Kat Ladwig

by Kat Ladwig

kat.ladwig@ecm-inc.com

Now that the spring sports season is wrapping up, this is a good time to introduce myself as the new sports reporter for the ECM Post Review.

I started writing for ECM Publishers part time as the sports editor at the Forest Lake Times last September and just began working full time between both papers, covering Forest Lake, North Branch and Rush City area sports.

Now that I have made it through each high school sports season at Forest Lake, I can’t wait to get to know the North Branch and Rush City area and its coaches in time to produce the fall sports preview.

To give my readers a sense of my background in sports, I will start with the basics.

In 2007, I graduated from Albert Lea High School in southern Minnesota, where I played basketball, volleyball and softball and earned accolades in each sport. I also played two years of club volleyball for Southern Minnesota Volleyball out of Rochester and for Minnesota One Volleyball in Woodbury.

I began writing for the school paper after suffering a season-ending knee injury my sophomore year of high school, and soon after I was offered a scholarship in news-editorial journalism and broadcasting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

I graduated as a Husker last May with a journalism degree. While in Lincoln, I covered Nebraska football, volleyball, baseball among others while running the club volleyball team until another knee injury, this time career ending, forced me to focus on academics yet again.

That being said, Husker football is in my blood (my boss limits my Nebraska references), but I really am a home-state girl at heart.

Between growing up on the sidelines of Gopher basketball games, sporting a Cris Carter jersey most of my childhood, cheering for my all-time favorites Corey Koskie and Michael Cuddyer of the Minnesota Twins (of which my two dogs are named after) and crossing my fingers that the Timberwolves can wrap up some decent-at-best draft picks, it’s safe to say I belong back in the north.

This brings me back to the Post Review.

I am thrilled to be covering this readership’s area sports and hope to gain many contacts around North Branch and Rush City to guide me along the way. Feel free to contact me about events or standout individuals whom you feel deserve recognition for their achievements in the athletic arena.

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North Branch golfer Nick Kress at age 14 was the third youngest participant in the state tournament this year.
Photo by Rick Orndorf

by Kat Ladwig

kat.ladwig@ecm-inc.com

Fourteen-year-old Nicklaus Kress picked up his first golf club at age 2. The North Branch golfer remembers chipping plastic golf and whiffle balls around his parents house at age 5, and hit his first birdie on the eighth hole at Purple Hawk Country Club in Cambridge later that year.

By the time he turned 6, Kress had won a junior club championship title at Falcon Ridge Golf Course in Minneapolis. The tournament was for 8-to 9-year-olds.

So when Kress made it to the state tournament for North Branch Area High School as a freshman, it was no surprise to his father, Andrew.

“He’s had a golf club in his hand pretty much since he could stand,” he said. “We’ve always had plastic golf balls flying around the house.”

Kress was the third-youngest golfer at the state tournament at Bunker Hills last week aside from eighth-graders from Willmar and Wayzata, and finished 79th in a field of 88 with a score of 173 in dismal weather conditions. While Kress aimed to finish higher, he is still one step closer to his goal of reaching the state tournament all four years of his high school career and wants to keep building on his early success in order to play Division I or II in college.

“I just play my game,” Kress said. “I don’t think about a bad shot — I just let it go. I just want to get better every time I’m out there.”

The now-sophomore said since his first competition at age 6, he has golfed in 10-15 tournaments per summer and spends the off-season strength training in golf-oriented exercises three times per week at Xplode Fitness when he’s not playing basketball for the Vikings. Kress also travels each spring to Florida to get fitted for new clubs at TaylorMade to prepare for the Viking’s varsity season. Next spring will be his fourth year on the varsity squad, which finished third in the North Suburban Conference this spring and graduated just one senior.

But Kress has more than scheduled workouts and new clubs to stay one step ahead of the competition. He was born into the sport with a family lineage of golfers in his blood. Along with his father’s love of the game, both his great-grandfather and grandfather were golf course superintendents in Milwaukee, while his uncle went on to own the Westwood Golf Course in Phillips, Wisc.

Andrew Kress laughed while explaining how his son was even named after a professional golf legend.

“He’s named after Jack Nicklaus, so I think he’s kind of stuck here,” he said.

While the high school season is over, Kress’ next big challenge is defending his back-to-back championship title at the PGA Junior Golf Tournament at Tanners Brook Golf Course in Forest Lake in July. Kress won the tournament as a 12-year-old in the 13-15 age group two years ago, then won again last year with a score of 73 in the 18-and-under division, which he will compete in again this year.

“He has always had to play up based on where his birthday falls,” Andrew Kress said. “I don’t think he’s concerned with the other golfers, though. I think in the pressure and playoff situations, he kind of looks forward to it. He focuses more and hits shots when it matters — that’s what happens when you’ve golfed your whole life.”

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The North Branch U13 girls soccer team won the 2013 River Cup tournament in Hudson, Wis. Team members include, back row: Coach Tyler E., Madison H., Becca H., Kalianna B., Jamie S., Abby J., Isabelle T., Alexia H., Reagan D. and coach Jake B. In front: Grace M., Keeley E., Savannah L., Nicole R., Corrina F., Sydney F., Eryn P., Kate D. and Katelyn M. Laying in front is goalie Claudia A.
Photo supplied

The North Branch U13 girls soccer team won the 2013 River Cup tournament in Hudson, Wis., over the weekend of May 18 and 19.

In the first game, the girls beat Big Lake 3-0. Also on Saturday was the second game, versus the Arsenal X-treme team, and the girls once again played well on both offense and defense to win 3-1.

On Sunday, North Branch faced Lakeville in an evenly matched game, but the girls came away with a 1-0 victory. While the championship game against Big Lake was canceled due to a thunderstorm, the North Branch girls were declared the champions since they were the only team to go undefeated in its bracket.

The U13 girls team is having a great year so far improving both offensively and defensively. Its record is three wins and a tie in league play as of June 10.

