Local News

Veterans of Foreign Wars POST 2948 recognized National POW/ MIA Recognition Day Sept. 16 with a short ceremony near the post. Packaging Corporation of America was presented with a POW/ MIA flag, and Mike Wagner, mill manager accepted the certificate from Irene Anderson, auxiliary chaplain, and chair. This marks the 13th year the auxiliary has presented a flag and certificate to a local business. The message, “Their Sacrifice; Our Pledge” on the POW/ MIA poster should help to make sure they are never forgotten, said organizers.

Grant Hauschild’s been knocking on doors of Minnesota Senate District 3 residences to talk with voters about their lives and how government can help. Hauschild was in International Falls last week for a local DFL fundraiser and asked for a meeting with Rainy Lake Gazette’s editor.

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Indus School students had an outdoor day of team building, learning and fun last week. Students in the sixth and seventh grade through 12th grade participated in the Voyageurs Teen Ambassador experience Sept. 23 at Voyageurs National Park’s Rainy Lake Visitor Center. The park teamed up with Wilderness Inquiry, an outdoor adventure group based in St. Paul, to provide a full day of activities, with students split into three groups and the groups rotating between activities.

The International Falls City Council Monday set its preliminary 2023 budget and levy, collecting 5.9 percent more than collected from property owners this year. The levy amount may be reduced, but not increased, before the final budget is completed by the end of De- COUNCIL ON A8 cember.

In observation of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Minnesota Department of Health officials are reminding Minnesotans that suicide is preventable, recovery is possible, and help is available at any time by calling 988. Earlier this summer, the U.S. rolled out a nationwide three-digit dialing code – 988 – as a way to access suicide prevention and crisis support. Since switching to 988 on July 16, calls to Minnesota’s four call centers have increased 44%. Minnesota has also seen a 173% increase in web chats (since January 2022) and 250% increase in texts to 988. The increase is believed to be in large part because the new 988 dialing option made it easier to remember how to access a trained counselor for suicide support and resources. Minnesota received 33,887 calls, 4,099 chats, and 1,306 texts in 2021.