinand Vossler, 92, of Wishek, has been to every one of them.

"This presents a remarkable opportunity for us to do the right thing. It also presents a remarkable opportunity for us to put our heads in the sand and just keep doing what we've been doing. And I don't think we should do that."

- Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, on $861 million balance projected for state's budget at end of the current biennium, June 30, 2006. Cheyenne's Wyoming Tribune-Eagle newspaper says the figure "is due primarily to rising prices and production for natural gas and the resulting hike in mineral taxes." Freudenthal is looking for ideas to turn bonanza into "a dynamic economy that will support the state after the energy boom ends."

"It's not sort of a YMCA, 'I'm going to go out, play the game and have fun' kind of deal. That's not what we're talking about. This is, 'I love this game, yes, but we're going to win or somebody's going to die.' It's almost that serious. I hate to say it like that."

- Houston Astros manager Phil "Scrap Iron" Garner, of intensity of his players in their National League Championship Series matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals. Cards prevailed Thursday, 4 games to 3, and will meet the Boston Red Sox in the World Series, which starts today.

"I just hope it's a clear victory, so we don't have Florida all over again all over the place."

- Presidential historian Walter Berns, on possibility of legal challenge to results in any number of states in the event of another close election. Both parties have their lawyers cocked in states the polls say are close.

"This is a fight to the death, and both sides are prepared to go all the way."

- Florida political scientist Susan MacManus, same subject.

"One way or the other, I'll still be here drinking after Election Day."

- Columbia, S.C., bar habitue Adam Graham, on proposed amendment to the state constitution that would allow liquor by the drink to be dispensed from regular distiller bottles instead of 1.7-ounce ponies. Under existing system, the making of cocktails is a bartender's nightmare.