Great Northern News June 2022 by Great Northern News

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The Most Rea Owned P d Locally aper CAN’T B You UY!

n r e GREAT North NEWS June 2022 | Vol. 9 | Number 3

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- Featuring Timeless Writings from the Creative Minds of the North -

Drones The Future is Now By Sue Ready

BlazeAir Productions is a locally owned and nationally-recognized production company specializing in high-performance drone videography and photography. It’s owned and operated by Jacob Blaeser and Sam Pfeiffer and their office is located in Pequot Lakes. On staff are two part-time editors, an administrator, a social media coordinator and another world-renowned drone pilot, Chris Spangler. BlazeAir Productions provides drone services to golf courses, resorts, music festivals, casinos and special events in the Brainerd Lakes Area and nationwide. Their impressive client list includes HBO, Major League Baseball, Hard Rock Casino, Circa Las Vegas and more. They are a familiar presence at local events, including the Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza, Lakes Jam, and numerous other events with local restaurants, bars and Brainerd Lakes Area-based small businesses. Blaeser’s background is in sports and news media, with a degree in broadcasting. He has been a sports reporter for NBC Radio, Minnesota News Network, Learfield, ESPN and Associated Press Radio. After learning the drone industry by working with the world’s largest online drone media site, AirVuz, he branched out and began his own production company. With the help of his brother, Chase, in the Brainerd Lakes Area, he started BlazeAir in 2018. The company began as a drone photography service for golf courses, resorts and small businesses around the area. It has now turned into a full-fledged production house. Early in 2019, Sam Pfeiffer, who was then a senior at Pequot Lakes High School, began helping with the production side of videos. His amazing editing and camera skills – especially for an 18-year-old – made him a dedicated and valuable addition to the company. By late 2020, Sam was handling all the cinematic ground camera operations so Blaeser could focus on droneflying and the marketing side of the business. Blaeser’s Continued on page 5

What’s

Inside...

Summer Activities Abound! Several schedules for area events inside!

Lake Serpent Page 6

BIGFOOT in the North Country Page 14

2 Great Northern News | June 2022

Publisher’s Notes & Anecdotes

By Doug Taylor You found us! The best publication in the Midwest. Friends, readers, and fellow business owners, you hold in your hands the Great Northern News. Not only is it the most entertaining and widely distributed publication YOU CAN’T BUY, it may just make you laugh so hard you pee your pants! Whoever you are and wherever you are, this is the paper for you. So, you opened the first page; get ready to be inspired, intrigued, frightened and enlightened. But wait, there’s more! Not only are we here to make you laugh, cry, and get out of the house, but also to promote local businesses and fund

unique forms of professional theatre in the Brainerd Lakes Area and beyond. At Action Entertainment, we aspire to bring a particular energy to life, engaging in light-hearted and entertaining lore. Our efforts are a collaboration of many local artists who have joined forces to capture some of the unique culture that you can find in our neck of the woods. I am happy to report that readership of this paper has exploded, and at this point, the publication has traveled the globe. Moreover, in our quest to enhance entertainment in the entire Lakes Area, I can tell you that hundreds of thousands of people have personally

experienced and millions have witnessed at least one production by Action Entertainment. While we’re known for wild rides year-round on historic horse-drawn carriages and captivating professional theatre, Action Entertainment has produced more than 20 professional shows. They range from murder mysteries to Wild West stunt shows, historical reenactments to haunted walk- and ride-through venues. Simultaneously, we have continued to release new issues of the ever-popular Great Northern News publication. Great Northern News is more than 50 percent informative content and filled

with a variety of stories, including adventure, mystery, drama, and murder. And, due to winning ads and the support of community artists, you will see many repeat local businesses featured. Distribution of the Great Northern News has no comparison, as it is at times distributed right out of a Concord heavy mail stagecoach from 1868. If you can’t find a paper copy, find us online at GreatNorthernNews.com. You’ll find no expiration on any of our publications. Feel free to pass the word and catch up on back issues as you sip your morning coffee or relax in front of the fire. There are exciting things in the works! The best is yet to come!

Monsieur Mayhem: Check out the new eatery at The Green Scene Well, Hello there! It’s your favorite woodland creature checking in! It’s my favorite time of year; a time of fishing along the shore, chickens running free in people’s yards, gardens planted, and marshmallows forgotten outside tents. It’s even dumpsterdiving time! Summer is a time of abundance for us raccoons. We can’t wait until your corn is ready! Since the gardens aren’t ready just yet, I had to visit one of my favorite natural food stores,The Green Scene, in Walker, MN. Have you been there yet? I went to stock up on grains, nuts, canned corn, and fruit. For some reason, they don’t carry fresh frogs or insects. I have to forage for those myself. When I arrived at “the Scene,” I was in for a big surprise! These people have been busy over the wintery months. They now have an eatery added to the side of the market. It has a large garage door to open when it’s nice out and a patio filled with umbrella-covered tables. Now, I came to do some grocery shopping, but you know I can’t pass up on delicious food in a classy venue!