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A series of defensive driving courses have been planned at the Chisago County Senior Center in North Branch.

Eight-hour defensive driving full course—$18.00 per person, June 19: 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Participants must register; please call Chisago County Senior Center (38790 Sixth Ave.) 651-674-8658.

Four-hour defensive driving refresher dates — $16.00 per person August 20: 12:30-4:30.

Bjärv in RC concert 

We R Able offers a concert at the Rush City Community Center with a Swedish trio, called Bjärv, at 10:30 a.m. June 20. They perform on fiddle, guitar, and nyckelharpa, a keyed fiddle, which is an ancient musical instrument from Sweden.  The group has toured the States several times and one of the musicians has just earned his PhD in ethnomusicology. To get more information, call 320-358-1220.

Scandinavian Quartet 

We R Able invites area residents to enjoy two concerts of saxophone music at the Chisago County Senior Center June 19, 2 p.m., and June 21, 11 a.m., at the Vitalize! Studios of Art, Point Pleasant Heights, in Chisago City.  Donations are cheerfully accepted to assist in production costs. Locations are 38790 6th Ave., North Branch on Wednesday, and 28600 Fairway Ln., Chisago City, on Friday.

Senior Dance

A senior dance event featuring Jerry’s One Man Band has been planned at the Chisago County Senior Center, 38790 6th Ave., North Branch, June 20, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 per person.

‘Swingin’ for Parmly’ golf tournament 

Ecumen Parmly LifePointes and title sponsor Thrivent Financial for Lutherans-Chisago County Chapter invite golfers to the 18th Annual “Swingin’ for Parmly” Benefit Golf Tournament June 20 at the Chisago Lakes Golf Course in Lindstrom.

Shotgun scramble time is 3 p.m. Several levels of sponsorships are available. An individual registration fee of $60 includes the green fee for nine holes of golf on the beautiful Chisago Lakes Golf Course and a delicious buffet dinner at The Gallery Bar & Grill following play at 5:45 p.m.

For more information and reservations, go to www.Parmly.org or call 651-257-7956.

Outdoor skills camp

A youth outdoor skills camp for boys and girls ages 11-15 is being held at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Grantsburg, Wis., 102 East Crex Ave., June 24-28, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Youth can learn about tracks and traces, outdoor survival orienteering, archery and forestry.

Call Kristi Pupak, wildlife conservation educator, at 715-463-2739 for more information.

History mystery

Get Ready for an atomic adventure at Rush City Public Library June 25, 4 p.m.

The interactive history mystery is back for a second year with the story now set during the Cold War. At “Atomic Adventure: A MHS History Mystery!” participants will play historic characters in a small Minnesota town, forced to make sense of the paranoia and suspicion surrounding their town, all while racing against the clock to break a secret code.

Class size is limited. Pre-registration is required. This workshop is for teens and pre-teens. Please pre-register at the Rush City Public Library (320) 358-3948.

Stark Summer Stroll

The first “Stark Summer Stroll” is being planned in Stark, just west of Harris, June 29. There will be events at North Folk Winery, Briscoe Pottery, Kal Sanders Glass Fusion, the Oak Leaf Grange Hall and the Full Moon.

Full moon paddles 

A series of full moon paddling events are being planned at Wild River State Park June 23, July 22, Aug. 20 and Sept. 19. The first three events are scheduled 6 to 10 p.m. The September event is scheduled 5 to 9 p.m.

The excursions are along 9 miles of the St. Croix River from the Sunrise Landing to the main park landing. Seven canoes are available for first registrants, but participants can bring their own canoe or kayak. Registration is required. Register by calling (651) 583-2125 x227. The cost is $10, payable to Eric’s Canoe Rental the night of the activity for shuttling.

This event is open to all paddlers, but some experience is recommended. Lifejackets and paddles will be provided for the seven park canoes. Participants are asked to bring their own pack water, snacks and other necessities.  Individual events will be cancelled in the event of severe weather.

New to Medicare sessions

Going on Medicare soon or just interested in how it works? There will be information on Medicare given out at these sessions as well as questions answered July 3, Aug. 7 and Sept. 4. All sessions run 10 a.m. to noon at Fairview Lakes Medical Center, 5200 Fairview Blvd., Wyoming, in conference room B. Aspects of Medicare Parts A, B, C & D will be covered as well as information on supplemental insurance to Medicare and how to report Medicare fraud and abuse. There is no cost to these sessions, but participants need to register. Please call Amy Tvedt at 1-800-333-2433 ext. 83026 and leave a message with your name and phone number to be included.

Loppet 5K registration 

Registration is now open for the 25th annual Lindstrom Loppet Karl Oskar Days 5K Walk/Run. Hosted by Fairview Lakes Medical Center, the event is 8 a.m. July 13, at Lakes Free Church, Lindstrom.

Entrants can pick up registration forms at the Fairview Clinic in Chisago City, at Wally Carlson and Sons BP in Lindstrom or at the information desk at Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming. Or they can register and pay entry fees online at http://lindstromloppet.zapevent.com.

Kids design glass art contest 

This summer as part of ECRL’s “Dig into Reading” summer reading program, children ages 4 to 10 have an opportunity to enter a special contest and have their drawing turned into a glass sculpture by local glassblower Anthony Michaud-Scorza. They may simply pick up an entry form and drawing form at any East Central Regional Library branch.  Children can draw anything they want, give the drawing a “name” and fill out the entry form.  The child must have a library card registered within the ECRL region to submit an entry form and may submit only one drawing.  The entry form and drawing form must be submitted no later than Aug. 2.  One winner from each of ECRL’s 14 branch libraries will be chosen.

Stomp Out Suicide 5K run/walk 

Registration is now open for the 2nd Annual Stomp Out Suicide 5K Run/Walk for Awareness starting in Wyoming’s Goodview Park Aug. 24, 10 a.m. Check-in and registration is at 9 a.m. Individuals or teams may register for the event prior to the race online at www.stompoutsuicide.com.

Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for children 16 and under. Register by Aug. 3 to be guaranteed a race T-shirt. Shirts will be on a first-come, first-served basis for registrations done after Aug. 3.

Hundreds of runners and walkers, including suicide survivors and mental health advocates, will gather to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention as they participate in this family-friendly event. Proceeds raised will benefit Stomp Out Suicide, a local nonprofit agency based in Wyoming.

The event will also include entertainment and activities for the whole family including live music from Sleeper and the Sleepless, a kids’ area (with face painting, bounce houses, clowns and more) and food stands provided by Otis Concessions. Participants can also enjoy a resource fair chocked full of information about suicide awareness and mental health resources from several local organizations.

Half Iron and Sprint registration 

It is time to seriously start thinking sun, fun and triathlon.  The 8th Annual Chisago Lakes Half Iron and Sprint Triathlon will be July 28 in Chisago City.

The  event also offers a Kids’ Triathlon July 27. The swim takes place at Paradise Park sandy beach. The bike and run travel along fairly flat routes through numerous communities. More than $5,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top male and female finishers,  and there will be over 176 awards in the Age Group, Relay, Athena and Clydesdale divisions. There is a limit of 1,500 participant so it is important to register early. Register online at active.com, call 1-800-429-8044, or download a pdf form from chisagolakestriathlon.com

Cost is $110 for the Half Ironman distance, $55 for the Sprint Distance and $15 for the Kid’s Triathlon.

PFLAG meeting

The East Central MN Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will be taking a summer break during the months of June and July.  The next meeting will be held Aug. 11, 4:30 p.m., at Common Ground, the Cambridge United Methodist Church, 404 North Cypress, Cambridge. Those who want to contact a PFLAG member before August can call 320-396-3128 or 763-464-0079.

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success at this week’s dog shows in Cambridge

Keely Wilkins with her award-winning Afghan Hound, Naughty Puppy, at a recent show in Jordan where he took Best of Breed and advanced to Best in Show. Photo supplied

A dog groomer by trade, Keely Wilkins of Bradford Township caught the show bug about six years ago — not long after purchasing an Afghan Hound from a friend who showed her dogs for years.

Now with five Afghans, Wilkins has around 600-700 dog shows and all the experience that comes with it under her belt. She has enjoyed much success along the way, from many Best of Breeds to Best in Show and multiple Hound group wins, particularly with her 3-year-old Afghan whose call name is Naughty Puppy.

“I’ve had a good run with my Afghan,” said Wilkins, noting she has shown canines for friends, as well. In dog show competition, she added, “you don’t win money; you win a title and (build on) pedigree by having a dog with multiple championship wins.”

Canine enthusiasts will have the opportunity to watch dog owner and handler Wilkins and many other professional handlers compete at the Summer Solstice Cluster All-Breed Dog Shows on Thursday, June 20, through Sunday, June 23, at the Isanti County Fairgrounds, 3101 NE Highway 95, in Cambridge. The shows begin at 8 a.m. and will run until about 3 p.m. each day. There is no admission charge to the public.

Each year in June, two premier local kennel clubs — the Anoka County Minnesota Kennel Club and the Cambridge Minnesota Kennel Club — join together to host this four-day dog show extravaganza. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy seeing the dogs and visiting with breeders and exhibitors.

A very competitive and oftentimes political sport, Wilkins noted, it can take over a year and cost between $5,000 and $8,000 — due in large part to the training, supplies, traveling, lodging and other expenses involved in showing dogs across the state and nation — to become a champion.

Otherwise, “I just love being with the dogs and doing activities with them,” she said. “I enjoy getting out there and exhibiting them to, especially, dog lovers.”

And unlike some handlers, Wilkins is comfortable with sharing her show dogs with audiences who approach her at events. This week in Cambridge, for instance, “it’s an opportunity to see all kinds of dogs,” she noted.

In fact, on each day of the show, it is possible to see more than 1,200 dogs representing the very best of as many as 150 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club — the nation’s largest registry and leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of purebred dogs.

Naughty Puppy, 

a true talent

Wilkins has competed and earned valuable points with Naughty Puppy, a quick-learning youngster compared to fellow canines, at shows in Lake Elmo, Jordan, St. Peter, Rochester, Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Excel Energy Center in St. Paul and other Minnesota venues. The team has been awarded well outside of the state, too, with showings on the East Coast, Ohio and around the Midwest.

So what is it about Naughty Puppy that has attracted judges? “His confirmation is extremely good,” she said of how his body is put together. “He has a friendly personality and temperament, and he has great movement. One judge said, ‘You don’t see most Afghans move like that anymore.’”

Back to her first show, she recalled the experience as intimidating.

“But you just go and hope you don’t fall down,” she said, noting people have lost shoes and even skirts when showing their dogs. Handlers also must look professional, as “you reflect on your dog,” she added.

The Summer Solstice Cluster Dog Shows celebrate summer with an American tradition that dates back to George Washington and his American Foxhounds. Today the role of dogs has shifted from hunters and working dogs to primarily family companions.

The Anoka County and Cambridge kennel clubs are licensed by and members of the American Kennel Club.

According to Lisa Dankert and Nancy Bergeron of the Summer Solstice Cluster Dog Show Advertising Committee, the sport of purebred dogs, once the purview of the wealthy and privileged, has become the “all-American family sport.”

For those interested in seeing a particular breed at the dog shows in Cambridge, visit www.onofrio.com and click on Show Information, then Closed Shows, scroll down to Anoka County Minnesota Kennel Club and Cambridge Minnesota Kennel Club, and click on Judging Program. There, viewers will find the time and ring in which that breed will be shown each day.

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Photo supplied

The Fairview Lakes Auxiliary on June 11 presented scholarships valued at $16,000 to students pursuing health care careers and three student service cash awards to medical center volunteers.

