Willmar Reminder | June 16, 2024

Sunday Big Book AA: Peace Lutheran Church, door 5, New London, 6 p.m.

Women’s A.A: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 2 p.m.

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Alanon: Peace Lutheran Church, door 4, New London, 6 p.m.

Monday Hand & Foot Cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.

Walking club: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, noon

Mahjong: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1 p.m. Parkinson’s Disease support group: CCM Health Wellness Center, Montevideo, 3:30 p.m., 320-321-8240

TOPS: Assembly of God Church Encore, 3821 Abbott Drive, 6:15 p.m., 320-796-2280

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Tuesday

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7:30 a.m.

Veterans and Active Duty Military: Willmar Community Center, 9:30 to 11 a.m.; informal coffee time for veterans and spouses; 320-894-7840. All firefighters, police officers, and rescue squad members are invited to join.

SAIL exercise: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.

Parkinson’s Support Group: Bethesda, Willmar, 10 a.m.

SAIL exercise: Willmar Community Center, 10:15 a.m.

SAIL exercise: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 10:15 a.m.

Kiwanis: Kandiyohi County Historical Society Museum, Willmar, noon

Hand & Foot Cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.

Bingo: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1 p.m.

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Compassionate Friends: Kandiyohi County Historical Society Museum, Willmar, 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Coffee and conversation: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.

Hand, Knee & Foot Cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.

Mahjong: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9:30 a.m.

Walking club: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.

Rotary: The Oaks, noon

Lions Club: Kandiyohi County Historical Society Museum, Willmar, noon

Cribbage corner cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.

Whist: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.

Willmar Area Senior Citizens Club: Willmar Community Center, 2 p.m. entertainment by Gig Noonan, 3 p.m. meeting.

Women’s A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 6:45 p.m.

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Thursday

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7:30 a.m.

Mexican Train: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.

SAIL exercise: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m. Parkinson’s Support Group: Bethesda North Pointe, New London, 10 a.m.

SAIL exercise: Willmar Community Center, 10:15 a.m.

SAIL exercise: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 10:15 a.m.

Dementia care partner support group: CCM Health Wellness Center, Montevideo, 10:30 a.m., or virtually, 320-321-8240

Hand & Foot Cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.

500 cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, noon Blue Star Mothers of America: 5:30 p.m., Vinje Lutheran Church, Willmar

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Friday Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 11 a.m.

Whist: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1 p.m.

Senior Dance: Willmar Community Center, 1 to 4 p.m., $3 non-dancers, $8 dancers, both includes lunch; music by Michael James.

Farkle Fridays: Willmar Community Center, 1 to 4 p.m.

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 2 p.m.

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m. Recovery Church: 516 4th Ave SW, New London, 7 p.m. Child care provided.

Saturday

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 10 a.m.

A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

Open meeting A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.

This calendar will run each week in the Sunday Reminder and as space permits in the West Central Tribune e-edition, Monday through Saturday. To have your event included please email news@wctrib.com or mail it to Kit Grode, West Central Tribune, PO Box 839, Willmar, MN 56201. Include all information and the name and phone number of the person submitting it. You will be called to confirm the information.

BY TONY RIZZO HOLLYWOOD

—

Think you’ve got problems with all those scams popping up on your phone and emails?

Riley Keough (Elvis Presley’s granddaughter and daughter of the late Lisa Marie Presley), the heir to Elvis’ Graceland, called an attempted foreclosure of the estate “fraudulent.” She fought to block the investment firm, claiming that Lisa Marie borrowed $3.8 million in exchange for the deed of trust to Graceland as a security measure.

Keough alleged that the note and deed were forged, and the notary testified that he never met Lisa Marie or signed those papers. She successfully blocked the foreclosure, and the investment firm has been mysteriously unreachable. She believes that they’re a false entity created for the sole purpose of defrauding the Elvis Presley Trust. ***

Is anybody ready for a “Pirates of the Caribbean” Barbie? “Pirates” franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer admitted, “If it was up to me,

[Johnny Depp] would be in it.” But allegedly, Disney isn’t hot on Depp after his recent marital scandals, and they’d rather put their money behind a “Pirates” movie with Margot Robbie instead.

