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Articles by Kathleen Pakarinen
Opioids: son's overdose motivates lawmaker - MessAge Media: Local
A graduate of Aitkin High School, Baker is now a legislator at the state capitol. Doing something about the opioid crisis in Minnesota tops his legislative agenda due to his personal story. Dave’s son, Dan, died from an overdose at the age of 25. He accidentally overdosed on heroin after becoming addicted to prescription painkillers at the age of 20.
Township clerk for 55 years and counting - MessAge Media: Features
Currently, local officials believe Westerlund may be tied with another township clerk for the record when it comes to length of service in the state of Minnesota. Township residents will gather to celebrate her long and faithful service Saturday, April 22. Starting at 2 p.m., the public is invited to an open house at Malmo Lakeside Community Hall on Hwy. 18 near Mille Lacs Lake. Westerlund explained township clerks keep all pertinent and historical records.
‘He embodies the core values of the State Patrol’ - MessAge Media: Features
The award recognizes Bredsten for an incident that occurred last May 22. He received a complaint about a driver on Hwy. 65 near Libby Dam and Big Sandy Lake. “A garbage truck was supposedly all over the road,” Bredsten said. He located the vehicle that was indeed swerving “all over the road,” travelling at about 20-25 miles per hour with a line of traffic backed up behind it. There was also smoke coming from the rear.
Just as loving the second time around - MessAge Media: Features
Bill and Carla grew up in the Springfield area and graduated together from Springfield High School. Carla described Bill as a “school yard bully” when the couple had one of their earliest encounters in first grade. Bill wore a leg brace due to legg perthes, a disease of the hip joint. Worried he would injure himself or his brace, Bill’s bother, Dick, told Carla to tell him if Bill ever went down the slide.
50 years of wedded blessings - MessAge Media: Features
“It was like we were meant to be together,” Walt said, adding, “The play was in the spring and, that summer, cast members hung around as a group and the rest is history.” Nanci said, “That same year [1963], we were paired by height for graduation … It was the first time Walt and I walked down the aisle together.” They were friends from that time on and they’re still good friends today, sharing family, friends and faith.
All the halls all decked out for holidays - MessAge Media: Features
When she and her husband, Guy, retired to the Aitkin area, they brought some of those decorations with them. Many of them have found a new home in the last few years at the Butler Building in Aitkin. Blessing starts decorating Butlers’ halls right after Halloween. The trees, wreaths and other decorations will remain until after New Year’s. In the off season, they are stored in the basement of Butler’s where there is ample room to leave the trees decorated and protected by plastic.
4H harnesses power of YOUth - MessAge Media: Features
“One way that 4-H draws in new youth and retains current members is by being very intentional about youth having real opportunities for leadership and by making sure youth have a voice in and influence on decisions made at the club and county level,” Haasken said, adding, “First generation families are important to 4-H.
New partners, past influences make future ‘Bright’ - MessAge Media: Features
The story focused on Bright’s current role as instructor and diesel program coordinator at Hibbing Community College and his partnership with a Hibbing remanufacturing plant that landed the college tens of thousands of dollars worth of heavy equipment for students to train on. “A real life situation is way better than any textbook or simulator,” Bright told Grinsteinner.
Long-time sheriff leaves lasting legacy - MessAge Media: Features
Bill Sobey was born on April 18, 1925, in Boston. His parents were of the Canadian Maritimes, his dad from Prince Edward Island and his mother, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. They moved to Boston prior to World War I and raised five children. He attended grade and high school in Winthrop, Mass. He played all sports, lettering in football in ninth grade. In his sophomore year of 1942, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the light cruiser Brooklyn, in the European theater.
Scoring touchdowns off the field - MessAge Media: Schools
Perhaps the most popular of these opportunities is the Strength and Honor Lift-a-Thon established in 2014. Strength and Honor was inspired by Sanford and now includes participants from every sport offered in Aitkin. These athletes have raised nearly $30,000 in three events for American Legion Post 86 and VFW Post 1727. In 2015, the Aitkin Football Association honored service men and women by naming the local football field Veterans Field.