GREATNorthernNEWS Publisher & Theatrical Producer: Doug Taylor Guest Writers: Sue Ready John Wetrosky • Joseph Hallbeck Rich Engstrom • Kate Perkins Monsieur Mayhem Proofreading: Betsy Schroeder Design/Layout: Tracy Wallin Advertising & Sales: Lori Menke Photography: Scott Sater Distribution: Mike Bellows & Doug Taylor Animal Wranglers: Doug Taylor, David Mitchell & Michelle Spielman

For Story Ideas, Comments or Advertising Questions:

(218) 839-2514 or publications.ae@gmail.com

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I was there at 4:00 in the afternoon, which, you know, is very early in the day for a raccoon. For me, it was breakfast, but the rest of you are probably thinking about dinner at that time of day. Anyway, they had the dinner menu out… and their cocktail menu, too! You know, summer is not a time to rush through things. It’s a time to enjoy the moment, breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birds, and marvel at God’s beautiful creation around us. Therefore, I ordered a cocktail. And an appetizer. And a pizza. I bet you want to know what I

chose. Whenever I see the word “bacon,” I find it’s hard to focus on anything else. (Does anyone else have this problem?) So, when I saw bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with herbs de Provence goat cheese… that was it. I had to have it. I got a cocktail to go with it. The wonderful thing about The Green Scene is that they focus on healthy options, and we’re not talking plain carrot juice. They have an entire section of spiritfree cocktails on their drink menu.

I decided to try one of their handcrafted “mocktails” called the “Lavender Butterfly.” It’s made of lemonade, dry lavender soda, lemon juice, blue butterfly pea powder, and lavender flowers. It was beautiful and delicious. Well, with all that lavender, I was feeling pretty calm… but I was still hungry. After all, I was fasting all day long while I was sleeping. I decided I couldn’t leave without trying one of their signature fire-roasted pizzas. What kind of pizza does a raccoon like? Well, to be honest, any kind! We love food. But this time, I decided to try the Minnesota-inspired pizza: the Wild Rice and Mushroom.You have to try this one! It’s topped with local wild rice, mushrooms, truffle cream, two kinds of cheeses and microgreens, and you can even add sausage for some added protein. I added sausage.A raccoon has got to keep up his strength – I’ve got things to do and places to go! Speaking of which, I’ve got to get going! Perhaps I’ll run into you at one of the events in the Brainerd Lakes Area this summer. If there are food trucks, I will be there! Remember to plant extra corn for a neighbor in need, and don’t count your chickens before they hatch… a raccoon might pay a visit before they hatch. Just sayin’. See you out there!

randstand

June 2022 | Great Northern News

vEnts

Mark your calendars!

Events: JuneSchedule 27-30,of2019

The 2022 Cass County Fair is June 23-26!

Y Pine RiveR FaiRgRounds Y

Tuesday, June 21

5-7pm...................Open Class Non-Livestock Exhibit Check In

8-11pm................Band -Tugboat Rampage 9pm.......................Exhibits & Commercial building closes

Wednesday, June 22

Sunday, June 26

10am.....................4-H Horse Show 1-4pm...................Open Class Non-Livestock Exhibit Check In

Thursday, June 23

7-9am...................4-H & Open Class Livestock Check In 7-9am...................Open Class Non-Livestock Exhibit Check In 9:30-11:30am...Open Class Judging 12pm.....................All projects in place 12pm.....................Kids Games 12-7pm................Tiny Hands Farm Tour 12pm.....................Exhibit & Commercial Buildings Open 1pm.......................4-H Poultry 4pm.......................Carnival Rides Open 5pm.......................4-H Rabbit Show 4pm.......................Bob Bohm’s Family Entertainment 4pm-12am.........Beer Garden 4-8pm...................Knockerball 6pm.......................Bob Bohm’s Family Entertainment 6-10pm................Midway Armband Hours 6-8:30pm............Art Barn in Ag Building 6pm.......................Moo and Brew Welcome Event in Beer Gardens 6:30pm.................Horse Fun Show 8pm.......................DJ 8:30pm.................Exhibits and Commercial Building Closes

Friday, June 24

9am........................4-H General Livestock Show 11am.....................Exhibits & Commercial Building Opens 11am.....................Carnival Rides Open 11am-7pm.........Tiny Hands Farm Tour Noon-8pm........Knockerball Noon-12am......Beer Garden 1, 3 & 5pm.........Bobs Bohm’s Family Entertainment 3:30pm.................Kids Crafts and Face Painting 6-10pm................Midway Armband Hours 4:30pm.................CornHole Registration–Beer Garden 6pm.......................Cornhole Tournament 5:30-7pm............Barn Quilts in Don Smith Building 7pm.......................Fun Run (ATV and Trail Run) 8pm.......................Band–To Be Determined 9pm.......................Exhibits & Commercial Building closes

Saturday, June 25

10am.....................Junior Livestock Jackpot Show 11am.....................Exhibits & Commercial Building opens 11am.....................Carnival Rides Open 11am-8pm.........Tiny Hand Farms Tour Noon-8pm........Knockerball 12pm-12am......Beer Gardens 1, 3 & 5pm.........Bobs Family Entertainment 1-3pm...................Senior Band & Dance: Frank & Fran (Don Smith building) 1pm.......................Cass County Senior Recognition and Outstanding Senior Citizens Awards 1-5pm...................Midway Armbands Hours 1-4pm...................Safety Day 4:30pm.................Cornhole Tournament Registration 5pm.......................Kids games and Frying Pan Toss 6-8:30pm............Signature Signs 5:30pm.................Farm Bureau Brisket Dinner 5:30pm.................Announcement of Farm Family of the Year and Century Farm Award 6:30pm.................Baja Driver’s meeting 7pm.......................Baja Rally Grandstand Event Adults $10 12-6 $5 5 and under Free

8-10am................Pancake Breakfast at the Lions Booth 10, 12 & 2...........Bob Bohm’s Family Entertainment 10am.....................Exhibits and Commercial Building Open 10am-2pm.........Tiny Hand Farm Tours 1pm.......................4-H Exhibitor Potluck 2pm.......................4-H Award Ceremony 4pm.......................Commercial and Food Vendors Released 4pm.......................4-H and Open Class Exhibits Released

