WIR, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, page 12
YEAR IN REVIEW/From Page 9 about employee misconduct claims inconclusive. Area principals, Scott Patrow/Bigfork and Brent Colligan/Deer River, complete Applied Learning Institute and the University of Minnesota’s Principals Academy leadership training. The annual customer appreciation day was held at the Sportsman’s Cafe in Deer River. Joy and Hjalmer Tervo share history of the Deer River High School dormitory life. Bigfork Valley receives a Minnesota Hospital Association Patient Safety Excellence Award for Safe Site. Cohasset City Council amends zoning ordinance to allow home businesses on waterfront due to Thomas J. Tolrud’s request to be able to operate a catering business out of his home. College students in the news are Darrell Hahn, Anita Mendonsa, Ryan Shinabargar, Jeremy Tinquist and Sandra Virkus of Cohasset who are placed on the Hibbing Community College Honor's List. Named to the Minnesota State University Moorhead dean’s list are Darick Apitz of Talmoon, and Natalie Petersen-Menefee of Squaw Lake. Receiving scholarships from Bemidji State University are Karla Pula of Bigfork, and Tessa Salisbury and Amie Soblik of Deer River. Keith J. Heimer of Golden Valley died in a one-vehicle accident north of Squaw Lake. Itasca County Regional Rail Authority approved the terms for the sale of nearly 4,000-acres of tax-forfeited land to Essar Steel Minnesota. North Country Gardeners Club sponsored a Family Fun Day fundraising event at the Marcell Family Center to help fund the landscaping project at the center. The Deer River American Legion Post 122 baseball team have a good week, winning all five of its’ district games before losing Sunday’s game to the Northwest Slam Renegades. Carol Williams’ gift of a bright red Support Our Troops T-shirt at Christmas starts a Friday campaign at the North Star Foods and North Star Cooperative station/store. Deer River High School’s Warrior baseball team was represented by coaches Jim Thompson and Jim Erzar and players Dane Heig and Tyler Erzar during the Eighth Annual Arrowhead All Star Game. Deer River Tae Kwon Do students, Taylor Braford and Tony, Joe and Chris Schinzing, advance in rank. Minnesota State Fraternal Order of Eagles present the Itasca County Dare Program with a $5,000 donation. A circus arrives in the City of Effie and sets up their bigtop in the middle of the Effie Ball Park. Cohasset university students in the news were Philip Watson a Bethel University graduate and Melissa Ann Petoletti a St. Cloud State University graduate. There were 20 entries in the Fifth Annual Juried Art Exhibit at the Edge Center Gallery. Works by Donna Rae Anderson, Jeff Argir, Gene Madsen and Peggy Selander were the top choice in the exhibits. After an eight month wait, Al Franken becomes a Minnesota U.S. Senator. Lake Country Power rate increases fall hard on struggling rural consumers. Bigfork Fire Chief Curt Snyder recognized by the Itasca County Wildfire Protection Plan Implementation Team. There is an American troop drawdown in Iraq cities, turning over control of them to the Iraq forces, just as a build-up of
American troops is being done to combat the Taliban. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources make an effort to promote fishing by allowing Minnesota residents to fish from shore, without a license, in most state parks. Bigfork City Clerk Angela Storlie earns a Municipal Clerk award from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. The Swampsiders Snowmobile Club’s annual pancake breakfast fundraiser brings in 347 customers. The Deer River American Legion Post 122 baseball team to host the District Eight Division II Legion playoffs for the first time in its history. In spite of the wind and rain storm of the night before, 20 teams participate in the 2009 Warrior Golf Scramble. Local area residents attend the Civil Conservation Corps alumni reunion at the Discovery Center in Chisholm. The Avenue of Pines Lions Club of Deer River donates a chemo chair to the Deer River HealthCare Center’s hospital. Shelley Snyder, who owns Deer River Floral and Gifts is the only Western Saddle Club Association Inc. accredited horse show judge in Itasca County. The Deer River Lions Club 61st Annual Wild Rice Festival drew a record number of participants and spectators to their many events and activities. Independent School District 317 board attends to a number of items on their agenda, several of which dealt with the rising costs of providing for the students and the lessening support from the state to public schools. A last minute amendment to personal property tax legislation signals a major change in the $2 billion Mesaba Energy project proposed near Taconite. Kocian’s Family Market participates in a program called Register Tapes for Education during the 2008-2009 school year. Area schools, including Bigfork Elementary School, earned free educational equipment valued at $2,098.16. Deer River fire wardens, Joe and Loretta Herr retire after 30 years of dedicated volunteer service for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and serving as fire wardens since 1979. Dr. David Reitter, a boardcertified surgeon, joins the Deer River HealthCare Center. Lindsey Hagen of Deer River graduates from Bemidji State University. Northern Star Cooperative Services annual customer appreciation cook-out drew more than 500 cooperative members. Beryl Lee celebrates her 90th birthday with family and friends at the Deer River Township Community Center. Eagleview First Week Boutique in Squaw Lake opens up for business. This consignment store business, which is run and staffed by teens, was made possible through the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training's Summer Youth employment program. Arrowhead Transit will be replacing 51 buses, 15 of which serve Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis counties, with a $7.4 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In the college news are Bigfork area residents Karmen Apitz-Porter and Kelsey Olson who graduated from Bemidji State University; Lindsey Hagen of Deer River who graduated from Bemidji State University and Chelsi Plate of Deer River who was named to the dean’s list at Crown College in St. Bonifacius. Effie City Council discuss problems with the new sewer system.
