Year in Review continued

August 2, 2017

On Aug. 21, 2017, across the United States people will see the sun disappear behind the moon, which will turn daylight into twilight. Because the sun will be hidden it will cause the temperature to drop. Every once in a while, the sun and the Earth are split between each other by the moon. 

Lana and Brad Nelson or Oklee, were pictured with the Quilt of Valor that Brad received from the McIntosh Quilt of Valor group. The quilt was sewed by Valarie Brekke and given to Brad in April of 2017. He served for two years, and was in Vietnam during 1969-1970.

Another dry day in this area. We do need rain though some farmers will be mad at me for that. Things are starting to be stressed from no water. Some corn fields are starting to curl up from lack of moisture.

A forty year class reunion was held Saturday, the 21st, in Plummer. They had a “Meet and Greet” at the Corner Bar Friday evening. Saturday they toured the school, then went to the Tri River Museum and toured. Later, they went for lunch at Nancy Bray’s. The Class of 1977 went to eat at the Quality Inn (formerly Best Western). Class members were Tom Martell, Tom Willet, Tom Derosier, Cindy Arlt (Jaeger), Cindy Thomas, Nancy Bray, Nancy and Todd Gustafson, (Greeley, Colo.), Janet Kvasager, Renate Vatthauer, Tammy Gerardy, Carl Torkelson, Mark Wright, Jim Lundy, Russell Sorenson, and Irwin Mary. 

August 9, 2017

Rydell National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the Friends of Rydell and Glacial Ridge Refuges Association held their their 2nd Annual Youth Fishing Day at Rydell NWR on Saturday, August 12th, from 9:00am - 1:00pm. This free event is targeted towards youth age 15 or younger. Anglers age 16 and older must possess a valid Minnesota DNR fishing license to fish on the Refuge.

Corlan Kleinshmidt celebrated her 80th Birthday July 30th at the hall in Oklee. It was well attended. Corlan has 22 grandchildren and all were there, but 5. She has 36 great grandchildren and all were there, but 13. Corlan never knew she had so many friends and relatives. With 136 people in attendance.

The weather finally got to be ideal here and it is so rewarding. Cool in the morning hotter in the afternoon and cool at night. The only thing lacking is rain. We need the rain to produce the fruit of all those crops. Stems are not what we want, we need the seed of the vine. The crops look good otherwise but I wonder what they will produce in terms of bushels and quality.

Vern Schindler has been released from rehabilitation and is home now. 

Ryan and Kelsey Paradis held a birthday party for Kingston who turned 3 this week. His party was themed as an outdoor campout. All the kids had red bandanas and they wore them as ties and on their heads. Very colorful. 

Another milestone in the Ryan Paradis family was to have the baptism of their youngest son over the weekend too. Young mister Titan Jayce Paradis was baptized into the Catholic Church. 

Red Hats meet on Wednesday this week the 9th at 1:30 at Cozy, we are doing a farewell to Myrtle Hamrum and everyone is invited to come and wish her well. She is moving to Alaska to live with her daughter. She is the oldest resident of Brooks so this will leave a big hole in our community makeup. We will miss her.

Saturday afternoon, July 29th, at Immanuel Lutheran Church Matt Konickson  married Amy Paquin. She is the daughter of Al & Joyce  Paquin.  Matt is the son of Randy Konickson and Denise. A reception was held at the Plummer hall following the wedding. 

A family get together party was planned for relatives of the Inga Linder Family. It was held at the Oklee Café on July 29th. 

August 16, 2017

What would happen if the front page of your newspaper contained no news? What would the community do? Would they miss it? What would people in town talk about? How would they react? More than 200 newspapers across the State of Minnesota will publish no news on their front pages during the week of August 13-19. This “Whiteout” is taking place during Minnesota Newspaper Week.

Red Lake County Board Chairman, Chuck Flage, recognizied employees at the July 25th board meeting for their years of service with Red Lake County: Sharon Weiss- 30 years, and Wayne Guillemette-25 years, Seasonal Mower.

Oklee would like to welcome Postal Carrier, Pete Howard. Pete is from the Fosston area and has been the Postal Carriere for Oklee for 1 year. Before Pete became a Postal Carrier he worked with his dad in a drywall business. This is Pete’s first full time postal carrier job. He has been a sub for 12 years in towns like Fosston, McIntosh, and Erskine. 