Bruckheimer confirmed that their plan is to make the reboot of “Pirates” without the familiar characters from the franchise, which would rule out the return of Depp as Jack Sparrow. This is strange since Depp led the franchise to a $4.5 billion box-office gross. Bruckheimer even added, “I love him. He’s a good friend.”

In 2022, Robbie told Vanity Fair that Disney was not interested in her “female-led movie,” but then again, this was before she led “Barbie” to a $1.446 billion boxoffice gross, which may have changed their minds.

***

Over at Paramount Pictures, talk is thick that “Star Trek” is back on track with two films — a prequel and a sequel. The sequel will narrate the final mission of the Enterprise, with stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldaña

SALOME’S STARS

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Be careful about doing someone a favor when you don’t know the full story behind the request. Don’t rely on someone’s unsubstantiated assurances. Insist on all the facts before you act.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) That workplace problem still needs your attention before you can finally close the book on it. Meanwhile, a longanticipated reunion gets closer to becoming a happy reality.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might be demanding more from others than they can give. Best advice: Have a long and frank talk to determine what the facts are. Tensions should abate as the week winds down.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Aspects are favorable throughout this week for making contacts that could be important to your career plans. Meanwhile, an old friend offers the advice you’re seeking.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s time to stop licking your wounds from past mistakes. Get up and get going toward your future. Loyal friends will be there to help the Lion get back into rip-roaring shape.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Take time out to go over what’s expected of you before you begin your new project. Otherwise, you run the risk of pushing yourself harder than you need to.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) An unusual request could put you in an awkward position. Best advice: Deal with it

immediately. The longer you delay, the more difficult it will be to get out of it.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You should feel recharged and ready for whatever your workaday world holds for you. The same positive energy spills over into your personal relationships.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A prospect might be less than it appears to be. Like the Archer in your sign, you always aim for the truth. And this is no time to settle for less than full disclosure.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Start doing some serious thinking about a career move that could entail more than just changing job sites. Some lifestyle changes might also be involved.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) With tensions easing at the workplace, a more positive environment once again encourages the free flow of ideas that are so typical of the always-innovative Aquarian.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Show some of that usually hidden steelstrong Piscean backbone and stand up for yourself if you hope to make a case for that promotion you know you deserve.

BORN THIS WEEK: You enjoy doing new things and staying ahead of the crowd. You would make a fine military leader or a sports coach.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

HOLLYWOOD

returning. Of course, this could change if rumors of Sony’s bid of $26 billion in cash to buy out Paramount Pictures (parent company of CBS and the Paramount+ streaming service) comes to fruition.

***

Many were skeptical when Jake Gyllenhaal remade Patrick Swayze’s “Road House” film, but Gyllenhaal’s reboot pulled in 80 million viewers on Amazon Prime Video in March, which prompted them to greenlight a sequel. This is a feat that the 1989 original, which made $61.6 million, never accomplished!

But before Gyllenhaal revisits the “Road House” again, he’ll star with Henry Cavill and Rosamund Pike in Guy Ritchie’s action-thriller “In the Grey” (opening January 2025). Cavill’s recent Ritchie film “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” was like kryptonite at theaters, grossing only $25.3 million against its $60 million cost. The former “Man of Steel” definitely needs more muscle at the box office!

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

BY DANA JACKSON

Q: What are the stars of “Succession” doing now that the series has ended? I know the actor who played Kendall is doing theater, but what about the other siblings?

— N.G.

A: Yes, Jeremy Strong, who won an Emmy for his portrayal of troubled son Kendall Roy on HBO’s “Succession,” is currently starring in the Broadway revival of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People.” His performance is scheduled for a 16-week run only. However, he’s also starring in “The Apprentice,” a film about Donald Trump’s rise to power in the ‘70s and ‘80s, which recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In the film, Strong plays attorney Roy Cohn to Sebastian Stan’s (“I, Tonya”) Trump.

Alan Ruck, who played presidential candidate Connor Roy in “Succession,” recently co-starred in the film “The Burial” with Jamie Foxx. You can stream it on Amazon Prime Video. Next up for the Emmy-nominated actor is the horror comedy “Crust” and the crime film “Wind River: The Next Chapter.”

Kieran Culkin, who won an Emmy in the final season for the even more troubled son Roman Roy, stars opposite Jesse Eisenberg in the upcoming film “A Real Pain.”

