Boise Inc. borrowed over $1 billion dollars from a variety of lending institutions to create their company. Since their initial stock offering of almost ten dollars per share, it is at 69 cents a share. The stock has plummeted like a rock in a shallow pool. The future of this company and with it the future of International Falls hangs in a precarious balance. The world economy has been shaken by the factors coming from America. What do the people of our area and others see in the future for 1) the future of paper businesses and 2) the future of Boise and its effect on our local economy?

Lea Meilleur Raymond, age 91, of International Falls, Minn., died quietly in her sleep Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, at her home with good friend Viola Borden at her side.
She was born Jan. 29, 1917, to pioneer parents, Ovide and Zepherine Meilleur at Fisher Branch, Manitoba.
The former Lea Meilleur was united in marriage to Theodore Dandeneau in 1938; months after their marriage, Theodore died of cancer.
Lea relocated to Fort Frances, Ontario in 1939.

VNP staff recount experiences in hurricane, on reservation

As Hurricane Ike bore down on Houston, six Voyageurs National Park staff waited for it to pass so they could begin their jobs.
VNP rangers Jay Brown and Nate Hawley, fire fighters Kurt Fogelberg and Owen Johnson and maintenance employees Seth Nelson and Chad Nevalainen were among 57 National Park Service staff who responded to a request for park staff knowledgeable in boat operation to assist in the recovery following the hurricane. The Category 2 hurricane struck the coast of Texas Sept. 12.

New Indus-Northome Superintendent Bob Jaszczak was drawn to the district because of its location in northern Minnesota and the small schools.
Jaszczak (pronounced Joshick) began as superintendent July 1 after the retirement of long-time Superintendent Jerry Struss. He comes to the district from Lancaster, Minn., in northwestern Minnesota, where he worked as a secondary math teacher and activities director. This is Jaszczak’s first administration position.

Absentee ballots are now available for the November election.
Applications for the absentee ballots may be filed by voters that are unable to be present at their polling place and want to vote in the general election Nov. 4.
Bob Peterson, Koochiching County auditor/treasurer, said that in addition to being an eligible voter in the county and a U.S. citizen, to cast an absentee ballot the voter must meet the following conditions:
• Absent from the precinct.
• Ill or disabled.
• Serve as an election judge in another precinct.

The U.S. Coast Guard lamplighters may begin removing navigational channel markers on Rainy Lake today, weather permitting.
The lamplighters place in the spring and remove in the fall the large red and green markers that designate navigable channels on area waters.
Removal of the rock and hazard markers, and regulatory buoys, maintained by Voyageurs National Park began Saturday.
The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Boat and Water Patrol began removing hazard markers from Black Bay and other waters under its jurisdiction Sept. 30. The patrol is in charge of some rock markers.

A frustrating season hit another bump in the road Wednesday as Rainy River lost 3-0 at home to Northland (25-15, 25-22, 25-13).
The Voyageurs’ best chance to take a game was in Game 2, but the home squad committed seven service errors in a game they led 21-20.
“We usually serve better than that,” RRCC coach Mel Millerbernd said. “Our serving was just poor.”
On the other side, the Pioneers (17-8, 7-3 MCAC) piled up 13 ace serves and continually stayed aggressive against a Rainy River squad searching for its third victory.

The undefeated Littlefork-Big Falls Vikings football team is averaging just over 50 points and surrendering just under seven points a game over its past three contests. Friday it plays host to Mesabi Academy, a team that sits at 0-6 overall and scored its first touchdown of the season last week in a 58-6 loss to Cherry. In the Bulldogs’ six losses, they are giving up just over 54 points a game.

Food, sales, art, crafts. demonstrations and The Clothesline Project part of Saturday event

Crisper temperatures and autumnal aromas create a setting that leads to Backus Community Center’s annual Autumn Arts Festival on Saturday.
Bustle within the revived historical building will include a combination of food, crafts and art work to purchase, art demonstrations and entertainment. Lunch will also be available.
The community is invited to partake in this fall event. Admittance is free of charge.

Pianist John McKay to perform recital at BSU
BSU Report
Classical pianist John McKay will perform a guest recital of compositions by Haydn, Brahms, Barron and Chopin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Thompson Recital Hall of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex on the campus of Bemidji State University.
The concert will be offered free of charge.
McKay retired from the music faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College in 2004 after teaching piano and music history for 28 years. His program will include music of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as a newly commissioned piece by Mortimer Barron.