Aitkin Moose focus on kids, keep up long tradition - MessAge Media: Features
“We are always open to new members,” Ward stressed. Ward said Moose clubs developed in the late 1800s. Their main purpose was to take care of homeless and destitute children. Children are still a primary focus but clubs also focus on care for senior citizens, explained Ward. Moose clubs are fraternal organizations, open for members but closed to the public. Local members have key cards for access to the lodge.
Marketplace of learning at Kids Plus in McGregor - MessAge Media: Features
“The technical assistance will give us knowledge and tools to create a successful foundation for launching our project,” said Meld. The project will provide a storefront and an online site for the promotion and sale of locally made products, increasing the market for youth and adults who make things to sell. “It will teach youth how to become entrepreneurs – creating and marketing products, operating a business and giving back to the community,” Meld explained.
AHS student gets award and ‘golden educational opportunity’ - MessAge Media: Features
Plekkenpol, now a sophomore, doesn’t know who nominated her to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston but she’s very glad they did. A $500 scholarship allowed her to travel to Boston and represent her high school and the state of Minnesota at the congress. A highlight of the trip was the chance to watch top surgeons perform a knee replacement and to question surgeons about the procedure as it was taking place.
Forsters named Farm Family of the Year - MessAge Media: Features
The family has been operating the farm in the Palisade area more than 15 years and, in 2014, Randy and Billie Jo spent a year serving as local ambassadors, as Captain and Queen of Aitkin Riverboat Heritage Days. And it isn’t just cranberries anymore. Currently, the family farms 45 acres of cranberries, 450 acres of wild rice and 250 acres of soybeans. They sell the cranberries to Ocean Spray. Soybeans are marketed through a Minneapolis company.
Get back on the horse and Relay - MessAge Media: Area Events
Westerlund got her diagnosis in February of 2014 when she was just 48 years old. She had been feeling ill for three to four years prior to that. She sought medical treatment many times for back pain, general weakness and malaise. She believed a back injury and diabetes may have masked symptoms that should have been investigated. Finally, she said, anemia led to her cancer diagnosis. Her transverse colon was removed and she began chemotherapy treatments.
Local bull rider sets sights on world record - MessAge Media: Features
The Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association’s “Congrats to Kenn Ashton,” was featured on their home page following the High River Rodeo in the Calgary region of Alberta, Canada. Ashton traveled from his Rat Trap Ranch home near Jacobson to compete at High River. He took second in bull riding for participants over 50. He’s hoping to hear soon from Guiness about taking first when it comes to the “oldest” bull rider. Ashton is 62 and the current record holder is just 54.
New book released about legendary Crosby boxer - MessAge Media: Features
“Scott LeDoux’s face read like a roadmap of boxing’s last golden era – eye thumbed by Larry Holmes, brow gashed by Mike Tyson, ears stung by none other than Muhammad Ali. ‘George Foreman hit me so hard,’ LeDoux said, ‘my ancestors in France felt it,” wrote Levy. “The only man to step into the ring with 11 heavyweight champions, LeDoux also fought through two of boxing’s greatest scandals, recurring illness and childhood trauma that haunted him for decades.
Harley ride was last item on Opal Banks’ bucket list - MessAge Media: Features
She liked to get out and about and she preferred to do it quickly. She liked fast cars and high speed snowmobiles. The one interest she failed to mention until quite late in life was the desire to go for a ride on a Harley Davidson. “It was on her bucket list,” said Dori McMillan, activities director at Aicota Health Care Center.
Aitkin County Fair approaches
The Aitkin County Fair is coming soon and the midway is coming even sooner. The midway with carnival rides will run Friday through Saturday, July 1-9. The fair will run Wednesday through Saturday, July 6-9. Aitkin's July 4 Community Celebration will be held at the fairgrounds on Monday.Advance sale tickets for the carnival, presented by Crescent City Amusements, are available for purchase. Single day session bands are being sold for each day, July 1-9, at $20 in advance or $25 on-site.
Connect four: sticking together in game of life - MessAge Media: Features
“You need a leader. Barb’s a strong leader who wants to keep it together. She always kept in touch and kept us informed about each other,” Pendo said. Their first face-to-face get-together since their 50th reunion took place in the Aitkin area last week. Pendo hosted the three women and their husbands for a few days. They took in the sights but spent much of their time visting with each other. That was the best part, they agreed.