It’s listed as a comedydrama, so hopefully, his character won’t be as tortured as Roman was.

Lastly, the only Roy daughter — but just as

much of a force to be reckoned with — was played by the Emmy-winning Sarah Snook. She’s set to star in the upcoming Peacock series “All Her Fault” as a mother whose son goes missing. It’s based on the novel of the same title by Andrea Mara.

Q: Is there going to be another “Knives Out” sequel? If so, when?

— A.I.

A: According to Entertainment Weekly, the game is “once again afoot for renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig).” “Knives Out,” a hit whodunit film, has spawned one sequel already, called “Glass Onion,” and another is on the way, titled “Wake Up

Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.” Look for it to premiere in 2025, likely around Thanksgiving. The cast of the third installment includes Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”), Mila Kunis (“Black Swan”) and Jeremy Renner (“Hawkeye”), with the setting still a mystery. EW hints that the teaser video gave off “some seriously spooky, Gothic vibes.”

Q: Will season three of “The Bear” be on FX or just on Hulu? I’m excited that they’re finally airing the two previous seasons on regular cable. — L.A.

A: The FX channel is finally airing the first two seasons of the Emmy-winning comedy (which many call a drama) “The Bear.” Although FX and Hulu have a partnership, the show wasn’t available on FX until now. Despite the show already being a huge hit for the streamer, they’re hoping to lure in even more subscribers to Hulu by getting them hooked on the series on FX first.

So, yes, the third season will only be available on Hulu later this month on June 27, but if you still don’t wish to pay for Hulu, you’ll probably get a chance to catch up on the series next summer, too.

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail. com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Depositphotos

Riley Keough, owner of the estate Graceland.

CELEBRITY EXTRA

Courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

Alan Ruck in “The Burial”

Make Dad’s day

BY PATTI DIAMOND

Today is Father’s Day. That means it’s time to give Dad and all the father figures in your life the ultimate treat: mouthwatering, luscious Texas-style BBQ ribs. And guess what? You don’t need to be a grill master to succeed with this masterpiece. With our “Dad-Approved” Texas-Style Rib Method, anyone can become a BBQ hero.

The 3-2-1 Rib Method is a classic technique that promises succulent ribs bursting with flavor. It’s a simple process: 3 hours of smoking, 2 hours of wrapping and 1 hour of glazing. Low and slow is the way to go! Trust me; your taste buds will thank you.

Texas-Style BBQ Ribs

Yield: 4-6 servings

Total Time: 6 hours, 15 minutes

2 racks pork ribs, approximately 5 to 6 pounds, trimmed Wood chips or chunks for smoking, preferably post oak or apple wood

Barbecue rub, recipe follows Barbecue sauce (recipe follows)

1/4 cup brown sugar, divided, optional

1/2 cup beer or apple juice, divided For the Dry Rub:

1/4 cup kosher salt

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons smoked paprika

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

2 teaspoons black pepper

Mix rub ingredients together and place into a shaker container.

For the Sauce: 1/2 stick (2 ounces)

butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon molasses

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

In a saucepan, combine ingredients and heat until bubbling. Here’s How: Start off by trimming the ribs: Remove the membrane from the back of each slab, and trim any excess fat. If your ribs aren’t already trimmed to St. Louis style, then remove the riblets by locating the longest bone and cutting between the bone and cartilage the full length of the ribs. Reserve riblets for another purpose.

Season generously with your favorite rub or with the provided recipe. Pat the seasoning onto the meat to ensure it sticks. Prepare your smoker or grill for indirect heat, always at a temperature between 200 F and 225 F. Add wood chips or chunks to the smoker for authentic smoky flavor. Once the smoker is ready, place the ribs on the grill bone side down. Close the lid and let them smoke for 3 hours. Keep an eye on that temperature. Low and slow. After 3 hours, remove the ribs from the smoker and prepare to wrap them, bone side up, in aluminum foil. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons brown sugar on each rack of ribs, optional. Add 1/4 cup of apple juice or beer to each of the foil

packets for extra flavor and moisture. Wrap tightly in two layers of foil.

Return the wrapped ribs to the smoker and continue cooking for another 2 hours. This step helps tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor. Again, low and slow. Watch that temperature.