Bigfork City Council reveal the results of a closed meeting where the city employee was asked to meet with the filer of the complaint and apologize. Deer River City Council is notified that water quality is still an issue. Cohasset City Council supports rumble strip removal and set public hearing for animal control ordinance review. The Itasca County Commissioners give final approval for land sale to Essar Steel Minnesota Limited Liability Corporation. Bigfork Valley has its 2009 Health Expo with plenty of activities for adults and youngsters. The Deer River Fire Department received a $1,000 donation from the Jephthan Chapter No. 176 Order of the Eastern Star and are informed that there will be another $1,000 coming from the Minnesota Masonic Charities. Cemetery refurbishing is underway at the Deer River Township’s Pine Ridge Cemetery. Volunteers from Illinois come to Deer River to work on the Deer River Habitat Home and are fed lunch by area churches during their week’s stay. Area women take part in the Rally for the Cure golf outing at Blueberry Hills Golf Course. Julie and Jim Aakhus of Effie have a visit from a moose in their field. Deer River Hired Hands, Inc. host their annual open house celebration. Laurie Holliday of Bigfork entering the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy in Bellville, Il. The ladies of the Jesse Lake Lutheran Church have a successful 22nd Annual Salad Luncheon at the Marcell Family Center. Fred Ott of Deer River receives a 60-year Mason membership pin and is presented with a certificate at a dinner at Blueberry Bowl held in his honor. Listed on the Bemidji State University spring semester dean’s list were Karla Pula of Bigfork and Joel Brockway, Kayleen Henke, Mitchell Drotts and Angela Nason, all of Deer River. Leech Lake residents oppose the Enbridge Alberta Clipper and Southern Lights pipeline projects. Darrek Porter of Deer River sentenced to 15 years for the stabbing death of Terrell Wilson. LaMar Courrier of Deer River shared family history on how the name was changed from Kreuger to Courrier. Jacki Wendt takes over the restaurant next to Loggers in Bigfork and re-names it The Stuffed Moose. ‘Threads of Art: Explorations of Textiles’ to be featured at the Edge Center Gallery in Bigfork during August. Members of the Deer River Ambulance Service held their ninth annual Bar-B-Q fundraiser. Steve Sarkela, Mindy Drotts and Nickalas Adams were sponsored by the Grand Rapids Evening Rotary Club for a week’s attendance at the Rotary Youth Leadership Award Camp. Female fishing enthusiasts have fun and win prizes at the Women on Water Fishing Tournament. The Deer River Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2720 baseball team competes in sub-district tournament. Bigfork businesses have their annual crazy daze sales. The three day North Star Stampede rodeo in Effie drew a good crowd and adults and children participated in the many activities during the one day Effie celebration in connection with this event. The Deer River High School graduating class of 1969 had its 40th class reunion. AUGUST—Deer River City Council learns of the revised senior center plan and consider land sale. Cohasset City Council reviews amended animal control ordinance and
learn they will have 7.86 acres of Tioga Beach property. Itasca County Commissioners consider power cost riders, telecommuting and the Tioga Beach property wanted by Cohasset. The attendance of participants and spectators at the 2009 White Oak Rendezvous in Deer River seems to be a bit less this year. Higher education tuitions rise to fill budget gaps at MnSCU system and University of Minnesota Duluth. The Itasca Coalition of Lake Associations hold meetings to get more people interested in their lakes’ preservation. The Deer River Fire Department’s Relief Association and the Avenue of Pines Lions Club have their third joint pancake fundraiser. The annual quilt and bake sale was held at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Deer River. The Chippewa National Forest schedules more prescribed burns which will be near Ball Club, Squaw Lake and Pennington. Jessica Smith, Johnny Mitchell and Ellen Adams honored at the National Indian School Board Association Conference. Crazy Days sales resume in Deer River after several years of absence, when business owners get together and decide to schedule the sales in the city again. The 2009 Itasca County Relay for Life marked the 25th anniversary of the first national event when Dr. Gordy Klatt walked a track to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Heavy rainfall canceled the Aug. 2 action at the Bemidji Speedway. Joan Bibeau and other members of the Itasca Kayakers were in Squaw Lake once again to take youngsters on a kayaking adventure on Round Lake. Eric Hutchins of Deer River provided an aerial photo of the Enbridge pipe and mat storage site near Deer River. Friedel and Andrew Grant of Nova Scotia pass through Deer River on their three-year world bicycle tour and spend the night at the home of Pastor Dwight and Lisa Rudquist’s home. The Iron Range Higher Education Committee to consider a draft plan identifying the five top need priorities in the region, before putting a plan into action. Members of the EAA Chapter 1446 of Bigfork welcomed CarolAnn Garratt to the Bowstring Airport and the Edge Center of Bigfork when she presented a program about her world flights to raise money for research into Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Independent School District 317 still able to get Sparsity Aid even after closing North School. Northland Foundation award 46 grants totaling $218,171 to strengthen the region’s nonprofit programs and projects in difficult times. Seven members of the Bethany Lutheran Church young attend a “Jesus, Justice, Jazz” ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Jean Ramstad of the Deer River Ranger District submits an article on the Chippewa National Forest campground hosts who volunteer their time. Eagleview Community Foundation and the Minnesota Extension/4H form a partnership to offer youngsters their first technology summer camp in the Squaw Lake area. Exotic species, the faucet snail, causes a boat launch closure at the West Winnie Campground. The 35th annual Bigfork Valley Hospital Auxiliary Arts & Craft Fair, co-sponsored with the EOW Community Center and Independent School District 318 Community & Family Education is YEAR IN REVIEW/To Page 13
Happy New Year from everyone at
Riley’s
Cannibal Junction 16 miles north of Deer River on Hwy. 6 24Wch*
Happy New Year from Eye Fashions Optical 24Wch*