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PASTOR’S PONDERINGS: No bunnies or eggs in the Bible. PAGE 7
Reeling in relief: ‘All about conversation and connections’ BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
An area nonprofit continues to refine its offerings so that it can have a deeper impact on veterans. A lot has changed since The Freedom Fishing Foundation was started by veterans Jim Flermoen, Eric Anderson and Joe Scavo in March 2017. (See “Nonprofit gives veterans something to look forward to.” “We were flying by the seat of our pants when we put this together,” said Flermoen, a Lino Lakes resident. In the organization’s early years, the focus was taking as many veterans as possible on a fishing trip, but Flermoen says the foundation has come to focus on quality over quantity.
“It has turned out to be so much better than what we were doing originally,” Flermoen reflected. “If you are doing too much you get burnt out, and it was costing the foundation too much to try to do all of those trips … The quality wasn’t there, and the veterans weren’t quite getting what they needed out of it.” On average, the Freedom Fishing Foundation takes 50 to 60 veterans out on trips each year. The foundation hires a guide and makes sure to have a board member or ambassador (veteran) on board. “It makes it easier for them to open up and have fun, and they have a much better chance of catching a fish,” Flermoen explained.
Trips take place on local lakes, but Freedom Fishing Foundation has also taken veterans on trips to Mille Lacs Lake, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake of the Woods. Veterans are also able to bring a spouse or child with them too. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for so many people; it is so much more than just going out in a boat one day and fishing,” Flermoen explained. “I have had so many veterans that have broken down at the end and said, ‘Thank you, I’ve never experienced anything like this.’” SEE FREEDOM FISHING, PAGE 7
SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
So far in 2024, the Freedom Fishing Foundation has received nearly 70 applications from veterans for fishing excursions.
City feels the bulldozer BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTED
Easter events continue to happen throughout Press Publications’ coverage area. Easter falls on Sunday, March 31. Thanks to all our readers who sent in their easter photos.
CENTERVILLE — The city has been down this road before, according to Centerville City Administrator/Engineer Mark Statz. That road is the one on which higher government, such as the state Legislature or unelected agencies, try to take power away from municipalities and counties. Recently, the power creep has turned into the power leap, following an illuminating day on Capitol Hill. City officials, including Junior Council Member Avery Sauber, had an eye-opening experience during City Day on the Hill. In addition to meeting their representatives at the state Capitol, the delegation from Centerville were gob-smacked to find that the Legislature had put forth bills to preempt local zoning control. In a stated attempt to solve the state’s housing crisis, both chambers of the Legislature are working on passing HF4009, SF3964 and SF3980 to eliminate the ability of municipalities to zone for single-family housing exclusively. If they are passed and signed by the governor, the bills would take effect in July.
Capturing Easter joy
SEE CENTERVILLE, PAGE 12
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