Baja Rally Race Saturday at 7pm

4 Great Northern News | June 2022

PRESENTED BY

JUNE 23 - 25 BRAINERD, MN

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JON PARDI

COLE SWINDELL

GABBY JORDAN PRISCILLA JAMESON WARRANT BARRETT BLOCK RODGERS DAVIS KIX MARK WILLS

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Premium Camping ATV’s UTV’s Golf Carts Pit Bikes Allowed

Drones

June 2022 | Great Northern News

The Future is Now Continued from page 1

acknowledgment of their success and great working relationship led to a decision to form a business partnership as co-owners. Pfeiffer recently graduated from Montana State University’s prestigious film school. He now adds a new set of skills to the company. Drone pilot Chris Spangler is one of the best FPV (First Person View) drone pilots globally. He is one of the twelve drone pilots currently a part of NBC’s Drone Racing League. In the off-season, he handles all BlazeAir’s FPV drone projects, like indoor drone fly throughs that have become so popular. In 2021, the company’s name was officially changed to BlazeAir Productions. Blaeser feels now, “with the crew we have in place, and access to pilots all around the globe, we’re quickly becoming one of the most recognized all-around drone teams in Minnesota, and really around the country, plus we can provide topnotch ground camera work as well.” “Be smart, be safe and know the rules,” recommends Blaeser if you’re thinking about getting into drone photography. “There are many rules to operate a drone legally. Most importantly, be cognizant of the 400foot rule. Fly under 400 feet and do not fly within 5 miles of the busiest airports, and never fly over people unless FAA has granted you a special waiver.” While the pandemic did not benefit

many businesses, particularly small ones, BlazeAir Productions found it contributed to their business growth. More clients needed their services to promote their social media pages and websites. Real estate companies, shops, golf courses, and restaurants especially benefited from videography and photography to keep their businesses thriving. Drone photo and video is a fastgrowing industry. While social media – such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – have the option for ads as a tool for businesses, word of mouth, and satisfied customers are just as beneficial. Blaeser and Pfeiffer find there is no shortage of work as they travel with a crew to job sites and meet new clients all over the United States and Canada. Blaeser noted, “While we are super excited with how BlazeAir Productions has taken off and helped change both the cinematography as well as marketing world with our style of filming (lately high-performance FPV Drones), we never let ourselves forget about where we started. When we travel to these cities all around the world and have clients in shock that we’re from a town of 2,000 people and they ask us “why” we stay there, the answer is simple, it’s our home, and we want kids and adults to know that no matter where you live, if you work hard enough and are nice to people, it’ll lead to success. We love working with our clients just as much

(if not more) in the BLA as we do in Las Vegas.” One of the best things BlazeAir Productions can offer a Lakes Area resident or business owner is promotional videos and photos or event recap videos. If it’s a local business, they push marketing videos for social media. For residents, a good drone photo or video of their property,

Above: BlazeAir Productions has worked at many Lakes Area events, including Lakes Jam. Photo at right: Pictured are BlazeAir Productions owners and operators Jacob Blaeser (left), Sam Pfeiffer (right) and world-renowned drone pilot Chris ‘Phluxy’ Spangler (center).

their home, family gatherings, weddings, or events is also available. For BlazeAir Productions opportunities appear limitless with this new style of filming and photography embraced by many. Blaeser notes “We have a team for all of it. BlazeAir Productions has turned into something I would have only dreamed of.”

6 Great Northern News | June 2022

Lake The one that got away t n e p Ser

By Joseph Hallbeck

The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), or “muskie” is a large and relatively uncommon freshwater fish that lives in the rivers and lakes of Minnesota. It is the largest of the pike family and weighs up to 70 pounds and can attain a length of 5-feet. The fish can consume objects that are 30 percent of its total length; including large birds, small mammals - or the leg of a 16-year-old boy if he wasn’t a fast swimmer. It was a hot August afternoon, tropical and thick, the air calm under a low and hazy sky that threatened to explode as soon as the front moved through. But the water was luxuriously cool as I swam, my even strokes cutting through soft glass as I pushed toward the middle of the lake. The day was strangely quiet as well; the lake empty of boats and the only sound breaking the silence was the splash of my stride and the chatter of a rogue seagull that, for some reason, had chosen to follow me. The rarity of sound was matched by the dark stillness of the opposite shore, pristine, uninhabited, a vast forest where the sparse remnants of an old logging camp were the only evidence of a human intrusion. In the distance and to my right, I could see a cluster of reeds jutting from the water, which meant I was getting closer to shore. To my left I could barely see the white, plastic Hi-lex jug my father had anchored to mark “the island,” his favorite fishing spot, which encompassed a small area of water where deadheads formed from giant, ancient logs descended in a gradual drop-off to the sandy bottom where bigger fish were known

Enjoy! r e m m u S

to dwell. I felt invigorated and alive as I swam through the familiar cold waters of my lake. I was 16, living in paradise, and, although it was impossible to comprehend at the time, those days were the happiest days of my life - in spite of - or because of - a certain large fish. Benedict Lake - little more than a deep, springfed pond - was familiar to most as a remote inlet of Leech Lake, hardly worth the trouble finding if one was already sailing the big lake and fishing its fertile waters. There were a few old-timers, however, who thought differently - in fact, knew differently. No one could argue - not even with the old-timers that one could catch a limit of walleyes quicker on Leech Lake. Most of the muskies recorded in the area came from Leech Lake. But the old men also knew that the greatest fish, the most legendary fish - swam in the deep, cold waters of Lake Benedict. Perhaps it was mere coincidence that I found myself thinking of such things at the very moment I inadvertently swam off track and touched the plastic buoy. Realizing where I was, I quickly pushed toward shore while I attempted to suppress an over-active imagination. And then suddenly, as if conjured by the power of my innermost fears - just 50 paces away - a shimmering silver streak erupted from the still water, rose in a graceful arc, then descended with a violent splash. In retrospect, it was actually quite beautiful. I remember it vividly, as if it happened in slow motion - the fish twisting in the air, its bluish-silver underbelly contrasting against the subtle tiger

