Archive - May 22, 2008

Darwin Donald Fish, 59, of International Falls, Minn., died Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at Falls Memorial Hospital.
Born July 6, 1948 in Warroad, Minn., Darwin grew up in International Falls and graduated from Falls High School, Class of 1966.
He served in the United States Army in the Military Police from 1966 to 1970.
He resided in Colorado for a short time before returning to the Falls.
He was united in marriage to Gail Forsythe on Jan. 6, 1968 at Mission Covenant Church in International Falls.

Virginia (Keyes) Pavek passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at Central Point, Ore.
She was born Feb. 18, 1914, in International Falls.
A memorial service will take place in the summer.
A complete obituary will follow.

But they have concerns on how actions may impact next year’s budget

Borderland’s state representatives say that northern Minnesota fared well with action at the Minnesota Legislature this year.
However, both Sen. Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids, and Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam, agree that this year brought some benefit for northern Minnesota, but worry about money.

• The Koochiching County Board agreed Tuesday to reappoint Highway Engineer Doug Grindall to a four-year term.
• At the May 7 timber auction, 21,161 cords were sold for a total value of $505,403. The price range for aspen was $16-$37.40. The average aspen price was $28.10. The average sale price for all species was $23.88.
• The Koochiching County Board was notified that Alan Kruse was hired as the county veterans service officer.
• The board was told that an audit for forest certification is expected to take place in July.

A major revision of Minnesota shoreland rules is now under way.
The revision will affect shoreland property owners and the use and development of shoreland areas throughout the state.
An advisory panel to the project includes two northern Minnesota county commissioners.
The Shoreland Rules Update Project is being coordinated by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. The shoreland rules were last revised in 1989. By statute, the Commissioner of the DNR began new rulemaking in January.

Alternative areas of land are expected to be considered for a possible relocation of a foreign trade zone.
The Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board agreed Wednesday to begin investigating land for the FTZ where infrastructure would be more quickly available than he current location east of International Falls,.

Voyageurs National Park plans to conduct a prescribed burn on Friday, May 23, 2008. The burn site will be Whispering Pines II, which is located about 3 miles north of the Ash River Trail, along Meadwood Road. The primary purpose of this burn is hazard fuel reduction with a secondary purpose of replicating a natural low intensity fire in this pine ecosystem.
The park’s fire management staff said it appreciates the continued support of park visitors in their uses of the management tool. For more information about prescribed fires go to www.nps.gov/fire/public/pub_und_prescribedfire.cfm.

For the third consecutive year, Bremer Bank is teaming with America’s Second Harvest Food Banks to end hunger and “Make Change” in our communities by raising funds for local food shelves. During the month of June, stop by your local Bremer Bank to make a donation to end hunger or donate online at Bremer.com.

Change for the sake of change is no good. But well reasoned modifications to state rules that have been fully discussed by the public may have benefit.
Borderland residents will have an opportunity to weigh in with their ideas for new rules that will regulate shoreland development.
International Falls is among the 12 sites where the Department of Natural Resources will conduct public meetings as it begins the long process of crafting new rules for waterfront construction. A meeting is scheduled for June 12 at the Holiday Inn.

After winning the state title last season in the pole vault, Falls High senior Raphy Gelo had just one thing left to accomplish, break the school record.
Gelo vaulted 14 feet six inches to become the all-time school leader passing Jim Indahl who held the previous mark of 14 feet three inches at the 7A North Subsection Track and Field Meet in Hibbing on Wednesday.
“Raphy has had his sights set on the pole vault record,” Broncos assistant coach Dan Zika said. “Raphy has worked long hours during late night practices to work on the technical aspects of his vaulting to earn the record.”