Ida Sofia Breneman, age 104, of International Falls, Minn., died Friday, Dec. 28, 2007, at Falls Good Samaritan Center.

Born July 17, 1903 at Minneapolis, Minn., she lived most of her life in Ray, Minn.

She enjoyed gardening and crocheting.

Harry Donald Cann died Dec. 30, 2007 at Falls Good Samaritan Center after a short battle with cancer.

He was born to Harry and Lydia Cann on May 11, 1926, in Blackduck, Minn. He graduated from Blackduck High School in June 1944.

Don joined the United States Navy in April 1944 and left for Farragut Idaho Naval Training Center June 6, 1944. He was a gunner in Torpedo Squadron 97. He was honorably discharged from the Navy July 8, 1946.

He attended Concordia College in Moorhead and then Bemidji State Teacher’s College.

Dean Scott Skogstad, 40, of Roseau, Minn., formerly of International Falls, Minn., died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, due to injuries from a car accident.

He was born Nov. 30, 1967, in Minneapolis, Minn., and the family moved to International Falls when he was two years old.

Dean was a 1986 graduate of Falls High School. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Army serving until his honorable discharge in 1988.

Florence Mertens Pearson Burns, 97, passed away peacefully Dec. 16, 2007, at the Episcopal Church Home in St. Paul.

Florence spent her childhood and young adulthood in International Falls. She was a member of Holy Trinity Church. She later moved to Bloomington where she served 50 years on the Board of the Episcopal Church Home in St. Paul, 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star, and lifetime member of the Minnesota Packard Club and Minneotal Valley Doll Club.

Florence also owned the Bloomington Drug from 1961 to 1972.

Beginning Tuesday, area residents will make their annual New Year’s resolutions.

Among the most popular resolutions is to quit smoking and to lose weight.

A lot more treatments are available for smoking cessation now than there have been in previous years, Koochiching Public Health Director Susan Congrave said. Treatments are available to help those wanting to quit to “get over the hill,” she said.

Ice formation hampered by snow

City cab will be offering free rides this New Year’s eve both to and from various establishments sponsoring this service. The rides will be available between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. Dec. 31 within a five mile radius of International Falls. Riders may call 283-8635 to arrange transportation to and from the following places: Elks Club, Hanson’s Outpost, Holiday Inn, Ranier Liquor Store, Rumors Up North, VFW Post 2948, and Viking Bar.

Broncos boys take first while the girls bring home third in holiday tournaments in Rochester over weekend

Girls

The Broncos girls’ basketball team played three games over the weekend at the Esko Coaches Classic in Esko.

In the first game of the weekend, the Broncos squared off with the Esko Eskomos, falling 59-50.

Danika Stelton and Sam Sherwood paced the Broncos with 16 points each.

"We did a little bit better than I though we would without Kirsten Landmark," Broncos head coach Shawn Gilbert said. "Oliva King came in and stepped up doing a good job filling in for Kirsten."

The start of a new year offers a chance to reflect on the past year and hope for the promise of the new year.

It’s that reflection and promise that leads us to the following resolutions for Borderland.