stripes and tint of ochre that colored its flanks. Of course, the fish was only beautiful in retrospect. My original encounter was anything but beautiful. In fact, I was petrified. I knew I couldn’t out-swim such a fish. The muskie is a sprinter and can charge toward its prey with lightning speed - whether it is hungry or merely a little ticked-off. The only thing I could imagine was a pair of shining black eyes staring up at me as it salivated and grinned through rows of flesh-ripping teeth while quickly closing in from behind. In a self-induced panic, I flailed desperately toward shore, feeling the fish somewhere close beneath me, circling like a shark, ready to strike. And then I felt the surreal sensation of being bitten in half. Of course, that part of the story never happened, I’m not even sure I had been followed by an angry serpent or whether or not I appeared remotely delicious. Though I distinctly remember the fish laughing at me as I struggled out of the water and onto the relative safety of the shore, I doubt that part of the story is true either. The only thing of which I was totally certain was the fact I was sitting on a stump on the desolate, uninhabited side of the lake. The mosquitoes and deer flies found me, thunder rumbled in the distance and the sky grew steadily darker. Even so, I refused to get back in the water and swim home. I waited for hours before someone finally heard my screams and came to my rescue. No one believed my story, and maybe I don’t believe it either. I didn’t wander more than ankledeep in Lake Benedict for the rest of the summer. Continued on page 7

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June 2022 | Great Northern News Continued from page 6

I did, however, revisit the scene six months later, in the dead of winter. Our shack was on the end of a small cluster of little shacks that popped up on the lake as soon as the ice was thick enough. The spear-houses were occupied by the same old-timers who cast their lures from row boats in the summer, but in winter, one only saw them when they opened their fish house doors to toss an impaled fish onto the ice, or at dusk, when it was time to gather the day’s catch and go home, wherever that was. The ice village was arranged in a semi-circle spanning the slope of the same underwater island my father marked in summer. The old-timers liked Dad well enough to welcome us to join their village -- even though we lived on the lake and they didn’t. Squatter’s rights required no ownership in those days -- common law favored those who faithfully remained. It is something I would think about many years later and wish it were true. We placed our shack just far enough away for the semi-circle to become a semi-colon. Spear houses, also known as dark houses, are just that - dark. The walls have no windows and there is just enough room inside for a small wood stove and a couple of crates for two people to sit on. We didn’t drop angling lines through holes but instead peered down into the deep green water through a three-by-five foot open window carved from the ice with a chain saw. Beneath our ice window, the sandbar dropped off about 20 feet, the lake bottom was dark and barely visible if not for the scattering of eggshells my father had tossed down for contrast. Here we sat in our dark, claustrophobic enclosure and stared,

The only thing I could imagine was a pair of shining black eyes staring up at me as it salivated and grinned through rows of flesh-ripping teeth while quickly closing in from behind. In self-induced panic, I flailed desperately toward shore, feeling the fish somewhere close beneath me, circling like a shark, ready to strike.

mesmerized, into the murky depths and waited. A seven-foot, meticulously sharpened iron spear leaned against the nearby wall, poised and ready, it’s six tines lightly stuck in a remnant of ice that had been left for that very purpose. We patiently watched the water, searching for any dark silhouettes that might pass through and inspect the bright red and white wooden decoy that danced five feet below. It was a strange but thrilling sensation to sit on a crate in the cold darkness and watch the inanimate decoy come to life at the flick of my father’s wrist. I felt as if I were the devil, looking down for a wayward sinner to spear and cast out onto the ice, banished to a frozen hell. An hour passed, then two, and not a fish had wandered beneath our window. By the time the sun was setting and daylight began to fade, my mind had been set adrift. After two hours of staring at the decoy pirouetting in the blackness, I had become

thoroughly hypnotized and lost in a daydream... I was jolted awake by a hard slap on the shoulder as my father swallowed a muffled gasp and frantically moved his arms in the air as if he was having a heart attack. But he was simply flailing for the spear. My own heart quickened and nearly shuddered to a stop as I watched the camouflaged shadow begin to move slowly, like an apparition. But when my eyes adjusted and I could see clearly, what I thought was a mirage, instead proved to be a great fish, slyly lurking in the corner of my vision before slowly emerging from the shadows. It was a muskie. Monolithically distorted by the magnifying effects of water, the creature lazily wound its way beneath our ice window and passed completely through before turning back and rising to offer a curious nudge at the decoy. My initial reaction was to kick down the walls of the spear-house and run

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screaming to the safety of the nearest shore, but my father put a firm hand on my shoulder and held me back. As if it could feel my presence, the fish looked up into the blackness and gave me a knowing wink and that same sinister grin I vividly remembered. At that moment, I realized this fish wasn’t just any muskie - it was my muskie - the very one I had encountered the previous summer, and as I turned to my father, anticipating the thrust of his spear, he simply sat silent and looked down at the water. For a moment we stared at the fish and the fish stared at us before it finally grew bored and, offering one last tap at the tasteless decoy, nonchalantly swam away. Later, when I asked my father why he hadn’t tried to spear the muskie, he answered without pause, “No human should ever be allowed to capture such a fish.” Four decades later, my little lake is surrounded by million-dollar homes and scattered with countless docks and boat lifts. The water buzzes with the sound of Jet Skis and sea-rays pulling skiers behind 200hp Evinrudes and Mercuries while pontoon cocktail parties spontaneously erupt along the once uninhabited shoreline. Other than a public landing crowded with boat trailers and SUVs, my access - my squatter’s rights - to the lake and that part of my childhood have vanished. Sometimes late at night, when I can’t sleep, I think of my lake and imagine it is still tranquil - just as I imagine the sun still rises and descends across its sky and wolves still howl under the moon it reflects. And somewhere, deep beneath the cool, clear waters of Lake Benedict, I am certain that a great fish still swims.

