Community

It was a fantastic night in Birchdale for the 23rd annual October Fest on Saturday, Oct 29. It started off with the 14th the annual Chili Contest and the winner, Haylee Kosobucki, is now the Birchdale Chili Champion of 2022. Then there was a spooky trail with reflective stickers in the woods around the community building for the little ghosts, goblins and superheroes to run on with their flashlights and some fun games outside. After that, everyone got to enjoy and eat all the chili that was entered in the contest, plus sloppy Joe’s and hotdogs and participate in some visiting with friends and neighbors.

With a little help from its friends, the Knights of Columbus Council #1540 not only met its goal but has nearly doubled the number of coats it donated this year to help local kids through Borderland’s winter.

Gerald T. Wagness, of International Falls, died today at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji. He was 94 years of age. Wagness was born in 1913 in Devil’s Lake, SD, and moved as an infant first to Little Falls, MN, and then to Oak Island on Lake of the Woods, where his family had a homestead. He moved to International Falls in 1923 and graduated from Falls High School. Gerald served in the United States Naval Reserve as a lieutenant commander and was honorably discharged in 1946 after serving in Japan, Manila and the South Pacific. He worked for Major Roberts on Atsokan Island before purchasing the property, and taught in the International Falls Public Schools for more than 20 years. He also was a master of the Koochiching County Lodge No. 270, a member of the Border Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, the Eveleth Commandery, Aad Temple of the Shrine Duluth, and the Border Shrine Club. He served on the Degree Teams of the Elks and Moose Lodges, was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a charter member of the Border Lakes Association.

A local icon will be remembered and honored during the 2022 Home for the Holidays Community Christmas Parade. Margarete Kostiuk, a name familiar to many in Borderland and beyond, passed away on her 103 birthday Oct.

“Becky,” “Watson,” and “Edmond” have been waiting to go to their forever home since July. Becky is shy until she gets to know you. Watson and Edmond are a little more outgoing. They are all about 1 year old.

Did you know that in the United States, forty million acres of land are devoted to lawns and that we spend $30 billion each year on lawn care? Lawns are the single largest irrigated crop we grow! Ninety million pounds of fertilizer and 78 million pounds of pesticides are put on our lawns each year. As summer wraps up, you may think your lawn care duties are done until after winter, however, fall is actually the ideal season to prepare your lawn for the months ahead. Taking the time to clean up your yard this fall will reward you with a greener lawn come springtime. Fall yard work is all about helping your lawn finish strong so that it can withstand the bitter temperatures ahead. Fall’s cooler temperatures and morning dew provide the perfect setting to fertilize your lawn and let grass regain its strength after the summer heat. Once the season draws to a close and the temperature begins to drop, you should set your mower’s blades to their lowest setting for the last two cuts of the season. This will allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the grass and help the soil dry out faster in the spring. To rake or not to rake in the fall may depend upon your personal outlook. The benefits of raking are it will eliminate thatch build-up, you will get plenty of exercise and fresh air, and it will give your lawn that nice, neat look.

Over $600 in cash money and 1,708 pounds of food was collected in eight hours in the blue and white Arrowhead Transit bus staged outside of the Super One grocery store. The bus was being used as a large shopping cart, to which store customers were encouraged to contribute food items. The fundraiser, called “Stuff a Bus,” was held to benefit the Falls Hunger Coalition Food Shelf. Pam Smith, Arrowhead Transit’s marketing and public relations coordinator, approached Coalition Director Nancy Anderson with the idea for the fundraiser. Anderson said, “Arrowhead Transit laid the groundwork, recruited sponsors – everything. And we were so appreciative. It came at a great time for the food shelf.” Anderson said this summer was very lean in terms of monetary and food donations 25 years ago The fate of developer Tim Gable’s proposed multi million-dollar complex may hinge on the opinions of 130 voters. That’s what Ranier City Council members told Gable and his associates after a fast-paced presentation at Monday’s council meeting. Ranier Mayor Dave Trompeter informed the developer that ultimately a liquor referendum vote may decide the issue. A proposed, the new Best Western Sand Bay Inn and Conference Center design calls for: three stories, more than 80 suites, a conference center, two bars and two restaurants, among other features. Gable outlined plans to develop the facility on Sam Woods’ property on Highway 11 East, behind the statue known as “Big Vic.”