After 2 hours, carefully unwrap the ribs and brush them with barbecue sauce. Return them to the smoker, unwrapped, bone side down, for the final hour of cooking. Low and slow. I can’t emphasize this enough.

Carefully watch the ribs during this last hour, brushing them with more sauce every 15 minutes. The meat should be tender and easily pull away from the bones. There should be a little tug, or they’re overcooked. Once the ribs are done, remove them from the smoker and let them rest

For the dressing: Stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle juice, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl until smooth, set aside. For the salad: Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain, rinse with cold water to cool the pasta, and drain again. Let stand 5 minutes. Add the cooled pasta, pickles, cheese, and dill to a large bowl; add the dressing, and stir to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to a day ahead. Garnish with more diced pickles and fresh dill, if you like.

Cook bacon until crispy and golden brown. Blot with paper towel when done to soak up grease, then chop bacon into bite size pieces and set aside. Meanwhile, place a large pot of water over high heat. Once boiling, stir in orzo and cook until al dente (7-9 minutes). Once done, drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water and set drained pasta aside in colander.

Add 1 Tablespoon of butter to the same pot used to cook the pasta and place over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add minced garlic, carrot, corn, red bell pepper and saute for 2 minutes. Add spinach; cooking until spinach wilts. Then add the orzo back to the pot and turn heat to low. Stire in the reserved pasta water, parmesan, garlic powder and red chili pepper flakes. Finally, stir in bacon crumbles. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

European souvenirs popular among the wealthy

Going on a vacation this summer? In the 18th and 19th centuries, wealthy American and European travelers made “Grand Tours” of continental Europe to view ancient ruins and collect souvenirs.

The specimen table with a top made of fragments of different types of stone or wood, often arranged as a mosaic or pattern, was a popular choice. A 19th-century Italian specimen table sold for about $3,832 at a Bonhams auction in London. It features different colors of marble and rises on a base with fishshaped “dolphins,” a design element associated with ancient Greek and Roman sea gods.

Many varieties of Italian marble have been quarried since at least the time of the ancient Romans. Even today, Italian marble, especially from the Carrara region, is considered the best in the world in terms of purity and durability. After all, marble sculptures and monuments from ancient Rome are still standing.

Q: I’d like to know more about an art nouveau lamp I bought at a yard sale years ago. I believe it is solid brass. There is a statue of a young woman holding a branch with a couple of birds on it next to a column that holds the light bulb. A brass label on the front reads “FEE aux OISEAUX par Hering.” What can you tell me about it?

A: The title of your lamp is “Bird Fairy.” It was sculpted by Elsie Ward Hering (1871-1923), an American sculptor who made bronze and other metal sculptures and vases. She studied and worked in New York

1. The Garfield Movie (PG) Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson 2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (R) Anya Taylor-Joy,

in 1896 and moved to Paris in 1898. In 1900 she moved to Cornish, New Hampshire, and worked as an assistant to sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. She married another assistant, Henry Hering, in 1910 and did not make many of her own works after that. The value of your lamp depends on the desirability of design, its size and its material. Solid bronze is worth more than brass, spelter or bronze-coated white metal.

Tip: Stained marble tabletops can be touched up by using paste wax and steel wool.

Current prices

Jewelry, bracelet, cameo, woman’s profile, blue Murano glass, oval, silver spiral twist frame, silver multi-chain bracelet, Patrizia Daliania, cameo 1 1/2 inches, $75. Clock, wall, chrome frame, white neon bulb, white on black face, round, electrified, mid20th century, 22 x 22 x 4 1/2 inches, $480. Quilt, patchwork, crazy, many different fabrics cut in various shapes, triangular pieces around border, Victorian, late 1800s, 68 x 68 inches, $550. Doll, young boy, Schoenhut, wood, carved and painted features, shaggy blond bobbed hair, spring jointed body, tan sailor suit, 20 inches, $680.

Weathervane, eagle, wings out, perched on ball, directional arrows below, copper, original gilt with old verdigris surface, American, 1800s, wingspan 39 inches,

Chris Hemsworth 3. IF (PG) Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds 4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

TV companies flaunt ad tech and AI to persuade advertisers to spend

BY DAWN CHMIELEWSKI Reuters

NEW YORK — Television “upfront” advertiser presentations this week in New York City were hardly about TV at all.

