Eagle scratches from 2017

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

January – Grygla business, Diamond D’s, Inc., closed its doors for good on January 1st after being a popular and recognizable landmark for many locals and out-of-towners alike for the past 20 years. American State Bank holds annual Christmas drawing with Addison Severts and Gus Jones both winning a wagon full of toys and Nancy Byklum winning the $150 cash card. Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club holds its annual membership banquet at the Community Center. Hot Reads for Cold Nights adult reading program kicks off at the Grygla Library! Fourtown/Grygla Sportman’s Club maintains 236 miles of trails with Holthusen Construction doing the grooming. The Grygla Go-Getters 4-H Club enjoyed a winter hayride at the Ostby farm. Marshall County Christmas Projects, the Food Basket and Sharing Tree, are another success within the county, thanks to the generosity of so many. Marshall County Sheriff’s Department conducts compliance checks. The Goodridge Area Development makes a $1500 donation to the TRF Police Department K9 unit. Skaters enjoy making use of the Brian W. Olson Memorial Arena in Grygla! Wrestling entertainment is held at the Goodridge School. Grygla Elementary begins their basketball intramurals. Tim Sumner is sworn in as Beltrami County Commissioner. The Grygla Eagle interviews S S Travel Agency out of Goodridge for all of your vacation and travel needs! Grygla is named KVRR’s “Town of the Week!” Wild Rose Ridge Ranch, Goodridge, plans open house for community. Grygla teens, Bailey Watne and Kaitlyn Olson, try out for NBC’s “The Voice!” Jared Haack, Grygla 8th grader, wins the Grygla School Spelling Bee for the 2nd year in a row. TRF Norskies Jr. Hockey team attends Student Council fundraiser in Goodridge. Alan Swanson is recognized and honored for his 23.5 years of service on the Goodridge School Board. Dennis Sundberg and Bonnie Nelson celebrate January Senior Birthdays.

February – Goodridge School crowns Logan Carlson and Alexis Kiesow as the 2017 Snofest King and Queen! Mike and Linda Hanson’s Robotic dairy farm grows with the latest technology. Iron Chargers head to state competition in St. Cloud, MN. The 24th Annual Grygla Cup is held with the Grygla Flames getting their 12th consecutive win. Girls Basketball Parent’s Night is held in Goodridge. Grygla High School hosts ‘Super Saturday’ basketball tournament. Shantel Horachek wins the Goodridge School Spelling Bee. Mark Moran, appearing on “Antique’s Road Show” TV show, comes to Grygla for an antique appraisal event hosted by the library. Grace Lutheran LYO holds annual Valentine’s Day supper. The 7th Annual Back Breaker’s Vintage Snowmobile Show and Ride takes place at Yo-Hawn’s with winners of the display being Gary Miller (Best Restored), Jamie Dougherty (Most Unique/Custom) and Mark Stenseth (Most Original/Unrestored). DNR pilots conduct elk surveys via plane, flying at an altitude of 200-300 feet. Grygla Fire Department coordinates community blood drive. The Good-ridge Trailblazers Snowmobile Club is still going strong with roughly 100 members. Local athletes, Kaitlyn Olson, Jeremy Wiskow and Kristin Farris, are recognized with AAA award. Gary Polansky is recognized for 20 years of service on the Grygla/Gatzke School Board. Mark Brobst, Grygla, sits down with the Eagle to share his battle with cancer. Grygla Ice Devils host a youth hockey day for youngsters. Lon Englund is recognized with in the Cenex “Tanks of Thanks” program as a way of saying “thanks” for all he does in the community. Goodridge student, Trinity Walseth, advances to the Multi-Regional State Spelling Bee. Leland and Thelma Thomas celebrated 60 years of marriage with a party at Yo-Hawn’s. Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf serves 21 households each month. Grygla Fire & Rescue respond to rural fire at the Ernest Landsrud farm; the barn was fully engulfed in flames and had spread to a nearby mobile home. The Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club went on their annual snowmobile trip to the Blackduck area. Carol Stueck, Doris Klamar, Wally Sistad, Thelma Thomas, Rose Hanson and Marian Franzman celebrate February Senior Birthdays.

