Monday, July 30, 2007

The Wright and Cromwell Area News

07/30/2007

Wright News by Jennie K. Hanson July 30, 2007

This year’s Grand Marshals for the Harvest Fest Parade will be Lincoln and Jeanne Hansen.  Please congratulate them on their fine work for our community when you see them.  Harvest Fest will be held the weekend of September 7th, 8th, and 9th in Cromwell, MN.  This is usually a huge event, so mark your calendars.

The YOT Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 14 will be held at 1:30 at the Bethany Lutheran Church, Cromwell.  We will have a special organ music concert from a representative from Schmitt Music.  The whole community is invited, so be sure to mark it on your calendars.

The Cromwell Methodist Church will host a Pie & Ice Cream Social on Friday, August 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m.  These yummy desserts will be followed by a Hymn Sing and a Silent Auction.  Come along and have some fun with us.

On Sunday, August 12th, the Cromwell Methodist Church will hold their annual Church Picnic at the home of Eric and Kathy Collman on Prairie Lake.  The 10:30 service will be followed by a Pot Luck Luncheon.  All are welcome to attend.

Save the date!  There will be a Chili Feed fundraiser honoring Kevin Davis on September 22 from 1-4 at the Island Lake Campground Park.  Watch for more details.

Grace Krogh was surrounded by her family, her sisters and their families at their Mattson Family Reunion.  From ages 3 months to 93 years, there was plenty of visiting and fun events planned for everyone.  The events included a picnic at Enger Tower, Duluth; a dinner cruise on the Vista Star; a day at the Krogh farm; a hayride; several musical gatherings and group choral music; the scenic Lake Superior shoreline and of course, Betty’s Pies. Relatives came from California, Utah, Arizona, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, Connecticut and yes, even from London, England.  Grace and her family would like to thank all of their neighbors and friends for your part in making our ‘Cromwell Day’ a huge success.

Dave and Michelle Hedin attended the wedding of Shelly Tillman recently. Shelly is the daughter of Wendy Clark of Cromwell.

Our sympathy to former Pastor Ed Nieman and family as his mother, Mildred Nieman, recently passed away in Iowa.  The Nieman’s are now living and working in Brycelyn, MN.  I have their address if you would like to send a card.

I’ve been doing some research and found that the School in Wright, the school at Lakeside and our U. S. Post Office were all built in 1908.  That means that next year they will all be 100 years old.  I’m sure there will be some extra celebrations planned for these anniversaries.  Wouldn’t it be great if Wright School and Lakeside School had a joint 100th Anniversary celebration at Wrong Days next year?

Is there anyone out there who would be interested in restoring a old horse drawn school bus?  The Kingsley Family still owns the bus that was used to bring children to school back before motorized busses were in use.  The Cromwell Area Historical Club would like to have this project done before it is too late.  Please c all me for more information on this.

There will be a circus at the Barnum Fairgrounds on August 5th.  See details at the area businesses.

Devon Egge, Mandy Egge, Jakob Slyster, Keegan Warner, Josh Oliver, Jamie Bridge and Brianna House were at Camp Vermilion the week of July 23rd – 27th.  They had a great time.

100 years of marriage!  Who could be married that long?  Well actually two couples will be celebrating.  The 60th Wedding Anniversary of Art and Florence Newgren and their daughter Geraldine and Ed Nynas’ 40th.  So, come to the Open House Anniversary on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 at the Sno-Gophers Building, North Hwy 73, Cromwell, from 2 – 4 PM.

There will be a concert at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell on Sunday, August 5th at the regular 10:30 AM worship service. Sweetwater Revival will be performing and I hear that they are really great!  Don’t miss this one!

The Farmer’s Co-op Store Annual Meeting will be on Thursday, August 9th at 6:30 PM.  Come and join they for their up-date on the store and there will be entertainment, and lunch, too.

The Wrong Days Committee would like to announce that they took in over $6,000.00 this year and with expenses taken out, there should be $ 3,500 to $4,000 left over for park expenses and improvements.  Dennis Cieluch, would especially like to thank Deb Johnson and Jody and Blaine Schatz for their above and beyond help with donations, help, and promotion of Wrong Days. Several other groups had fund raising events in conjunction with WD and they also did well.  So, all in all, this year’s Wrong Days was one of the best one we’ve had. Thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make it happen.