Big praise for Small Munsterlander - MessAge Media: Features
Now 62, Martin Farrell was talking about the Small Munsterlander breed. Farrell was so impressed with his pointing hunting dog, Scout, that he bred her with another “great dog, Angus” out of Mustain Kennels in Missouri. Now he hopes to spread the word and find homes for seven Small Munsterlander puppies, hopefully in the Aitkin area. “They are terrific hunting dogs for most game in Minnesota but they are very rare in our state,” Farrell said.
Score one for helping, caring, giving back - MessAge Media: Features
In conjunction with local veteran’s organizations, the Aitkin association organized a Sept. 11, 2015, tribute to local veterans that included naming the football field, “Veterans Field.” Nearly 2,000 fans attended the dedication ceremonies, highlighted by fly-overs by T-6 Thunder, a North American flight team.
Friends for life, finally neighbors - MessAge Media: Features
Far-fetched and far-flung. At the time, Jennie and her husband, Steve Hawrysh, were living near Monticello and working in the computer field. Sally (Lake) Bowser and her husband, Frank, were living on his family farm in the English countryside. Sally kept the card and they both apparently kept the faith. Separated by the Atlantic Ocean most of their adult lives, now they are separated by a field east of Aitkin. “Wouldn’t you know?
Faithful subscriber, frequent contributor marks 60 years on Independent Age beat - MessAge Media: Features
Pearl Jensen received her first subscription to the Aitkin Independent Age as a gift shortly after she was married in 1955. Pearl turned 90 on Dec. 29, 2015. She has been renewing her subscription to her hometown newspaper continuously, every year for a total of 60 years. “I’m afraid I’ll miss something,” said Jensen when asked why she’d been such a faithful subscriber.
Waukenabo couple will celebrate 64 years of marriage this year - MessAge Media: Features
That’s Donna’s advice for maintaining a strong marriage that passes the test of time and John agrees. She was just 18 when they met and he was a 30-year-old bachelor who’d never been married before. Turned out he lived just a mile from her through the woods around Waukenabo. They met at a dance held at the Waukenabo hall and their social life still revolves around the hall, where they keep in touch with friends and neighbors. Donna is now 82 and John is 94.
Gift to remember - two pounds of candy, love to last a lifetime - MessAge Media: Features
“I wrote to Don, telling him to date other girls. He was good-looking and a very good left-handed baseball pitcher. [In 1951, the town team was all the rage in Carver.] All the girls wanted to date him. I also told him I would probably not save enough money to ever get back to Minnesota,” Drew said. Nurse’s training courses were full when Joanne arrived so she started working in a restaurant with one of her sisters.
Finding ‘Joy’ in fine art of cutting paper - MessAge Media: Features
Wikipedia has little to say about the ancient art: “Scherenschnitte which means ‘scissor cuts’ in German, is the art of paper cutting design.
From Aitkin to Kuwait - spreading warm holiday wishes - MessAge Media: Features
Piecek has been sending her hand-knit slippers to soldiers every year for more than 10 years now. This year, she was joined by a group of people who support the troops and the Aitkin High School football and wrestling teams. Recently, members of the football team gathered items to send to Sgt. Shirley Vogtlin and her platoon, currently stationed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Vogtlin is part of the 682nd Engineering Battalion, based in Willmar.
For a happy holiday - don’t worry, be wary - MessAge Media: Features
“There are about 250 injuries a day during the holiday season,” said a CPSC spokesperson. “Adding safety to your checklist can keep a holiday tradition from becoming a holiday tragedy. Keep Christmas trees well-watered, don’t leave candles unattended and use caution whenever you’re on a ladder.” In recent years, the most frequently reported holiday decorating accidents involved falls (34 percent), lacerations (11 percent) and back strains (10 percent).
McGregor grad releases new book about ‘Three Musketeers’ of WWII - MessAge Media: Features
“The book, arriving on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, tells the personal and professional life stories of the key men who created the 509th Composite Group (the world’s first atomic bomber attack force) and on Aug. 6, 1945, attacked Hiroshima in their B-29 Enola Gay,” explained Harder. “Col. Paul Tibbets, Maj. Tom Ferebee and Capt. Dutch Van Kirk opened up American strategic air warfare in Europe in 1942 and they closed it out three years later over Japan.
