Monday, July 21, 2008

Wright/Cromwell News

07/21/2008

Wright/Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson July 21, 2008

WOW, what a weekend!  With all the Wrong Days events and then Alice and Kenny Lake’s 50th Anniversary, there was plenty to do this weekend.

Wrong Days started out with the Steak Fry at the Big Top, which was well attended.  Then the coronation of this year’s Queen (Keiara Allenspach) at the beginning of the Talent Show and the many talent acts. The Pie Social was a success and that was followed by a great fireworks display.  The Big Top was a full of friends and neighbors and many class reunions took place this weekend, so that was fun for all involved.

This years Wrong Days candidates were Queen: Keiara Allenspach, Kaylee Besch, Tiffany Richards, Autumn Gary-Denny, and Emma Hassel.  Keiara was crowned by last year’s Queen: Amber Cahoon.  These candidates sold over 1500 buttons.  Great Job, gals!!

I see that Diane Hansen is limping around with a sprained ankle.  I told her dad that he must have had to twist her ankle to get her to sing with him on Friday at the Wrong Days Talent show.  Diane and Bill always do such a good job singing together.  Other talent show acts were Angie Luna’s Dancers, The Schatz girls dance number, Diane and Deb singers and Bill and Diane.  All in all it was a great talent show. Thanks for all the participation, it’s only tough when it is so hard to hear in the Big Top.

The parade started at 10 AM with the smorgasbord, which followed at 11 AM.  There were also many other events such as softball, cribbage and horseshoe tournaments, BINGO at Seniors, etc.  It seemed that the attendance was better than average.  It is always hard to keep people coming to such community events when there is so much competition from the surrounding area, too.  This year we had to compete with Moose Lake’s Agate Days and the Air Show in Duluth.  If you have other ideas or suggestions for Wrong Days please attend the next meeting in a couple of weeks. 

Our sympathy to the family of Marvin Kempi, who died on July 19, 2008.  I don’t have any other details at this time, though.

Our sympathy to the family of Sandy Nylund who died on July 13, 2008 at age 72. Sandy and her husband Bob lived for several years on Eagle Lake.  Her funeral was held on July 16th, 2008 at Forbes Methodist Church in Proctor.

Congratulations to George Tuomi on finally being awarded the Bronze Star Award for heroism during WWII.  George received this award 63 years after his years of service.  George was only one of 13 of the 50 soldiers in his platoon to make it off the island of Okinawa alive. We also want to thank George for his service to our country during this trying time.

Barb Dahl spent three days in Chicago attending a conference for the FonduLac Ojibwe School. The conference was titled Accommodating Special Diets In The School Nutrition Programs. Tara Wolters, the school nurse, also attended.

For those of you who read this article in time, the Forest Hill Cemetery Lot Owners will meet at the cemetery on Saturday, July 26 at 9:00.  We will have a short business meeting and then spend time cleaning up the grounds.  We’d like to raise some of the sunken stones, so please bring the necessary equipment.  Please mark your calendar for this ‘uplifting’ experience.  Thanks., Carolyn Krogh

Happy 65th Birthday to Bob Schultz on August 7th.

Alice and Kenny Lake were overwhelmed with the response to their 50th Wedding Anniversary Party on Sunday, July 20, 2008.  There must have been over 300 people there to wish them well and also visit with friends and relatives from the present and the past 50 years.  It was neat to look through the old wedding scrapbook and see the names of so many friends who have since passed on.  Alice and Kenny and their family want to Thank Everyone who attended or sent greetings.  They were very thankful for all the cards, gifts, greetings and well wishes.  It’s only in communities like Cromwell and Wright that friendships last so long and mean so much!  Thank You Everyone for everything and especially to their children who did so much to make this event happen!!

There is no way to mention all the folks that attended the party, but special note must be made that Retired Pastor Bill Simpson and wife JoAnne were there as it was Kenny and Alice’s wedding that was preformed by Pastor Bill.  This was his first wedding ceremony when he came to Cromwell back in 1958.

Lonnie Bradford and Tiffany Riewe are getting married on August 2nd and his mother Melinda and her husband, Scott Ferry are hosting an Open House at their home on Tamarack School House Road the following week on Saturday, August 9th from 2 - 6 for the community of family and friends to attend.

Lonnie and Tiffany met while both were attending the University of Minnesota, Morris Campus.  Tiffany is a sweet and talented girl, from Lake Crystal, MN, who presently works as an office manager in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Lonnie is finishing up his doctorate in Psychology at Xavier’s College in Cincinnati and is an Army Officer.  After their wedding in New Ulm, MN on August 2nd, they will cruise the Caribbean and return to Minnesota for their celebration Open House on Saturday, August 9th at the home of his mother, Melinda and Scott Ferry on School House Road in Tamarack.  They will return to Cincinnati to continue in their careers.  Lonnie and Tiffany along with their families would love to see many family and friends from the community at their Open House.  Please join us in celebrating their marriage, have fun and please bring your lawn chair to sit on outside, weather permitting or indoors.

Heather Bradford, recently made an educational trip to Cuba.  She enjoyed the tropical scenery and weather their while learning about the country’s educational system and about their high literacy rate and how they promote literacy.  Her trip went well despite getting stung by jellyfish during her first days there. Her mom, Melinda, is always glad for her when she can travel, but very happy when she returns safely home, too!

That’s all the news from Lake Gotothefair and Hello to all the friends and family of Kenny and Alice Lake, Congratulations on 50 years of marriage. 

Monday, July 14, 2008

Wright/Cromwell News

07/14/2008

Wright/Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson July 14, 2008

Hi, I just got back from Walnut Grove, Mn for the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Days and Pageant.  Yes, I took my granddaughter, Tayiah and we took off on Friday morning with severe weather warnings in affect, but that didn’t stop these two hardy Minnesota gals.  I guess if Laura and the Ingalls family could travel by covered wagon all the way from Pepin, Wisconsin to Walnut Grove in the 1870’s, we could face a predicted storm in our mini van.  I almost felt like the mini van is like a covered wagon when you think of all the stuff we had packed in there “Just In Case!” I had been to the pageant 4 years ago and almost froze, so I had enough clothes to survive a winter storm with us.  Luckily, we didn’t need any of those.  The weather at the pageant was fantastic.  It was warm and we had just enough wind to blow any mosquitoes away.  The pageant doesn’t begin until 9 PM, so they can use special effects like fire and special lighting.  This pageant has been taking place since the 1970’s and is put on by a huge community of volunteers.  There must have been over 100 people, of all ages, who volunteer to make this event happen.  They only pay the director and the lighting and sound specialists and all the rest of the profits go back into the Pageant improvements.  All in all, it’s a wonderful event and takes place for 3 weekends in July.

Jill Dahl welcomed her exchange student sister, Astrid, from Norway this past week.  It was great to meet her at the Co-op Store over the weekend.  I’m sure Jill and Astrid really enjoyed their time together.

Have you ever noticed those celebrity advertisements for milk?  Well, I’ve been collecting those Milk Mustache ads since 1995 and was wondering if anyone else out there does this same thing?  I must have over 200 different ones and am still collecting, so if you see one, please save it for me, but try not to fold or wrinkle it. Thanks.

Vacation Bible School will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell the week of August 4 – 8th.  If you want your children to attend or if you can volunteer to help, please call the church to sign up.  The number is: 644-3640.

Don’t forget to attend Alice and Kenny Lake’s 50th Anniversary party on July 20th at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.  1 – 4 PM with music by the Chmielewski Fun time Band.

Sweet Harmony will be performing at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright on Saturday, July 19th at 2 PM in conjunction with Wrong Days in Wright this coming weekend!

The Cromwell Class of 1952 will be meeting at the Tower – Tap in Kettle River on Saturday, July 19th at 6 PM.

The Area Clothing Depot will be having a “Special Bag Sale” during Wrong Days in Wright.  You can fill a bag for $1.00 on July 19th – 10 AM – 3 PM only.

Our sympathy to the family of Arne Takkunen, 93, who died recently.  Arne was the brother-in-law of Aldur and Betty Johnson as he was married to Aldur’s sister, Ruth Johnson.  Arne and Ruth would spend a lot of time in our area in the summers and he will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Berries, berries everywhere!  Well, not really, but there are berries at Fink’s again this year.  Just give them a call for the best picking times.

I remember when I was first married in 1970 that I would pick wild strawberries along the roadsides and there were years when I picked gallons of berries.  Wonder where all those berries went?  I don’t see any anymore.  Maybe it’s global warming!  I doubt it, as things change so who knows?

Have a great week, enjoy these warm summer days and make plans for the County Fair.  The Carlton County Fair will be August 14 – 17th this year.  Yes, it’s almost August and the summer is going fast, but then it always does.

While in Walnut Grove I met a gal named Caroline and she said to say “Hello” to Lloyd and Linda Shelton.  She said she was on a trip with them to Europe in the 1970’s and is still good friends with them.  Caroline was our tour guide at Walnut Grove.  It always impresses me that wherever you go, you seem to meet folks you know, or who know folks you know.  I also met Denny Farah from McGregor as he and his family were in the Marshall area at a family reunion.  Small world!

There are several area students attending Summer School this month.  The Elementary have Summer School in August.  Then school will resume on September 2nd, the earliest possible date, with it starting right after Labor Day.

By the time you read this, Lonnie and Sandy Gervais should be new grandparents again.  Both son, Tom and Destiny and daughter, Carrie and Andy are expecting at anytime now.

They say, “No news is good news”, and this week seems to be short on news, so it must all be good.

That’s all the news from Lake Attendwrongdaysthisweekend and Hello to all the folks that are planning class reunions this weekend during Wrong Days in Wright!  And a very special Hello to BV, stay well!