The installation of new 911 signs around Koochiching County is nearing completion, according to Koochiching County Sheriff Brian Youso.
Youso asks county residents to check their signs to ensure that it features the correct house address of the residence. If the number on the sign is not the same as the residence’s house number, contact Youso at 283-1147.

Don Johnson Letters and Journals
Captain of “The Mando of Rainy Lake”
Part 21
In this segment begins the period of entries and details regarding Don Johnson’s captaining of “The Mando of Rainy Lake,” the paper mill’s houseboat for entertaining executives.
The Johnsons continued to live at Norway Island, but Don was away a lot, so Layna and the children ran the resort.

[The following is from an oral history recorded by Voyageurs National Park in August of 1976.] This was Don speaking:

Rochelle “Shelly” Beverly Kalar, 62, of International Falls, Minn., passed away peacefully Saturday evening, Nov. 8, 2008, at her home surrounded by family.
Shelly was born to Rita and the late Roland Ruelle on July 17, 1946. Graduating from Falls High in 1964, she remained a lifelong resident of the Falls.
She was a homemaker when her children were growing up. Later in life she worked at Lakes Gas and the Holiday Inn. She enjoyed her yearly shopping trips with her daughter, watching her three grandchildren, and spending time with her family.

Jeff Lowe, 67, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 at his home in Blaine, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda; parents, Rosa and Jim Edens, and Cyril Lowe; and daughter, Elizabeth.
He is survived by his mother-in-law, Mildred Banovez; sisters, Patricia (Jerry) Hassett and Cathy Kraetz; three daughters, Victoria Lowe, Catherine Lowe and Michelle (Brad) Friesen; and five granddaughters, Paige, Natalie, Kylie, Alexis and Madison.
Jeff was born July 12, 1941 in New Orleans, La. He graduated high school in Phoenix, Ariz.

Walter Lovell died Oct. 10, 2008, in San Diego, Calif., at the age of 79.
He was born Dec. 20, 1928, at Ray, Minn., to Oliver and Ethel Lovell, and attended school at Ray.
When he was 17, he joined the Army and served in Vietnam. He was a 20-year veteran and served in Japan. Prior to entering the service he logged with his dad and brother. Following his discharge, he moved to San Diego where he resided until his death.
He was a plumber and owned a laundromat.

Bob Vedaa, who grew up at Indus, Minn., and was a resident of Slippery Rock, Pa., passed away Nov. 3, 2008, at Mission Community Hospital, Mission Viejo, Calif.
He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth (Keith) Bishop, Katherine (Tim) Buttke and son, Robert (Jennifer), all of the Los Angeles area; and five grandchildren.

James Neil Reine, of International Falls, Minn., formerly of Cambridge, Minn., died Nov. 5, 2008, at his home in the Falls. Jim was 72 years of age.
Born Sept. 6, 1936, at Cambridge to Verner Reineccious and Gladys Rosenquist, he grew up in Cambridge and following school served in the United States Army.
He was a computer programmer and in his spare time he enjoyed the outdoors and everything nature had to offer.
He liked to share his political views and often wrote to the newspaper editor with his thoughts.

A utility pole was struck by lightning and caught fire Thursday evening on Highway 11 East near the Burner Road.
The lightening strike caused power outages for about 1,200 residences east of the site, according to Amy Rutledge, communications manager for Minnesota Power.
Firefighters were called at 5:55 p.m. and a fire on the pole was extinguished in about an hour, according to an International Falls Fire Department report. Traffic on Highway 11 East was rerouted until about 11 p.m. while firefighters and Minnesota Power employees worked on the problem.

The Borderland community led the state in a shoe donation drive.
Members of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of International Falls brought shoes collected in the area to its state Diocesan convention last month in Rochester. When the boxes were counted, Holy Trinity brought more than the 106 other churches.
The program benefits Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based international charity that distributes the shoes to victims of impoverished areas of the world. It is concentrating this year on victims of the hurricane season.

Catholic Daughters
Catholic Daughters of the Americas will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Hospitality Room at St. Thomas Catholic Church.

Women of the Moose
The Women of the Moose will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the downstairs clubrooms.

KOOTASCA closed
The KOOTASCA office will be closed Tuesday in observance of Veterans Day. Regular business hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Anyone with an emergency should call First Call For Help at 1-800-442-8565.

Service Mass