I got a wonderful email from Cheryl Saaristo the other day and would like to share parts of it with you.  So here it is:

For those of you reading this I ran into Jennie Hanson at Johny Hakala’s service today in Cloquet.  I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t talk about him. He was such an awesome giving, caring person.  You know I will really miss him.  He and his X-wife Sue did daycare for Leah in Cloquet from the time she was 6 months old to about 3 years old when we moved to Wright. They were the best daycare we have ever had.  Johny and his family really acted like she was part of the family, they made her part of their family-even going so far as to getting her and the other daycare kids Christmas presents when I know they were really hurting for money themselves.  A lot of people had really fallen behind on paying them for daycare, some just didn’t pay.  They purchased presents for 40 some daycare kids.  How amazing is that.  I have seen their kids grow up and we continued to be friends with them all.  I would like to say it was the entire family including their kids that took care of Leah and all of the daycare kids.  They were all the BEST .

This is what an amazing person Johny Hakala was.  Brian was in KY before he went to Iraq.  Johny was the only person to come and check on me and the kids.  I was out of fuel oil with out any money to buy anymore or wood.

After my surgery he helped me when I didn’t have anyone and was on crutches I couldn’t even get down the stairs to build a fire.  I am very happy and proud to say he never had anything else on his mind and never ever did or said anything inappropriate-he wasn’t like that.  He did it because I needed the help and he cared about the kids and I, “ that was the kind of person he was.” All of our stuff was already in KY.  Plus, I was on crutches after my surgery with a pulmonary embolism.  I really didn’t have anyone else to help me and I really needed the help.  I was working 40 to 58 hours a week with 2 hours of travel time a day in addition to raising 2 young kids on my own.  Johny came there to build a fire in the wood stove and take out the garbage or whatever I needed.  In the summer I paid him to mow the lawn and cut some trees down but other than that it was out of the goodness of his heart.  I don’t think he ever had extra money but he also never asked me for even gas money to drive from his house all the way to my house.  He was a good man and a very good friend to my family and I.  I have been lucky and thank God for knowing him, he will be greatly missed.  I know he also helped others out as much as he could.

How did this happen?  Why weren’t any of us there for him in his great time of need.  I feel so guilty.  I haven’t talked to Johny for a long time, only once I think since my family got back from D.C.  He told me he cried when he found out about Brian and he was almost crying when he told me.  I am the one crying now, why wasn’t I there for him.  Please God forgive me for not being a better person and making time to help him in his terrible time of need.  I will miss my friend.  I am so sorry Johny for not being there for you.  We all get hung up in our own lives not realizing how short life can be.  My husband and I both almost died last year (both in our 40’s).  Johny in his late 40’s.  I just want everyone to know what a good man he really was.  There is a lot to be said about a man like that, that did that “just out of the goodness of his heart” with no ulterior motive other than to be a good person.

Alcoholism has wrecked an entire family and changed how many lives by one man who was an alcoholic.  Alcohol is a depressant-that took a wonderful husband, father and a selfless friend to many.  In the 10 years that I have known Johny I have only seen him drunk or drinking once.  I know some people knew the alcoholic, I didn’t.  He did tell me how he struggled and how bad he felt about it and how he was when he was drunk he was very sorry about that.  He was a good person that alcohol stole from us.

By Cheryl Saaristo

Again, thank everyone for all pulling together and helping out our family in our terrible time of need.  Thank you all for the prayer chains, pulling together and building our garage in Wright.  There is a lot to be said about family and friends.  Speaking about family Dot Richards will be greatly missed by 100’s of people.  Look at how many lives she affected in such a positive way.  When we are walking outside and there is a smell in the air of good cooking it is most likely Dot cooking up a storm in heaven FOR EVERYONE.

That’s all from Lake What’sitallabout?  Have a great rest of the summer!

Monday, July 23, 2007

The Wright and Cromwell Area News

07/23/2007

Wright/Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson July 23, 2007

Well, It’s over!  Wrong Days in Wright, that is.  There was a wonderful crowd at all the events and until it rained on Sunday morning, the weather couldn’t have been better and even with the rain for the Pancake Breakfast, a big crowd turned out for that, too.  A huge Thank You goes out to everyone who participated or volunteered in any way.  It takes a huge amount of planning and work to pull off this event every year, but it’s worth it. Presley Hassel and Amber Cahoon were crowned King and Queen of Wrong Days for 2007.  There were over 1700 buttons sold by the candidates this year. The Talent show went well and so did all the other regular events.

We can thank Toini Aho and the late Francis Gregg for getting Wrong Days started back in 1966.  They were tired of donating to all the area community festivals and not getting much in return, so they got a few people together, borrowed $100.00 from the fire Department and started selling buttons and planning the first Wrong Days.  In those beginning years, everyone wore the weirdest clothing and tried to do things “Wrong”!  Most of that has gone by the wayside, but the spirit of WD is still here and we hope it continues for many years to come!

Get well wishes go out to Zona Turja as she recently underwent Kidney Stone removal surgery in Duluth at St. Luke’s Hospital.

