Recognized for its dark skies that allow for star viewing, Voyageurs Star Party will celebrate the night views Aug. 18-20 with speakers, arts and crafts, music, telescopes, constellation tours. See more about the party on Page A10. PHOTO BY COLIN WILLEMSEN
A local child care business has been awarded a grant through the Northland Foundation. The $25,000 grant to Rainy River Rugrats, International Falls, was included in nearly $90,000 of grants to help increase child care access in the region, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
A committee of International Falls officials will be a part of negotiations for development of the city’s multi-modal site by a logistics and warehouse project. Harley Droba and Joe Krause were appointed by Mike Holden, serving as president of the In ternational Falls Economic Development Authority.
Filings for local cities and school boards open Aug. 2 and close Aug.
An Aug. 5 meeting for the nearly 50 Koochiching County businesses that applied for the Main Street Economic Revitalization Program should provide clarity on timelines and the funding process.
The International Falls City Council approved a street improvement project located at Ninth Avenue East between 19th Street East and 20th Street East. The July 18 action stemmed from a property owner petition seeking the improvements and followed a July 18 public hearing, which drew only Julie Melstrom, a former city councilor, who noted she does not live in the area of the improvements.
Local Soil & Water Conservation Districts and their counties have kicked off a comprehensive watershed management planning effort and are seeking input for the Rainy River headwaters and Vermilion River watershed planning area.
The International Falls City Council heard reports last week about police, fire and emergencies services in June, as well as reviewed minutes from hits meeting as a committee. Police Chief Mike Kostiuk reports the department recorded 505 calls for service last month, 89 of which required new case reports.
The Koochiching County Board likely discussed this week a request to ask the International Joint Commission to apply guidance to Canadian National’s project to add additional tracks in Ranier. The request comes following weeks of flooding on the Rainy Lake and Rainy River.
Ben Sunne of International Falls is an amazingly talented, self-taught professional Nikon digital photographer. His elite still and video photography regularly appears in the weekly Rainy Lake Gazette and at the paper’s daily-updated website and popular social networking sites.