Thumbs up to the local Ifalls business, the 2nd Act. I was just in there today and if I donated $1.00 to the local charity, I got 25% off my total purchase, but if I donated $5.00, I got 50% off. They said they are trying to raise $1,000.00 by October 31st and they are almost there. Congratulations for thinking of a smart way to help out people who really need it! Thank you, 2nd Act!

VIRGINIA, Minn. (AP) — A Two Harbors men is pleading not guilty to murder and assault in the death of a young woman who was found stabbed more than 20 times at her workplace in Eveleth in October.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jesaiah Lee Carlson was in St. Louis County District Court on Monday. He pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Deb (Smuda) Williams passed away Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, at Pulaski Township, Morrison County, Minn. She was 40 years old.
She was born March 11, 1968, to Adeline (Smuda) Seitz and John Smuda in International Falls.
She enjoyed fishing, talking on the phone, dancing, picking agates, going to the casino, playing Bingo, and was known for her awesome omelets at the Looney Bend.

Rodney Goble, 69, of Dora Lake, Minn., died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at Duluth, Minn.
Services are set for 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Good News Bible Church, Dora Lake.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services.
Interment will be at Kinghurst Cemetery, Dora Lake.
Carroll Funeral Home, Deer River, is in charge of arrangements.

Roxanne Skogstad-Ditsch continues Aspergers youth program

An Aspergers youth support group is continuing for another year despite budgeting hurdles.
Called Triple A, the youth group for boys from first to 12th grade meets from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Friday at the Kootasca gymnasium.
The program was started by Roxanne Skogstad-Ditsch, an International Falls school district special needs instructor in the areas of special education, early childhood special education, deaf and hard of hearing and autism. She works with more than 40 people from birth to adulthood.

County has nine mineral leases

Koochiching County has land leases that may be up for sale for mineral exploration in January.
Within Koochiching County are nine leases that are held by Prime Meridian Resources Inc., a small Canadian company, Vicki Sellner told the Koochiching County Board Tuesday in an informational session on the leases. Sellner is an attorney for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Minerals that are being found in the county include copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum and gold.

Voyageurs National Park began fall operations this month.
The park has closed the Kabetogama Lake and Ash River Visitor Centers for the season. Rainy Lake Visitor Center will remain open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, through Dec. 31; and 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Jan. 2 through May.
With the fall colors nearing the end of the season, the National Park Service encourages residents to go hiking on the park’s trails located near all three visitor centers.
These trails offer great scenic views.

High costs for court-ordered services have Koochiching County commissioners wondering what they can do to help the county’s Community Services Department.
When the county is paying bills without any control over services, it’s going to go over budget, Community Services Director Terry Murray said. He suggested the state should pay for court-ordered services, such as placing a county resident in a regional treatment center. And, he said, the state should live within its budget.

What’s better than swimming in a relay race with a pumpkin?
Doing well in that race.
“We had a good showing in the pumpkin relay,” Bronco girls swim coach Jill Herzig said Tuesday following her team’s performance in the regular season finale at the Mesabi East Invitational.
Chisholm, International Falls, Mesabi East and BETA (Babbitt-Embarrass-Tower Aquatics) all participated in Tuesday’s friendly invite, which didn’t keep team scores and provided a festive environment before Halloween on Friday.
“It was fun,” Herzig added.

Indus cross country coach Tom VanDamme hopes his 2008 squad can learn from experience.
VanDamme didn’t send runners to the Section 8A meet, but only because the oldest member of the team is in ninth grade. He hopes to bring a full squad next year with plenty of experience.
“I am thrilled at the progress of these runners,” VanDamme said. “And next year they’ll be even better if they keep at it.”