Eagle Scratches - 2018 Year-In-Review

January-August to be featured this week with Sept-Dec. continuing next week.

January – Goodridge Teen, Jordynn Johnsrud, holds free-will musical performance with all donations going to Sanford Health Pathfinders Children’s Treatment Center; Annual NYE Bash at United Lutheran Church in Gatzke; Goodridge School goes caroling at Digi-Key and Valley Home in TRF; Grygla’s Teen Book Club meets monthly; Goodridge Lions/Student Council holds blood drive; Youngster Cooper Kangas, from Goodridge, prepares for his first snowmobile race of the season; Daniel Polansky is presented with the “NCAA Elite 90” award at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Banquet in Frisco, Texas; Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club holds holiday/new member banquet; Charger athletes have their winter weeks filled with basketball; Thief River One Watershed One Plan holds open house in Grygla; 8th Annual Back Breaker’s Vintage Snowmobile Show & Ride held in Grygla; Goodridge School crowns 2018 Snofest King & Queen – Andy Jones & Madi Race; Goodridge School hosts an entertaining night of donkey basketball; Grygla Senior, Jordan Herseth, spends time with family in Japan; Grygla graduates named to MCAC Elite ’17 volleyball teams – Shantel Verbout & Alison Satre; Parent’s Night for the Chargers boys basketball players; Local students advance to Regional Spelling Bee; Iron Chargers gear up for state competition

February – 25th Anniversary of the Grygla Cup hockey tournament that results in a 13th consecutive win for the Grygla Flames; Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club takes snowmobile trip to Rainy River Resort; Parent’s Night for the Chargers girls basketball players; Iron Chargers receive invite to US Create Open; Grygla Fire & Rescue holds blood drive; Youth Ski Trip coordinated by Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge; Grygla Garden Club holds annual luncheon with guest speaker Joe Bergeson; A look inside B-N-E Tackle out of Goodridge – owned & operated by Brent Philipp; Alaina Monson awarded AAA; Grygla students participate in Knowledge Bowl; Oakland Park Communities crowns Dennis Sundberg and Ardell Roen, both formerly of Grygla, as their Valentine’s Day King & Queen; Sarah Kiesow graduates from NDSU with a 4-year RN degree; Gatzke resident, Debbie Aune, exhibits her grain elevator paintings; Jeremy Rychlock gets inducted into the NCTC Athletic Hall of Fame; Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club 1st Annual Snowmobile Fun Run is a success; Grygla Lion’s hold annual potato klub supper with other clubs from Goodridge & Wannaska; Grygla Legion Auxiliary sponsors a pizza party for the Grygla School Patrol; Goodridge School hosts 5-6 grade basketball tournament with many help from parents and volunteers

March – Members of the Ice Devil’s hockey team coordinate another youth hockey day at the arena in Grygla; Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf begins March Campaign; Jesse Westbrock earns Master of Education degree from The College of St. Scholastica; Grygla LYO kids volunteer time at GF Mission; Wellness 4 Life (Essential Oils) classes begin in Grygla; Local choir students participate in vocal contests; Chargers girls basketball comes to an end for the season; Boys basketball heads into playoffs; GG Student Council attends Northwest Division Spring Summit; GG Schools participate in ‘Read Across America’ Day; Grygla Merchants hold annual customer appreciation breakfast; Mike Gast watches MN Twins Spring Training in Florida; Goodridge Trailblazers Snowmobile Club holds evening picnic at warming shelter near Goodridge; Ben Groven scores 1,000 points in basketball; Boys basketball season ends in Fosston; Grygla Elementary Intramurals comes to an end; A Charger’s Volleyball Fundamental Camp is held in Grygla;  Honor Student, Brooke Limesand, nominated for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston, Mass.; Brian Rokke to retire after serving as an attorney to the people of Marshall County for more than forty years; George Wikert retires from Steenerson Township Board as Chairman; Big band leader, trumpeter & educator, Mike Vax, gave a presentation at the Goodridge School; Goodridge Lions/Lion Tamers “Spring Opener” is held; Grygla/Gatzke Jaycee’s Club holds Easter Egg Hunt;  Goodridge Area Fire & Rescue holds 14th annual Open House/Fundraiser; Goodridge/Grygla Alumni Basketball Tournament takes place; River Run Percheron farm welcomes you; 2018 Grygla Spring Fling is held, crowning King Peyton Verbout & Queen Abby Kiesow; Alaina Monson signs letter of intent to play volleyball for the Minnesota State Community & Technical College Spartans; Goodridge Schools holds “Night of the Stars” Talent Show; GG music students attend Junior High Honor Band & Choir Festival at Mahnomen High School; Six Star basketball award recipients include Ben Groven from the Chargers; Tim Schulz finds impressive elk sheds near Moose River