March – Mitch Bernstein honors Steve Sparby at “Gratitude Night’ in Oklee. Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf begins March Campaign. DNR urges caution on rapidly deteriorating ice. Leah Schulz named to Mayville State University’s Dean’s List. Goodridge Student Council and Lion Tamers coordinate a blood drive. Tara Waltman starts a new health and wellness column in the Grygla Eagle. Grygla Merchants flip a lot of pancakes at their annual customer appreciation breakfast! Grygla School says goodbye to 2 teachers after 30+ years: Mike Gast and Beth Kucera. “Night of the Stars” Talent Show held at the Goodridge School. Lewis Jones places 2nd at the Regional Knights of Columbus Hoop Shoot in Bemidji. Mariah Coan on cast of Bemidji State University Opera Theatre production. A group of volunteers sew for area veterans and deliver the quilts to local vets and the Fargo VA Hospital. Machinewell gives informational tour to Grygla 9-12 graders. Brent Philipp, Goodridge, is honored as winner in Asgrow National Soybean Yield Contest. Grygla High School crowns Clayton Irlbeck and Shawntel Ignaszewski as the 2017 Spring Fling King and Queen! Grygla Club hosts luncheon at Yo-Hawn’s with Diane Bergerson Lee doing a presentation on ‘Container Gardening.’ Ashlyn Henrickson signs a national letter of intent to play volleyball for the Minnesota State Community & Technical College Spartans in Fergus Falls, MN. Samantha Kraulik, 2016 Grygla graduate, is recognized by Alexandria Tech for her art abilities. Eunice Schulz, David Lian and Karol Byklum celebrate March Senior Birthdays. 

April – A presentation of “Minnesota in the Great War” was hosted at the Community Center by the Grygla Library. Grygla Fire Department responded to a house fire at the old Harland and Doris Cleven farm, which was currently owned by Loren Lusignan and rented by Jace Olson/Emily Sletten. Chix from the Stix host another Spring Ball for boys and girls ages 0-6th grade; they also hosted an Easter Brunch at Grace Lutheran Church. Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club holds their ATV Safety Training. Grygla Lions put another successful Smelt Fry down in the books. Goodridge Fire & Rescue holds annual open house and fundraiser night. The Goodridge 9-12 grade band and choir made a trip to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. Grygla Alumni Basketball tournament is attended by many! Ralph Smith is airlifted to Grand Forks after a fall from a ladder. Keri Kiesow taps into a new hobby – homemade maple syrup. Elementary Basketball Night and ECFE fundraiser enjoyed by many families. The Grygla Fire and Rescue Department serve up another delicious supper to the community. Blaine Kriel, Ben Groven and Dylan Walker recognized at the Six Star Conference for basketball. Local art students attend Arts Festival in Fosston. National Honor Society inducts new members. Charger Winter Sports Athletic Banquet is held with numerous local athletes receiving awards. Grygla Lion’s history is shared as the organization celebrates 100 years. Trap shooting begins for local teams. Lon Englund spoke to the Grygla High School Driver’s Education class on the 26th year anniversary of his drinking and driving accident. Chris Kiesow places 1st in a Skills USA Competition for Machine Tooling. Grygla 3rd/4th graders visit their pen pals at the Thief River Care Center. Sherry Woods celebrates April Senior Birthdays.

May – Goodridge CloseUp students visit Washington D.C. and NYC. Grygla Library hosts a musical tribute to MN Lumberjacks. Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman’s Club holds its annual summer picnic complete with a ditch cleaning and riding event. Youngsters enjoy a school outing to the Shrine Circus. Spring band and choir concerts are held. Grygla School holds “Rustic Romance” prom. Goodridge School holds “Hollywood Nights” prom. LYO kids attend retreat at Castaway Club in Detroit Lakes. Tre Alten, Kia Klein and Kaylor Torgerson win “Older American” essay contest. The GHS Drama Department presented “The Great American Talent Show” and “Country Ella!” Sisters, Trystan and Layla Jelle, both broke school records at the senior high track meet in Warren – Layla with 81’1” in discus and Trystan with 29’6” in the triple jump. Grygla and Goodridge 6th graders head to the Twin Cities on their class trips. Grygla Go-Getters 4H families clean ditches around Grygla. Lorraine Holthusen celebrates May Senior Birthdays. School’s out for the summer - congratulations, graduates!

June – “Behind the Scenes” with Ben Kucera, Sheriff’s Deputy. Kendra Jensen begins her internship with the Grygla Eagle Newspaper. Congratulations to the ASB Scholarship winners. “Yard of the Week” is back for the summer. Grygla Centennial Committee is busy preparing for upcoming 100-year celebration of the city. American State Bank hired Alaina Monson as their summer intern. “Behind the Scenes” with Yo-Hawn’s, Motel 89, Ag Products Department and Pastor Vicki Saude-Worthington. One Vegetable/One Community begins in Grygla with green beans being the veggie chosen. Chix from the Stix attend Relay for Life and are named the top fundraising team in the county. Progress is made on the new windows at the Grygla School. Level Three Sex Offender moves to Grygla area – public meeting held. Youth baseball activities begin. Grygla gets a new community garden. Gwen Stanley, GHS alumna, named Entrepreneur of the Year 2017. Lance Englund, GHS alumnus, named Teacher of the Year. Chix from the Stix host annual Gazebo Night with a variety of entertainment. Grygla Library hosts professionally trained juggler and clown. Summer league basketball and JO volleyball are in full swing. State trap shoot is held in Alexandria. ATV groups seek more in Beltrami forest plan. Longtime board members retire in Reiner Township – David Vraa, Galen Quam and Danny Holen. Girls and Boys State make leaders out of the next generation. Twilight Garden Tour is held around the Goodridge area.