8 Great Northern News | June 2022 By Rich Engstrom

Drinking coffee and reading the Sunday Paper

As far back as I can remember Sundays, in my family, always started with coffee and the Sunday Paper At first it was watered down coffee for my sister and me But it was always with the Sunday Paper Mom bought a large coffee pot That came from the kitchen to the living room On the couch my parents would drink their coffee black and read every page On the floor my sister and I sat and drank coffee and cream And read just part of the Sunday Paper I remember when the basketball teams were set To go down to the cities to play for the State Championship We would take from the paper the names of each town And mark each team on the state map And give our opinions on what we thought the results would be Then it was back to drinking coffee and reading the Sunday Paper

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In the Army - standing in the rain Waiting for my turn to call home “So Dad, what is the family doing this morning?” “Just drinking coffee and reading the Sunday Paper.” Tears mixed with rain water as I hung up

Our children have left home, and my wife doesn’t drink coffee So, I sit alone, in my big chair, and reminisce the time When my family would get together And drink coffee and read the Sunday Paper

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June 2022 | Great Northern News

By John Wetrosky

The Last Chase

The timber wolf was pushing snow with its deep chest as it wove its way along the creek bottom. Frost clung to its whiskers at the sides of the long, broad nose, and steam rose from the nostrils. The wolf paused at the edge of the field clearing. She was a huge specimen and had reared many litters of pups, but now she was alone. She had purposely left the confines of the pack to seek her final resting place. She could no longer bring down a deer or gracefully leap into the hip-deep snow and bring out a mouse or vole. Her teeth, some of them now broken, could no longer tear their way through bone and sinew. It was a crystalline night in the woods. Snow sparkled on every bough of fir, and the scattered beaver ponds resembled flat, white featherbeds. Stars glistened overhead so clearly that they looked closer to the earth than normal. No hint of wind could be detected as the old wolf sniffed the air, hoping to detect the scent of an easy meal. She snorted as she heard her pack to the northwest. The young pups were beginning their chorus. Then the pack leader opened his hymnal, and the others of the pack suddenly became quiet. She knew the sound of the leader. She had run beside him as he threw himself into the side of a weakened deer last winter, and the pack converged to

eat their fill. No trace of the deer was to be found when they had finished. Just a hollow, red spot in the snow. The old wolf knew the power of the pack. How each individual had a specific purpose and how they employed those instincts toward survival. She longed to run again with them. She whimpered a short answer in their direction. The sound of the pack came closer to her as she stood alone on the edge of the field. Suddenly a deer burst from the trees and lunged across the opening. She could hear the pack in close pursuit and she could not help herself and she threw her old bones into the chase. Within seconds the big male was running close behind her as they closed on the quarry. She felt his breath and could hear his lungs grabbing for fresh air. As in past hunts, she took the left side and the big male took the right. She knew what

was next. With a lunge, the huge male grabbed a front leg of the deer and it rolled in an avalanche of powdered snow. With all her strength, she powered into the deer and within seconds all was quiet, except for the puffing of the rest of the pack as they caught up to their prey. The leader looked on as she ate her fill. The others waited until she was sated before they took their turn. As the pack moved off after they had cleaned up, the old wolf stood and watched. The leader stopped, looked back at her over his broad shoulder, lifted his huge head, and raised his deep, mellow voice to the heavens. It was his goodbye to a worthy partner. He disappeared into the darkness of the bush along with the others. It was her final hunt. See you next time. Okay?

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10 Great Northern News | June 2022

Cheers to Craft Beers!

5Rocks Distilling Co. Family Owned and Operated Micro Distillery in the Heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area

Good to Know: • Inside seating • Snacks available • Spirits, cocktail kits, bar ware and apparel for purchase • Cocktail menu includes cocktail flights

Where Fresh Beer Travels Feet Not Miles

15593 Edgewood Drive, Baxter, MN (218) 270-8072 jackpinebrewery.com Hours: Sunday Noon-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday 2-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday Noon-10 p.m.

Roundhouse Brewery Keep on Chugging!

Good to Know: • Cater to families of all ages • Full kitchen (select hours) • Live music in taproom Wednesday-Sunday • Music outdoor stage Friday-Saturday-Sunday • Wreck Room (axe throwing) • Game shelf • Pet-friendly outside patio • Railroad theme & historical photos • Union Station Event Center

25 Washington Street NE, Brainerd, MN (218) 454-1569 5rocksdistilling.com Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 4-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday Noon-9 p.m.

Jack Pine Brewery

Good to Know: • New release beers every Friday • Food trucks Friday & Saturday occasionally on Sundays • Trivia Mafia Tuesday 7 p.m. • Pints for a Purpose on Wednesday • Refillable growlers & crawlers to go • Pet-friendly outside • Kid-friendly • Event room rentals

23836 Smiley Road, Nisswa, MN (218) 963-BREW roundhousebrewery.com Hours: Monday-Thursday 2-9 p.m. Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday 11a.m.-6 p.m.

