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Keystone Place at LaValle Fields reflects on decade of care BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
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Bewitching lake tour Members of the Bald Eagle Paddle Board Club (aka SUP’er Club) from left, Janeen Evenson-Javogelaar, Melissa Bertling, Stacy Fields Janick, Anna Lindholm, Mary Lindholm and Melissa Telsrow recently took a twilight paddle board tour on Bald Eagle Lake dressed in witch costumes.
HUGO — Keystone Place at LaValle Fields is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Construction on the facility, located at 14602 Finale Ave. in Hugo, began in 2014, and the first residents moved in October 2015. The senior living facility is named after the LaValle family, whose members farmed the land. The homestead was platted by Marvin LaValle’s great-grandfather in 1909. Bill Currier, of White Bear Lake, was hired in August 2015 to serve as executive director, a role he still fills today. “I still remember after my interview, I drove through the parking lot during construction, and there was a potbelly pig walking through the parking lot, and I thought, ‘What am I getting myself into?’” Currier recalled. Prior to his job at Keystone, Currier worked in the hospitality industry at hotels and private golf clubs. He then transitioned to senior living, working at Brookdale Senior Living at several locations for 11 years. SEE KEYSTONE PLACE, PAGE 14
A tale of 2 soldiers: Finding purpose in service One thing that Kevin Larson and Bobby Zellmann have in common is that the military gave them purpose. From convoy cop to project manager: Lino Lakes veteran reflects on journey After graduating from high school, Kevin Larson wasn’t sure what his future would hold. “I didn’t really know what to do right out of high school. I didn’t really have much of a
of five bases he would prefer to be stationed at. “All five of my bases that I chose were overseas. Then I found out I was going to Minot, North Dakota. I’d never heard of it,” Larson laughed. Larson served active duty in the Air Force as a police officer from 2006 to 2010. Although that base wasn’t on his wish list, he was thankful to be able to travel home to see family and friends on long weekends.
plan or know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to major in, so the military was kind of the next step,” he said. Larson, now a Lino Lakes resident, grew up in Coon Rapids and graduated from Anoka High School in 2005. He joined the military not only for the benefits, but also because he wanted to travel. “I was wanting to travel, wanting to see the world and explore and see what the rest of the world has to offer,” he said. After completing boot camp and training for the Air Force, Larson drafted his “wish list”
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