E-edition July 12, 2018 by Pine City Pioneer

Pioneer PINE CITY

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

VOL. 133 NO. 28 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00

ALGAE ALERT: Health officials warn of toxic blue-green algae effects on pets, humans. P10

Fisherman drowns in Sturgeon Lake STAFF REPORT NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM

A Moose Lake man drowned while on a fishing trip on Sturgeon Lake this past Saturday. The Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports that on July 7, at 4:24 p.m., dispatchers received a 911 call telling them that a person had gone missing in the waters of Sturgeon Lake. The missing man was John Fanning, 28, of Moose Lake.

Witnesses report that Fanning had been fishing from a boat, and jumped into the lake while attempting to recover his friend’s hat from the water. Fanning was described as having trouble in the water, and then went missing under the surface. Pine County Sheriff’s Office deputies and first responders from Sturgeon Lake and Moose Lake fire departments responded to the scene. Additional resources from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as well as St.

Louis County Rescue Squad were called in. According to the Pine County Sheriff’s Office, searchers worked until around 2 a.m. Sunday morning before clearing from the lake. Personnel were back on the water and resumed the search at around 8 on July 8, including divers from the Stacy Lent Fire Department. The sheriff’s office warned boaters to stay away from the marked area near Sturgeon Island to protect the divers. Fanning’s family and friends also

joined in the search, combing the lake and shoreline for any signs of the missing man. On July 9 at around 4:40 p.m., rescue personnel searching Sturgeon Lake recovered the body of the missing boater. In their press release announcing the resolution of the search, the Pine County Sheriff’s Office offered thanks for all the agencies and individuals who assisted in the search for Fanning and condolences to his family.

Local performers excited to share ‘Shrek: The Musical’ BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM

A very large, very green and very famous ogre is making his way toward the stage of the Pine City High School Auditorium, and bringing a host of other fairy-tale creatures in tow. The Pine City Heritage Players will be presenting “Shrek: The Musical” on Thursday, July 19, Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday, July 22 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – and members of the cast can hardly contain their excitement about performing the Broadway musical version of the family-favorite film. “It’s a great family show,” said Zach Fluegel, who plays Shrek’s best friend Donkey in the show. “Everybody’s seen ‘Shrek.’ I grew up watching the movie and then I found the musical, and that was just 10 times better. “Shrek is an ogre,” explained Calvin Cheney, who plays the Big Bad Wolf. “He lives in a swamp by himself. One day a whole bunch of fairy-tale creatures are sent to live there. He goes out to rectify this because he wants to be alone.” Shrek then meets Donkey and is sent to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona by the obnoxious and over-compensating Lord Farquaad. “Not only is it a fun story with great, great music – it has a deep meaning, telling anybody who has any misfit characteristic to accept it, be themselves, and eventually they’ll find people who accept them for who they are,” Cheney said. Rachel Bigelow, who plays Fiona, changed from blonde to bright red to get into character for the show. “I dyed my hair,” Bigelow said, laughing. “I commit. With all the movement that’s going on – at one point I do cartwheel – I just thought that having a wig on would be a little bit difficult. And, when else do you have an excuse to do something so different?” It’s been two years since her last musical role as Marian

MIKE GAINOR | THE PIONEER

A wild bunch of characters will be taking the stage as part of “Shrek: The Musical” next weekend, including (l-r) Happy Villager (Hannah Theisen), The Bishop (Elisa Mill), Blind Mouse (Allie Gosen) and The Big Bad Wolf (Calvin Cheney).

Coldwell Banker Pro IV Realty is a “Premier” Coldwell Banker office.

Owned and managed by Janet Wiener and Dave Chmiel for over 10 years.

Sat., July 14

OUSE! OPEN H

11:30 am-1:30 pm

285,900 21114 Oak Grove Dr., Pine City You’ll love the one level living in this his 4 bdrm, bdr drm 3 ba drm ba home ho on 2.24 acres. Beautiful home, great Kitchen, check out the Man Cave or She Shack. Plenty of storage in the 40x48 pole shed with a 10x24 addition. Hosted by Janet and Dave $

CLASSIFIED ADS 320-629-6771 mel@countystar.com

NEWS 320-629-6771 editor@pinecitymn.com

SEE SHREK, PAGE 13

OUSE! OPEN H

Sat., July 14

2 pm to 4 pm

145,000 30 Main St. S., Pine City This Hidden Lake Condo lets you enjoy life without the yard work. 2 bdrm, 2 ba, nice one level living, inside parking, a boat slip on the Snake River, the use of the Gazebo, storage space, convenient location. Hosted by Janet and Dave $

ADVERTISING 320-629-6771 kent@pinecitymn.com

PUBLIC NOTICES 320-629-6771 publicnotices@pinecitymn.com

Pro IV Realty

realhomepro.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS 320-629-6771 ads@pinecitymn.com

320-358-0822 763-689-2110 BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone

PINE CITY PIONEER www.pinecitymn.com

JULY 12, 2018

East Central Energy warns of scam calls STAFF REPORT NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM

East Central Energy reports that several ECE business accounts have alerted them to a scam. In this scam, a caller claiming to represent ECE, threatened to shut off their electricity unless they immediately made a payment on their account. East Central Energy appeared on their Caller ID and they were provided a number to call to make a payment. East Central Energy warns that this is a scam, and urges all of its members to be cautious if anyone insists on an immediate payment of any kind. ECE members are urged to hang up and contact East Central Energy at 1-800-254-7944 to verify their account status and report the scam.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Perreault brings in a monster muskie

MINNESOTA COMMERCE DEPARTMENT

Dave Perreault hauled in a 53.5 inch muskie while fishing on a Pine City area lake on July 4. The beast weighed roughly 40 pounds, and was released in good condition, ready to be caught by another angler.

MIKE GAINOR | THE PIONEER

Pigs in the pond These pigs found their own technique to beat the summer heat, cooling off in the water and mud of a pond off of Town Hall Road in Pokegama Township this past Sunday.

KITCHEN HOURS S

13646 MUFFIES LANE

Tues - Thurs 4pm - 9pm Friday 11am - 10pm Saturday 11am - 10pm Sunday 9am - 8pm

on beautiful Pokegama Lake

OPEN 11 AM FOR LUNCH FRIDAYS S

Saturday 7/14 Outdoor Band & BBQ 4PM - 8PM FEATURING

SUMMER CALENDAR 7/21 – Bike/Car/Bus Run 11AM - CALL FOR DETAILS Adult BINGO 10PM (2ND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH)

Music on the Patio Every Sunday (WEATHER PERMITTINGG)

CATERING EVENTS ENTS SI SINCE 1990 LIVE ENTERTAINMENT LABOR DAY WEEKEND

EXPECT THE BEST... WE’LL DO THE REST...