In the recent publication of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation they welcomed a new board member to the Northwest Minnesota Foundation Board of Directors, Jason Brumwell of Red Lake Falls. A graduate of the Minnesota School of Business Brumwell has a degree in Hospitality Management. Brumwell is involved in many things in Red Lake Falls, being the owner of Voyageur’s View, Inc., which is a campground on  the outer North edge of Red Lake Falls.

Congratulations to Tyrell Hamrum and Natalie Aamoth who were married at the Lowell Hamrum farm on Saturday, August 5th. The theme of the wedding was a good old fashioned farm wedding with hay bales and creative favors that reflected the farm and all of its wonders. They will be moving into his Grandmother’s home in Brooks. They both will teach at the Plummer school this fall.

A farewell cake and ice cream was served Monday night for Connie and Charlie Bishop at the Tri River Museum. Members met at 8p.m. They are moving to Park Rapids later this month. 

A new occasional columnist joined the paper. Dave Olson, says: my Grandma Ruth wrote articles in the Oklee Herald about her travels with Bernice Torkelson? It was called R&B Travels. Well, my wife Shari, my aunt Sylvia (Ruth’s youngest daughter) and I took our first adventure and Sylvia insisted I write a report for the paper. I will never be able to write as good as my Grandma, but I’ll give it a try. After all, it is well known if I ever needed a book  report back in school, she could whip one up in an evening.

August 23, 2017

It was a “Big Deal” at Brown Dining Room on the University of Minnesota Campus Wednesday, August 2nd! The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of the Red River Valley hosted their annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet, honoring more than 200 guests throughout the seven county region for their outstanding volunteer service.

You know that saying “Time flies when you’re having fun”? Well I never really got a grasp on that saying until I got the job as working as the summer intern at The Oklee Herald. My 10 weeks of working at The Oklee Herald are soon over and I couldn’t be more pleased by the things I have learned. When people ask me what I have been doing this summer I say that I have been working as an intern at The Oklee Herald, some people ask what I do. For those wondering what an  intern does at The Oklee Herald, they do more than just write stories, take pictures, and sit in the office.

Oklee Market Day 5K Walk/Run winners were: George Banasau (21:24 in the 30-39 age group); Russell Sorenson (20:16 in 50-59 age group); Kim Rosendahl (24:35 in 40-49 group); Briar Lane (20:50 in 19 & under); and Bob Melby (24:20 in 60+ group): Taylyn Banasau (28:59 in 19 & under age group); Gail Ose (34:32 in 50-59 age group); Katie Holstrom (28:18 in 20-29 age group); Mary Jo Mugaas (32:12 in 60+ age group); Vanessa Wilebski (24:40 in 30-39 age group); and Michelle Bakken (29:33 in 40-49 age group).

On Friday, August 18th the Rebel football team challenged their dads/brothers in a game of 6 on 6 touch football. Even with the advantage of practicing for two weeks, being in better shape, and having youth on their side the young Rebels fell to their dads 44-36. 

Market Day Chili winners: Trisha Lane and her son Briar had a chili contest entry and the only beer entry, which was made by Trisha's husband. They won Best Theme Award and the Beer Award. Morris and Richard Hendrickson had the Peoples Choice & Hottest award winning chili. Cindy and Jacob Melby had a chicken chili which was very tasty.

Happenings in Red Lake County and the Sheriff has been busy. Watch out for people coming on your yard and snooping around to see if your vehicles start. It seems that if your place looks like you are not home, you could be a victim of thieves or pilfering of your possessions. Take care and keep your eyes peeled for strangers who come to your place.

August 30, 2017

Oklee Market Day Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness 5K had a lot of meaning to the Carriere family. Bob Carriere had a heart transplant January 15, 2017 and was a patient at the University of Minnesota for about three months. While he stayed in the hospital waiting for the transplant he was visited by Second Chance for Life Foundation president, Tracie Vandenburgh on a regular basis. Bob and his wife Sue got to know Tracie quite well and still keep in touch with her. A few members of the Carriere family had the honor to present Tracie with a check from the Oklee Market Day 5K for $1,675.00.

Tom Radneicki has returned home after spending time in a hospital in Omaha. He looked happy to be back. Friends and neighbors have helped make Tom's home accessible for him by building a ramp.

There was a surprise at the Gagner home this week. A diploma and certificates of completion were found in the San Jose,California area, that stated that Thora Gunderson had graduated from the eighth grade. A lady that found them in an old dresser that was  bought at a flea market. Sent them to the Red Lake County Schools for historical purposes.