Big Axe Brewing Company Nisswa Sourced-Crafted with Pride

Good to Know: • Outdoor patio-pet friendly • Indoor seating • Kid friendly • Full kitchen plus smoked meats and homemade sauces • Off sale growlers and crawlers • Sells merchandise • Music on Saturdays in summer

25435 Main Street Nisswa, MN (218) 961-2337 bigaxebrewing.com Hours: Monday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday 11 a.m. -10 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

GNN

June 2022 | Great Northern News 11

By Sue Ready

The Brainerd Lakes Region hosts numerous establishments offering craft beers with unique twists and innovative flavors. Travel with Great Northern News as they make several stops exploring craft beers in the area plus a distillery stop. So aficionados grab a growler or crawler, fill it up with your favorite brew and spread some cheer. Jump on the GNN bus & away we go! Follow each business on

•

nng

36846 CO Hwy 66, Crosslake, MN (218) 692-4129 https://www.facebook.com/ 14lakesbrewery/ Hours: Wednesday-Friday Noon-8 p.m. Saturday Noon-10 p.m. Sunday Noon-6 p.m.

Snarky Loon Brewing Co. Where New Friends Become Family

Good to Know: 33488 MN 371, Jenkins, MN • Full menu (218) 568-1136 • Veteran-owned snarkyloon.com • Pet-friendly outdoors Hours: • 3 outdoor patios Monday-Thursday Noon-8 p.m. • Live Music Friday and Saturday Friday-Saturday Noon-9 p.m. • Pontoon Stage Sunday Noon-6 p.m. • Flavored Seltzer Bar • Specialize in German and Belgian inspired brews

Named after the distinct Whitefish Chain of Lakes located in the heart of Crosslake

Good to Know: • Inside and Outside Seating • Pet-friendly indoors & outside • Pizza and snacks available • Live music inside most weekends • Self-distributes Growlers and Crawlers in Minnesota • Special events posted on Facebook • Pints & Pups Adopt Event June 11

Cheers to Craft Beers!

14 Lakes Craft Brewing Co.

Rendezvous Brewing We are passionate about brewing local beer and excited to create a space for people to come

Good to Know: 112 S. 1st S Hackensack, MN • Friday Trivia 6 p.m. (218) 675-4200 • Saturday Bingo 3 p.m. Hours: • Indoor and Outdoor Seating Wednesday-Thursday 2-6 p.m. • Can bring in take out foods Friday-Saturday Noon-8 p.m. • Kombucha available Sunday Noon-5 p.m. • Special activities planned for Lucette’s 70th birthday (Sweetheart Days) • Rent Back Room for meetings and special events • Beer delivery Lakeside Concerts at the park • New beer releases and events posted on Facebook

Portage Brewing Company Sits in Chippewa National Forest off the banks of Leech Lake

Good to Know: • Pick up to-go Growlers and Crawlers • Pretzels available • Food deliveries from Village Square Restaurant • Pet-friendly indoors and outside • Special events listed on Facebook

107 5th Street Walker, MN (218) 547-6217 portagebeer.com Hours: Monday-Thursday Noon-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday Noon-5 p.m.

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12 Great Northern News | June 2022

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June 2022 | Great Northern News 13

Backus

PAGE 12

Cornfest Sweet ‘Corn’ Memories

August 12-14

by Johyn Wetsroky The timberwolf was pushing snow with its deep chest as it wove its way along the creek bottom. Frost clung to its whiskers at the sides of the long, broad nose and steam rose from the nostrils. The wolf paused at the edge of the field

Schedule of Events:

10am - Church Service

Friday, Aug. 12

Kids Bouncy House, Hot Dogs and Chips Nazarene Church

5pm Royalty Candidate Meeting

Noon - 50/50 Drawing

Foothills Christian Academy

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5pm - All School Reunion

1-5pm Truck & Motorcycle Show 763.221.8683

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5:30pm - Free Will Dinner Foothills Christian Academy

6:30-10:30pm Corn Fest Booth Open Front Street

7-11pm Street Dance & Beer Garden Front Street

Noon Games & Relay for Children

Money Scramble, Cake Walk, Corn Eating Contest & More! • Front Street

1pm - Horseshoe & Bean Bag Tournament

Backus Legion Registration starts at noon

9:15pm Memorial Lantern Launch

2pm - Cornfest Parade Theme Sweet ‘Corn’ Memories

Saturday, Aug. 13

3pm - Bingo

Foothills Christian Academy Registration starts at 7:30 am

4-7pm Adult Fishing Bowl Tournament

Foothills Christian Academy Parking Lot

8am - 5k Run

8am - Breakfast

Rolls, Sausage, Eggs & Cheese Sandwich Senior Center on Front Street

8-11am Kids Fishing Tournament Rocky Dock

8am-7pm - Vendor & Craft Fair Along Front Street

9am-Noon - Damascus Way Motorcycle Kids Games & Rides Front Street

11 am - Lunch Served Backus City Fire Hall

Starting on Wood Street and Ending on Front Street Senior Center

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6:30pm - Meat Raffle Backus Legion

