Pioneer PINE CITY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017
VOL. 132 NO. 43 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
ON A MISSION: Cinquanta’s service takes her from Pine County to India. P14
Rock Creek man killed in crash BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
A Rock Creek man was killed this past weekend when his motorcycle crashed off of Henriette Road west of Pine City. Clay Drevecky, 42, was last seen leaving the town of Henriette after midnight on Oct. 21, and told friends he was heading home to Rock Creek. He never arrived. The Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Oct. 21 at 12:51 p.m. a deputy took a report from Drevecky’s family, who in-
formed them that he had been on his motorcycle, had not arrived home the previous night and now – nearly 12 hours later – had missed a family event. Pine County deputies and family members drove the route from Rock Creek to Henriette, but they were not able to locate Drevecky. Friends and family of Drevecky also began to comb the various roads and side roads Drevecky might have taken on his way home from Henriette. SEE CRASH, PAGE 14
KRIS CLEMENTSON
Cross-country teams take tops in Great River The Pine City Dragons cross-country teams both came out victorious last week during the Great River Conference meet on Oct. 17. Top row (l-r): Noah Miller, Austin Eckert, Jake Adams, Remington Steele, Tommy Ryan, Nate Webster and TJ Rank. Bottom (l-r): Lily Wilson, Alexis Thieman, Marin Foss, Ashli Webster, Grace Grubbs, Grace Langmade and Alaina Steele. See full story on P11.
MIKE GAINOR | THE PIONEER
Deputies, firefighters and EMS responded to the site of the crash along Henriette Road on Oct. 22.
‘I wanted those people to have hope’ Seeking solutions to mental illness issues in Pine County BY AILENE CROUP NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
Words like stigma, statistics like one in four adults has a mental illness and quotes like “Don’t let your struggle become your identity” (National Alliance on Mental Illness) were the backdrop of last week’s Community Mental Health Forum. Speakers from several of the area’s mental health providers showcased their services at the
forum held at Grand Casino Hinckley. Todd Kuikka and Keith Hopkins drove the message home that the taboo topic and stigma attached to anyone diagnosed with mental illness needs to be re-thought. “Just ask. Just get help,” Hopkins said. A 20-year veteran EMS, ambulance and fire service, Hopkins recently revealed the struggle and “darkness” that descended on him after he answered an emergency medical services (EMS) call to a pedestrian/train accident. His experience was the one that triggered his mind and body to shut
down. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Kuikka also suffers from PTSD. “I felt alone once that diagnosis was slapped on me,” he said. A 14-year military veteran, Kuikka was medically retired from the military after being wounded twice. He was an explosives ordinance – bomb squad – team leader and worked for the State Department Secret Service. He spent the last five years of duty bouncing between Iraq and Afghanistan. He was not happy about being forced to retire. “Military personnel identify
by their service and the job they do,” he said. “I wasn’t comfortable in the real world.” He had difficulty sleeping and was afraid to sleep “for fear of what I’d see in my sleep.” His wife Erika became his caregiver. She said her role as caregiver requires her being aware of PTSD triggers and sleeping issues. The couple has two girls ages 17 and 4. Finding a way to explain Todd’s reactions and illness are another part of her duties as a mom. Erika recommended a book about the military titled “Why SEE HOPE, PAGE 14
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AILENE CROUP | THE PIONEER
Brianna Michaels , who oversees the EMS at Grand Casino Hinckley, used her inexperience with mental health issues to bridge that educational gap by starting BRIDGE Mental Health Resources Group.
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