PINE CITY
THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2016 VOL. 131 NO. 23 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
TRACK DRAGONS FLY: Four track team members heading to State Tournament. P11
Officer saves desperate man from self-harm STAFF REPORT NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
An armed man reportedly intent on taking his own life was rescued from himself by a passing officer of the Pine County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office reports that on June 2 at 11 a.m., Sergeant Dan Kunz was working a Towards Zero Deaths traffic enforcement detail. While on patrol, he
stopped to check on what appeared to be a disabled vehicle on Highway 107 north of the city of Henriette. As Kunz approached the vehicle he saw a male sit up in the back seat, see him and duck back down. The male then sat back up holding a shotgun. Other officers had already been sent to assist, including an officer from the Braham Police Department. However, Kunz was able to order the male to put the gun down and get him out of the car.
Once detained and asked about the situation, the man told officers that he was homeless and had intended to shoot and kill himself before being approached. On inspection, the shotgun was found to be loaded with a round chambered. The man, who had a last known address in the Twin Cities, was transported via ambulance to a hospital for evaluation.
‘We do it to provide a safe place’ Pine City area foster parents help serve kids in need BY MARGARET MARTY NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
PHOTO PROVIDED
Junior Master Gardeners wild about wildlife
Thirty Pine City Elementary first through sixth graders learned all about plants, insects and animals and the importance of forests at Junior Master Gardener after-school sessions in May. “May the Forest be with You” was this year’s workshop series theme. The sessions were presented by U of M Extension Pine County Master Gardeners with help from Pine City Garden Club members. On the last two days the older students learned about wrens and built a wren house to take home and put up.
Although May was National Foster Parent Appreciation month, awareness of the need for foster parenting is perpetual. Pine City has a thriving foster parent program under the auspices of Therapeutic Services Agency (TSA). TSA is licensed by the State of Minnesota to recruit parents and place children in foster homes, with the ultimate goal of eventually reuniting children with their biological family. Wendy Rude Pangerl, social worker at TSA, does recruitment and licensing. “Ours is a comprehensive treatment program which combines foster care and professional mental health services to the children,” Pangerl said.
“Our program is unique in that our foster families are members of our treatment team, and our treatment team is really the core of what we do. Whatever county kids are from, there is a worker who has their case in that county, and they work hand-in-hand with us.” Pangerl’s work was the catalyst for becoming a foster parent herself, along with her husband Greg, even before they had children of their own. They have foster-parented for 20 years. To date, they have fostered over 50 kids. Travis and Jen Wiechman have been foster parents for 11 years through TSA. They adopted their first two foster boys, and continued fostering others. “We do it to provide a safe SEE FOSTER, PAGE 14
Pine City Farmers’ Market starts fresh on June 10 BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
The Pine City Farmers’ Market is getting ready to set up shop for the 2016 season, and vendors, growers and organizers have been working for months to prepare for another summer and fall at the Pine County Fairgrounds. Bill Carpenter, owner of Peaceful Pines Pumpkin Patch, has been in-
volved with the market for the past six years. “It’s always been a passion of mine to grow things,” Carpenter said. “I got that from my grandmother, and when I moved up here I just started planting because we’ve got the acreage. When I started planting, I kept going crazier and crazier. Then I found out there was a farmers’ market here and I thought, ‘Well, heck, I might as well sell some of
it.’” The market opens June 10, and will run every Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 29, offering locally-grown fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, maple syrup, and other food items. Vendors will also present other locally-crafted and homemade goods for sale. “We’ve got a nice market here,” Carpenter said. “It’s been around for over
30 years now. And ... it’s got some very good people involved. We’re very, very fortunate.” He said that the location along Highway 61 at the fairgrounds has helped raise the market’s visibility for customers. “They see us,” he said. “They turn around and say, ‘Wow, they’ve got a
Opportunity Knocked and I MOVED!!! SEE MARKET, PAGE 14
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