2019 Year in Review...

November 6, 2019

Story about Earl and Bergit Swenson was in the Canary featuring all that the Swenson's accomplished over the years. News that Earl passed came as story was published.

The Red Lake Cancer Society held the 4th annual Festival of Tables in Brooks and it was once again a successful event.

The Red Lake County Central sophomore class attended a TRIO Career Expo. on October 30th, in Grand Forks. 

The community Halloween party was hosted by Minnesota Honor Society on Halloween night. The party had games run by honor society members along with treats provided by volunteers from the community.

From the Senior Site News: I looked out my window and saw a few snow flakes. It has been a different October with lots of rain and of course wind. The leaves have almost all fallen. I think they were settling in my lawn. I can’t keep up with them.

November 13, 2019

Changes at the Oklee Post Office happened this week: Pete Howard is leaving as Oklee’s Rural Route driver. He has been here for 3 years. Trenton Boucher will be the new Rural Route driver and is from the area.  Coffee and cake in their honor was enjoyed by the patrons.

 Spring Grove boys basketball coach Wade Grinde, named Class A Boys Basketball State Coach of the Year last spring, was formally recognized with a trophy plus a 25-year service award plaque at the October fall coaching clinic and honored again in the Twin Cities on another October weekend with two plaques at the annual Awards Banquet of the Minnesota State High School League. Grinde, who grew up in Plummer, Minnesota

The Oklee High School Class of 1999 recently held their 20-year class reunion. Attending were Leif Kolstoe, Nick Morinville, Jesse Lessard, Stephanie Morinville, Matt Bjerklie, Casey (Wild) Olson, Charlie Bright, and Jarrod Johnson.

October Student of the Month Nominations from Steven Strutz were Adrianne Jones and Lucy Svendson.

Veterans Day was Monday and so many sacrificed their lives for our freedom. I had three cousins in World War II from one family and three cousins from another family in the war.

November 20, 2019

Commander Dulka then introduced the speaker, Commander Chad Tabatt. Tabatt serves in the US Navy Reserves. He is currently the officer in charge of Bremerton Detachment Q Naval Hospital He also works for Sanford Health in Thief River Falls as a Physical Therapist. Tabatt’s message was the importance of recognizing and treating veterans with respect and honor for they have given much to the United States by serving their country.

Wallace Nelson of Oklee was presented a Quilt of Valor by the Thief River Falls Quilting Club and it was presented to him by Oklee American Legion Auxiliary member Shirley Dessellier. Many of Wallace’s familiy members were with him when he received the quilt.

Derek Peterson was granted the Academic All-Star award during his 2019 football season at RLCC and  Calyssa Eskeli was granted the Academic All-Star award during her 2019 volleyball season at RLCC.

 This weekend was one to remember as it was quite warm on Saturday and Sunday was cooler, but still nice for November.

November 37, 2019

Dakota Heritage Bank is the newest addition to the Red Lake Falls community and surrounding area. They are a small town community bank with 9 locations in North Dakota and are excited to open their first location in Minnesota.

Kari Carr of New Leaf Stitches came to Oklee to give the area quilters a presentation and trunk show on November 8th. Kari stayed at the Oklee Inn and on November 9th she gave a quilt class. Kari has designed her own fabrics and has her own patterns and rulers, etc.

ITV Club went on the field trip to Garden Valley. While there, they learned plenty of new techniques about broadcasting, as well as interviewing tips. They will use these tips when recording sports and other events on the RLCC Channel on Garden Valley TV.

On Saturday a quilting class was held in the Oklee Community Hall. These ladies had a fun day learning a new pattern and much more. Attending were Jan Kramer, Bonnie Jensen, Julie Desrocher, Kari Carr, Sharon Baron, Janet Shaw, Katherine Erickson, Sherleen Adams, Shirley Dessellier and Toni Johnson.

Wow, this month surely went by fast. It seems every one is shorter, or we use it up too fast. With the weird weather we have had this past month, it has been a puzzle to get some things done either before it freezes down or having to wait for the sun to shine so it will be thawed out enough to move it.