Pioneer PINE CITY
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
VOL. 134 NO. 6 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
DRAGONS DOMINATE: Basketball, wrestling, hockey all enjoy a winning week. P9
Rarick wins
Feb. 5 victory means another special election for District 11B state rep BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
LANCE FURBER | THE PIONEER
It’s a dirty job, but... Pine City Public Works employees were out in the cold and under the streets of the city on Sunday, Feb. 3 after a water main sprung a leak on 4th Street SE.
Pine City homes, businesses on track to get grant funds BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
Nicole Klosner of the Lakes & Pines Community Action Council said Pine City home and business owners have shown a lot of enthusiasm for a new grant program that would allow them to get a major upgrade for a very small expense. “We have the most interest I’ve ever had in writing a grant like this for Pine City,” Klosner explained at a Jan. 31 city council meeting. “We have a really good chance to get funded. So that’s exciting.” If the program is approved, homeowners and business owners in central Pine City would be eligible
to apply for funds. Low-income homeowners could receive up to $25,000, which would be used to repair or upgrade defective plumbing, heating or electrical systems; roofing, windows, doors and walls; and to make ramp and bathroom accessibility conversions. Businesses could receive up to $40,000, with priority going to businesses seeking exterior repairs and improvements, code violation corrections and energy improvements. Businesses would have to pay 30 percent of the total cost of improvements. Homeowners would be asked to match 10 percent of the total cost, but those SEE GRANT, PAGE 12
NEWS 320-629-6771 editor@pinecitymn.com
ADVERTISING 320-629-6771 tahsha@pinecitymn.com
seat from 1997-2007. Rarick will now complete Lourey’s four-year term, facing re-election in 2020. ANOTHER SPECIAL ELECTION Rarick’s Feb. 5 victory means that another special election must now be held for the seat he currently holds – that of District 11B Minnesota state representative. District 11B includes nearly all of Pine County and roughly half of Kanabec County. The winner of this special election would serve out the the rest of Rarick’s two-year term, and face re-election in 2020. Under the current state law, the governor must call for a special election when a seat in the Minnesota legislature becomes vacant during Minnesota’s legislative session. Also, Minnesota law allows only 35 days SEE ELECTION, PAGE 12
Open your HSA today.
Park Rapids • Nevis • Pine City
northwoodsbank.com Park Rapids • Nevis • Pine City
HSAs are subject to qualification. Consult your taxnorthwoodsbank.com advisor to confirm eligibility. Annual fee applies. Equal Housing Lender Equal Housing Lender
CLASSIFIED ADS 320-629-6771 mel@countystar.com
Jason Rarick
Open your HSA today.
Health Savings Accounts Save smarter for your healthcare expenses & enjoy tax benefits, too!
Jason Rarick is the winner of the Feb. 5 special election for Minnesota state senator from District 11. Rarick, a Republican, beat DFL candidate Stu Lourey and Legal Marijuana Now candidate John “Sparky” Birrenbach. In unofficial results, with 100 percent of districts reporting, Rarick received 8,127 votes, while Lourey received 7,171 votes and Birrenbach received 298 votes. There were 27 write-in votes. District 11 covers all of Pine and Carlton counties and parts of Kanabec and St. Louis counties. Rarick proved to be strong in Pine County and Kanabec County, receiving 61 percent of the vote in Pine County and 63 percent in Kanabec County. Lourey received 56 percent of the vote in Carlton County and 57 percent in St. Louis County. The state senate seat for District 11 became vacant after Senator Tony Lourey resigned from the position on Jan. 3 in order to become the Minnesota Human Services commissioner in the administration of Governor Tim Walz. Lourey had held the seat since 2007, succeeding his mother, Becky Lourey, who held the
PUBLIC NOTICES 320-629-6771 publicnotices@pinecitymn.com
HSAs are subject to qualification. Consult your tax advisor to confirm eligibility. $?? annual fee applies.
SUBSCRIPTIONS 320-629-6771 ads@pinecitymn.com
Member FDIC Member FDIC
BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone