Lifestyle

Sharla Bengtson, of Wood Lake, recently entered one of her photographs into a contest for Friends of Minnesota Barns. The photograph was chosen to be featured in the Barn Calendar for 2023 in the month of November. The photograph Bengtson submitted was taken in Pine County, Minnesota. Additionally, Bengtson’s granddaughter submitted a photo to the same contest and will have her photograph featured for September in the calendar. Photo Submitted.

Schools function as their own community within a community, but they also serve to significantly improve the communities they serve in many ways. Schools not only provide education for the youth in the community, but also provide opportunities for adults through community education classes offered on the site - whether it be night classes, enrichment, or an open gym to get exercise in during the cold months.

Sometimes, I can get a little nostalgic. Mother’s Day can do that to me. It brings me back to being a kid and making cards for my mom or bringing home that special handmade gift with all kinds of things glued to a piece of construction paper. Reminiscing can make me deeply grateful. I can look back over the years and list so many wonderful things that have happened in my life. And even things that didn’t seem so wonderful at the time, hold positive meaning through the lessons and grace God has given me.

Last Wednesday, the Clarkfield and Granite Falls Lions Club held an Honors Banquet for Yellow Medicine East Seniors who achieved a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher. The students photographed are: Hunter Bahr, Rory Keller, Ean Clarke, Autumn Ladwig, Bailey Day,Tarin Gatchell, Patrick Hoernemann, Isaac Jimenez, Isaac Olevson and Jenna Weir. Other honorees not in the photo are: Derrick Lien, Kiersten Luepke, Shelby Mortenson, Emily Pederson and Ty Steinbach. Photo Submitted

This week, we have a guest columnist – our CAIR staff has grown! Sock puppet byline picture: forthcoming. For now, let’s let her introduce herself: Hello! My name is Autumn Cavender, and I will be your Community Touchpoint for CAIR 2.0.

Dave Smiglewski The old axiom that says “the best-made plans of mice and men often go awry” was in full force at the most recent Granite Falls City Council meeting. After several meetings, months of financial planning, extensive design work, public hearings, and the formal bidding process, the city council rejected all three bids on a street and utility rebuild project.

Last week I attended our Parkinson’s Support group meeting and we had a speaker give a presentation on scams and fraud. Even though I have never been a victim of a scam (at least to my knowledge!), it was great information and very eye-opening.

This week’s photo hint: This photo ran on the front page of a spring edition in 2020. Last Week’s Answer: Brian Wojtalewicz, Audrey Arner and Richard Handeen Guessed by: Christine Kleven and Glenn Gelhar .