Flapjack Fiasco returns

Nearly 700 people turned out Sunday morning for Harold's Flippin' Flapjack Fiasco, which raised close to $9,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in its 10th year. On Tuesday, event founder Harold Ankrum said money is still coming in, after a supporter stopped by Harold's Service in Carlton to donate $100 to the cause.

Ankrum said people like to support St. Jude's cancer research, but they also like the pancakes. "A lot of it is J.J.'s Family Tradition pancakes recipe," Ankrum said of John Johnson. "He comes with his recipe. We don't watch him mix it because it's a big secret."

This was the first in-person event since 2019. The flapjack fiasco was canceled last year, and the year before that it was held as a drive-through event at Carlton's Four Corners and it raised about the same amount of money as this year.

Ankrum said it was nice to see everyone again. He worked throughout the breakfast, but stopped for lots of hugs and conversation too.

"A lot of people couldn't wait," he told the Pine Knot Tuesday. "Lots came from around the county, and two [people] even drove from International Falls and stayed the weekend here."

Next up for Ankrum is Harold's Golf Fiasco on Aug. 27. The golf tournament is celebrating 30-some years and will be followed by Harold's Hog Fest on Sept. 10 at the Carlton VFW.

Ankrum said they've raised more than $400,000 for St. Jude's over the years.

"I just got a brick in my name at the hospital," Ankrum said. "We sent them a check this year for another $40,000 and now we're starting over again."

Not bad for something that started with "a bunch of guys" playing golf at Pine Hill, putting money in a kitty more than three decades ago.