Year in Review

February 1, 2017

Employees were recognized for their years of service in Red Lake County: Mitch Bernstein, 20 years, Kurt Casavan, 20 years, Arlan Johnson, 15 years, Kathie Johanneck, 15 years, Peggy Nord, 10 years, Nick Knott, 10 years, Tom Braaten, 5 years, and Kurt Ellefson, 5 years.

On January 15th, Bob Carriere was the lucky transplant recipient of a new heart and with the help of his daughter Tracy Hamm, and friend Bobbie Olson, there will be a sign making class with proceeds being donated to Bob and his wife Sue to help with some everyday expenses while away from home. 

Red Lake County Central High School Robotics class competed in the Northland Community and Technical College Pioneers Robotics Vex State Qualifier in Thief River Falls on Saturday, January 14th.  Fifty teams were present and competition was fierce.  This is the first year for the Robotics class at RLCC and their first qualifier competition.  The team learned much from seeing other robots and talking to other teams from the area.

The Oklee Moonlighter's Snowmobile Club held their 50th Anniversary Safari on Saturday, January 28th. The many riders took off for the ride at 1:00 p.m. and then returned to TJ's Tavern in Oklee for the dance and a chance at prizes.

Steve Philion and Vern John-son have known each other for about 40 years. Now in their 60s, the men are high school boys’ basketball coaches who have seen a lot, learned a lot and taught countless numbers of students and athletes. Philion is the coach at Red Lake County Central and Johnson is at Win-E-Mac. When their teams met on a frigid January evening here at Win-E-Mac, it was part homecoming, part family reunion, part elbow in the ribs.

Arctic Cat announces agreement to be acquired by Textron in $247 Million all-cash transaction. Delivers substantial all-cash premium to Arctic Cat shareholders; Textron committed to continued, long-term growth of Arctic Cat; Combined businesses better positioned to be powersports industry leader.

February 8, 2017

This year’s Red Lake County Central One Act Play is “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” by Don Zolidus. This is an unusual play where the cast plays multiple roles bringing the 209 Grimm’s tales to life in thirty minutes. Cast of “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” are: Jayden Fore, Jade Person, Kara Longtin, Heather Longtin, David Clifton, and Natalie Aakhus. Row 2: Sydney Melby, Tom Nelson, Tera Qualley, Dede Walton,  Britain Arlt and Jeremiah Rothsack.

Down Under Sports is pleased to announce that Julia Bernstein from Red Lake County Central High School has been invited to represent Minnesota on the 2017 Minnesota Central Conference Track and Field Team. Julia will depart for Queensland, Australia on Sunday, July 2, 2017 to complete down under for individual honors and 

a team championship title. Each participant must raise money to cover the cost of the nine day Australia Tournament Package.

The Plummer Snowmobile Club met at the Creamery on Sunday for breakfast and a meeting to prepare them for helping with the races from the Casino. They had various jobs and were scattered in areas around the country.

McIntosh native featured on 

FYI Network’s ‘Tiny House Nation’. Cody Bartz was born and raised in rural Mc-Intosh and is the son of Clayton and Carol Bartz. He is a Win-E-Mac graduate who now lives in the southeastern part of Minnesota. Cody is married and works as a graphic designer.

Of the two of them, Cody is the minimalist in the relation-ship, but his wife Ashleigh Bartz is learning to be one too. “Of the two of us he’s always been a minimalist,” Ashleigh said of her husband. “He has only two pairs of shoes, a few pairs of pants.”

February 15, 2017

Can you believe it, it is already time for the 6th annual Fireman’s Blizzard Bonanza at the Oklee Hall on February 25th.

RLC Rebel seniors and parents at the Boys Basketball Parents Night were: Makay Berns, son of Gin Berns; and Dylan Olson, son of Beth and Chris Olson.

Junior boys basketball players at Rebels Parent’s Night: Jordan Johnson, son of Eric and Candy Johnson; Seth Paradis, son of Billy and Danielle Paradis; Johnathan Renner, son of Jeff and Nyssa Renner; Matthew Vettleson, son of Alan and Chris Vettleson (not pictured), Assistant Coach Kory Brail; Ethan Vettleson, son of Shane and Amanda Vettleson.

Arik Johnson, son of Jeff and Kathy Johnson of Inver Grove Heights, and grandson of Melvin, Jr. and Beverley Johnson, of Brooks, signed a National Letter of Intent to further his academic and football career at Concordia University St. Paul. 

Red Lake County Rebels speech went to Blackduck Saturday, February 4. The team took fifth place out of 11 teams. Lily Guillemette took first place in Poetry, Jayden Fore second place in Creative Expression, Sydney Melby took third in Humor, Jade Person third in Prose, and Halie Thompson got a Superior Ribbon in Humor. The speech team is coached by Ms. Jessie Hamrum and Mrs. Bobbi Aakhus.

The I-500 Cross Country race ran through the area in a flash. The final day was on Friday, February 10 and Zach Herfindahl took home the hon-ors in the Pro 600. Zach had a tribute to Hunter Houle on his helmet during the race. Hunter was the young man who died in a pre-race event on Pine Lake last month. The race started out in Canada on the first day and the temperature was brutally cold -22 degrees. There were a few fingers and faces that  had frost bite.

February 22, 2017

RLCC Sr. High Wrestlers at Parent’s Night: Alec Castaneda, son of Travis and Monica Castaneda; Kyle Gagner pictured with grandparents Char and Poncho Gagner; Dylan Gustafson, son of Troy Gustafson and Tammi Benedick; Bryce Bergerson, son of Kent and Patti Bergerson; and Nick Pahlen, son of Steve Pahlen and Stacey Pahlen. 

Kim and Wyatt Vettleson participated in the guest bartender fundraiser at TJ's Tavern of Oklee and they raised $686.95 in tips for the Oklee ambulance. Receiving the check is Wanda Wright and Gin Berns from the Oklee Ambulance Service. Job well done, Kim & Wyatt.

RLCC 6th Grade Girls traveled to Sacred Heart in East Grand Forks to play in a basketball tourney this past Saturday.  It was a clean sweep for the Lady Mustangs winning all 3 games:  Sacred Heart 21 to 17, Grand Forks 21 to 8, and Roseau 22 to 18. The girls finished their regular season the end of January with the record being 8-1.

Jean Carpenter (65 years), Jean Matt (70 years) and Bunny DuChamp (70 years) received Certificates for their many years of service to the Americal Legion Auxiliary.