(320) 629-9979

Tips to beat summer’s heat

PPINE INE CITY

405 2nd Ave SE, Pine City 320-629-6771 www.pinecitymn.com

Summer doesn’t have to mean high utility bills to keep your home cool. You can stay comfortable – and save money – with proper air conditioning maintenance and a few other basic steps to efficiently cool your home while easing the demand on your AC system. The Minnesota Commerce Department and U.S. Department of Energy offer these tips: • Have your AC system inspected annually, and clean or replace the filters regularly, to ensure the best efficiency. • Set your thermostat to 78 degrees (or as high as comfortable) when you’re at home and need cooling. Use a programmable thermostat to increase the temperature when you’re away and lower it when you return home. • Use natural ventilation. Open windows and turn off your AC if it’s cool at night and in the mornings. • Use energy-efficient window treatments such as awnings, blinds and draperies. Close them during the day to block sunlight and heat from outside. • Use a ceiling fan only when you’re in a room. AC combined with a ceiling fan allows you to raise the thermostat about four degrees with no loss of comfort. Remember to turn off the fan when you leave the room because fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect. • Find air leaks and seal them with caulk or weather-stripping to prevent hot air from leaking in. • Limit the heat from your appliances. Cook outside on a grill, and try not to use the washer, dryer or dishwasher during the heat of the day. Use an exhaust fan when showering and range hood when cooking to remove heat and humidity. • Move lamps, TVs and other appliances away from your thermostat because the extra heat they generate will cause the air conditioner to run longer. • When landscaping, consider adding shading elements to block solar heat during the hot summer months. For more tips, check out the Department of Energy’s infographic Energy Saver 101: Everything You Need to Know About Home Cooling, as well as Spring and Summer Energy-Saving Tips.

Looking for summer fun? Look over to your right ... the Out & About section always features free and low-cost events and activities in the Pine City area.

& JULY 12, 2018

Submit community events to editor@pinecitymn.com or online at www.pinecitymn.com

JULY 12 Magniﬁcent Red Hatters On Thursday, July 12, 11:30 a.m., The Magnificent Red Hatters will travel to Wisconsin to enjoy lunch at T Dawg’s, 429 State Road 70 E, Grantsburg. For more information, and to RSVP, please contact Diane Olson at 612-2028740, or email d1945olson@ gmail.com. Friends and guests are always welcome.

Create with ‘Library Legos’ Kids ages 5-13 are invited to get creative with Library Legos at the Pine City Public Library at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 12. Legos will be supplied by the library, so leave personal Legos at home. For more information, visit ecrlib.org.

Mora’s Music in the Park The City of Mora’s Music In The Park summer concert series will feature the Americana and folk sounds of Charlie Roth with Deanna Paulzine at a free concert at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 12 in the gazebo of Library Park in downtown Mora. For more information visit www.ci.mora.mn.us.

‘Sweet Summer Sounds’ On Thursday, July 12 the public is invited to the “Sweet Summer Sounds” of the Jake Gill Band, a free concert, at Hinckley’s Westside Park at 6:30 p.m.

JULY 13 ‘Picturing Pine City’ Pine Center for the Arts presents a new gallery show: “Picturing Pine City.” Images and icons, a celebration of life in the Pine City area. Art by Mike Gainor. Free opening night reception on July 13 from 4-7 p.m. with free refreshments. All profits go to Pine Center for the Arts. For more information contact PCftA by email at info@pinecenter.org or leave a message at 320-629-4924.

day, July 13 and 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pine County Fairgrounds in Pine City. For more information, and to find out about special events and what types of produce will be available, visit “Pine City Farmers’ Market” on Facebook.

JULY 13 -15 St. Croix State Park weekend St. Croix State Park welcomes the public to see exhibits and get free check-outs including birding or fishing kits, GPS units and library books. Take a hike with the naturalist on Friday, July 13 at 1 p.m. At 5 p.m. play nature bingo at the St. Croix Lodge. On Saturday, July 14 at 11 a.m. make a set of fire starters. Join the naturalist for a five mile guided canoe or kayak trip on the river from 1:30-4 p.m. (Canoe rental available; for reservations call 320-384-0508.) At 5 p.m. come listen to “turtle talk” at the Lodge. On Sunday, July 15 learn about black bears at 11 a.m., and at 2 p.m. watch an old reelto-reel nature movie. Visit the website www.mndnr.gov/stcroix or call 320-3846591 for more information.

The Pine City Arts Council presents the After Hours Big Band jazz ensemble featuring musicians from the Kleppe and Osterdyk families at Art in The Park on Friday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Robinson Park in downtown Pine City. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church will begin serving Carolina BBQ at 5:30 p.m. Free transportation by Arrowhead Transit. Call 800862-0175 for free home pickup. Pick up schedule is 6 p.m. at Northern Pines Assisted Living and 6:10 p.m. at Westchester Apartments.

JULY 13 & 14 Farmers’ Market The Pine City Farmers’ Market diabetes education-themed weekend is Friday and Satur-

JULY 18 Senior dancing at the American Legion Senior dancing, featuring music by Mike Elsenpeter, will take place at the Pine City American Legion on Wednesday, July 18 from 1-4 p.m. Email rockcreekworks@gmail.com with any questions.

Genealogical Society The Pine County Genealogical Society will be “Celebrating Patriotism” on Wednesday, July 18 at the Pine City Public Library at 1 p.m. Dick Lindig will share his family’s genealogy and military history, including the Civil War. The public is invited to attend. This is a good opportunity to meet people who can help with genealogy research. Email lynquilt@msn. com with any questions.

JULY 14 The UMN Extension Pine County Master Gardeners will present a free mid-season garden care workshop on Saturday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It will be at the Pine City Library water tower demonstration gardens at 300 – 5th St. SE in Pine City. They will discuss weeding, thinning, pruning vine crops, fertilizing, succession planting, pests, diseases and share how vegetables are doing in the raised beds. Call 1-800-657-3813 Ext. #3 with any questions.

JULY 19 ECRL listening session Help shape the work and overall future of East Central Regional Library (ECRL) during a community listening session at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19 at the Pine City Public Library. A new strategic plan is in the works and thoughts, ideas and any suggestions are important to make sure ECRL is serving the community’s needs. For additional information and other listening session dates, visit ecrlib.org.

Mighty Migrations

JULY 16 Put your paleontology hat on and explore the world of prehistoric beasts during a special dinosaurs program from 6-7 p.m. Monday, July 16 at the Pine City Public Library. Participants (ages 5-12) will compare their footprints with a Triceratops, take part in a simulated dino dig, and attempt to put the skeleton together. Kids will take home their own fossils and a T-Rex tooth cast. Registration is required on the East Central Regional Library events calendar at ecrlib.org.

JULY 17 Bring ‘Clay Creatures’ to life Kids ages 8 and up are encouraged to use their imagination and a brilliant brand of clay to create a creature during a two-hour workshop starting

on Aug. 14, with the winner of the primary moving on to the general election on Nov. 6, 2018. There will also be an opportunity to hear from local DFL candidates for the legislature. The event is free to the public. Call 651-257-4369 with questions.

JULY 20 - 22 Championship Watercross races

Vegetable gardening workshop

Discover dinosaurs After Hours Big Band

at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 17 at the Hinckley Public Library. Visiting artist Angee Emerson will be using visual, verbal and kinesthetic learning styles to help participants sculpt their very own clay friend out of colorful polymer clay. All supplies will be provided. Space is limited and pre-registration is required at www.ecrlib.org.

