COUNTRY
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 VOL. 32 NO. 01 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
SCHOOL DISTRICT: Athletic center spending raises concern at board meeting. P2
Marine’s Miss Amazing BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
Mikayla Holmgren didn’t enter the Miss Amazing Minnesota pageant for the glory of a crown. In fact, her parents had encouraged her to enter without any expectation of winning. “We wanted to give her the experience of interviewing and communicating with other people,” said Sandi Holmgren of her daughter, who has Down syndrome. “We didn’t expect it to go much farther.” So when Holmgren, of Marine on St. Croix, was crowned Junior Miss at the pageant for women and girls with disabilities, her surprise and excitement were genuine. She’d registered just weeks before the pageant, but in many ways was prepared already. For starters, she’d been taking dance lessons for 13 years, “Dancing is my passion,” she said. “It’s cool to be on the stage, performing. It makes me happy.” Holmgren’s packed calendar also includes a rotating schedule of performances and practice for gymnastics, cheer squad and golf. The day of the pageant, Holmgren practiced answering interview questions at a workshop, then went onstage for the real thing. She also performed a solo dance routine. “It felt great and awesome,” she said. “I had a lot of confidence. And people loved my dress.” Holmgren wore a red gown, last year’s prom dress, and was escorted by her friend David. They are the same age, and he also has Down. “She’s known him her
whole life,” said Sandi Holmgren. At the end of July, Holmgren will head to the National Miss Amazing pageant in Los Angeles, which coincides with the Special Olympics World Summer Games. In 2016 she plans on studying education
BUILD students live on campus for two years, earning a certificate in their chosen field of study. Although there are about 30 programs like it in the U.S., the Holmgren family had been waiting and working for one close to home. “When you’re think-
Big River Farms to hold summer classes for kids BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
Kids, chickens, vegetables and soil: Each will play a part in new classes for youth this summer at Big River Farms, thanks to a grant from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Titled “Big River Farms Youth & Family Education,” the classes will be held once a month on Saturday morn-
ings. They’ll start this June and continue through the growing season. “We’re really excited to have a program for kids,” said Laura Hedeen, who coordinates education and community engagement efforts for the Minnesota Food Association [MFA], the organization behind Big River Farms. “It’ll be fun, with hands-on activities.” The classes, tailored for kids ages 5 SEE SUMMER CLASSES, PAGE 2
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Laura Hedeen, coordinator of education and community engagement efforts for the Minnesota Food Association, says kids’ classes are a natural extension of MFA’s mission. The organization will hold its first classes for youth this summer.
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Mikayla Holmgren of Marine on St. Croix was crowned Junior Miss Amazing Minnesota on April 25.
through Bethel University's Inclusive Learning and Development (BUILD) program. Bethel is starting the two year program for people with cognitive disabilities this fall, but Holmgren has elected to wait a year before attending.
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ing about sending your daughter somewhere, it’s kind of, ‘Do I want to send her to Iowa state? Do I want to send her to Chicago?’” said Sandi Holmgren, a Bethel alum. SEE MISS AMAZING, PAGE 2
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Train arrival
A small group gathered at the Osceola Depot to greet the train. Cars that had been stored for the winter at the Minnesota Transportation Museum’s Jackson Street Roundhouse arrived a little after 5 p.m. April 28.
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