Arnold “Arnie” Fredrick Ostlund Jr., 66, of Littlefork, Minn., died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, in Cusson, Minn.
Arnie was born June 5, 1942, in Deer River, Minn., and grew up in the Spring Lake area.
He graduated from Deer River High School in 1960. After high school he entered the United States Navy and served from 1960 to 1963.
On Dec. 30, 1963, Arnie married Florence Samuelson in St. Paul, Minn. During his marriage to Florence they lived in South East Minneapolis.

The U.S. Congress has enacted several changes to the 2008 tax code, and International Falls accountant Randy Pozniak says residents should be aware of these updates as they prepare to file their returns over the next few months.

Reconciliation refund checks
People who received a $600 stimulus check in 2008 should know it was based on their 2007 return.

People may also recieve a reconciliation refund stimulus check of $300 or more if earnings in 2007 exceeded $4,000, and at least $600 was paid in federal taxes.

The Minnesota Department of Health is cosponsoring a Ban the Bug campaign next week to encourage people to get vaccinated in December — before the peak flu season period from January through April.

Flu vaccinations are encouraged annually to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others. Flu viruses spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing or touch. Most healthy adults can infect others a day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick.

L-BF enters 2008-09 focused on defense

Littlefork-Big Falls head coach Jeff Maish ditched the cliche goals this season and made it simple for his team.

Goal 1: Play good tough defense.

Goal 2: Play good tough defense.

Goal 3: Play good tough defense.

Goal 4: Play good tough defense.

Goal 5: Hold teams to 50 or less points per game.

’Nuff said, right?

“Defense is going to be a big part,” said third-year starter Mason Imhof. “Defense wins championships.”

Youngstrom scores 30 points to lead visitors

LITTLEFORK — No one took Thursday’s season-opening 68-33 loss to Cook harder than Littlefork-Big Falls coach Mike Torgerson.
“I got some work to do,” said the first year head coach, noting he was going to watch the game tape when he got home late Thursday.

“There’s a good chance I’ll be up until 3 (a.m.) and then be in at 6:30 (a.m.) for morning practice.”

Littlefork-Big Falls boys basketball coach Jeff Maish is 24-23 overall in two years at the helm. He finished 8-15 in his first season and 16-8 last season.
Against rival International Falls, Maish is 1-2 with his only win coming in the 2006-07 season in a 89-88 thriller in overtime.

Falls Memorial Hospital has a new piece of equipment that benefits its smallest patients; the “neoBlue cozy” is an LED phototherapy system that helps infants who have jaundice, a common condition in newborns that refers to the yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells.

It isn’t often you walk into the International Falls Senior Center and see every seat filled for lunch.
The annual Christmas party brings in more people for special food and activities.

Kelly Rask, first cook, and Deann Lehman, second cook, prepared a special Christmas meal of chicken Kiev, rice pilaf, glazed carrots, pistachio pie, and fruit Jell-o. They sent out about 70 meals to seniors in their homes, and said the holiday event drew a much bigger than normal dining room crowd of around 85 people.

Northern Minnesota is a retreat for many to find solace and fun in the outdoors in all four seasons. Now there is a resort that allows people with physical disabilities to take part in activities they have missed.

Veterans on the Lake near Ely on Fall Lake is a special purpose resort for physically disabled guests, families of veterans and active military. It was made possible by the 1978 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act, and is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forestry Service.

Saxhaug to serve as outreach ambassador

Minnesota State Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, last week announced the appointments of Lester Bensch, Michael Kilgore, Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, GOP-Alexandria, to the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council.