Koochiching’s court could be affected by budget cuts

District court staff located in the Koochiching County Courthouse are waiting for answers as to how they will be impacted by the funding shortage in Minnesota, while courts in other judicial districts around the state have already begun cutting business hours and services.

The International Falls Police Department will undergo a change in appearance over the next several months.
The change in uniforms and patrol cars was requested by the officers, who have wanted a change for some time, Falls Police Chief Chris Raboin said.
The changes will give the officers the opportunity to “demonstrate the pride they have in their department and their community,” according to a letter expected to be sent to the Falls City Council from Raboin and Falls police officers.

A grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation has helped Citizens for Backus/AB surpass its fundraising goal.
The Otto Bremer Foundation Thursday awarded the group $75,000 to complete its fundraising goal to re-roof the Backus and AB buildings. The grant, the single largest piece of the roofing fund, completed the fundraising goal of $250,000, ending a successful capital campaign that began last fall.
Ward Merrill, interim executive director, Backus Community Center, said the fundraising effort began on Sept. 22 with a community kickoff event, and concluded with the ethnic foods event last week.

Public hearing on 911 signs scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday

A public hearing on the proposed county-wide Enhanced 911 system is scheduled for Tuesday.
The Koochiching County Board is scheduled to hear comments at 5:30 p.m. in the courthouse boardroom on the proposed Koochiching County rural addressing ordinance.
The ordinance would provide a system by which primary structures located outside of the incorporated limits of municipalities will be assigned an address and required to install a sign for public safety purposes.

The Icebox Radio Theater will present a special workshop production with a cast made-up entirely of performers under the age of 20 on April 18 at 7 p.m. in the Rainy River Community College theater.
Auditions for the show, titled: “IBRT U-20/08,” will be held Monday and Tuesday at the RRCC theater at 7 p.m. Anyone under the age of 20 is invited to come audition. Actors, sound effects artists and musicians will be needed for the show. IBRT U-20/08 will be a musical-variety show made up of songs, short comedy skits, and short scenes.

The Rainy River Community College Voyageurs women’s softball team kicked off their 2008 campaign with four games at the Irish Classic in Rosemount over the weekend.
The team had a tough weekend losing three and winning one, but head coach Dieter Humbert was happy with his teams’ overall effort.
“All and all it gave me reason to be very optimistic regarding the potential of this team,” Hubert said. “As we gain experience and confidence I believe we can exploit our athleticism and passionate commitment.”

To the editor,
Not satisfied with only hearing sound bites of his speech nor those of Rev. Wright’s, I read Barak Obama’s entire speech online. It seems to be truly from the heart and worth your time and effort to read and reflect upon. However I had a nagging feeling that I had recently heard similar ideals. Then it came to me. It sounded a lot like Herb Brooks’ philosophy in “Miracle On Ice,” which I had seen again, replayed on TV.

By Kern S. Ridlington

As we spend the winters in Arizona, I by mistake received in the mail a Canadian newspaper published in a little town of Sicamous, British Columbia. Sicamous is located about 100 miles north of Washington state and 100 miles west of Calgary, Alberta. The Sicamous area is in a forest recreational area with a provincial park and campground.

Change often brings about a time for reconsideration.
Last week, Don Langan, the Falls school districts superintendent, announced that he anticipates retiring before or on Dec. 31. The Falls School Board is expected to take action to accept his resignation at its April meeting.
The announcement should give district officials cause to consider how the district is being managed and whether that management could be changed.
Langan’s expected departure from the Falls position presents an opportune time for those discussions and others to begin.

Auditions will take place April 8 at L-BF, Indus and Falls High schools

Scholarship auditions for area students to attend summer music camp have been scheduled by Tuesday Musicale. Full scholarships will be awarded and students may audition in instrumental, vocal, piano or strings categories to attend music camp.