The annual weeklong affair where media executives have traditionally pre-sold TV advertising featured many familiar trappings: pop stars Alicia Keys and Billie Eilish dazzled packed auditoriums with live performances; celebrities Kevin Hart, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds hawked their latest projects, and Super Bowl star Tom Brady joined other pro athletes on stage. But it was ad tech and artificial intelligence that was getting all the attention.

Kovels.com

Specimen tables combined ancient history and geology into a European souvenir that was both decorative and functional. They were popular among the wealthy in the 18th and 19th centuries.

$1,230. For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

TOP TEN MOVIES

(PG-13) Owen Teague, Freya Allan

5. The Fall Guy (PG-13) Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt 6. The Strangers: Chap-

Warner Bros Discovery talked up shoppable ads on its Max streaming service. Google’s YouTube introduced a new AI-powered format to place nonskippable ads on videos streamed to internet-connected TVs. Netflix advertising chief Amy Reinhard said the streamer would develop its own inhouse ad technology that would give advertisers new ways to buy and gain new insights. Ad tech even featured in punchlines.

“You’re probably wondering why I am so giddy today,” joked late-night host Jimmy Kimmel at Walt Disney’s presentation. “It’s because Disney is using proprietary meta-tagging data that leverages video intelligence to tap into the moods and emotions within the content we create. That’s why I’m so proud of what we’ve done here.”

Streaming players also sought to win over advertisers from traditional media rivals by emphasizing their increasing reach.

Netflix’s Reinhard said the company’s ad-supported plan now has 40 million global monthly users, up from 5 million a year ago. In countries where Netflix offers a version of its service with advertising, it accounts for 40% of all sign-ups, she said.

Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria touted the chart-topping popularity of shows like its period drama “Bridgerton” and the streaming service’s expanded investment in big, live events, including a splashy deal to stream two NFL professional football games on Christmas Day.

ter 1 (R) Madelaine Petsch, Ryan Bown 7. Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle (PG-13) Ayumu Murase,

Kaito Ishikawa 8. In a Violent Nature (NR) Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic 9. Ezra (R) Robert De Niro,

10.

Reuters / Alyssa Pointer / file photo The exterior of the Warner Bros Discovery Atlanta campus is pictured in Atlanta on May 2, 2023.

At Amazon.com, the online superstore and cloud computing giant’s biggest news was its appearance at the event. To make a memorable first impression with ad buyers at its first upfront since introducing ads on Prime Video earlier this year, the company treated some 2,500 guests to a bounty of breakfast foods that reminded some of the big-shrimp buffets of television’s heyday. Displays arrayed around Pier 36 in Manhattan showcased the breadth of Prime Video’s streaming content, including one that rained dollar bills from the ceiling to promote a forthcoming reality competition from YouTube personality Mr. Beast that

offers a $5 million prize.

Mike Hopkins, senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, called Amazon a “one-stop destination” for entertainment and said it delivers ads to more than 200 million global customers, 115 million of whom live in the U.S. Disney CEO Bob Iger returned to the upfront stage for the first time since 1994, back when “television used to be something you watched on television.”

While much has changed over the last three decades, he said, “what hasn’t changed is the fact that success in this industry is predicated on one thing: telling great stories.” A day later Iger,

speaking at MoffettNathanson’s 2024 Media, Internet and Communications Conference in New York, told investors he had cut investment in

programming for traditional television dramatically as part of Disney’s strategy to maximize audiences and profit in streaming.

Tony Goldwyn

Summer Camp (PG-13) Kathy Bates, Diane Keaton © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Black voyageurs bridged cultures

Book shines light on Bonga family

BY PETER PASSI Duluth News Tribune

BEMIDJI — Barry Babcock, 75, has been enamored with paddling and exploring canoe country, including the headwaters of the Mississippi, since he was a boy.

That fascination drove him to soak up as much knowledge of the Northland, its waterways and its history as possible.

In his readings, Babcock ran across repeated references to a handful of storied Black voyageurs with a shared last name: Bonga. He began to dig through historical archives, including collections of letters, and now, about 30 years later, Babcock has woven that research into a book, “Bonga: A safe abode in the wilderness.”

