COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 35 NO. 09 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Scandia friends lend a hand during and after fire. PAGE 6
Scandia inventor expands product’s reach
Cabin variance held up over runoff concerns BY KYLE WEAVER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SUBMITTED
Greg and Betsy Amundson, center, hold a Blue Congratulations Ticket indicating Walmart’s intent to stock their product on its shelves. Ken Cooper (left) and Cody Cooper (right) are CornerFlex’s manufacturing representatives, with Active Marketing Group. BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
A Scandia inventor’s business took a large step forward in mid June when a national retailer committed to stocking the product on its shelves. Self-described “garage inventor” Greg Amundson devised his caulking alternative, InstaTrim, in an effort to make indoor home sealing projects easier with a consistently neat finish. Last year, the US Patent and Trademark Office granted Amundson’s business, CornerFlex, two patents for the product, calling it
“new and useful.” In June, Amundson and his wife, Betsy, traveled to Bentonville, Arkansas for an open call with retail giant Walmart. “We were among 750 participants invited,” Amundson said. “The event was similar to a shark tank type of setting but you only get 30 minutes to ‘sell’ your product to the Walmart buyer.” The couple succeeded, earning one of Walmart’s coveted Blue Congratulations Tickets. They were among 75 other winners nationwide whose products will appear on Walmart shelves in
about two months. “This was a lifetime achievement and very exciting for us,” Amundson said. With plans to expand its InstaTrim business in the Scandia Hawkinson Business Park, CornerFlex recently purchased the Peterson Excavating building on Ozark Court. “The expansion was planned before the Walmart deal because we’ve been growing so much,” Amundson said. “But this dovetails really well for us having the new building for our growing business.”
A couple who wants to build on Big Marine Lake will have to wait at least another month before possibly getting the city’s go-ahead. The Scandia City Council last week tabled an application from James and Barb Riehle to build a new year-round cabin at 13424 182nd St. North. The council members primarily took issue with the plan’s request for a variance from the bluffline slope requirements and the trench-style design of the cabin’s septic system. “I would have a hard time going along with this one,” council member Jim Schneider said. City Planner Sherri Buss noted that the Riehles had been working on the plan for more than a year and had considered other designs for the septic system before ultimately getting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ approval. Buss also noted that the city’s planning commission had recommended approval of the requested variances. Still, both Schneider and council member Steve Kronmiller questioned the trench-design septic. Schneider pointed out that the trench system must SEE COUNCIL, PAGE 2
Deputy Brandon Yetter will receive award Lakes Center for Youth & Families announced last week that Deputy Brandon Yetter of the Washington County Sherriff’s Office will recieve the 2017 James Trudeau Law Enforcement Award for outstanding service to area youth community. The award is given annually by LC4YF to law enforcement personnel who help break down barriers between youth and adults through extraordinary compassion, leadership and dedication. Yetter has served the Scandia community and
Yetter
Washington County for six years. According to the youth organization, in that time Yetter has built a strong and lasting relationship with youth and NEWS 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
families in the community. He teaches DARE to the youth, capturing their attention and builds their excitement and ability to stand up for themselves. He stops at the school for lunch with the kids and to play with them on the playground. He also stops by local parks to engage with youth, teens and their families, making sure they are all doing well. He is recognized in Scandia as someone residents can trust when assistance is needed. He is heavily involved in community engagement ADVERTISING 651-433-3845 sales@osceolasun.com
throughout the county through programs like Fish with a Cop, Shop with a Cop, Cones with a Cop, Night to Unite, giving community presentations on safety and other topics, the County Fair and much more. The ceremony will be held June 26, 9 a.m. at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater, during the Washington County Board meeting. A reception will be held following the ceremony. The public is invited to attend.
PUBLIC NOTICES 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
GARY NOREN
Summer Science and Art Marty Harding sings to campers in the Marine gazebo, part of the Marine Community Library's Science and Art Camp.
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