Community

Servants of Shelter is among the awardees of 28 Northland Foundation grants totaling $549,610 in first quarter of 2024.Nine special opportunity grants to help child care programs start up, sustain operations, and expand access to child care in the region were also awarded.Quarterly grants are generally grants of $10,000 or more made to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal Nations, local governmental agencies, and educational institutions/school districts.Servants of Shelter of Koochiching County, International Falls, was awarded $40,000 to support emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing programming in International Falls.Nearly one half of recent grant dollars went toward basic needs: food security and access; housing and homeless services; services to help older adults to age in place, health and wellness including mental health; and more.Another $147,000 of recent grants are contributing to out-of-school time programming for children and youth.“After school, weekends, summer months – times when kids are not in the classroom – are opportunities for positive interaction and activities,” states Michelle Ufford, who leads the foundation’s Grant Program.

The Icebox Radio Theater returns to the stage of The Salty Jester for a live show and broadcast on May 31 at 7 p.m.It’s an evening of firsts as the famous northland audio drama troupe presents a new theme, two world premieres, and a new broadcast platform.The theme of the evening will be “Strange Worlds: which will be the first time the IBRT will dedicate an entire evening to science fiction.In another first, two plays written by a mother and daughter will be part of the broadcast.

A $1.5 million renovation project in downtown International Falls puts to good use elements of the historic architecture of a 117-year old building while at the same time filling a dire need for housing in the community.Dave Harder, Up North Builders, with his wife, Gigi, teamed up with family to develop in the International State Bank building apartments on the second floor and renovate retail space below.Located at 342 Third St., International Falls, the building wasIt’s a full circle feeling for Dean Piekarski, whose mom worked in the bank when he was young.

May 2415 years agoFifteen graduates of Indus High School dressed in white caps and gowns with green stoles marched to the front of the gymnasium to the familiar strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” to participate in the end of their career.

The current water level targets have been extended through May 31 by the International Rainy-lake of the Woods Watershed Water Levels Committee.The committee reported May 14 that Rainy Lake water level target will remain between the 75 percent and 100 percent band – the top quarter - of the rule curve, without going below the 100 cms (~3,530 cfs) minimum outflow and with outflow changes no larger than 25 cms (~880 cfs) at a time.Namakan Lake’s target will remain in the top half of the band of the rule curve.Sturgeon spawning is beginning in the Rainy River and the committee is closely monitoring outflow from Rainy Lake and its impacts to river spawning downstream under the “Sturgeon Protocol.”The WLC will coordinate with operators to try to maintain steady outflows during the spawning period.

Financially struggling ambulance and rescue services in Minnesota will get some help with funding signed by Gov.

Perennial saleBringing color to Borderland since March 2010, the Garden Girls Club will conduct its annual Perennial Sale is 4-6 p.m.

May 1715 years agoMembers of the Falls High School National Honor Society spent the night outdoors on Friday in temperatures as low as 35 degrees to raise awareness of the plight of people who have no homes.

Bobby Kalar will return to his hometown to perform with Deep Tracks band, made up of local musicians Eric Kulig and Scott Askey.Kalar and Deep Tracks, a classic rock band, will perform May 24 at The Salty Jester in downtown International Falls and May 25 at Ash Ka Nam Resort, on the Ash River Trail.

With May recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, a number of local organizations as part of the Mental Health Advisory Council are taking the opportunity to remind people that improving mental health is as important as improvement physical health.Among those efforts are a Community Picnic set for May 23, said Pete Kalar, a member of the Koochiching Warrior Initiative, which is part of the council.The picnic is hosted by the Koochiching County Mental Health Advisory Council, a partnership with Northland Counseling Center, the Koochiching Warrior Initiative, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2948 and others.All are invited to the free picnic that starts at 4 p.m.