PINE CITY PIONEER

The Rush City Public Library welcomes everyone to Mighty Migrations, a program for all ages, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19. Join DNR naturalist Megan Johnsen for her energetic presentation about animals that migrate. Afterward, enjoy a game using information you just learned. Fun for the entire family. Visit ecrlib.org for more information.

DFL candidate forum A candidate forum for the Democratic candidates for Congress in the Eighth Congressional District will be held on Thursday, July 19 at 7 p.m. at the Braham Event Center. The entire field of Democratic candidates has committed to attend, which includes Kirsten Kennedy, Michelle Lee, Jason Metsa, Joe Radinovich, and Soren Christian Sorenson. The candidates are competing in a primary that will be held

The World Championship Snowmobile Watercross races will take place Friday through Sunday, July 20 - 22, in Grantsburg, Wisconsin on Memory Lake. There will be vendors, street dances with live bands both Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m., fireworks on Saturday night at dusk, a free shuttle bus and fun for the whole family. Call 715-463-4269 or visit www.grantsburgwatercross. com for camping information or for a complete schedule of times and events.

JULY 21

MEETINGS THURSDAY 7/12 TOPS-Take Off Pounds Sensibly: Pine City Library Community Room, 4:30-5:30 p.m. WINDOW-Domestic abuse support group: 6 p.m., Journey North Church, Pine City NAMI peer support: Cambridge Medical Ctr., 6:30 p.m. Teen AA/NA: 6:30 p.m., Teen Focus Center, Rush City Pine City VFW Auxiliary: Pine City, VFW Post #4258, 6:30 p.m. SUNDAY 7/15 AA (Big Book study): Evangelical Free Church, 7 p.m. MONDAY 7/16 Celebrate Recovery: Pine City, Journey North Church, 6 p.m. AA: 7:30 p.m., Our Redeemer Lutheran Church TUESDAY 7/17 Pine County Board: 10 a.m., Pine Co. History Museum, Askov Pine City VFW: Pine City, VFW Post #4258, 7:30 p.m.

PCAC 41st annual Art Fest The Pine City Arts Council‘s 41st annual Art Fest is on Saturday, July 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Robinson Park in downtown Pine City. There will be food, a variety of art vendors and exhibitors, a children’s corner, as well as music by Neighberz. Email PineCityArtsCouncil@gmail. com or call 320-629-2227 with any questions.

NAMI workshop NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will hold a free, interactive workshop that provides families and individuals with information on mental illnesses, practical coping strategies, and hope for recovery. The workshop will be held in Mora, at Mora United Methodist Church, 500 Clark St. on Saturday, July 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information or to register call 651-645-2948 or go to namihelps.org.

JULY 22 Pine City’s Naval Militia The Pine County Historical Society will meet on Sunday, July 22, 2 p.m., at the Pine City Public Library. The topic will be the history of Pine City’s Naval Militia presented by Connie Harris. The public is invited to bring items related to the topic to share. For more information call 320-322-9208 or email pcahistory@gmail.com.

JULY 23 Make a milk jug game On Monday, July 23 kids and teens are invited to make a milk jug game at the Pine City Public Library during a pop-up craft session on the library patio at 5 p.m. The event is free and all supplies are provided.

WEDNESDAY 7/18 Woodcarving club: Askov, 9 a.m., Pine Co. History Museum Al-Anon: 725 2nd Ave. SW, Pine City, 12 p.m., 612-387-6094, David Focus on Ability: 1:30 p.m., Chisago Co. Snr. Ctr., North Branch Pine City Toastmasters: 7 p.m., Pine City VFW Hall AA: 8 p.m., Rock Creek Community Center

SENIOR DINING July 16 - 20 Monday: Mexican deep dish taco sq, Mexican rice, seasoned peas, lettuce salad, rocky road pudding Tuesday: Summer Picnic: Oven fried chicken, homemade potato salad, marinated cucumber salad, buttermilk biscuit, watermelon Wednesday: Meatloaf, baked potato with sour cream, corn wheat bread, ice cream gelatin Thursday: BBQ chicken, creamy vegetable soup, carrots, wheat bread, peaches Friday: Lemon pepper ﬁsh, creamy potato bake, broccoli, wheat bread, snickerdoodle cookie Cost is $4.00 for people over 60 and $7.50 for under 60. No preregistration needed, except for special events. Call the Pine City Senior Center at 320-629-3024 between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Pine City Pioneer does not guarantee publication of community events. Space limits the size and number of articles. Out & About deadline is 3 p.m. Monday. If your information must be published, consider placing an ad.

To Go Available

Downtown Pine City • 320-629-9917

DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS

Carey’s Communications 160 Evergreen Square SW • Pine City, MN 55063

320-629-6808

Carey’s Ben Franklin 24461 St. Rd. 35/70 • Siren, WI 54872

715-349-5057

WWW.CAREYSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM 637118 11L 1a

Thur., July 12 Fri., July 13 Sat., July 14 Sun., July 15 Mon., July 16 Tues., July 17 Wed., July 18

Chicken Salad Sandwich w/ Potato Salad Carnitas Street Tacos Taco Salad

Meat Rafﬂe 5pm

DJ Tuck 9pm-1am DJ Tuck 9pm-1am

Specialty Quesadillas Chili Cheese Dogs w/ Straw Chips Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich Steak Sandwich w/ Jo Jos

Happy Hour - Every Day 4-6pm

Denise is back to cook on Thursdays and Saturdays!

PINE CITY PIONEER

www.pinecitymn.com

JULY 12, 2018

Unplugging: it’s good for the soul I just spent the last week on a remote island in the wilderness. Actually, it was just a cabin outside Hayward, Wisconsin, but it sure felt like an island. Because of this: No cell phone service. No internet. It was ... pretty wonderful. It was a week-long family vacation, and we had long conversations about things without constantly checking our phones. We took walks. We went out on the water. We played cards, and laughed a lot. And a few of us got crushed in basketball Editor’s by our nephew. All of this thanks to having no magiSoapbox cally distracting technological connections to the rest of Mike the world. Actually, I cheated. I Gainor zipped into Hayward early on Monday to get internet access and help put this last week’s Pioneer together, and didn’t get out of there until dinnertime. But for the rest of the week the laptop stayed closed. I don’t know that I’ve ever abstained from work email for quite so long since I started at the newspaper. I knew that if something happened back home in Pine City there would be good people here to cover it, so I just remained tuned-out. Being tuned-out can be a very good thing. There are a lot of things that require our attention in this busy world. You don’t want to keep your head stuck in the sand. But there are a whole lot of useless distractions as well, and a bunch of manufactured outrage. We all get barraged with a steady stream of stuff through news sources and social media that’s designed to make us excited and anxious, worried and morbidly curious. Do I need to know what’s happening on the national political scene at every moment? Probably not. And do I need to hear about how Celebrity X is arguing with Celebrity Y? I sure don’t. Is it better for your soul to have a giant pillow fight with your niece and nephews? You bet it is. Of course, I came back to hundreds and hundreds of emails in my inbox, dozens of messages and voicemails I needed to respond to and a good-sized pile of paper waiting for me in the office. Totally, totally worth it.

