Archive - Jul 16, 2008

We have all watched the price of gas continue to climb and cause many changes in our way of life. We have all grumbled and complained. I personally don't like it and am watching how much I drive. This is the way it is for now and we have to live with it.

What I don't like is how the local gas stations deal with it. I don't have a problem with a station raising their price if their tanker load comes in higher; but I don't understand why when one station raises, they all do.

John R. Pasten, 55, of Flagstaff, Ariz., died on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at Flagstaff Medical Center.
John was born on Nov. 15, 1952 in Chicago, Ill., to John & Doris (Neumann) Pasten. The family moved to Big Falls, Minn., where John started school, but soon returned to Chicago where he attended Barry Elementary School four years, until finally relocating to Minnesota for the remainder of his education, graduating from Littlefork-Big Falls High School.

A community effort on Rainy Lake extinguished a fire on a drifting boat on Loon Bay, Rainy Lake, near Rainy Lake Houseboats and Thunderbird Lodge Monday evening.
Tom Dougherty said he was having dinner at his brother Billy’s residence when they saw a boat on fire drifting toward docked houseboats. Falls Fire Department was notified by an anonymous 911 call.

By ARIEL ARCH, Intern

New activities are scheduled for the 87th Annual Northern Minnesota District Fair in Littlefork this year on July 25-27.
“We have been trying to turn the fair into a family friendly event,” said Tom O’Connell, board member and public relations spokesperson, “The fair is going to have a new look; all of the new attractions and games will cost only $1-2. A $20 bill will actually have value.”
Fun Services of Minneapolis has been contracted to provide gigantic inflatable attractions and games to give this year’s fair a new look.

Funding for plasma gasification in appropriations bill

Continuing her efforts to secure funding for important statewide initiatives, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that over $45.5 million has cleared a major hurdle by passing through the Senate Appropriations Committee on Energy and Water.
The projects, included in the appropriations bill, will now be sent to the full Senate for consideration.

A plan to protect Canada lynx and approved by a federal judge will impact local trappers.
Frank House, a veteran trapper, said the plan isn’t needed because the only lynx in Borderland are traveling through the area.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials have come up with a plan to reduce the number of protected Canada lynx that get caught in traps. A federal judge has approved the plan, which would impose additional restrictions on trapping in northeastern Minnesota.

Lake levels continue to decline, despite a nearly steady rain that is expected to continue throughout the week.
According to the AbitibiBowater hotline, the Rainy Lake level fell another .47 inches since Monday, registering 8.9 inches above the upper International Joine Commission rule curve. All 15 spillway gates remain fully open at the International Dam.
Namakan Lake levels also declined another 1.18 inches since Monday. The lake is now at 2.9 inches below the upper IJC rule curve, and 5.6 inches above the lower rule curve. Eight of 10 gates remain fully open at the Kettle Falls dam.

The opening tipoff of the 2008-2009 high school basketball season may be four months away, but the Falls High Broncos boys’ varsity and junior varsity basketball teams have played over 20 games each this summer.
Both teams have been on the road a lot competing in tournaments in Grand Rapids, Saint Cloud, Fargo and Bemidji. With tournaments in Lakeville and Saint Cloud coming up.

This summer’s weather should be a reminder that it’s important to know what to do during severe storms.
Last Friday’s thunderstorm produced high winds that knocked out power, downed trees and fences and caused damage to structures. We were lucky. It could have been worse.

Millions of teens lose themselves in a book every day. Jadelle Bjorkquist, an avid reader, has the opportunity to lose herself in a million books every day. Bjorkquist is working at the International Falls Public Library for the summer.