The book traces the Bonga family’s journey from Africa into enslavement in the West Indies, and then the U.S. before making their way north to the Great Lakes, where they were finally freed, allowing future generations of the family to become prominent and influential figures in the fur trade.

Pierre Bonga, son of his formerly enslaved father, Jean, found his way to the village of Fond du Lac on the banks of the St. Louis River, where he married an Ojibwe woman, Ogibwayquay, and started a family.

Pierre was renowned for his strength, reportedly portaging 450 pounds across the 9-mile Grand Portage on the Pigeon River, and his linguistic agility, speaking English, French and Ojibwe, as he assimilated into the region’s Native American community.

His sons, Stephen, born in 1799, and George, born three years later in 1802,

followed their father into the fur trade. But the family was financially able and determined to tend to the boys’ schooling first, sending George to study in Montreal and Stephen to a seminary in Albany, New York. Both Stephen and George returned to Fond du Lac, however, where they quickly rose in the ranks of the still-booming fur trade.

Like their father but taller and larger, the young Bongas soon became known for their skillful canoe handling and exceptional strength.

Stephen had witnesses attest that he carried 700 pounds up the South Shore’s Porcupine Mountain. And there are multiple accounts of George hefting 700 pounds up the steep and treacherous first 1,000 feet of Fond du Lac’s Grand Portage without pause.

It was these feats of strength that first caught Babcock’s interest, but further research only deepened his admiration for the Bongas, particularly as he learned of their work as interpreters helping to negotiate not only fur deals but also major treaties and later serving as advocates for the Ojibwe people.

“The more information I gathered, the more impressed I was, not only by their physical prowess but by their intellect and how closely they were associated with everything related to shaping the Native American experience here in the region,” he said.

“The names of these men are just totally left out of our history, even though they played a major role in its creation. That was really what kept me going, because as far as I’m concerned, they were heroic figures. The region would be different, if not for them,” Babcock said.

The Bongas were present for some of the pivotal events of their era and

were prominent players in many.

For instance, Babcock’s book details the December 1836 murder of Alfred Aitkin, the son of prominent fur trader William Aitkin by Ghe-ga-wa-skung, who was soon apprehended only to escape shortly after that.

George Bonga was dispatched to track and capture the escaped prisoner across snow-covered lakes and portages, a six-day ordeal in frigid temperatures that resulted in his capture and made national news.

Ghe-ga-wa-skung was then tied down in a dogsled before Bonga delivered him to Fort Snelling to await trial. That trial, which occurred the following spring, resulted in the accused man going free because the court ruled that it had no jurisdiction over a Native American who committed a crime against another Native American.

Babcock’s book details how the Bongas married into Ojibwe communities and were present for numerous historical events and conflicts through the years.

George Bonga settled west of the Leech Lake area, around the headwaters of the Mississippi, where he served as an ombudsman of sorts for Native Americans. He had a hand in the formation of the White Earth Reservation after tribes were forcibly removed from other areas coveted by white settlers and businessmen.

“George Bonga set out what he believed should be

the established boundaries so that the tribes would have adequate fishing and access to maple trees and wild rice. He documented all that in his letters,” Babcock said.

George Bonga also proved effective at uncovering corruption and what he called the “rascality” of American Indian agents, who often received their appointments as a political favor and then exploited the position for financial gain.

“He fought harder than any other person in the history of our region for the rights of Indians,” Babcock said, noting Bonga’s role in uncovering the Leech Lake Pine Scandal, which could have resulted in the loss of extensive stands of oldgrowth forest on Native American land without the band’s consent and for an inexcusably low price. That deal was ultimately blocked.

Babcock said a trove of letters reveals George Bonga’s influence on both local and national levels.

“George could be chameleon-like,” Babcock said. “When he needed to present himself amongst white officials, he could come across as a white equal. And when he was dealing with, say, (Chief) Flat Mouth here at Leech Lake, he could come across as a Native. It was almost as though he could change color, depending on who he was addressing.”

Meanwhile, George’s brother, Stephen, went on to help negotiate multiple settlements and agreements involving

A new book by Barry Babcock chronicles the Bonga family’s journey from Africa into enslavement in the West Indies, and then the U.S. before making their way north to the Great Lakes, where they were finally freed, allowing future generations of the family to become prominent and influential figures in the fur trade.