This marks the 51st year that health care scholarships have been awarded.

For the past seven years, the Albrecht family has sponsored a $1,000 scholarship in memory of their father, Dr. Harold Albrecht, the first chief of staff of the former Chisago Lakes Hospital, and his wife Joyce, a volunteer and hospital hostess for 35 years. The Albrecht Scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in a post-secondary accredited health career program. This year’s recipient, Breanne Mordorski, is enrolled at Albert Einstein Medical School in Bronx, N.Y. A graduate of Forest Lake High School, she is the daughter of Richard and Christine Mordorski of Forest Lake and volunteered in the Emergency Department at Fairview Lakes Medical Center as a high school student.

Love Lights Scholarships ($1,000) are presented annually by the Fairview Lakes Auxiliary to students pursuing careers in health care. The scholarships are funded through the annual Love Lights holiday tree lighting program. This year two Love Lights scholarships were presented. The first recipient is Amy Odendahl, daughter of Brian and Sue Odendahl of Pine City. She graduated from Pine City High School and is currently a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison pursuing a degree as a pediatric physical therapist.

The second Love Lights Scholarship winner is Amanda Studt, a recent graduate of North Branch Area High School. She joined the Lakes EMS Explorers group last fall and is working toward becoming a first responder. The daughter of Steve and JoAnne Studt of North Branch, Studt will attend Anoka Ramsey Community College in Cambridge beginning her studies to become a nurse or emergency medical technician.

Steve Housh, president of Fairview Lakes Medical Center, presented two $1,000 scholarships on behalf of the medical center to students pursuing careers in health care. Haley Schmidt, a 2011 graduate of Pine City High School and the daughter of Kami Schmidt, is a third-year recipient of the FLMC scholarship. She has completed her sophomore year and will return this fall to St. Olaf College pursuing a degree in pediatric clinical psychology.

The second Fairview Lakes Medical Center Scholarship winner is Amanda Angel, daughter of Todd and Terri Angel of Taylors Falls. A 2011 graduate of Chisago Lakes High School, she also received this scholarship last year. Angel has completed her junior year at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus,  where she is preparing for medical school. She plans to pursue a career as a family medicine physician.

The $1,000 Leah Hillesheim Scholarships are awarded annually in health care in honor of former administrator of the District Memorial Hospital, Leah Hillesheim. The scholarship is funded by the Fairview Lakes Auxiliary from funds raised through the annual Bike, Walk, Run and Roll event. All monies raised through this project are returned to the community in the form of scholarships. This year five $1,000 scholarships were awarded.

Nicholas Sausen, son of Joe and Geri Sausen of North Branch was the first recipient of a Leah Hillesheim scholarship. He has graduated from North Branch Area High School and the University of Minnesota, and he is currently enrolled in the University of Minnesota Medical School, hoping to specialize in pediatrics or neurology. Sausen has served on West African Medical Missions, and this September will do malaria research in Uganda.

The second Leah Hillesheim scholarship was awarded to Kathleen Dunsmore, daughter of Richard and Cynthia Dunsmore of Forest Lake. She graduated this May from North Dakota State University in Fargo, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology. This fall she begins studies in the Physician Assistant Program at Bethel University in St. Paul.

The third Leah Hillesheim scholarship recipient, Abigail Meyer, is a 2013 Forest Lake High School graduate and the daughter of Patricia Meyer of Wyoming. She plans to attend Winona State University to pursue a nursing degree. Meyer was in the first EMT (emergency medical technician) class at the Forest Lake High School this past school year. Fairview Lakes Medical Center partnered with the high school to provide a clinical setting and exposure to emergency room patients for EMT students. Meyer has already passed the national registry exam and is a full-fledged EMT.

Leah Hillesheim Scholarship recipient Laura Monson, a graduate of Chisago Lakes High School, has completed one year at Minnesota State University-Mankato where she plans to begin the nursing program this fall. Monson hopes to work as a labor and delivery nurse. She is the daughter of Kevin and Karen Monson of Lindstrom.

The fifth Leah Hillesheim Scholarship recipient is Jeremy Reller, son of Mark and Heidi Reller of Wyoming. A 2013 graduate of Forest Lake High School, he plans to attend St. John’s University in Collegeville this fall and eventually complete a degree in pharmacy at the University of Minnesota.

The Cindy Lynch Scholarships are given to adults returning to school to pursue and advance their health care careers. The awards are given in memory of Cindy Lynch, a former RN at District Memorial Hospital and Fairview Lakes Medical Center, and are sponsored by Cindy’s husband, Mike Lynch.

The first winner of the Cindy Lynch scholarship is Denise Wolf of Mora. A certified medical assistant for the past 23 years, Wolf has been employed at the Fairview Clinic in Rush City since 1999. She is attending Rochester Community and Technical College, pursuing a health information technology degree.

The second winner of the Cindy Lynch Scholarship is Abigail Ament of Scandia. She is attending National American University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Since 2006, Ament has been employed at Rebecca’s Residence at Haven Chemical Health in Scandia where she helps women who struggle with addiction.

The $1,000 Donald Ferguson Scholarship is awarded annually in memory of former Chisago Lakes Hospital Administrator Donald Ferguson. This year’s recipient is Allison Alldritt, daughter of Tom and Liz Aldritt of Chisago City. She graduated from Chisago Lakes High School in 2010 and is currently a student at Rasmussen College in Blaine studying to become a certified medical assistant. Alldritt plans to finish the program in December of this year and then go on to earn a Bachelors of Science in nursing.

The $1,000 Elizabeth Ferguson Scholarship is awarded to a Chisago Lakes High School graduate who plans to pursue a nursing or health care career. Proceeds from the Lindstrom Loppet 5K help support this scholarship. This year’s winner is Abigail Nelson, the daughter of Brad and Cindy Nelson of Wyoming. She plans to attend Bethel University this fall to pursue a nursing degree.