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Dusk - Fireworks

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14 Great Northern News | June 2022

in the North Country

By Kate Perkins

Alice and Justin Wiese, professional fishing and hunting guides and owners of Wheezy Outdoors, were fishing on a lake in the Minnesota northland on Memorial Day weekend. It seemed like an ordinary day of fishing, but then they saw something suspicious on the shore. It was a gray morning and the two were casting out their lines. Justin looked across the lake and told Alice to look at the shore where he believed he saw a bear. But then, as Alice and Justin watched, the “bear” stood up on hind legs and began to cover ground, walking along the shore with a wide gait. Then the boat fell silent as they watched the mysterious being. Alice snapped a few photos with her cell phone, but they were 500 yards or so from shore, so the pictures came out a bit blurry. They watched the creature - for lack of more definitive term - walk across the shore before turning into the dense woods and walking away. “It’s unclear what it was,” Alice said. “But I know for a fact it was not a bear.” Alice and Justin work as a team to provide guided bear hunting. From her weeks of bear baiting every year, and having grown up a hunter, Alice said she’s confident she knows what a bear looks like, and

how it acts. She’s aware that they can walk on two legs, but said that what she saw that cloudy morning was certainly not a bear. They’ve tried to rule out human, too, but that’s more difficult. They had already believed the being was a bear, because of its coloring and furry appearance. She’s wondered if it was a human wearing brown Carhart coveralls, but Alice said she thinks she would have seen skin on the hands and face, and they didn’t see any skin. “If it was a person, it was really, really tall and wearing a mask,” she said. Alice remains unsure of what she saw that day. She’s surprised and even a little freaked out at the sighting. In hindsight, the Wieses wish they would have boated over to the shore to see if there were footprints, but the two were so taken aback by what they’d seen that they didn’t even think to do so. It wasn’t until later that they thought about the moment, and realized that there is no public access on the side of the lake where they saw the mysterious animal. It’s all state land on that side. Alice and Justin own Wheezy Outdoors, their guiding company named for how their last name, Wiese, is pronounced. They guide year round, providing summer fishing trips, bird hunting, bear hunting, ice fishing and steelhead fishing. Continued on page 15

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June 2022 | Great Northern News 15 Continued from page 14

Bigfoot’s been on their minds, as they’ve recently decided to add bigfoot excursions to their list of guided adventures. Having spent endless hours in the woods, Alice and Justin have always had a hunch that there was something out there. They’ve each had strange moments in the woods, where they’ve heard or caught a glimpse of something that they could not rationally explain. The mysterious sighting on Memorial Day weekend only fuels their desire to go searching. “It started off as a joke,” Alice said of offering the bigfoot excursions, “but it’s become quite serious.” The two live only 20 miles from Remer, which is becoming known as the home of bigfoot. As they talked about it, the Wiese’s realized that they could provide people with an experience, and they’ve explored and know the woods in the Remer

area well as it’s their main bear baiting area. “I think ultimately we just want to provide experience, entertainment and adventure,” Alice said. “Whether you’re out there for bigfoot or not, there’s still a lot of cool things (in the woods).” The bigfoot excursions will be offered by request. Alice envisions a day or night in the woods. She anticipates the excursions happening at night, but wants to keep options open for families with young children. She anticipates having a cookout and providing food along with the search. And maybe, just maybe, the Wieses and their guests will run across the same mysterious creature the Wieses saw Memorial Day weekend. To learn more about Wiese Outdoors, visit www.wheezyoutdoors.com or call 218-402-0086. Wheezy Outdoors is also on Facebook.

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16 Great Northern News | June 2022

Q&A GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

218-587-2279 • canvastechmn.com 2718 Hwy 371 SW Pine River

Canvas Tech I walked in, and immediately felt the buzz. Owners of boats, recreational vehicles and more from far and wide are descending on Pine River to work with the creative team at Canvas Tech. With Rick Low and Melecia Chavez behind the scenes, the story, accomplishments and all the things this neat company can do is extraordinary. Q: So, what would be the first thing you would tell me if I asked what the heck is going on here? There are a lot of boats and other interesting things out there. Is that a Q: What else do you do? A: Screen roll ups for cabins, RV upholstery, wagon? grandma’s rocking chair…everything. WhatA: Yes, it is! We do so much more: tops, covever you can imagine... as long as it fits into ers, upholstery, screen roll-ups and a lot of our sewing machine. Come and see our book custom creations. of projects. Q: What else have you been up to? A: Restoring boats, pontoons, new vinyl floor- Q: So where are you from? A: I grew up in Stillwater, my wife is from Peru. ing, specializing in custom tops and covers We met in Florida. Moving here, I returned to and yes, some wagons for Trout Lake Camp. my roots -- however, it was a new adventure Q: How long have you been doing this kind for my wife, living in the country and driving of work? in the snow! A: I was in Fort Lauderdale for 35 years where I worked on vessels of all sizes - from Q: Seems to me you’re a community artist? A: We really try to make everyone happy. We big Yachts to small dinghies. We moved back are booked about a month out right now, to Minnesota in 2013 and bought the old but people can bring in ideas and we will Shamp’s Meat Market building. make it happen. Q: I bet you have had some interesting cusConclusion: Don’t put your dreams out tomers? A: I have worked with celebrities and even a to pasture. Canvas Tech in Pine River can make it happen. Rick Low and his wife, MeSaudi Prince. lecia are very interesting, talented business Q: That must have been a big boat for a owners to meet. Prince… So, your team can sort out about anything you can imagine as far as boat tops, make covers for almost anything, refurbish old boats and pontoons, create an epic top and increase the value and more? A: Winter is a good time to refurbish boats. We still do tops and covers, but floors and interiors are the majority of our winter work. We also shrink wrap and store boats. Q: Do you do custom work? A: People come in with ideas. Minnesotans are creative people... [They] invent and challenge me with new projects like the wagon covers I am doing for Trout Lake camp right now. And the stand-up tops we are making for boat manufacturing companies.

