Elected in a write-in campaign, Drake Dill was certified as International Falls mayor following the city’s official canvassing process.After hitting a shortened write-in campaign trail, it was assumed he received a majority of the 1,600 votes cast for write-ins Nov.
The Salvation Army kicked off its annual Red Kettle Campaign with a little help from friends Saturday in International Falls.International Falls Mayor-elect Drake Dill contributed the first dollar to the 2024 campaign at the Big Kettle at Super One Foods Saturday, manned by Lori Herrly, Salvation Army social services and Angel Tree coordinator; with bell ringer and Corps administrator Bev Mayfield, and helper Zelde Thoresen, who donned a gingerbread person blow up costume donated by Northland Counseling.Later Saturday the bell ringers were joined by The Mother Pluckers, made up of Jennifer Baker, RaeAnn Conat, Darcy Sullivan, and Kari Oustad Miggins, who performed holiday tunes, and then Jim “Grandpa Magic” Nelson offered magic tricks and was joined by volunteer bell ringer Terrie Schmidtbauer.To help• Register to ring the bell and man the kettle at Super One, register for a timer period online at www.registertoring.com or call the Salvation Army at 218) 283-3394 for help registering.• Give to the Red Kettle Campaign, which runs from 10 a.m.
Volunteerism is neighbors helping neighbors, and the Community Cancer Walk represents the best of that effort as it raises funds to provide gas cards to people on their cancer journey.That’s the message Wendy Mayer, one of the original organizers of the walk, brought to this year’s 15th Community Cancer Walk Oct.
The design development phase of the new International Falls Land Port of Entry is now underway and is expected to be completed this winter.The more than $200 million project that that will clear people and goods into the United States from Canada and service as the entrance to Canada from the U.S.
With the vote totals in, the following are the results of local races, and who Koochiching County voters supported in federal offices.International Falls mayorIn an unusual turn, the write-in votes won the election for mayor: Write-In, 1,600, or 58.08 percent; Pete Kalar, 824, or 29.91 percent; Wayne Hiebert, 161, or 5.8 percent; Sharon Ball, 91, or 3.3 percent; Andrew Donald Piekarski/Jesus Dubs, 79, or 2.8 percent.The official winner of the mayor’s race won’t be known until the Falls City Council meets to canvas the results at 4 p.m.
International Falls mayor Write-In, 1,600, or 58.08 percent; Pete Kalar, 824, or 29.91 percent; Wayne Hiebert, 161, or 5.8 percent; Sharon Ball, 91, or 3.3… Login to continue reading Login…
A petition containing the signatures of 29 residents asked the International Falls City Council not to locate its police headquarters at 2232 2nd Avenue E., the former location of KOOTASCA Community Action Inc.City resident Erik Strand Monday delivered the petition and reiterated his concerns about police access to other parts of the community through a residential neighborhood.He asked the council to consider the petition a cease and desist order.Strand said he visited with residents on nearby streets, with 29 “affected residents” signing the petition; the petition contained the signatures of all but maybe six residents who were not home when he stopped.He said the petition represents more than $23,000 in city tax dollars.Strand said the council has said it will “do in phases” the rehabilitation it will take to make the building a workable headquarters for the International Falls Police Department.He said that implies the council does not truly know the cost of the project.He also questions the short time period between the proposal to purchase the building for $4,999 and the council agreement to buy it, wondering how many committee meetings were held in that time for council discussion.The city’s police have been working from a temporary location for more than one year at Backus Community Center.
The organizers of the annual Birchdale October Fest & Chili Cook-off report Saturday’s events were well attended at the Birchdale Community Building.Soren Olesen said volunteers did a great job of preparing for the family fun evening by decorating for fall and Halloween.“They had also set up a very spooky trail through the woods that surrounds the Community building,” Olesen said.
Emergency preparedness training at the Falls School District is getting a good reaction from participants.District Superintendent Beth Shermoen introduced ALICE, a school safety training program, to the Falls School Board last week.