This is the sixth year that a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 was presented to a student pursuing a medical career by North Metro Anesthesia in memory of long-time nurse anesthetist, Ken Shea. This year’s recipient, Alexandra Madsen, lives in North Branch with her parents, John and Debra Madsen, and is a 2013 graduate of North Branch High School. This fall she will begin her studies at the College of Saint Benedict and hopes to become a pharmacist.

The $1,000 Carl and Victoria Lindberg Scholarship is presented annually to a student from the Chisago Lakes, Wyoming or North Branch area pursuing a career in health care. The Lindberg family has sponsored this scholarship for the past 24 years in memory of Carl and Victoria, long-time residents of the Chisago Lakes community.

The Lindberg’s granddaughter Karen Wennberg presented the scholarship on behalf of her family to Jeannette Wallen. She lives in Wyoming with her daughter and is currently employed as a personal care attendant for Caring Professionals Homecare. She is working to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing with the potential for a master’s degree with a focus on public health.

During the program, three students who have served as volunteers at Fairview Lakes Medical Center received the Donna Mathias Student Service Award to assist them in furthering their education. They were Brianna Boland, Jennifer Dobias and Marisa Heilig.

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The North Branch Lionness Club recently awarded two $250 scholarships to local youth. Pictured: Lioness Club members Saneda Deming and Roberta Elmstrand giving $250 scholarships to Sydney Mueller and Kayla Bauer.

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North Branch Brownie Troop #55046 recently made a food donation to the North Branch Food Shelf. The food shelf thanks the troop for the generous donation.

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Photo by Derrick Knutson

The North Branch Area Public Schools School Board at the Thursday meeting recognized Team 3038, the North Branch/Chisago Lakes robotics team, for its impressive season. The team’s robot garnered enough points in a regional competition to qualify for the Minnesota State High School League Tournament in May. Left to right: Dominic Hufford (9th grade) and Brycen Vilmain (10th grade) demonstrate Team 3038’s robot for the school board.

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Quackgrass is among the first weeds that appear in the spring and although it goes by several different names, it still looks like grass.  We receive several calls each spring about starting berry, asparagus, rhubarb, and other perennial patches.  We always recommend the first thing is to rid the site of all weeds, especially quackgrass.  If you don’t get rid of them before you plant, you will have them to deal with for the life of the patch.  The only way to get rid of quackgrass in the garden is to dig or pull it out.  Be sure you remove all the roots or rhizomes or it will continue to spread.  You can’t cut them off, till them, mulch or cover them, as they will continue to grow.  The best way to remove them is early spring or after a heavy rain.

By the time you think you have the quackgrass under control, you will be dealing with crabgrass.  It is also known as purple crabgrass, finger-grass, pigeon grass and crowfoot because when it goes to seed it has finger-like branches that look like a crow’s foot.  Crabgrass is an annual that shows up in late June and is killed off by the first frost.   It’s much easier to control than quackgrass if tended to early because it spreads above the ground much like strawberry runners.

Barnyard grass is a common weed for gardens, and is ranked among the worst weeds in the world because it consumes up to 80 percent of the available soil nitrogen in its area in a single growing season.  It is a serious problem in row crops like beets, potatoes and corn.  It is easily identified by its small tuffs or clumps of short grass.  The ripe seeds, or spikelets, contain thousands of seeds each.

A very serious weed that may go unnoticed until it is established is field bindweed.  There are many other names, but small-flowered morning glory is the most often used.  Gardeners will have no problem recognizing it because it winds around everything close to it and the flowers look like miniature morning glories.  They seed the area around them and can become a major problem if not controlled.

Another weed that can cause a lot of trouble in places where they are not cultivated is cleavers weed that is well named.  The weed is also called catch weed, scratch weed, or grip weed.  It will hang on your gloves, clothing, and even your bare skin.  The stem and bristly hairs help the plant cling, hang on and grow onto the vegetation near it.  If it gets into your raspberry patch, grape vines, and even blueberries, it can cause real problems at harvest time.

I haven’t mentioned any herbicides for a reason — if you can spot spray without hurting the plant or fruit, that’s up to you.  I chose not to use herbicides for this purpose.

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The Chisago County chapter of Pheasants Forever recently presented a $750 scholarship to Rush City High School senior Brandon Elmer, who will be attending Northland College in Ashland, Wis., and majoring in biology and natural resources. A similar $750 scholarship was presented to North Branch High senior Sherahlynn Linkert, who will be attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and studying animal/equine science. Then two $500 scholarships were awarded to two seniors at Chisago Lakes School District. They are Hannah Barrett, who will major in animal science at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and Laura Burch, who will be attending Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis., and working towards a bachelor degree in nursing. In the above photo, PF representative Gary Moe presents the scholarship award to Brandon Elmer.

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Dana Dyslin is the winner of Lampert Lumber’s $1,000 Shopping Giveaway.
Photo supplied

The spring season just got a little more golden for Lampert Lumber and Dana Dyslin.

On June 13, Dana Dyslin was chosen as the winner of the Lampert Lumber $1,000 Shopping Giveaway.  Dyslin was selected at random from more than 600 entries submitted at the store from February 25 to May 31, 2013.

Manager Charlie Hult said Lampert Lumber is delighted to provide one of its customers with the opportunity to make their spring projects a little more exciting.

“Everyone has a few extra chores this time of the year, and we’re glad that Dana will be able to choose whatever tools he wants to get the job done.  We thank all those who entered the giveaway for their participation.”

Lampert Lumber is located at 39451 Flink Ave and has been serving customers in the North Branch area for 40 years.   Lampert Lumber offers a complete line of hardware, plumbing, lumber and houseware supplies for everyone from the do-it-yourself homeowner to the professional.