CLARIFICATION In the obituary section of the June 21 edition of the Pine City Pioneer, the obituary from Swanson Chapel for Marie A. Paulson contained an error. In the obituary, her maiden name was spelled “Froehlke.” This was incorrect. The correct spelling is “Froelke.”

It’s not what’s in the fridge ... but what’s on it When my grandchildren were younger, they often opened the refrigerator door when they visited me. I was g y felt “at home” enough to do so. Now that they’re glad they older, I notice them perusing all the sayings held by magnets that adorn the outside of my refrigerator, before they open the door. You can learn a lot about people by unobtrusively glancing at the messages posted on those doors. For example: “Give the scary lady some coffee!” states a magnet depicting a woman with Meandering her hair standing on end. Obviously that woman is a coffee addict. with “Kids aren’t just an inconvenience that deal with; Kids are something you Margaret you give your life to,” (said by singer Michael Card). Margaret “Humor can make a serious difference.” Marty A picture of two cats, one sleeping, one awake, who says “Sometimes I wake up grumpy; sometimes I let him sleep.” A colored photo of Holstein cows grazing in a lush pasture speaks of someone who loves farming and dairying. A keepsake magnet from someone’s Hawaiian vacation that states “Ho’i mai no kaua e pili” translates, “You and I come together as one.”

PINE CITY

Annette Krist • Publisher Mike Gainor • Editor Misti Hamlin • Advertising Manager Kent Krist • Advertising

“Your Best Source for Community Information” www.pinecitymn.com POSTMASTER: Please send 3579 to Pine City Pioneer 405 2nd Ave. SE Pine City, MN 55063-1504 320-629-6771 Fax: 320-629-6772 Email: editor@pinecitymn.com

The Pine City Pioneer (USPS 433-160) is published for $34 per year and delivered weekly by Northstar Media, LLC., 405 2nd Ave. SE, Pine City MN 55063-1504. Periodicals postage paid at Pine City, MN 55063. Outside Pine County add $9 yearly to subscription cost.

Meliza Hernandez • Classiﬁeds Sara Maki • Office Manager/ Editorial Assistant Sheryl Kuehn • Production/Design Alexandra Cardenas • Production/Design

After my first husband died, an elderly friend gave me a refrigerator magnet inscribed as follows: “I Said a Prayer for You Today, and know God must have heard. I felt the answer in my heart, although He spoke no word. I didn’t ask for wealth or fame, I knew you wouldn’t mind. I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind. I asked that He’d be near you at the start of each new day, to grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way. I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small. But it was for His loving care I prayed the most of all.” A cherished classmate sent me a writing entitled “Humility” that has graced my refrigerator door for about twenty years: “Humility is perpetual quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised; it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is trouble.” And then there’s the artwork by great-grandchildren, too precious to ever remove. What’s on your fridge? Margaret Marty is a writer and poet who is delighted to be living in retirement on the Rock Creek farm where she grew up.

The Pioneer will Attempt to publish the news as fairly and impartially as possible. Editorial comments will be restricted to this page, or when positioned elsewhere, be clearly identiﬁed. All sides of controversial issues will be published within the capabilities of the newspaper. Letters to the Editor will be 500 words or less. All letters are subject to editing for grammar and clarity and must contain the undersigned’s full name and their address. As a rule, letter writers should live, work or have another connection to The Pine City Pioneer’s coverage area. Due to space limitations, letters that don’t address local issues

are not guaranteed publication. Staff reserves the right to refrain from printing a letter. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Letters may be emailed to: editor@pinecitymn.com no later than 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication. The Pioneer welcomes readers’ suggestions for news stories as well as their comments on stories that have been printed. News releases should be typed and include appropriate contact information. They will be printed as space permits in the ﬁrst issue possible. There are no guarantees that news releases will run.

OPINION

JULY 12, 2018

PINE CITY PIONEER

www.pinecitymn.com

Journalists aren’t the enemy Just this May during a news training, I heard a story about a small-town editor in the south. Sitting in his office, he received a threatening phone call over something in the paper. When the caller could no longer be reasoned with, the editor asked the man on the other line, “How many guns do you have? .... Guest Uh hu. And how many do you have? editorial brothers ... Uh hu. Well, I’ve got a baseball bat here in Kirsten my office. Let’s say in 20 Faurie minutes you meet me in the parking lot and we can work this out.” The editor hung up. At the time, the story was meant as a joke. Despite the tales us newspaper folks tell each other about foul phone calls and lawsuit threats, I’ve never

heard of anyone following through. No one actually showed up to the paper with an army of brothers to beat up some journalist in a parking lot. At the time I heard the story, I laughed. I’m not laughing today. Thursday, June 28, a man entered the Capital Gazette newsroom in Maryland with a shotgun and killed five staff members. The shooter had recently lost a defamation lawsuit against the paper. The shooter claimed the paper damaged his reputation after it published a story regarding the man’s guilty plea in a harassment case. Threats against journalists aren’t new. If everyone was happy with each story a journalist wrote, that journalist isn’t doing their job correctly. Each year the Times lists some 500-ish names in our court report alone. I know our work makes a lot of folks angry — from criminals to cops, farmers to bankers, the

young, the old and everyone in between. What is new is people reacting to that anger with extreme violence. In the United States, violence against journalists is pretty rare, which makes the events of June 28 all the more shocking. It concerns me deeply the growing hostility I feel in the world—and not just toward journalists. I am equally concerned by what seems like an inability to resolve (or simply accept) conflict of opinion in a civil way. At seeing the remaining staff of Capital Gazette report on the murder of their own co-workers from a nearby parking lot — I’m at a loss. My heart hurts for them and I don’t know how to help. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to fix this problem. The only thing I know to say is this: Journalists are not our enemy. The journalists I have met from small towns and big cities across Minnesota

have shown nothing but an intense dedication and passion for their communities. The only thing I can ask of our readers is: do more than keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Read. Stay informed. Interact with your community boards and commissions. Participate in civil discourse. Write a letter to the editor. Actively assess if the news you are consuming makes you think critically or if it just raises your ire. Consider diversifying your news sources. Do what you can to improve your community. It’s all any journalist has ever worked for. Kirsten Faurie is the editor of the Kanabec County Times.

