2020 Year In Review...

September 30:

Everything has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and of course, since we can't gather in large groups, many new ways to celebrate achievements have been created. Instead of gathering this year for the RSVP Recognition lunch held a Drive By Pie & Coffee in Brooks and Red Lake Falls for the Red Lake County RSVP volunteers.

Now fall is here, there seems to be some spikes in infections now that school/colleges are now open and what are we going to do for Halloween. Many traditional gatherings are going to be reworked to lower the risk of Covid-19 infections, and the one coming up in October that many celebrate is Halloween.

In early August, Red Lake County was eligible to receive $531,102.00 of Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds, as assigned through the State of Minnesota. Applications were accepted and grants awarded.

The boys’ varsity team finished 8th place overall. Individual places were Brock Tvedt 23rd place and Azazel Chapman 41st place; also competing were Brody Moen, Damon Ferguson, Mathew Rener, Everett Svendsen, and Maverick Nelson.

The Girls Varsity team finished 6th overall. Individual places were Marissa Schiebe 17th place, Keira Morinville 18th place, Elizabeth Lytle 33rd place, also competing were Ella Moen and Emma Knott.

The weather has been changeable these past few days. Some of the days have been really golden and others not so golden. The day of the big Brooks sale of tractors was a wonderful day. It was warm, and mostly sunny. It is Fall so we expect the downhill slide of the mercury. It is time to bring in the things that need to be stored for winter.

October7:

This year's senior king candidates are Wakely Bryl, Isaiah Aquino, Brock Tvedt, Brody Moen, and Jeremy Kruchowski. The senior queen candidates are Karena Melby, Janae Olson, Emily Kolstoe, Adriel Bakken, and Kia Bachand.

Red Lake County Central High School has been preparing all summer to go to school with COVID-19. Custodians and staff have painted the multi-purpose room, the hallways, and many classrooms. There are now stickers on the hallways’ floors indicating which side you walk on and how far away you have to stand from each other. Every classroom has a very cool streaming device called the “ Meeting OWL Pro.” The “Meeting OWL Pro” is in every classroom used for distance learning for distance learners to be present in the school from home.

The Boys Varsity Team finished 9th place overall.  The Girls Varsity team finished 8th overall.

It is cooling off a bit every day with a couple of frosts in between, killing the flowers and putting an end to the growing season. Now to get the lawns raked and the leaves picked up we should be able to be ready for winter.

October 14:

Channel 35 has started the year ready to broadcast sporting and school events. COVID doesn’t do anything to reduce productivity or stop production/hinder any day-today activities. They have been inspired to post more “C” and “Junior Varsity’’ games. 

John Lerohl, Oklee, recently installed 4 granite blocks at the Oklee Area Veterans’ Memorial. Three of the blocks placed were donated by the John Lerohl family in recognition of the military service of John Lerohl, his father Edgar Lerohl, and his father in law, Albert Wells.

This week, the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Education announced that parents would be allowed to attend high school volleyball games. Each player is allowed two guests per game. Each game allows parents to watch their student’s game and must leave between games allowing the next group of parents to watch their student. Even though the players are happy that they can have their parents come and watch, they will miss having their classmates and community members at the games.

The Red Lake County Central Rebels have had a confusing start to their season. It started with the MSHSL postponing the season until Spring, which in Minnesota is hard to do. The MSHSL then returned the start of football on October 9th. The Red Lake County Central team was supposed to play the Cass Lake/Bena Panthers, but unfortunately, the Panthers had to cancel that game due to being in Distance Learning until October 14.

The wind on Sunday was wild and wooly. It raged all day yesterday. In the evening it rained a little bit and then the wind abated, and we had a peaceful night. This is one of the things (the wind) that I hate about weather. From what I have seen it gets worse and worse every year.

October 21:

Along with everything else in our lives this year, Covid-19 is making Halloween different, but maybe much better! The Oklee Community Club is hosting a site for Trunk or Treaters this year. On October 31st, from 4:30p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oklee's Main Street, there will be spots available. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place to the best decorated Trunk

The girls participating in Cross Country are: Emma Hendrickson, Elizabeth Lytle, Daphne Harmoning, and Marissa Scheibe. Boys participating in Cross Country are: Back Row: Caden Lee, Peyton O'Neil, and Everett Svendson. Front row: Azazel Chapman, Maverick Nelson, Brock Tvedt, and Brody Moen.

October brings surprises from year to year. Sometimes we have those golden October days, others we have a cold October. It looks like this one is the cold year. It has been cold and not too conducive to much outdoor activity. Sometimes when the wind blows it is just wicked outside. I would hate to have to be working outside this year, you never know when you get up, what it is like to work all day. This week it looks like the temperatures will be in the thirties all week.

Continued Next week...