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Deb Henton

Each year we celebrate the end of another successful school year, but there is also occasion to be sad as we say goodbye to retiring members of the administrative team. This year we are losing two valuable district assets. Though they will be replaced by highly competent individuals, we will lose their wealth of experience, something not so easily replaced.

Transportation and Grounds Director Bill Burton has been with the school district almost 30 years. He knows every road in our school district like the back of his hand, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone as concerned and proactive about student and bus driver safety. He adds a personal touch to his dealings with families and the times he has personally driven a student home because he/she missed the bus are too many to count.

Technology Director Chip Treen has been with the school district for 10 years and has had the unenviable task of transforming our schools for the 21st century on extremely limited budgets. Year after year, he and his staff find ways to keep the equipment we have (some of it past its viable lifespan) running, while adding new devices and services.

North Branch Area Public Schools has some of the best on-site wireless networks in the state, and that dedication to providing access to students and staff has given us great flexibility in getting technology in the hands of students.

Please join the school district in celebrating the public service of these retiring administrators. For both, their sense of dedication and loyalty is to the students of this community and they have greatly enhanced the educational experience at NBAPS in their own way. To see them work, to see the respect they had for school district resources, was to be proud. Best of luck to both as they embark on a new chapter of their lives.

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I am always thankful when readers suggest topics to me.  Ken, a reader in Hugo, asked that I write about Minnesota’s “special registration plates” which are sometimes referred to by the more colorful moniker of “whiskey plates.”

Have you ever seen these?  They are a plainer-looking license plate that starts with the letter W.  It is that first letter – coupled with what they mean – that has prompted their nickname.

Whiskey plates are issued for a variety of reasons all related in some way to illegal drinking and driving.  They are issued after someone has had their regular license plates impounded for a designated offense.

Let’s assume a fictionalized family with a father, mother, and two teenage drivers.  Dad just spent too much time socializing with his buddies after the big softball game and got pulled over and arrested for DWI.  Will his plates be impounded?  Generally speaking, yes, if any of the following occur:

•He refuses to take a blood, breath, or urine test

•He scores .16 or more on such a test

•He had an earlier DWI conviction or related license revocation within the last 10 years

•There is a child under the age of 16 in the car

•He was driving, even without drinking, when his license was revoked for too many earlier DWIs.

There are a number of reasons for whiskey plates.  First, it is hoped that the fear of having plates impounded will deter some people from driving drunk.  Second, the plates themselves give a “heads up” to law enforcement officials to watch those vehicles more closely because they know that someone in the family has a history with DWI.  Third, they soften the hardship on innocent family members who still need to drive as a normal part of everyday life.

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To be reimbursed by the government, school lunch directors must follow a menu that has more fruits and vegetables and smaller portions of meat, breads and dinner rolls. All breads must be at least 51 percent whole grains.

In addition, transfats have been eliminated and sugar and sodium have been reduced.

Under this new regular-priced school lunch offering, a student must take a minimum of a 1/2 cup of fruit and a minimum of a 1/2 cup of vegetables, plus they are entitled to two other choices.

In at least one Twin Cities area school district, however, some students are taking the cheaper regular lunch, but are not eating the fruit and vegetables. School lunch servers in one school said they counted more than 170 servings of uneaten fruit and unopened juice in one month.

Some students bring their own lunches or pick food off a la carte. Since fewer students are taking the regular lunch, fewer school lunches are being reimbursed, forcing some school districts to increase school lunch prices. That’s what is happening in a district where participation is down 1.2 to 9.8 percent since the restrictions went into effect. That district will get fewer reimbursement dollars.

To put this in perspective, however, nationwide participation in the regular hot lunch program is down 3 percent. A spokesperson at the Minnesota Department of Education said that in the state overall, participation has not gone down.

Battling student obesity by offering healthier choices for school lunches is reasonable, since the program itself may once have added pounds to students with its menu of starchy and fatty foods.

Few would dispute that getting students to pick healthier choices and limiting obesity is a good thing.

The National Health Center for Health Statistics says, in the past 30 years, the number of obese kids 6-11 doubled and the number for those up to 18 years old tripled. In 2010, more than a third of children and adolescents were either overweight or obese.

One expert observed that if the trend continues, one out of every three children born today will face a future with diabetes. Obese children are more vulnerable to serious diseases. According to a Stanford California study, obesity is a major cause of diabetes, heart disease, joint problems including osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, along with some cancers particularly in overweight women.

Maybe we all should eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat and bread and set an example for the kids who think they are put upon when they have to eat minimal servings of fruits and vegetables.

Don Heinzman is a columnist for ECM Publishers and a member of the ECM Editorial Board.        

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Derrick Knutson

If you’re easily grossed out, stop reading this column right now.

For those of you who are still with me, I thank you for sticking around.

If you haven’t noticed, it’s late spring, almost summer.

The temperatures are warming (finally), birds are fluttering to and fro between the trees, and evil incarnate is wafting through the air in copious amounts.

I’m talking about pollen, or whatever it is that I and loads of other people are allergic to.

It seems like my allergies just get worse every year.

Growing up, I didn’t have a problem at all; the allergies didn’t start until around college. At first, I suffered just a couple of weeks in the spring and that was it — quite manageable, in my opinion. Then came the fall allergies, followed by bouts of allergies in the summertime.

It’s like having a cold that you just can’t shake — your eyes are watery, sinuses are plugged, and your energy level is affected.

I’ve tried allergy medications like Zyrtec and Allegra and they help some, but not very much. I even tried the Neti Pot, which I was apprehensive about at first because of what using it entailed.

With the Neti Pot, the user fills the tea-pot-looking devise with warm, salinated water and pours it in his or her nostrils in an attempt to flush out all the icky gunk and pollen from the nasal passageways, which, in turn, helps reduce the occurrence of allergy symptoms. The concept is a good one, but if the nasal passageways get really plugged, the salty water just sits there and then dribbles out of the same nostril you just poured it in.

Enter the NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit. This devise employs the salt-water rinse idea just like the Neti Pot, but in an advanced, effective and much more disgusting way.

