Community News

By Judy Theisen, Girl Scouts of Minnesota Wisconsin Lakes and Pines

This month, the Girl Scouts are launching a new program, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. New books for girls and adult volunteers provide ideas for sequencing experiences, discussions, and earning awards. Activities encourage girls to take active roles in their communities; make the most of their strengths; and act with integrity and compassion.

Cooler temperatures serve as a reminder that fall is not that far off.
Kootasca Community Action Inc. staff say this is a good time for seniors and low-income households to apply for energy assistance.
The Kootasca Energy Assistance Program assists low income households in meeting immediate home energy needs. It is available from the state through a federal block grant that is funded through the U.S. Department of Human Services.

Camaraderie and compassion were exemplified as bus loads of seniors pulled up in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars club in the Falls Thursday.
The seniors, with friends and family, had come to listen to the regional “Second Wind Harmonica Band” which is also comprised of seniors.
The annual celebration has been happening for close to 10 years, said Joe Doris of the VFW which sponsors the event. Senior residents in wheelchair after wheelchair were unloaded from the Arrowhead Bus system so staff as well as the veterans of several wars could assist them in entering the hall.

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission has received a federal grant to continue its work of attracting new business and creating jobs. Congressman Jim Oberstar announced that ARDC will receive a grant of $61,628 from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The grant will fund ongoing economic development and planning work ARDC has been doing with communities in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis counties.

Two incumbents have filed for positions on the Falls School Board as of Thursday afternoon. Mark Lassila and Michelle Hebner have filed for 4-year terms. Three four-year positions, now held by Lassila, Robin Baumchen and Gerald Bolstad, are open for election in November and a two-year position, now held by Hebner, is also up for election.
Candidates who wish to file for the positions can do so in the office at Falls High School until Sept. 9.

Journal Staff Report
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding travelers planning trips across the border into the United States to make sure they have their proper documents and to anticipate heavy traffic during the celebration of the Labor Day holiday.

Three incumbents have filed for positions on the International Falls City Council, while no one has yet to file for positions on the Littlefork City Council and Ranier City Council.
People may file for the positions at the offices of the respective governments. The contests will be decided in the November general election.

By LISA KACZKE
Staff Writer

VNP park rangers embody their mission
of protecting nature while assisting visitors

MUKOODA LAKE —The rain begins to fall as Voyageurs National Park Ranger Brad Farlinger walked into a campsite on Mukooda Lake.

The Community Clothes Closet, a free clothing facility located at the south entrance of Aquinas Hall, has been in operation since April 2003.
Volunteers from the six churches who keep the center operative gathered Aug. 7 for a potluck supper and fellowship.
Churches who volunteer include First Lutheran, Zion Lutheran, St. Paul Lutheran, Holy Trinity Episcopal, Faith United, and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Journal Staff Report

The Marshall N. Knudson Family Community Fund, with about $1.5 million in assets, has been established by International Falls native and longtime Falls librarian Marie Knudson who died Aug. 5.
The purpose of the fund is to support non-profit and charitable groups and activities that enrich the lives of the citizens of the International Falls community and Koochiching County.