Minnesotans once battled over courthouses

Buried in Minnesota history of the last half of the 1800s are not only famous courtroom battles, but also battles over the location of the courthouse within the county. Upon a petition of a sufficient percentage of voters from the most recent election, a vote would be taken on the issue of moving the county seat. These disputes were filled with bribery, theft of records, offers of rent-free buildings, and much intrigue. My home county, Wright County, has quite a colorful history as recounted in Minnesota Courthouses by C. Gilbertson: It’s in your Victor Wright County was established and organized in 1855 because settlers court in the area understandably felt the Judge Steve nearest county seats of Cass and Sibley Counties were too far away. The Halsey new county’s seat was at Monticello, formerly Moritzious, which had been settled a few years earlier. … Early in 1859, Oscar Jackson was found not guilty of murder and the public strongly disapproved. He was rearrested on a trumped-up charge, returned to the county, and again released. The public became a mob. Jackson was taken to the house the man he was accused of murdering, and lynched from one of its beams. … The forces of the law continued to operate, and the lynch mob leaders were arrested and brought to trial. However, Wright County citizens again took over, released the prisoners and removed the witnesses. At this point Governor Sibley of the State of Minnesota, only a year advanced from territorial status, declared Wright County to be in a “state of insurrection.” Three state militia units marched to the county seat on August 6. County officials arrested three men, bound them over to a grand jury and released them on $500 bond. Troops were recalled. The October grand jury failed to indict. No one was ever punished. Buffalo tried to obtain the county seat in 1862 and again five years later. This time the offer of a courthouse rent-free for five years apparently convinced the voters to make the change. Recently during a Law Day event in Buffalo, there was a mock debate in 1867-style in which Judge Elizabeth Strand and I portrayed protagonists in the Wright County county seat controversy of that year. In July, you can watch the debate on the QTCV website linked below. A similar dispute took place in Lincoln County in southwestern Minnesota that Victor Gilbertson describes as follows: In 1881 …the town of Lake Benton bribed the approaching railroad to run south of the lake rather than north through Marshfield and was thereby able to win the county seat. A structure built on land donated by a subsidiary of the Chicago Northwestern Railroad was rented for a courthouse. ... In 1901, the Tyler-Astoria branch of the Northwestern, a new rail line across the northern part of the county, led the circulation of a petition for a vote to move the seat to Ivanhoe where a courthouse site was donated by the proprietor of the town. The petition and vote succeeded and the records were removed at once by special train to a former bar in Ivanhoe which served rent-free as a courthouse for one year. Later

district sessions were held at the Wilson Opera House. Lake Benton naturally appealed; the Minnesota Supreme Court held the election illegal and returned the seat to Lake Benton. If you are a frequent reader of these, articles you may be wondering why judges are elected by judicial district rather than by county. Some counties have such small populations that they do not have their own judge. Under Minnesota law, judges are elected by judicial district, must be residents of that district, and are chambered (main office) in the county seat of one of the counties in that district. The Tenth Judicial District was formed in 1959 and since then has been comprised of eight counties: Pine, Kanabec, Isanti, Chisago, Wright, Sherburne, Anoka and Washington. During the last half of the 19th century and first half of the 20th century, judicial redistricting was a relatively frequent occurrence, but not so for the past 60 years. In the past, as a step toward administrative efficiency and meeting an anticipated large deficit in the state budget, there has been discussion at the state level of redistricting or combining district court administrative offices. It was reported in Minnesota Lawyer on June 7, 2010, that: [The] Judicial Council has directed the state’s 10 judicial district to consider what it calls “administrative consolidation.” That would mean that the districts would remain intact for purposes of judicial elections and venue but each may not have its own full-time administrator. … The 8th Judicial District is in the midst of “Reinventing Rural Justice: Eighth Judicial District Redesign Project,” a six-month process that started in January for the purpose of preparing a report and recommendations for dealing with productivity issues. Two consultants through the National Center for State Courts are working with the district—a rural area with declining populations and declining budget resources, but also with new technology available. As rural counties see decreased population trends, fewer resources are available and may result in delays and less-frequent judge time in sparsely-populated counties. As an example, the 9th Judicial District consists of 17 counties in the northwest corner of the state, from Aitkin County in the far southeast to Kittson County in the far northwest of the judicial district. The county seats of these two counties, Aitkin

and Hallock respectively, are 300 miles apart. This creates challenges for lawyers, court administrators, litigants, judges, and the general public that do not exist in the Twin Cities’ courts. It demands efficient use of technology, such as interactive television and interpreter by phone, for some hearings and options to eliminate or reduce travel times and costs. The Tenth Judicial District, on the other hand, has been one of the fastest-growing in population since 2000, so budgetary restraints cause a different set of challenges. As we move into the next biennium we will likely see changes in the 10th Judicial District that no one could have foreseen just 10 years ago. Stay tuned!

Submitted by Judge Steve Halsey, Wright County District Court, chambered in Buffalo. Judge Halsey is the host of “The District Court Show” on local cable TV public access channels throughout the Tenth Judicial District. Excerpts can be viewed at WWW.QCTV.org. Go to Community and click “The District Court Show.”

Eat BETTER – Buy MORE – Spend LESS at...

CHRIS’(320) FOOD CENTER 629-2589 1035 Main St S, Pine City Ad Prices Eﬀective MON. TUES. WED. THURS. FRI. SAT. SUN. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 July 9-July 15

Friday Nights:

Prime Rib

PINE CITY FARMERS MARKET FRIDAY JULY 13 & 11AM-1PM SATURDAY JULY 14 MARKET FRESH TASTING

Are you at risk for Diabetes? Free portion cup by FirstLight SPONSORED BY Pine City Farmers Market

Check out our REWARDS CLUB!

SEASON SPONSOR Pine County Fairgrounds, Hwy 61, Pine City

lb.

Call Ah your or ead de Deli De r to pt.

INDOOR PRODUCE SALE!

AVAILABLE WIC BABY FORMULA

2 DAYS ONLY

THURS. JULY 12 & FRI. JULY 13

SPECIAL ORDERS UPON REQUEST

While supplies last - no rain checks, and we reserve the right to limit quantities.

CHRIS’ RIB FEST

OUR OWN QUARRY STONE

THURS. JULY 12  10:00 AM

While supplies last SERVED HOT OFF THE GRILL DINE IN OR TAKE HOME

$ 99

USDA INSPECTED BONEIN CENTER CUT PORK CHOPS

SLICED GREEN OLIVES

KRETSCHMAR

$ 99

/lb.

GARLIC STICKS

/lb.

ESSENTIAL EVERYDAY

99¢

5.75 oz. jar

GATORADE GOLD’N PLUMP THIRST QUENCHER ORIGINAL ROTISSERIE

5 for

(tasting event)

Fresh, Carved to Order! Take Home - 4:00 p.m. until Gone

FULL RACK $9.99

MARKET OPENING

Sides additional

$ 00 32 oz. bottle

CHICKEN

$ 99 ea.

TUES - Senior Citizens Day E Our Own Smoked Meats • Full Service Deli MOVIALS! T N E R Movie Rentals • Dry Cleaners Copy Machine • Full Service Carry Out Stop in to check out new releases! Gift Certiﬁcates • Floral • ATM • Fax MONDAY-SATURDAY 7am-9pm • SUNDAY 8am-8pm

YEARS AGO

PINE CITY PIONEER

JULY 12, 2018

www.pinecitymn.com

Summer Rec keeps kids moving in 2008 BY CAROL AASER NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM

10 Years Ago, 2008 The Kanabec County Courthouse and all other local government buildings went into lock down for about an hour on Thursday, June 26 due to security concerns. Kanabec County Sheriff Steve Schultz said the lock down was initiated after implied threats were made against county officials by a man identified as Dale Dean Schmid, 41. With T-ball, golf , tennis, rookie league baseball and softball as choices, Pine City’s recreation program ensures all kids have something to do this summer. After being struck by lightning Friday afternoon while trying to save a backyard gazebo from blowing away, Kanabec County resident Kent Lilyerd will be the first to tell you he’s lucky to be alive. “It started to pick up with me on it, all 350 pounds,” Lilyerd said two days later while recreating Friday’s events in the backyard of his Jade Street home. “It started to tip, and when it got to about 45 [degrees], me and this gazebo just went – whoosh – for a parasail ride. Then, turning in the air still holding on to this thing, ‘bam’ – a bolt of lightning just came in and hit me right on the coconut.”