April - Goodridge School hosts dinner theater; Low number of elk in the Grygla herd is cause for concern; Annual Grygla Elementary basketball night is held; Post Prom Bingo is a hit with families in Grygla; Goodridge Area Historical Society hosts Easter activities in town; Megan Thompson takes her nursing work to Alaska over spring break; Grygla Firemen host annual supper; Grygla Lion’s host their ever-popular Smelt Fry, serving 400-500 eager guests; Goodridge 5th graders celebrate Ag Day; Trap Shooting begins for GG teams; Goodridge School National Honor Society holds tapping ceremony; Local leaders attend Student Council Convention; New scoreboard for the Grygla field; April Fools Senior Bingo returns; Jack & Jayne Miller, of Goodridge, are named Outstanding Conservationists; Marjorie Coan, Goodridge, presented with Rural Beautification award; Students receive awards at Visual Arts Festival; Iron Chargers attend one of the largest robotics tournaments in the world - held in Iowa; Chargers hold winter sports banquet; 1st & 2nd year Honor Band is held in Moorhead for local 5-6 grade musicians; Betsy Saurdiff is awarded Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year; Grygla First Responders complete their 2-year refresher course; Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club holds annual ditch cleaning & picnic at Grande Corner; Goodridge Consignment Sale & Lion’s Smelt Fry is a hit; Young Charger teams enter Pacesetters basketball tournaments; Grygla 3rd & 4th graders visit their Pen Pals at the Care Center in TRF

May - “You can’t stop the beat” is the theme for Grygla’s Spring Music Concert; Grygla 3rd graders go to the Marshall County Courthouse for Law Day; Goodridge 6th graders graduate from DARE class; The Shrine Circus is enjoyed many many young GG students; Grygla holds 2018 “Grecian Gala” Prom; U of M Crookston Senior Bryanna Grefthen defends honors thesis; Anthony Loken, Grygla Junior, breaks school record in the boys discuss throw with a throw of 122’9”; Grygla Lion’s volunteer in the Adopt-A-Highway ditch cleaning; Grygla Lion’s Club holds annual senior night at Yo-Hawn’s; Grygla School holds annual “Evening with the Arts”; Grygla 6th graders share class trip highlights; Goodridge School holds 2018 “A Night in Paris” Prom; Vivian Coan breaks Chargers Girls Shot Put school record with a throw of 31’1”; Grygla students launch canoes down a river of dreams; Charger Kindness Day takes place with students volunteering in the community; Grygla Library visits elementary classrooms at the school; Chargers Track Meet held in Warren; Grygla Class of 2008 holds 10-year reunion; Shannon & Denise Ostby bring their horses to the Thief River Care Center; Grygla Preschool invites families in to build bird houses with their children; Goodridge and Grygla Schools hold graduation; School’s out for summer; Otto Hagen celebrates his 101 birthday; Delray Ruud retires from Machinewell after 31 years; 

June - Picnic and movie in the Grygla City Park; Grygla Senior Citizens plan trip to Paul Bunyan Theater; Grygla’s Chix from the Stix attend Relay for Life; “Yard of the Week” is back for the summer; Chargers Youth Baseball begins; Model Railroading is Joe Riehl’s Hidden Hobby; Dariann Leigh to perform in Grygla; Monday Night Football begins for 6-12 graders; Folks have fun every Thursday in the Goodridge Sand Volleyball League; Charger’s JO Volleyball is underway; Hometown friendly service is the goal of Advantage Ag Air; Garden Valley sends Jaden Kiesow to Washington, D.C.; Machinewell, Inc. helps local youth see the value in career and technical education; Council Minutes report that Motel 89 has been turned over to the bank; American Legion Posts send local students to Boys and Girls State; Fourtown Gravel Pit offers fishing fun for families; Summer League Basketball is held every Tuesday evening; Students participate in early morning Accel program at Grygla School Weight Room; Grygla Library holds Wild Things Zoo Attraction;  Owen Hagen retires from the Grygla School after 42 years

July - Goodridge Freedom Festival Fun; Goodridge Historical Society celebrates 40 years; Grygla Senior Citizen’s Club heads to Jasper’s Theater ; Brooke Limesand learns about the medical field in Boston, Mass.; Grygla Class of ‘84 holds reunion; After 29 years, Vicki Ruud retires from Machinewell; Northwood Church holds annual picnic up by Moose River; Grygla Accel group skips weight room and volunteers at the Food Shelf; Thelma Thomas steps down as President of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary after serving for 29 years; Walter Jones heads to Texas and participates in a 4-H State Exchange Program; Doris Cleven is named “Outstanding Senior Citizen”; Grygla School’s big gym makeover is complete; 27th Annual Grygla Open is held at Oakcrest Golf Course in Roseau; Local kids attend Summer Bible Camp; High School basketball team holds Chargers camp for young athletes; County Fairs begin with 4-H students entering projects/animals in exhibits; Goodridge family owns two Century Farms - Brian and Tracy Johnson; Grygla Lion’s Club holds picnic in the park; Chargers youth baseball wraps up for the season

August - Ryan Petersburg dedicates his efforts to The Outdoor Adventure Foundation; “Here, There, In Between/Grygla Fall Fest 2018” is held; Pathways Bible Camp comes to Goodridge; Alison Kangas opens her farm to many during the 2nd Annual Secret Garden Market; Goodridge Teachers of the 90’s reunite at a luncheon; “Reading Takes You Everywhere” program comes to an end at the Grygla Library; Back to School Open House night is held; Lisa Erickson creates a pollinator friendly landscape around her yard; Tennis courts in Grygla resurfaced and made into both a tennis & basketball court; Chargers Fall Sports begin official season practices; Goodridge Class of 1968 reunion held at Jon Wilson’s home; Wildfire contained