Archive - Jul 10, 2008

Richard D. Hanson, 77, was born in Mentor, Minn., on Sept. 5, 1930, to Louis and Julia Hanson and died July 3, 2008.
He worked for Boise Cascade in International Falls, Minn., and retired at age 55.
He was living at Meadow Park Nursing Facility in St. Helens, Ore. He died at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital on July 3.

The name has changed and there are a few new faces, but the goal of the business is the same — profitability.
The business that began as Koochiching Fisheries under the direction of Barry Barney is now known as Can Am Freshwater Fisheries and under the guidance of Pete Benson of O’Brien’s Consulting, Slidell, La. Benson is serving as temporary operations manager as a corporate reorganization is finalized.
Barney is no longer involved in the business, however investors that he had secured remain involved, explained Kelly DeNucci, office manager.

A developer’s agreement and land deed for the Koochiching Freshwater Fisheries have been canceled by the Koochiching Economic Development Authority.
The board approved the cancellation during an emergency board meeting Tuesday afternoon. Board member Wade Pavleck abstained from the vote. Pavleck said he could not vote as a result of attorney Joe Boyle continuing to represent the KEDA, which Pavleck said was a conflict of interest.

Boise Inc. is being considered for a biotechnology project that would convert cellulosic sludge into partially refined ethanol. Research partners say the project would help Minnesota lead the way into the next generation of non-food source biofuels.

Marina operators say escalating fuel prices have impacted the 2008 boating season in a big way, and Minnesotans who love boating are trying to ease the pain by revving their outboards less, anchoring more, and downsizing to smaller engines.
A year ago, gas sold at about $3.70 a gallon at riverfront pumps in Lake City, near Lake Pepin. Now, it’s 80 cents to a dollar more. Gas is higher at some waterside pumps — reaching $5 a gallon.

Lake levels continue to decline, according to the AbitibiBowater hotline.
The elevation of Rainy Lake registered a fall of 0.7 inches on Monday and 0.2 inches on Tuesday. It is currently 11.9 inches above the upper International Joint Commission rule curve and all 15 spillway gates remain open at the international dam.
Precipitation over Rainy Lake on Tuesday measured 0.12 inches.

The grounds crew has been busy at Falls Country Club as the course prepares to host the Larry Ross Memorial on Friday and the 54th Annual Smokey Bear Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.
“The course is excellent, the greens are outstanding,” FCC Golf Pro Tom O’Connell said. “We are going to start not putting on water from today forward so that the whole course will firm up and play faster.”

THUMBS UP to the community for the large turnout for the Bronco 5K Run/Walk in support of the Broncos Track and Field Boosters

THUMBS DOWN to the Minnesota Legislature for sending the wrong message on patriotism by passing a law requiring that all American flags sold in the state to be made in the U.S.A.

To the editor,
(This letter was also addressed to International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason and Falls Police Chief Chris Raboin)
During the early 1970s some of my co-workers and I stayed in your nice city when we made our annual fishing trip to Canada. We stayed at a local motel, ate at a local restaurant, and purchased supplies for our trek into Canada. In 1976, I took my children ages 7 and 11 and my new bride on the same trip, and again we contributed to your local economy. My last trip was in 1978 when my wife and I went alone to help celebrate the many wonderful things in our lives.

How the broken people of New Orleans enriched the lives of two missionaries

Early in his book, Rudy French tells of how finding himself sobbing uncontrollably while watching the breaking news of Hurricane Katrina surprised him, for he was not an emotional man.
Yet while talking to The Daily Journal, he repeatedly flushes with emotion. Seated next to his wife Rose (his life partner in missionary work as well as his soul mate), his eyes mist over as he rations out descriptions of how spending two years in New Orleans changed him.