25 Years Ago, 1993

THE PIONEER

Picnic preparations in 1938

The world of aviation today is much different than it was years ago. Rising insurance liabilities, and the high cost of equipment have kept children away from the excitement of airplanes and airports, said Judy Rice, Mora Young Eagles Club director. Three youngsters from Pine City attended a 4-H leadership development workshop at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus in June. Titled, Go Out and Make a Difference, the workshops are open to young people ages six to 19. Cory and Theresa Wilde, children of Ronnie and Arlene Wilde, are the Pine City Library’s Readers of the Week. They are participating in the Hook A Book summer reading program. Cory’s favorite book is “Diplodocus,” by Ron Wilson, while Theresa loved “Going to School,” by Susan Kuklin. Eleven youth from east central Minnesota attended the National Junior Holstein Convention in Rochester, NY June 27-30. Representing Minnesota in the Junior Division Dairy Quiz Bowl contest were Erica Mold and Jennifer Mold, Rush City, and Erin Swanson and Jamie Gilbraith, Isanti. The Senior Division (age 16-20) Dairy Bowl team members were Christina Lood, Eric Lood and Alison Lood, Cambridge, and Sara Swanson, Isanti.

Grocery specials for that Independence Day outing 80 years ago in Pine City.

PINE CITY AREA PROFESSIONAL

Let us do the work for you!

Althoff & Nordquist, LLC CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS www.althoffandnordquist.com

Carl D. Nordquist Jr., CPA Robert R. Althoff, CPA Payroll, Bookkeeping, Write-Up, Personal, Partnership and Corporate Taxes 505 Second Street SE Pine City, Minnesota Telephone: 320-629-6185

124 East Forest Mora, Minnesota Telephone: 320-679-4846

Oak Park

75 Years Ago, 1943

Dental

Dr. Dylan Ascheman Ascheman DDS DDS Dr. Dylan 505 Johnson SE Pine City, Dr. CarrieAve Carlson DDSMN PhoneJohnson 320.629.2282 320.629.3357 505 Ave SE Fax City, MN • Pine

320-629-2282

Improving the oral health and overall wellbeing of our community and it’s members through education and meaningful contribution.

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8am-5pm, Fri. 8am-4pm www.oakparkdentalclinic.com

Currie Pangerl & Associates, Ltd. Certified Public Accountants Audits & Reviews Planning & Taxation for: Estates, Trusts, Corporates, Partnerships and Individuals 320-629-2090 1015 Hillside Ave SW, Pine City.

D E N T A L

Dr. Kristie Roberts Preventive, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry New Patients Welcome

HOURS: MON.-THURS. 8AM-4:30PM

320.629.2789 1105 Hillside Ave SW Pine City • www.pinecitydental.com

“Advanced, affordable eye care delivered in the manner all patients deserve.”

Dr. Garofalo

Dr. Iverson

Dr. Anne Sill

Pine Eye Associates 320-629-7262 • 866-629-7262 110 Evergreen Square, Pine City • www.pineeye.com

(320) 384-7901

Due to the shortage of liquor which may be purchased by the municipal liquor store here, the village council has changed the hours the store will be open, in order that local customers will be able to purchase liquor that would otherwise go to transient trade. Eileen Heinen was the honored guest at a bridal kitchen shower held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Brechtel. Close friends of the bride were present and the honored guest received many gifts. On Tuesday, July 6, Miss Ruby Murphy of Fergus Falls and Staff Sgt. Oscar Teich, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Teich of Pine City, were joined in holy wedlock.

100 Years Ago, 1918 The next time it rains, think that it takes about fifteen tons of water to grow a bushel of wheat. By order of the Village Council: Weeds on lots and streets and in alleys alongside of lots must be cut within 10 days of this notice. Failure to comply will make it necessary to have same cut at village expense and charge to the owners of the property. Frank Stuck brought in two loads of red hogs from his farm south of town the past week, which netted him about $400. There’s money in hogs, alright, if one knows how to get it.

125 Years Ago, 1893

SCHMIDT CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONTRACTOR

All types of Residential & Commercial Buildings GERALD SCHMIDT Owner

50 Years Ago, 1968 In the split decision, the Pine City village council approved a petition by the Heath-Perkins American Legion post and granted the organization on a club liquor license for the Legion’s Streamliner clubrooms. One of ten lovely and talented candidates will be selected to reign during the coming year as Miss Pine County at the second annual Miss Pine County Pageant. Vying for the title from Pine City were: Randy Tuma, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Tuma; Carol Schultz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Schultz and Roxanne Hoefler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Hoefler. A baseball first will take place July 18, when the St. Cloud Rox will meet the Duluth Dukes in the first professional baseball game to be played in the eastern Minnesota area. The game will be played at Brennan Field in Hinckley.

102 SECOND ST. NE HINCKLEY, MN 55037

Matthew M. Sievers, D.D.D., M.S. Cambridge and Pine City

Invisalign & Braces - Free Initial Exam www.cambridgeorthomn.com 705 4th AVE SW, Pine City • 140 Birch St.N, #106, Cambridge

320-629-9944 • 763-689-3134

Frank Chimiewleski and John Lyden took a sail on the river with J. H. Hay in the “Alert.” John is an old sailor and says, “It seems like old times to be once more skimming over the billows.” A crowd of our young folks entertained visitors in sporting style last Sunday up on Lake Pokegama. They had dinner at the mouth of the lake after which all hands turned out to catch a supper, in which they were “very successful” and still there was a plenty, and to spare – indeed if we are correctly informed certain parties had “fish and with it for breakfast.”

JULY 12, 2018

www.pinecitymn.com

PINE CITY PIONEER

The mission of the Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote economic development and business in the area.

CHAMBER CHAT

www.pinecitychamber.com

facebook.com/pinecitychamber

THIRD THURSDAY NETWORKING: Lunch on July 19 The Chamber will host the July Networking event on Thursday, July 19 from 12 - 1pm. These monthly networking events are an opportunity to meet other business owners, managers & employees and learn about what other local businesses are doing. This month we will meet at Mom’s Parkside Café. The cost will be $10 per person to cover lunch expense. Advance registration for this event is REQUIRED by calling the Chamber at 320.322.4040. Online registration and prepayment by credit card is also available. LAST CHANCE FOR PARADE! With just about three weeks to go before the annual Pine County Fair and Parade we are excited about the parade entries that have been arriving over the last several months. Space is ﬁlling up quickly, so if you have not registered your group for the parade, please do so today. An online registration link can be found on our website at www. pinecitychamber.com. We will continue to take registrations until we reach 100 units. Advance registration is REQUIRED, same day registration will not be available. Call 322-4040 for details.

