Eagle Scratches from 2021: A year in review

January-June to be featured this week with July-December continuing next week.

January – Lisa Swanson closes S&S Rehab Products + after being in business for 15 years in TRF. The Grygla First Responders are among the first to receive their COVID vaccines in town. MSHSL announces that the basketball season may begin officially again on January 14th. A winter favorite is the snowshoe and ski candlelight events held by area MN State Parks, but due to COVID-19, no candlelight events will be held this winter. Governor Tim Walz puts new orders and restrictions in place regarding bars and grills, indoor/outdoor events, and organized sports – Grygla businesses and school set new hours and guidelines to comply, which include only 2 spectators per participant at basketball games. Grygla Elementary Intramurals kick off. Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf receives COVID grant allowing anyone to receive extra food, regardless of income. The Grygla Ice Devils traveled west to take on the Skippers at the Middle River Rink where they won 8-7. Grygla School Phy. Ed. classes begin their skating unit at the Brian W. Olson Arena. Goodridge/Grygla 500 race cancelled due to poor snow conditions. Grygla High School Alum Bethany (Moe) Abrahamson has been named the January 16th Grand Forks Healthcare Hero. The Charger’s boys and girls basketball teams each hold Parent’s Night. Emily Johnson, grade 8, wins the Grygla School Spelling Bee. Amy Sampson wins the Goodridge School Spelling Bee. Goodridge Lutheran Parish coordinates Buena Vista Ski Trip. Abby Kiesow named to NDSU Dean’s List (Accounting). Shantel Verbout among U of M Crookston graduates (Bachelor of Science, Agronomy with High Distinction). Chromebooks and wireless hotspots available for free checkout at the Grygla Library to anyone in need. 

February – Sarah Kiesow, CIC RN at Essentia Health in Fargo, is presented with the Daisy Award for going above and beyond while caring for patients. Grygla Blood Drive on February 10th. Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club shares updates on groomed trails and annual membership dues, since the holiday/membership supper was cancelled. A week of wins for Charger’s basketball - BBB over C/G, GBB over KCC, BBB over KCC. Little Ranch Hands Daycare is officially open for business at the home of Katie Brobst. Chloe Kuznia and Vivian Coan sign Letters of Intent with the NCTC Pioneers in TRF. Goodridge and Grygla Schools are among those using new technology to clean/disinfect chemical-free. Shantel Verbout and Cheyenne Irlbeck both named to UMN Crookston Dean’s List with B.S. in Agricultural Business. Mike Mickelson Memorial Scholarship fund started at AC4TA supporting young actors (Fergus Falls). Grygla Lion’s Club cancels annual membership supper due to COVID-19 – membership currently sits at 72. Levi Kiesow and Chloe Kuznia receive AAA award. A lot of local youngsters have great luck fishing up on the big lake! Game time Friday night at the rink where the Grygla Ice Devils take on the Wannaska Wolverines. Charger athletes are allowed more spectators – 6 per participant. 

March – Grygla High School holds Homecoming Coronation, crowning seniors Jake Olson & Mya Anderson. Megan Larson accepted to UND Graduate School to pursue her Masters in Early Childhood Education. Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club members go on annual ride up to LOW, putting on 350 miles and staying in cabins near Baudette. Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf kicks off March Campaign. Youth Hockey Day in Grygla. Gretchen and Oliver Smeby take in the Twins during a spring training game in Florida. Grygla Archery League begins in Grygla. Goodridge School holds Snofest Coronation, crowning Nick Groven and Tessa Langer. Denise Holthusen retires after 19 years of service with WIC-Quin. Bethesda Church Ladies sew for those in need. Ice deteriorating quickly with recent warm weather. At just 24 years old, Ryan Sirek spends four months in the hospital with COVID. Grygla Fire Department assists in multiple fires over the weekend (3 grass fires, mutual aid to Middle River wildfire, along with a shop fire). Sargent and Nelson wrestle for TRF. 

April – Grygla Charger’s Trap Team begins Spring League. Chloe Kuznia signs with NCTC Pioneer basketball in TRF. Grygla Lion’s announce that there won’t be a Smelt Fry again this year. Charger athletes receive numerous athletic awards. Two friends (Matia Brobst and Claire Culwell) and their inspiring stories will reunite in Texas. Elise Monson named to President’s List at BSU. Ron Palm (33 years of service) & Donnie Wikert (37 years of service) retire from Machinewell. Erin Monson named to Dean’s List at BSU. Five Grygla students inducted into Minnesota Honor Society. Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club holds ATV Safety Training. Nerhus’ remarkable Wildlife Pools still visible after an 80-acre peat bog and burnout area is transformed into a mecca for wildlife in 1978. Grygla School Drama Club performs The Misadventures of Romeo and Juliet on stage. Goodridge Fire & Rescue holds annual fundraiser, bringing in over $13,000 that was given to Gunder Paulson and his family. Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club holds spring ditch cleaning day, along with picnic at Grande Corner. Three Grygla athletes join Co-op teams with Freeze & Roseau (Reece Sundberg & Gavin Aune with Freeze baseball; Justin Thompson with Roseau golf). Grygla School holds 2021 Spring Fling, crowning 8th graders Brody Saurdiff & Kinsley Oslund. Cheyenne Irlbeck holds leadership role within her sorority at UMN Crookston. Grygla Student Council holds Blood Drive. Charger’s Track & Field Meets are scheduled. 39th Annual Consignment Auction Sale is set for April 24th in Goodridge. Grygla High School holds 2021 Prom.

May – Chargers Fall & Winter Sports Banquet at the Veterans Park in Goodridge. Grygla JCC’s host Family-Friendly softball game. Goodridge School inducts 2 new members into MHS. Chargers Track athletes set new school records! Goodridge High School holds 2021 Prom. Goodridge & Grygla Schools hold spring music programs, along with Graduation ceremonies. Class trips are a hit with Grygla students as 7th, 8th and 12th graders all head to Duluth. Grygla Lion’s Club honors 2021 graduates with supper for seniors & their parents, along with Guest Speaker Jeremy Verbout. Grygla Go-Getters 4H crew cleans ditches around Grygla. 

June - The Grygla Garden Club holds Rhubarb Social at the park in town. Goodridge Sand Volleyball League starts back up for the summer. Lots of changes at the gravel pit out east: DNR stocks 375 lbs. of fish, Holthusen Construction improves beach area, and an $18,000 fishing pier project led by the Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club. Betsy Saurdiff retires after 36 years of teaching! Annual Charger Kindness Day is held with students helping community members with various clean-up projects. Justin Thompson and the rest of the Roseau Ram’s Golf team head to state. JO Volleyball hits the road to play in a variety of tournaments. The Accel Weight Room program starts in Grygla. Northwoods Church holds first funeral since 1958. Goodridge School Summer Rec program tours Hanson’s robotic dairy farm. Summer League basketball is held every Tuesday night at the Grygla School. Northland announces spring President’s List with the following local students on it: Ben Groven, Katerina Groven, Shantel Horachek, Blake Jensen, Jaden Kiesow, Amy Wiskow, Trystan Jelle. Northland announces spring Dean’s List with Maloni Henrickson named to it. Grand Opening of the Goodridge Lending Library!