June 2022 | Great Northern News 17

Book Review By Sue Ready

Secrets & Lies Unravel If you are a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” and the recklessness of the roaring twenties era, this may be just the book for you: “Beautiful Little Fools” by Jillian Cantor. She explores the “what if?” scenario by reimagining the literary classic “The Great Gatsby” and giving voice to three women and their perspectives. Each character is granted complexity, depth, and the opportunity to tell their point of view. The story begins with a mystery: Who shot Gatsby, and why are these women keeping secrets? It’s 1917 in Louisville, Kentucky. Daisy Fay, 18, meets a soldier named Jay Gatsby. He is not the kind of man her father would approve of. They fall madly in love. Gatsby goes off to war, leaving Daisy only with promises. But Daisy, feeling no hope for reuniting, goes off and marries a wealthy Louisville society man, Tom Buchanan. He turns out to be dreadfully boring and unfaithful. Jordan, who is 16, is Daisy’s best friend. Her father, Judge Baker, doesn’t approve of their relationship. He has high hopes for his daughter’s golfing career. Jordan, who is self-sufficient, finds golf gives her strength, power and a sense of purpose in a male-dominated society. She is the supportive friend Daisy needs to stay balanced

and focused. That same year, in New York, Catherine follows her sister Myrtle from Illinois to New York. She doesn’t want to be anyone’s wife in a small town. She wants freedom in a big city, a place that offers excitement and opportunity. A place that now is buzzing with soldiers, and she meets one of them named Jay Gatsby. When Gatsby meets his demise in New York, Detective Frank Charles comes on the scene. He questions all three women and knows all three have lied to him. He just can’t put his finger on how and why yet. A diamond hairpin found near the scene becomes a focal point in the investigation. I found all the story lines seamlessly woven together. Themes of friendship, grief, lies, scandal, betrayal, abuse and a forbidden secret all merge to make this one engrossing story that should be on your summer reading list. I was intrigued by the author’s creativity in crafting such a story, plus taking the risk to reimagine a classic, giving voices to the women rather than the men. As secrets and lies unravel and reveal, I

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18 Great Northern News | June 2022

Loon Center launches Ambassador Program For the summer of 2022, the National Loon Center has initiated an exciting new opportunity for community supporters to become engaged in nationally-significant loon research. The Loon Research Ambassador Program provides opportunities to sponsor research loons at three donation levels: Loon Champions, Loon Guardians, and Loon Ambassadors. Loon Champions ($2,500) and Guardians ($1,000) take part in the research project by sponsoring one of the 48 adult loons banded last year, while Ambassadors sponsor a symbolic loon for $25. The National Loon Center’s long term research study of the common loon is led by Dr. Piper of Chapman University. Piper has studied a population of 120 breeding loon pairs in northern Wisconsin since 1993. In the first research season, Dr. Piper’s team surveyed approximately 60 Minnesota lakes, including the Whitefish Chain of Lakes and smaller lakes in the surrounding area. They identified 105 breeding loon pairs. Essential to the research is marking individuals with colored leg bands. A total of 78 loons, including adults and juveniles, were banded. These studies of Upper Midwest loons will provide critical insight into

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understanding this iconic bird and how to keep it common. The research team will watch for banded loons to return in the spring and settle on their breeding lakes. As part of the Loon Research Ambassador Program, Loon Champions and Guardians follow their loon throughout the summer via email updates and enjoy exclusive benefits, including a Meet & Greet with Dr. Piper, private loon watching tour, special recognition at the National Loon Center, and more. Registration is open through April 30, 2022. “As soon as I saw the opportunity to be a Loon Ambassador with the National Loon Center, I jumped on the idea!” said Shannon Watters, who registered to be a Loon Guardian. “I grew up on Clark Lake in Nisswa with a loon couple we af-

218-587-4700

112 Front Street S. • PO Box 460 Pine River, Minnesota 56474

fectionately named ‘Larry and Lucy’. As I grew up and moved away from Nisswa, I have thought with fond memories about ‘Larry and Lucy,’ often wondering what happened to my childhood ‘Loony’ friends? Fast forward to today, I live on Rush Lake and we have a loon family in our little bay.” “All last summer (2021) I watched our little loon couple work together to teach and protect their baby loon. I was thrilled to see that the family was tagged so we would know how they are doing and where they end up through the years. Naturally, I named my newly ‘adopted’ loon mom ‘Lucy.’ This is such a fantastic program to create a ‘personal relationship’ with the loons and be able to keep track of your adopted friend. It’s also an excellent way for kids to get involved and learn to be responsible and care for our wildlife friends,” continued Watters. Loon enthusiasts across the country can support this nationally significant research by becoming a Loon Ambassador with a $25 donation. Loon Ambassadors receive a special edition sticker and Loon Research Ambassador certificate. Registration for 2022 is open from March through November. To learn more about the Loon Research Ambassador program, please visit www.nationallooncenter.org/loon-research-ambassador-program. The National Loon Center restores and protects loon breeding habitats, promotes responsible recreation, and serves as a national leader in advancing loon and freshwater research and education. Research on the Common Loon will be shared to the public via exhibits at the NLC’s world-class facility, slated to open in 2024, and the current visitor center, The Nest, in Crosslake Town Square.

June 2022 | Great Northern News 19

20 Great Northern News | June 2022

New Beginnings Celebrate Summer, Good Times, Camping and Music with Us!

COUNTRY MUSIC WEEKEND JUNE 17-18

ROCK MUSIC WEEKEND

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CAMPING • MUSIC • FUN! Our campground is only 6 miles from the beautiful town of Walker and just 2 miles from the Northern Lights Casino. Bring your bikes! We have some awesome bike trails close by. The Lazy Moon Bar & Grill is right on site with off-sale, ice, and whatever other essentials you might need. You will love what you see, and you won’t want to leave! Monthly • Weekly • Daily Camping

For tickets and camping order online at MoondanceEvents.net or by calling 218-836-1055 MOONDANCE FAIRGROUNDS: 7050 39th AVE. NW WALKER, MN. 56484 • 6 MILES EAST OF WALKER

May 1st - Oct 1st