Next Chamber Meeting: August 7, 2018 @ Noon

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS DUE AUGUST 31 The Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Please submit your nomination in writing by email at info@pinecitychamber. com or by mail 315 Main Street South, Suite 155, Pine City MN 55063. Deadline for submission is Friday, Aug. 31. A nominee should be a resident of Pine City and exhibit qualities that make them deserving of recognition by the community. A recognition banquet in honor of the 2018 Citizen of the Year will be planned for mid-September.

CONTACT US: 320-322-4040 Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce 315 Main Street South, Pine City MN 55063 Regular Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 2:30 pm info@pinecitychamber.com

PINE CITY PIONEER www.pinecitymn.com

Keep bees in the backyard BY TARA JOHNSON UMN EXTENSION • PINE COUNTY MASTER GARDENER

By now there is a good amount of evidence to suggest that pollinators are disappearing at alarming rates. Pesticides, flowerless landscapes, lack of crop diversity, parasites, disease, and management practices are among some of the likely causes of this decline. Given that more than one-third of the plants consumed by humans rely on pollinators either directly or indirectly it is essential that we help pollinators rebound from this decline. We can help with a few simple practices in our own backyards. Creating new habitats for pollinators is a great place to start. Most people think of flowers when they think of pollinators. These are necessary sources of pollen (for protein) and nectar (for sugars and energy). Be sure to plant a variety of flowers in different shapes and colors that bloom at different times throughout the year. This will keep this source available throughout the growing season. Keep in mind that double flowered plants are typically lack pollen and nectar. Do your best to choose native plants that attract pollinators. You can work with your local nursery or master gardener to choose plants that support specific pollinators. When choosing plants, be certain they have not been treated with a systemic insecticide. These insecticides are within the plant itself and can move to the pollen and nectar which when ingested by pollinators can be fatal. Be sure to also plant non-flowering grasses. These are necessary for food for the early life stages of some pollinators as well is giving shelter, nesting areas and overwintering habitat for multiple types of pollinators including butterflies and moths. Be sure to plant these grasses in groups as this is most beneficial for pollinators. Once you have created these pollinator landscapes, do your best to leave them undisturbed. This will allow the pollinators to thrive at every stage of life. Adjust your lawn mowing to allow native sources of nectar and pollen to grow. Dandelions and Dutch White Clover are very common in many lawns and an excellent source of nectar and pollen for several species of bees. If you

PHOTO PROVIDED

Pine County Master Gardener Tara Johnson recommends planting native plants, both flowering and non-flowering, in order to keep bees happy and in good health.

can plant a flowering lawn this may be a good option. There are a variety of native and non-native flowering lawn plants that make for a great source of habitat and food for pollinators. This is not without challenges of course. Difficult cultivation and a lack of seed availability can make planting a flowering lawn difficult. Let’s not also forget that even though we may want to provide a lush pollen and nectar rich lawn and garden for our pollinator friends, our other friends who live nearby and want a finely manicured lawn free of “weeds” may not appreciate our efforts. Finally, always be sure when using pesticides or insecticides to choose from products that are low in toxicity to pollinators. Following even a few of these steps will help to keep the bees and other pollinators in your backyard. Good sources of information on bees and pollinators can be found online at www.beelab.umn.edu and www.xerces. org

JULY 12, 2018

NEWSLINE Pole-droppers busted by DNR

Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent a majority of the week patrolling area lakes during the Fourth of July. He said quite a few boaters were found without enough life jackets and a few anglers were found fishing without licenses. While patrolling past one group of anglers fishing from a pontoon, an adult was seen dropping her fishing rod and hustling to the opposite side of the pontoon in hopes of not getting caught fishing without a license. Grundmeier also continued to work with farmers who had calves killed by wolves. DNR Conservation Officer Eugene Wynn (Pine City) spent the week working boating and angling enforcement around Pine City. He took calls about nuisance animals, questions about nowake zones, and concerns about people shooting fireworks. Wynn assisted the Pine County Sheriff’s Office with a search and rescue operation and spent time monitoring ATV complaint areas. Bear and deer sightings are frequent now. Motorists are encouraged to be extra careful on the roads as the bugs are driving animals out of the wooded areas.

Special youth deer hunts coming up in October, November

Youth can apply to hunt deer in select state parks and other refuge areas during 17 special deer hunts in October and November, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “These special hunts give youth and parents or adult mentors a fantastic opportunity to hunt together,” said James Burnham, DNR hunter and angler recruitment, retention and reactivation coordinator. “They can be memorable and positive experiences for all involved.” Youth can apply now through Friday, Aug. 17, to apply for the hunts. Of the 17 special hunts, 15 are firearms hunts for youth ages 12 to 15, and two are archery hunts for youth ages 12 to 17. Participation in other deer hunting seasons remains an option for youth who take part in the special youth deer hunts, but any deer harvested count against the youth’s season bag limit. An adult parent, guardian or mentor must accompany the youth at all times while hunting, but only the youth may hunt. Both youth and mentor must attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation. Details about the hunts, how to apply and other youth hunting information can be found at mndnr.gov/discover.

Forum for DFL congressional candidates in Braham

A candidate forum for the Democratic candidates for Congress in the Eighth Congressional District will be held on Thursday, July 19 at 7 p.m., at the Braham Event Center. The entire field of Democratic candidates has committed to attend, which includes Kirsten Kennedy, Michelle Lee, Jason Metsa, Joe Radinovich, and Soren Christian Sorenson. The forum will

be hosted by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Senate District 32. The candidates are competing in a primary that will be held on Aug. 14, with the winner of the primary moving on to the general election on Nov. 6. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and there will also be an opportunity to hear from local DFL candidates for the legislature. The event is free to the public, and light refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome.

Families can become more financially literate

Every year families can look to improve at managing their money, especially as it pertains to credit card usage. Sharon Powell, an Extension Educator with the U of M’s Family Resiliency Team based at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), is available for comment on the importance of financial literacy, and can offer best practices for anyone navigating today’s landscape on a budget. Fortunately, Powell believes strategies for achieving and maintaining good credit are easier than people think. “Our credit system can be confusing, but it’s so important that people understand things like what it means to have good credit and how to improve your credit score,” Powell said. “Making one small purchase a month on a credit card and paying it off promptly is a great way to build better credit safely without incurring interest or going into debt. I also tell people to be sure to check their credit reports, because about 25 percent of the time, those reports include mistakes and you have to be the one to point them out and ask credit bureaus to remove them.” “People often feel defensive because in the U.S., we are prone to finger wagging about being short on money, as if it is a character flaw. I can tell you that most of the families I work with are good money managers. They’re just stretched for money because there isn’t enough money. That’s the problem.” Sharon Powell is an Extension Educator with the Family Resiliency Team at the University of Minnesota. She educates low-income individuals and families on how to build money-management skills to improve their financial situations, and families at all income levels improve their relationships, particularly parents and children. • Always pay your bill on time to maintain good credit and avoid late fees, as well as penalty interest rates that could be applied to your account. • Keep track of what you are spending so that you always stay below your credit limit. Going over your limit may result in credit card companies charging additional fees and/or increasing your interest rate. • Pay more than the minimum amount when possible to reduce the amount of interest you will pay over time. Better still, pay your balance in full each month to avoid paying interest.