It looks like a little rocket, and you fill it with saline water and squeeze it while the end is pressed against a nostril. The devise fires out a pressurized jet of saline water up one side of your nose and out the other.

The first time I did this, I thought an eyeball was going to pop and my wife was going to have to rush me to the emergency room, but lo and behold the stuff packed up in my sinus cavity eventually gave way and was washed out.

The noise this elicits is … well, we’ll call it “interesting.” The results are … err … well, interesting, too. I could go into greater detail here, but I think leaving it up to the reader’s imagination is more effective.

This nose rocket isn’t a cure-all — I’m still definitely feeling the effects of seasonal allergies — but it has at least provided some semblance of relief.

I’m just kind of surprised I’ve come to the level of firing pressured streams of water up my nose to combat allergy symptoms.

If this remedy stops working, I’m not really sure what I’ll do. I’ll either have to stay inside with the air conditioning on all of the time, move to a desert climate or find out what I’m allergic to and set out on a determined mission to eradicate it from this state.

Hopefully it’s not pine trees; there’s a heck of a lot of those in Minnesota, and I think it might take a wee bit of time to chop every one of them down.

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Stacy residents caring for city property propose purchase

Stacy residents Cynthia and Paul Vogel have approached the city with a request to buy a portion of city land.

The Vogels have lived on property adjacent to the land since 1985 and have maintained the parcel, including mowing and weeding the land since that time. The 3.35-acre plot is currently zoned as parkland, with a market value of $39,600. The access to the land is through the Vogel’s driveway.

“If we were to decide to sell the property to you, we would have to do a lot split; it’s not going to be an overnight thing,” Mayor Mark Utecht said while looking over the request at the June 11 City Council meeting.

The couple wasn’t looking for the city to act on the proposal at the meeting.

“We didn’t expect to write a check tonight,” Cynthia Vogel said, laughing.

The city offered a tentative price of present market value plus all costs incurred by the sale. Utecht said Stacy has to cover the costs of the transaction. He explained the city will incur some costs just exploring the feasibility of the sale. He expressed concern that should the couple decide not to buy after this, the city is on the hook for a sum of money. City Attorney Peter Grundhoefer said the city could require some security on the costs from the buyers and recommended the assessor’s office be contacted to find out when a market value was last assigned.

The Vogels hesitated.

“Right now this land is not on your tax rolls,” Paul Vogel said.

Cynthia Vogel added, “The city has never maintained it.” Grundhoefer said this is not reason for the city to reduce the price.

“We’re just looking at fair market,” Paul Vogel said.

Before any sale is made, the mayor wants to make sure the proposal is thoroughly reviewed.

“I want to make sure the city’s interests are covered, he said. “It’s a unique set of conditions, and I don’t want this to be a precedent for other city lands,” Utecht said.

Stacy Lions seek update on liquor permits

The Stacy Lions are proposing a “hard beer license” to sell canned beer and wine coolers. The current license is a 3.2 beer license. Stacy Lions representative Jerry Schroeder said the proposal is in response to complaints that patrons to Lions events have been seen bringing beer into events, which is against the rules. Schroeder was quick to say “no booze.” The Lions have learned that other clubs including Rush City, Pine City and Hugo operate their liquor sales this way.

City Clerk Sharon Payne checked state requirements and thought this is feasible through the city granting the Lions a club license.

Stacy city maintenance department casts for equipment this summer but hooks nothing

City Maintenance Supervisor Tanner Jones had hoped to persuade the council to approve spending $4,100 for a pressure washer, but the council balked at the price.

“I want to give our people every tool that they need, but whether this is a tool the department needs or not, I’m not convinced,” Utecht said. The mayor suggested renting a power washer. Jones agreed to look for used equipment and to research the price of renting the equipment.

Stacy council tries to draw attention to traffic safety issues

The city received a letter from Chisago County Commissioner Ben Montzka, requesting a priority list of Stacy highway projects.

The council quickly brought up a traffic signal at the intersection of Stacy Trail and Forest Boulevard as the top priority. At the very least, the city wants flashing red lights installed on the stop signs at the intersection. Utecht has spoken to County Engineer Joe Triplett about making sure there are signs visible from each vantage point at the intersection, citing numerous near misses and a fatality in the past year.

The mayor suggested requesting a “modest project,” but then the council hunkered down, insisting the city needs an electronic traffic signal, but then considered their repeated requests for this. “Do we ask for the stoplight and hope they offer something else?” Utecht asked.

Councilor Jim Ness thought the city’s request for a traffic signal would be laughed at. The council regrouped, agreeing priority No. 1 is a flashing red light at the intersection of Stacy Trail and Forest Boulevard. Priority No. 2 is a new bridge on Stacy Trail over the freeway. The third priority is improvements to Forest Boulevard between Stacy and the city of Wyoming. The fourth request is for sidewalks on the west side of the city on Stacy Trail.

“I would broach that these are all safety issues,” Ness added.

In other news

• The Stacy Park and Recreations Committee will be meeting to prepare for the dedication of the west side ball fields. Improvements were funded by a grant from the Minnesota Twins Community Fund, and the organization requested a dedication ceremony be held as a requirement to the grant.

•The city has reached an agreement with the North Branch Area Hockey Association, and it appears the Stacy Sports Complex will again be moving forward. The NBAHA had run into a delay in the project when the bank financing some of the project would not loan funds unless the association owned the land. The land was to be city owned and leased to the association. The city then proposed to sell the land to the NBAHA for $1.09 per square foot. The NBAHA reported they have been able to secure the funding to purchase the land the hockey arena will be built on.

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City audit raises no 

red flags

The city’s auditor presented the 2012 audit to the Harris City Council. This time, the usual is a good thing.

The auditor, Dennis Oberloh of Oberloh and Associates, said the audit found that the financial statement represents a fair and accurate reflection of the financial standing of the city. He added that the audit was done using accepted government audit standards.

