COUNTRY
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2016 VOL. 33 NO. 05 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
MOONSHINE KINGDOM: Prohibition exhibit celebrates bootlegging in St. Croix Valley. PAGE 6
New books for Marine Library
Scandia says goodbye to George Lindgren
BY JESSICA ANDERSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Recently the Marine Community Library received a state-funded Minnesota History and Cultural Heritage Grant. The funds were originally given to the Minnesota Historical Society by the state of Minnesota and through the efforts of a local resident, Fitzie Heimdahl, ended up being farther distributed to Marine’s own library. The much-appreciated grant will help the library purchase books on Minnesota history, a topic which previously was underrepresented. Now there is an entire bookshelf dedicated solely to Minnesota which “covers all aspects and eras” from geography to cultural topics, accord-
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
George Lindgren, a lifelong resident of Scandia, died peacefully and comfortably May 24. He was 95 years old. Born August 3, 1920, he made a living farming dairy, beef and hogs with his father and uncle in Scandia and May Township. Away from the field, he was very involved in the Scandia community, volunteering with the fire department for more than 25 years, helping to manage the Scandia softball team, participating in the JESSICA ANDERSON | COUNTRY MESSENGER
Through the efforts of Fitzie Heimdahl, the Marine Community Library received a state grant to help purchase books on Minnesota history, from culture to geography.
ing to Heimdahl. Marine Library volunteers were very excited and Heimdahl also
stated that these books “filled a gap the library had.” This wonderful new
collection is now available at the Marine Community Library.
Into the heart of contemporary art Marine students visit Walker Art Center BY SUZANNE LINDREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
Mary Fernstrum, Marine, has been a tour guide at the Walker Art Center for 14 years. For the last six, she’s helped organize a tour of the museum for fourth and fifth grade students at Marine Elementary. The week before the students board the bus and head to the museum, Fernstrum and three other guides visit the school to talk to the students about contemporary art and what to expect at the museum. “It gives the kids a chance to know people at the Walker before they go there,” Fernstrum explained. “When it started I would
SUBMITTED
George Lindgren in the cornfield last summer. “He was a gentleman outstanding in his field,” Bruce Swenson joked, gently. Lindgren, 95, died peacefully last week.
ing up they’re comfortable with all of us.”
Rod and Gun Club until it closed and helping start the Scandia-Marine Lions Club as a charter member. Lindgren was grand marshal of the Taco Daze parade in 2013 and met regularly with others at Meister’s for the men’s coffee group for 60 to 70 years – maybe longer, according to Bruce Swenson, who knew Lindgren for most of both their lives. He was also an avid Keno player and enjoyed hunting and fishing in northern Minnesota, especially on Ash Lake, Swenson remembers.
SEE ART CENTER, PAGE 2
SEE LINDGREN, PAGE 2
MARY FERNSTRUM
Students from Marine Elementary visited the Walker Art Center May 26. The tour has been organized by Mary Fernstrum, a Marine resident and Walker tour guide, for the last six years.
just go (to the school), but then when we got to the museum most of the kids would want to be in my group. Now with the guides com-
ENT Specialist joins OMC Ear, Nose and Throat specialist Derek Schmidt, MD, of HealthPartners Medical Center, has joined the medical staff at Osceola Medical Center. For more information talk to your health-care provider or call OMC at 715-294-2111.
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