Indigenous people throughout the region. And as the era of fur trading declined, he settled in Superior close to his original home, where he was well known for his colorful storytelling talents.

All this makes for a fascinating read about a family that left what has until now

been a largely forgotten mark on the Northland.

Perhaps that’s changing, though, as the Prove Gallery in Duluth also recently launched an exhibit by artist Charvis Harrellcalled “Bigger than Paul Bunyan: The Life and Times of George Bonga.”

Contributed / Barry Babcock

Contributed / Minnesota Historical Society Collections George Bonga, in 1870, at approximately 68

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German Shepherd Pups Purebred, shots, wormed, vet checked, health certificate, $300. 218-831-7975 (MN#829895)

German Shepherd Pups Shots, dewormed, vet checked, $300 218-536-1613 MN103286

German Wirehaired Pointer Puppies Ready June 16th. 1M, 2F, $700/$900. 320-905-2786

Siberian Husky Puppies Purebred, shots, wormed, vet checked, health certificate. $200 218-831-7975 (MN#829895) Purebred Sheltie Pups Sable & White or Tri-Color. Shots & wormed. $600. 605-949-2019 Summit, SD

VEHICLES WANTED

Buying Cars & Trucks, Running or Not.

MN 56201, until 10:00 A.M. the 25 th day of June, 2024, at which time bids will be opened and publicly read.

Project SP 034-070-017, MN Proj. No. HSIP 3424 (291), 6” Solid Line Paint (Gr In) (WR) on various highways in Kandiyohi County. Combined estimated quantities of work are: 6” Solid Line Paint (Gr In) (WR) – 537,725 LIN FT

Minimum wage rates to be paid by the Contractors have been predetermined and are subject to the Work Hours Act of 1962, P.L. 87-581 and implementing regulations.

READ CAREFULLY THE WAGE

SCALES AND DIVISION A OF THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS THEY AFFECT THIS/THESE PROJECT/PROJECTS

The Minnesota Department of Transportation hereby notifies all bidders: in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Act), as amended and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Subtitle A Part 21, Non-discrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation, it will affirmatively assure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded maximum opportunity to participate and/or to submit bids in response to this invitation, and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, disability, age, sex or national origin in consideration for an award; in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, and Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 230 Subpart A-Equal Employment Opportunity on Federal and Federal-Aid Construction Contracts (including supportive services), it will affirmatively assure increased participation of minority groups and disadvantaged persons and women in all phases of the highway construction industry, and that on any project constructed pursuant to this advertisement equal employment opportunity will be provided to all persons without regard to their race, color, disability, age, religion, sex or national origin; in accordance with the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota Statute 363A.08 Unfair discriminatory Practices, it will affirmatively assure that on any project constructed pursuant to this advertisement equal employment opportunity will be offered to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age in accordance with the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota Statute 363A.36 Certificates of Compliance for Public Contracts, and 363A.37 Rules for Certificates of Compliance, it will assure that appropriate parties to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement possess valid Certificates of Compliance.

If you have employed more than 40 full-time employees in any state, on any single working day during the previous 12 months, you must have a compliance certificate issued by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to bid on any job in this advertisement. Please contact the Department of Human Rights immediately if you need assistance in obtaining a certificate.

The following notice from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights applies to all contractors:

“It is hereby agreed between the parties that Minnesota Statute, section 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules, parts 5000.3400 to 5000.3600 are incorporated into any contract between these parties based on this specification or any modification of it. A copy of Minnesota Statute 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules, parts 5000.3400 to 5000.3600 is available upon request from the contracting agency.”

“It is hereby agreed between the parties that this agency will require affirmative action requirements be met by contractors in relation to Minnesota Statute 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules 5000.3600. Failure by a contractor to implement an affirmative action plan or make a good faith effort shall result in revocation of its certificate or revocation of the contract (Minnesota Statute 363A.36, Subd. 2 and 3).”

“It is hereby agreed between the parties that this agency will require affirmative action requirements be met by contractors in relation to Minnesota Statute 363A.36 and Minnesota Rules 5000.3600. Failure by a contractor to implement an affirmative action plan or make a good faith effort shall result in revocation of its certificate or revocation of the contract (Minnesota Statute 363A.36, Subd. 2 and 3).”