AADA plans to grow Garden of Hope next year - MessAge Media: Features
The seed has been planted by Advocates Against Domestic Abuse (AADA) in Aitkin. Plans are being made now for a new Garden of Hope AADA staff expects to grow next spring and summer. The garden will be located behind the AADA office on Hwy. 210 east of the Aitkin County Courthouse. The focus will be on small space and container gardening.
Giving thanks for a new Habitat home - MessAge Media: Features
Good late summer weather facilitated construction and, three weeks into the process, walls were up and the roof was installed. Volunteers worked every day on construction while others provided food and ran errands. Johnson worked alongside volunteers until she returned to work full-time at the school in McGregor. After that, she and her family continued work on the house whenever time allowed. Johnson has three daughters – Amanda, 21; Emily, 13 and Lilly, 8.
Senior dining moves to Aitkin Health Services, lunch free to registrants this week - MessAge Media: Features
The senior dining service, open to anyone age 60 and over, runs Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Amici (Italian for “Welcome”) Café in the basement level at AHS. Meals cost $4 for seniors registered with AEOA and $6 for non-registered seniors. Free meals offered the rest of this week include: bratwurst on a bun with baked beans, cucumber onion salad, angel food cake and milk, Oct. 21; chef salad, hashbrowns, whole wheat bread, chocolate brownie and milk, Oct.
Life on the TP and DL - what a Blessing! - MessAge Media: Features
It’s all about how you look at it, say the transplanted greater-metropolitan-area townhouse dwellers. And by “it” they mean everything from the rattle of the rails to the moss-covered deadfall in the woods that surround them. “We were looking at the property when a freight train rolled by … that’s all it took to seal the deal for us,” June said.
Kruse named Community Ed Director of the Year - MessAge Media: Features
The McGregor Community Education district is in Region 8. There are nine community education regions in the state. One candidate is chosen annually from each region and their name is brought forward to a statewide committee for the selection process.
Wealthwood hosts chamber’s first Riverboat Shoot - MessAge Media: Outdoor Recreation
Trap shooting is a game of movement, action and split-second timing. It requires accuracy and skill to repeatedly aim, fire and break 4-1/2 inch clay pigeon discs hurled through the air at a speed of 42-miles-per-hour, simulating the flight path of a bird fleeing a hunter. A round is 25 shells. Top scorer in trap with 22 was Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R) who accompanied local Representative Dale Lueck (R) to the event.
Fascinating creatures make for fun family hobby - MessAge Media: Features
Kris explained, “When the eggs first hatch, the tiny caterpillars can fit on the head of a pin. It’s easier to keep track of the little ones if they are in a different cage.” Keeping the houses clean, Kris said, is important to prevent disease. There is also a lot of milkweed gathering involved to feed the butterflies as they cycle through caterpillar and pupa stages to emerge from the chrysalis as colorful monarchs. “We release them the day they emerge unless the weather is bad,” Kris said.
Disease is rare and so is her indomitable spirit - MessAge Media: Features
Jessie was a pastry chef with a certificate in baking and patisserie when a non-cancerous tumor was discovered that led to a diagnosis of a very rare condition that she is likely to be dealing with for the rest of her life. The tumor was found in October of 2014. For about a year prior to diagnosis, she was experiencing a variety of health issues, including constant vomiting, headaches, fatigue, weight loss and cessation of menstruation for more than a year.
Teams continue effort to help county seniors age safely in place - MessAge Media: Features
That’s the vision for the Aging in Place project that started a year ago in Aitkin County. The first community organizing meeting, led by the Northland Foundation, was held in July of 2014. Project work started in January of 2015 with an official kick-off. Three projects were identified and teams were established. On July 9, the full group met in McGregor to review progress that’s been made to date and plan for more in the future. Teams continue to meet in smaller groups regularly.
Solar added to array of energy at MLEC - MessAge Media: Features
A company with a local connection, Energy Concepts of Hudson, Wis., worked with MLEC staff to complete the project that was funded by Great River Energy (GRE), a not-for-profit electric cooperative and wholesale power supplier, owned by its 28 member cooperatives including MLEC.