BURNETT DAIRY MEETS ALL YOUR

ENERGY NEEDS PROPANE | GASOLINE | BULK OILS ON/OFF ROAD DIESEL

Visit www.pinecitymn.com

• Delivery throughout Eastern MN and Western WI! • We supply the tank for Bulk Oil at no charge! • Competitive Prices! Contact Burnett Dairy’s Propane and Reﬁned Fuels Sales Specialist: TIM KREUSER-PETERSON | Cell: 320-438-0771 | Direct: 715-689-1032 BURNETT DAIRY COOPERATIVE | 11631 STATE ROAD 70, GRANTSBURG, WI 54840

JULY 12, 2018 www.pinecitymn.com

PINE CITY PIONEER

Family brings something special to their maple syrup BY CJ GUSTAFSON NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM

There’s something decidedly different about the maple syrup Daniel and Keziah Lakedon produce, and it’s earned them a loyal following of customers. The dark, delicious liquid has a rich, smoky flavor that makes one think of the oldgrowth forests, cozy mornings around a wood stove and days when things seemed more simple. The couple, who sell their syrup primarily at the Pine City Farmers’ Market, will tell you that it’s the little bit of love they put into every jar that makes it taste so good, and if attention to details and a reverence for the tradition of syruping equate to love, then the statement clearly rings true. Both Dan and Keziah grew up in families that tapped trees and boiled the sap down to syrup. When they married, they decided to continue the tradition. At first, they made around four or five gallons, just enough for their own personal use. Then Dan experienced a career change and found himself with more time on his hands, so they tapped additional trees and ended up with a fair amount of excess syrup. Not one to let anything go to waste, Keziah decided to give the farmers market a try halfway through the season in 2013, and they were well received by both the market staff and the customers. As people got a taste of the Lakedon’s product, word began to spread, and soon they had people seeking them out on recommendations from friends and family. When they first started their syruping operation, it was very rudimentary, with homemade plastic taps and empty milk jugs for collecting, but after the first season at the market, they realized they wanted to step things up a bit, so they upgraded their equipment over the next few years and got more serious about production. Now, they turn out an average of 25 gallons of syrup annually and upwards of 50 gallons if the trees and the weather cooperate like they did in 2015.

Dan believes the trees they tap contribute to the special flavor of their syrup. “We have amazing trees – a normal sugar to water ratio for the sap is around forty to one, but ours typically runs thirty-two to one,” he explained. In addition, the Lakedons use a wood fired boiler to cook down the sap, and it seems that contributes to the smoky tones. Keziah, who has a Cottage Food license, thinks their strict quality control is part of what makes their syrup special. They always start with extra fresh sap, which is filtered three times before it finally gets sealed in mason jars. “Old timers like my dad never even filtered their syrup,” she said wrinkling her nose and grimacing a bit. “We like ours to be a little more pure,” she added with a chuckle. But for her, syruping is mostly about memories and family and tradition. Their three children all help with the collection and processing. Seven-yearold Asher looks forward to helping pour the finished syrup into jars, while Annabelle, who is four, seems to like eating the syrup the best. Emmett, who is thirteen months old, cut his first tooth out in the woods this past season. “So much of what we do as a family is based around syruping,” Keziah said. This sense of family extends to their customers as well. “People like that syrup is natural, no fake stuff or corn syrup. They want to feed their families something that’s good for them.” Keziah explained, adding that syrup can be used in place of sugar in a variety of items including cookies, oatmeal, scones, bread and ice cream topping. She usually has recipes available at the market, and if time allows and the kids cooperate, she brings samples of goodies as well. This extra service and willingness to share is part of the strong sense of commitment the couple feels for their farmers market customers, which is why they recently turned down an op-

CJ GUSTAFSON | THE PIONEER

For Daniel, Keziah, Asher, Annabelle and Emmett, making maple syrup has become a delicious family project.

portunity to take over the business of a man who sells large amounts of syrup at a citywide garage sale in the metro area every year. “Our local customers come first,” Keziah stressed. “We know them. We know what they like. We see them each week with their families, and we know from past experience that they’re unhappy if we’re not here with our syrup. I like the idea of selling locally. This

isn’t a money-making venture for us. It’s definitely a labor of love,” she added with a laugh and a smile for Dan as she looked around at the kitchen, overflowing with kids and syrup, and quite obviously that little bit of love that goes into every jar of Lakedon’s Family Syrup.

MIKE GAINOR | THE PIONEER

Served with a smile at PTCC Visitors to the Pine Technical and Community College free community picnic on June 27 enjoyed a tasty meal, a chance to meet with PTCC President Joe Mulford and friends Senator Tony Lourey and Pine County Attorney Reese Frederickson, and to try a variety of games based on the actual technology taught at PTCC.

We’re more than just print... VISIT OUR WEB SITE WWW.PINECITYMN.COM Get up-to-date information on local events and ﬁnd out what’s going in your area.

320-629-6771

SPORTS AND OUTDOORS

PINE CITY PIONEER

JULY 12, 2018

www.pinecitymn.com

Health experts warn of toxic blue-green algae COMMON NON-TOXIC PLANTS AND ALGAE

BY KIRSTEN FAURIE EDITOR@MORAMINN.COM

As meteorologists expect a string of hot and humid weather for Minnesota, shallow lakes in the area are at risk of developing blue-green algae blooms which can be toxic. Kanabec County Community Health Director Kathy Burski said her office will be posting warnings at boat launches of Knife, Fish and Ann lakes and encouraged lake visitors to keep their eyes out for harmful blooms. WHAT IS BLUE-GREEN ALGAE? According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, blue-green algae isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually algae, but types of bacteria present in many lakes. When nutrient-rich water gets warm, the bacteria can multiply creating a â&#x20AC;&#x153;bloom.â&#x20AC;? These blooms can be toxic and it is important for people and pets to avoid contact with water near these blooms. Children are at greater risk than adults because of their smaller body weight. Symptoms after skin contact include itchy/irritated skin, eyes, ears, rash, hives, swollen lips, hay fever or asthma-like symptoms; skin lesions in animals have been seen. Symptoms after ingestion include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, throat irritation, liver problems, muscle weakness and in severe cases paralysis, respiratory failure

Duckweed Duckweed is a non-toxic plant often mistaken for algae. It also goes by the name â&#x20AC;&#x153;water lentilâ&#x20AC;? partially because it looks like little green lentils or grains ďŹ&#x201A;oating on the top of the water. Duckweed can form a thick blanket on the water surface, but the plants are not connected to each other like ďŹ lamentous algae. MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY