COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2019
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 36 NO. 03 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
HOLDING STEADY: May Township gets audit results. PAGE 2
‘That’s not Marine:’ Rental fee exposes tensions
Dreaming big: Little Miss Forest Lake wins Little Miss Minnesota BY JOLENE CABLE CONTRIBUTED
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
Eight-year-old Forest Lake girl, Ali Cable, recently competed in the America's Little Miss Regional Pageant in Bloomington where she shed tears of joy with a big win. She not only captured the crown but also has the opportunity to move on to Nationals in Orlando, Florida, in July. The competition consisted of: Introduction and Personality, Fashion Modeling and Formal Wear. Cable is a second grade student at Scandia Elementary. She loves learning new things and the time with her classmates and friends. She enjoys riding horse (western pleasure), track and field, ATV riding, hiking and dance. She's had a busy year already, coming out of competing for the first time in dance, and taking home two golds with her tap and jazz group. Cable believes that being a princess involves being kind to others, helping family and friends and volunteering in the community and also for a cause. She is compassionate about SEE CABLE, PAGE 2
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Tensions between River Grove School and the City of Marine surfaced last week after a group representing the school asked city officials to waive the hall rental fee. That the school plans to use Marine’s stage for the sixth grade play, a 47-year-old tradition, is nothing new. The fee is. Until Marine Elementary closed two years ago, the city automatically waived the fee. Last year — the first after the closure of Marine Elementary and River Grove’s first in operation — the city waived the fee based on the assumption that the school would eventually move to Marine. A year later, the city has purchased the elementary school property. However, it remains unclear whether River Grove will ever move in. Many parents and staff resisted the idea of moving from the Wilder Forest campus. Regardless of anyone’s opinion, the school is committed to stay at Wilder until the end of its five-year lease, 2022. The council at first appeared amenable to waiving the fee, a move suggested by councilman Lon Pardun. “It might be a little short notice to request fees for 2019,” he said. “For this year, I think, waive the fees. For next year I think it’s important for the school administrator and board chair to come before the council so we can have the discussion about where to go from here.” Councilman Charlie Anderson expressed a similar view. But Mayor Glen Mills believed the school should pay something. He suggested the city charge the “resident fee,” significantly less than a non-resident fee. “We no longer have an elementary school in Marine on St. Croix,” he said. “If Scandia were to come down and ask I’d give ‘em the same deal
Ali Cable, a second grade student at Scandia Elementary, was recently named Little Miss Minnesota.
River Grove, Zephyr Theatre partner for ‘Music Man’ CONTRIBUTED RIVER GROVE
River Grove, a Marine area community school, will present “The Music Man” May 15, 16, and 17, 7 p.m. at the Marine on St. Croix City Hall. The sixth-grade play has been a Marine tradition for 47 years and continues with production leadership from The Zephyr Theatre, thanks to a generous anonymous donation to ensure the tradition continues. Since 1972, with the first play, “Oliver,” every fifth- and sixthgrade class has presented a musical to the community. The Zephyr team, led by Artistic Director Calyssa Hall, brings professional production talent for the students to engage in theater and musical arts. And, the play provides
the gift of musical theater to the community. Every sixth grader, since the beginning of the play productions, has had a part on stage conquering nerves and growing in confidence. One of last year’s “Aladdin” performers declared simply, “It made me feel successful!” Many alumni attend the production every year wearing name tags with the production and year that they graced the village hall stage in front of peers, family, and community members. Some familiar past productions have included the “Sound of Music,” “Annie,” “Tom Sawyer,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Into the Woods,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Peter Pan” and many more. SEE RIVER GROVE, PAGE 2
NEWS 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
SEE COUNCIL, PAGE 2
Millstream Day set for May 19 CONTRIBUTED MILLSTREAM ASSOCIATION
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Under the direction of Zephyr Theatre’s Calyssa Hall, Marine sixth graders will perform “The Music Man” onstage in Marine this weekend.
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PUBLIC NOTICES 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
Marine will hold its annual spring festival, Millstream Day, Sunday, May 19. Held at the millpond in Burris Park, the event features fresh brook trout cooked with dill, lemon and butter. The ever-popular lunch brings trout enthusiasts year after year, so come early. Bratwurst is also available and an ice cream social will be held. SUBSCRIPTIONS 651-433-3845 office@osceolasun.com
Local organizations include Warner Nature Center, River Grove School, Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District, will offer educational exhibits. Yard games and a bake sale will also be available. Enjoy live music as well as the famous Morris Dancers. The May Pole at 2 p.m. brings children young and old to celebrate the season. The festivities kick off at noon and end at 4 p.m.
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