Easy access to good food - MessAge Media: Features
The local group, Aitkin County Good Foods Collaborative, has pooled their resources and defined their vision. One of the results is the Farmers’ Market that fills the parking lot of Butler’s all summer long with the fruits of the producers’ labors. But, Durgin said, that is just one of the most visible results. There is much more going on behind the scenes and even more is in the works. A Taste of Aitkin – a dinner they hosted for producers was the collaboration’s first event.
On a solar-powered mission - MessAge Media: Features
Elshoff hopes her two-year 1,200-mile trip on a solar-powered Elf tricycle will end in Georgia where she will finally get the signature she wanted when she became a U.S. citizen. Elshoff immigrated from Germany alone at the age of 18. Having grown up on a rural German dairy farm, she said she was enamored with the idea of a farmer running for president and did all she could to expedite her citizenship and vote in the 1976 presidential election.
Cruisin’ for a Cure and a record - MessAge Media: Features
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, strong winds nor big waves shall keep this 80-year-old adventurer and his 70-year-old sidekick from making it to the Gulf of Mexico in 80 days. Dale Sanders, the 80-year-old known as the “Grey-bearded adventurer," and Richard Sojourner, his 70-year-old navigator, said they encountered all of those challenges during the first 300 miles of their canoe trip the length of the Mississippi River.
Aitkin sisters share the ‘Dream’ - MessAge Media: Features
Allison, age 15, is currently in ninth grade at Aitkin High School. She competed in the Dream Girls USA state pageant in Alexandria in April 2014 where she won “fashion runway model” and was crowned “Minnesota Supreme Beauty.” In July of last year, Allison participated in nationals in St. Louis, Mo., placing in the top five in her age group (13-15-year-olds).
His hobby was her high-style ride to 80th birthday bash - MessAge Media: Features
When he starts a project, there’s nothing left but the iron. Arden replaces all the wooden parts that rotted away over the years. He estimated that some of the equipment he restored was first constructed 75 to 100 years ago. One of Arden’s projects served as transportation for his wife, Arlene, on her 80th birthday. Arden, now 83, restored the buggy and the couple’s son, Greg, drove it with Arlene as his passenger to the birthday bash that took place Dec. 27 at the Mille Lacs Trails snowmobile club.
Compassion goes global - MessAge Media: Features
In the years since those childhood memories, Amy (Femling) Pederson graduated from Aitkin High School, earned a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, worked in the field for more than 14 years while she also married and had three children. In the last five years, she’s found a way to combine her love of writing with the concern she’s had since childhood. She’s helping children living in extreme poverty and sharing her experiences so others can help too.
Gobbler Grill opens Feb. 18 - MessAge Media: Features
The Gobbler Grill will open for business at Aitkin High School Feb. 18. Students working the grill and serving customers in the classroom turned restaurant are members of this year’s restaurant and culinary skills class, taught by Renee Irwin. The restaurant will be open for lunch Tuesday through Friday, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. A variety of sandwiches, baskets, wraps and salads will be offered along with a daily soup and sandwich special prepared by one of the class chefs.
When one old soldier met one young cadet - MessAge Media: Features
“For 10 years, he dedicated himself to Cretin and its students. Part of his tremendous loyalty to Cretin is based upon his belief in the ideals that this country was founded on … He is truly a gentleman and a feather in Cretin’s hat,” says a tribute to Stephens in one of Cretin’s yearbooks. Stephens served in the United States Army during World War II and continued to serve until he retired after 24 years in May of 1967. For 10 years, from 1968 to 1978, Stephens taught Military Science at Cretin.
Anchored by the Bare essentials - MessAge Media: Features
This year’s person of the year, Steve Bare, has it all covered. His business, Bare’s Bootery, has been downtown Aitkin’s firm foundation for more than 50 years. For many of those years, Bare himself has been working behind the scenes to support not just the business community and downtown business district but also the generations he hopes will follow in his well-shod footsteps. “Bare's Bootery is an anchor in our downtown community.
Holiday store pops up in Aitkin
Ladybug Holiday Boutique will be offering “unique hand-made items” in downtown Aitkin throughout the holiday season. It is a pop-up business located next door to Subway and just west of CVS Pharmacy. Items in the store are hand-fashioned by a co-op with 22 crafters. The large variety of items for sale on site include candy, jewelry, home decor, hats, gloves, mittens and personalized embroidery. The space is also available for classes for adults and children.
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