Archive - Jun 19, 2008

Chronic Pain Management Support Group, 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, June 24, Duluth Clinic-International Falls, Community Room.

Rain has been an all too frequent occurrence in International Falls this past month. Though the water levels may be over the usual, no one is feeling these gloomy day effects more than the local youth who would be swimming at the beach, biking, or fishing if the weather was nice.
“My children have been bored and at home playing video games,” says Cheryl Gaetzke of International Falls, “We’d be at the beach if it was nice or skate boarding, fishing, and biking. We absolutely want the rain to stop.”

Cities within Koochiching County are expected to begin organizing a partnership that will include city and county representatives.
The Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board agreed Wednesday to contact cities about the partnership, which is expected to fall under the KEDA’s guidance. Board member Rob Boyd voted against the motion.
The board also agreed to revisit the partnership in a year to evaluate its effectiveness. Board member Wade Pavleck assured the board that the partnership is going to work.

Despite being some of the nicest evenings that area residents have seen in a while, hearings held this week seeking input on a proposal to construct an improved Littlefork Ambulance Service facility were very well attended.
Anita Gray, committee chairwoman for the area’s ambulance taxing district board, said members were pleased at the successful turnout. Several people of the estimated 90 people who attended in Littlefork and Big Falls collectively, offered opinions and options for a modified facility for the ambulance service.

ST. PAUL (AP) — Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and DFL lawmakers used $15 million from a state airport fund to help balance the budget last session, and now, a Senate subcommittee is examining the effects of that decision.
State aviation executives and other business officials told the panel Tuesday that the transfer would probably delay building projects at many of the 136 publicly owned airports in Minnesota.
At Falls International Airport, the cuts will mean canceling the purchase of a pickup truck with plow, a mower and a power washer.

Even with above average rainfall and a rising Rainy River, Falls Country Club will hold the first of its major stroke play tournaments on Saturday, the Randy Holenko Memorial Golf Scramble.
“The course is in good shape,” FCC Golf Pro Tom O’Connell said. “The greens are great and it’s going to be super playable, it will be completely dry and we are now allowing carts.”
The recent weather caused the course to shut down on Sunday to allow the ground to soak up the recent rainfall and prevent damage to the fairway and greens.

One of finalists still in the running on NBC’s “Nashville Star” is from Lancaster, Minn., and has performed three times in International Falls.
Ashlee Hewitt performed as part of the Hewitt Sisters act at the following International Falls venues in recent years: the Backus Community Center (a packed house), Rumors Up North in the International Mall and the Falls VFW, her mother Kelli Hewitt, told The Daily Journal.
Now she’s in the national spotlight.

A law that took effect in Minnesota nearly three years ago is saving state taxpayers millions of dollars.
The law, which restricts over-the-counter access to pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient needed to make methamphetamine, is being credited with reducing the number of meth labs in the state, thereby saving taxpayers money in cleanup costs.
Pseudoephedrine is used in allergy medications, now kept behind the counter. Consumers must show identification and sign their name to purchase it. Up to six grams can be sold to a person, in two three-gram packs, within 30 days.

Borderland Reads is back. It’s time once again to read together as a community. This summer we’ve selected a title appropriate for families with children in upper elementary school and above to read together. Cracker: the best dog in Vietnam, by Cynthia Kadohata, is a story about war but told from the point of view of Cracker, a dog trained by the army to sniff out bombs, traps and the enemy. He works along side a human partner to warn their platoon of danger. Copies of the book are now available at the library.

Suzie Moss, International Falls, and Cory Wolfe, International Falls, announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage.

Suzie is the daughter of Doug and Pat Moss, International Falls, and Cory is the son of Jack Wolfe, Ray, and Penny Wolfe, International Falls.

The bride-to-be is a 1998 graduate of Falls High School and is employed at the United States Postal Service and the Chocolate Moose Restaurant Company, International Falls.

The groom-elect is a 1995 graduate of Falls High School and is employed at Bob Davis Construction, Littlefork.