The city was given a clean audit, except for minor items not in compliance with internal controls.

Oberloh explained some of the information from the audit. In the general fund, the revenues were $531,000. Of this amount, 54 percent is from taxes, and 34 percent is from Local Government Aid from the state. As LGA has continued to drop, the amount of revenue from taxes has increased. Last year the percentage went up to the 54 percent from 52 percent the previous year. Expenses decreased in 2012, from $380,000 to $354,000. While debt service has remained stable, capital outlays have gone down.

The fund balance is in very good shape. Oberloh said that for a city the size of Harris, there should be 35-50 percent of annual expenditures in the fund. This is because the city operates six months without any income from taxes.

After Oberloh had presented the audit to the council, City Treasurer Marlys Balfany presented an option to the City Council to reduce some of the debt. Balfany said that, per the audit, their fund balance was high enough that they could pay early on two obligation loans and not affect the financial stability of the city. There is a Public Facilities Authority loan that originated with the water revolving fund. It accrues interest at the rate of 3.29 percent and the city will pay an additional $6,382 over the remainder of the obligation. The Northwoods Bank equipment certificate could also be paid. It accrues interest at the rate of 4.25 percent, but because of the remaining term, there remains only $4,101 to pay. The council elected to pay off the balance on the PFA loan, even though it has less dollar amount of interest.

Once the city receives the LGA for 2013, the council can then decide whether to pay off the Northwoods equipment obligation, as there is no restriction as to when that payment can be made.

Rough roads

Another lengthy discussion point that evening centered on what could be done about the roads in Harris.

The council identified 33 roads that needed some type of repair or resurfacing. Of these, the council identified the 10 most in need of repairs. Many have culverts that need replacing; most have a need of gravel. But the problem was whether to do a short fix, such as been done in the past or take the time to figure out what needed to be done to permanently change the roads so they are brought up to a standard and stay there. Mayor Diane Miller said repeatedly that patchwork repairs have been done because no one knowledgeable about roads has indicated what work needs to be done in each situation.

City Engineer Chuck Schwartz said that there is an Agstar grant available for a feasibility study for roads, provided it would equate to a commercial benefit for the city. Schwartz said he thought the Sink Hole Road and 420th Street intersection and Harder Avenue would possibly qualify for this grant. That would allow detailed information on what has to be done to those roads to permanently improve them. Schwartz said he will inspect the roads and prepare the grant application as part of his services already paid by the city. Schwartz will also review some of the other problem situations and report back to the city as to what could be done. It is Schwartz’s intention to have a few respected local contractors that are knowledgeable in road construction and repair with him during the inspections.

In other news

The council approved the law enforcement contract with the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office. The contract was relatively the same as last year’s, except the cost went to $52.28 per hour up from $49.97 for 20 hours of dedicated time.

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Bev Otterness is the grand marshal of this year’s Midsummer Days Parade.
Photo by Derrick Knutson

Growing up in North Branch, Bev Otterness was enamored with the American Legion Auxiliary when she saw its members handing out poppies at Midsummer Days and offering attendees of the celebration an assortment of grilled fare.

“They would be up in the park serving hamburgers and hotdogs and I thought, ‘Maybe someday I could do that.’”

Otterness — the grand marshal of this year’s Midsummer Days Parade — has done that and so much more.

She first became involved with the Auxiliary in the 1960s and quickly took on a leadership role.

“I have held offices on the local unit, and I have been president of this unit eight different times and secretary many more times than that,” she said.

She’s also served as district president on two occasions — once in the 1960s and again in the early 1990s.

She described serving at the state level as a “wonderful experience.”

“I traveled the state of Minnesota, visiting unit meetings and district meetings and veterans homes and veterans hospitals, she said.

She’s also served on the Minnesota Veterans Homes Board, which oversaw the construction of a veterans home in Fergus Falls.

The governor appointed her to a pair of two-year terms on that board.

Both her first and second husbands, Korean War veterans, have served as American Legion district commanders, as well.

 

Opportunity to serve

For Otterness, there are numerous aspects of the Auxiliary that make it the type of organization one can be involved in for decades.

One thoroughly enjoyable part of Auxiliary for her is the opportunity to serve veterans and their families.

Some of her favorite memories of serving veterans and their families revolve around the Christmas season.

“I got to go to some of the veterans homes or VA (Veterans Affairs) hospitals during Christmastime for what we called the ‘American Legion Auxiliary Gift Shop,”’ Otterness said. “Every veteran gets a gift at Christmastime from the Auxiliary.  If they have family, we provide gifts for them to give their family.”

The response she received was heartwarming.

“I’ve really enjoyed working at those gift shops because you get to interact with the veterans and their families, and they’re so grateful, always.”

 

Scholarships for youth

Perhaps her favorite part of being an Auxiliary member is having the opportunity to change young people’s lives for the better.

She’s judged Auxiliary scholarship applications, with “the most rewarding” part of that process coming in the past three years as part of the American Legion’s National Education Committee.

“I’ve judged scholarships for the cream of the cream of the crop,” Otterness said.

As part of her judging for the Samsung Scholarship, which was presented to the national chapter of the Auxiliary from the Samsung corporation as a thank you for the sacrifices many Americans made while serving in the Korean War, Otterness was tapped for the task of selecting winners from a pool of students who attended Boys State and Girls State, summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary.

After the field of scholarship applicants is pared down by Otterness and other judges, nine recipients receive $20,000 apiece and the others get about $1,200 apiece.

One year, she was around when the phone call was made to one of the $20,000 scholarship winners.

“Oh, my goodness, you should have heard the screaming,” she said.  “That was exciting.”

Having that kind of impact on a young person’s life has been rewarding for Otterness.

“You kind of always think, ‘I hope I can make a difference to somebody,”’ she said. “I feel like I did with those scholarships.”

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