KANABEC COUNTY
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 VOL. 132 NO. 19 www.moraminn.com $1.00
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ogilvie softball pitcher leads on and off the field. P19
Ogilvie 4-day school week extended 1 year BY KIRSTEN FAURIE EDITOR@MORAMINN.COM
After many struggles, the Ogilvie School District has once again been approved by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to continue its four-day school week structure for the 2015-2016 school year. Ogilvie superintendent Kathy Belsheim received approval of their Flexible Learning Year application for the Four-Day Week Program last week. While she said she was pleased about the approval, Ogilvie was only approved to continue the program for one year rather than for the three years they applied for. Belsheim has her suspicions about why their application was approved. “Honestly, we think this is a ploy because of pressure Kathy Belsheim at the Legislature,” she said. Indeed, the Ogilvie comOgilvie Superintendent munity has been putting the pressure on the MDE with the help of their legislators for more local school board control of the Flexible Learning Year program. In February over a dozen members of the Ogilvie community
‘Honestly, we think this is a ploy because of pressure at the legislature.’
SEE 4-DAY, PAGE 6
Mother, child alive after ATV rollover STAFF REPORT
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TAYLOR NORBY | TIMES
Mora students dress their best as they head to prom Emma Venhuizen adjusts the pocket square of her date, Eli Ness, as they and other prom couples prepare for the Mora Grand March May 2.
A mother and her 4-year-old son were taken to North Memorial Hospital after an ATV accident west of Ann Lake at approximately 2 p.m. May 2. According to the Minnesota State Patrol incident report, Sara Mataczynski, 26, of Exeland, Wis. was driving an Arctic Cat 500 4-wheeler with her son, Hunter Clay, 4 as passenger. They were headed northbound in the ditch of Highway 47 west of Ann Lake when the ATV went up
the ditch to the roadway and shoulder area to avoid a driveway. At this point the ATV bucked the driver and passenger and rolled. Neither the driver or passenger were wearing helmets. Both were taken to North Memorial Hospital and are reported to have non life-threatening injuries. The Minnesota State Patrol and Kanabec County Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident.
Over 150 canoe racers take competition to Knife Lake BY KIRSTEN FAURIE EDITOR@MORAMINN.COM
With the river water level too low for a river canoe race, Snake River Canoe Race organizers moved the race to Knife Lake where over 150 canoeists propelled themselves along the shore on May 2. Participants had sunny weather, 65 degree temperatures and little wind to battle in their tour around the lake. As usual, racers were made up of a variety of canoeists including professional
boaters and locals with their family and friends. The race is typically the largest in the state with 150-200 canoes and kayaks in the race and is part of the Mora Classic Series. The first pro-boat finishers this year were Devin Arenz of St. Paul and Dana Henry of Plymouth with a time of 2:11:45. Not far behind them were Open Racing (male) class racers Brett Arenz of Falcon Heights and Ed Arenz of Isanti finishing with a time of 2:20:11. Ed and Brett were also the win-
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ners of the same class race in 2014. The first female kayak finisher was Lana Voynich of Lake Nebagamon with a time of 1:47:17. The first male kayaker to finish was Joe Zellner of Grand Marais who finished in 1:09:52, just three seconds ahead of Mark DiPasquale of Hopkins. Zellner was also the first male kayaker to finish in 2014. Full race results can be found on page 17. More information about the race and race results can be found at www.snakerivercanoerace.org.
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WADE WEBER | TIMES
Over 150 canoeists paddle Knife Lake during the Snake River Canoe Race May 2.
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