Our sympathy to the family of Arnold “Johnny” John Hakala, 49, who died On July 16, 2007 at his home in rural Cromwell, MN.  Johnny was born in 1957 and graduated from Cromwell High School in 1976.  He was a hard worker and worked in several area businesses over the years.  Johnny especially loved helping the elderly and loved spending time with his grandchildren.  I remember Johnny in the 4th grade as a quiet, serious kid who was an asset to the classroom.  He was always proud when he kicked the kickball over the fence at old Wright School.  Not many kids could do that and he was one of them that could.

So to his children, Tim, Teresa, and Nicole and his mother Dorothy and brothers and sisters, Bill, Tom, Lola, Nancy and Jill and his family and friends, we bid a fond farewell to a great guy!  Keep the wonderful memories of Johnny close to your hearts!

Our sympathy also goes out to the family of Wayne Maki, 75, of Cromwell. Wayne graduated from Cromwell High School in 1949 and then served in the military for several years in the Korean Conflict.  He is survived by his brother Arthur of Cromwell and sisters Irene Atwood of Carlton, Irja Roy of Duluth, Elna Abelson of Seattle, and Ilene Basquez of Denver.  Wayne’s ashes will be buried at the Eagle Lake Cemetery.

Ann Markusen’s mother, Jeanne Markusen, 88, died Friday, July 13, in Boulder, Colorado.  Jeanne was born February 14, 1919, in Faribault, Minnesota, to Joseph Roell and Margaret Dillon. A business grad of University of Minnesota, she married Honeywell colleague and Cromwell native David Lee Markusen, June 3, 1944. Both had been able to attend the University during the depression because tuition was free, and each lived with working sisters and aunts who gave them street car fare and lunch money.

Dave’s mother, Ruth Lee Markusen, was a beloved English teacher in Cromwell for many years. His father, Renus Markusen, built many of the homes and churches around our region as well as playing the fiddle, becoming an egg farmer in his retirement, and entertaining people with his droll sense of humor.

Jeanne later earned a teaching degree at the U of M and taught in the Minneapolis Public Schools for more than a decade. Following David’s untimely death in a rock climbing accident on the St. Croix River in 1974, she moved to Colorado Springs, Estes Park and Boulder.

Jeanne was an avid outdoorswoman, a camp counselor in her teens and a mountain hiker into her ‘80s, an encouraging and attentive mother, and an active volunteer for her church, Girl Scouts and Frasier Meadows Green Room. Jeanne is survived by her children Ann Roell Markusen of Cromwell, James Roell Markusen of Boulder Colorado, and Steven Roell Markusen of Edina, Minnesota, and eight grandchildren.

Memorial services in Boulder and Minneapolis will be held later. Ed Lindquist, formerly of Cromwell, died several weeks ago, and his memorial service will be held at Bethany Church in Cromwell on Sunday, July 29th. Check with family to know the time.

Do you get the Community Connections newsletter from Volunteer Services of Carlton County, INC?  If so, you saw the article about the Area Clothing Depot’s Re-Grand Opening and 15th Anniversary.  The featured photo was of Marilyn Tippett and her daughter Suzanne and 3 grand daughters.  They shop the depot quite often and love to see all the new stuff that comes in each week.  Beanie (Dardanell) Randa is the manager and there are at least 15 registered RSVP Volunteers that work on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM – 3 PM.  The prices per bag remain very low.  Only $3 a bag and $1.50 a bag on the 1st Tuesday and 1st Saturday of the month.

Early in 2007 the Area Clothing Depot was able to relocate to the 1st floor of the old Wright School.  They now have more room and more square footage. Donations are always welcomed except for computers or hard to dispose of articles.  The depot has to pay to get rid of unusable items, so please be selective in your donations.

It was great to see Mark and Ginny Larva at church on July 15th.  They came to represent the Gideon’s of Minnesota.  Mark gave an interesting testimony and received donations for Bibles that are distributed around the area and the world.  It was nice to hear that 100% of all money donated goes to buy Bibles.  One never knows when or where these Bibles will be helpful.  He also said that because Cromwell/Wright School has NO public sidewalks where students walk, Bibles cannot be given out to our school children at school, but they will be available at the Carlton County Fair in the Gold Building for FREE .  Just stop by and ask for one for yourself or your children.

Former Cromwell High School basketball star, Beth Clark, who played four years for the UWS Yellowjacket basketball team and graduated from UWS in 1988 was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at UWS on July 19, 2007. Beth Clark will receive the Mertz Mortorelli Coaching Achievement Award. For many years Beth coached at Hermantown High School in the basketball program and just last year moved into an administrator role as the athletic director. Congratulations, Beth.  And to think you got your basketball start with Stan Verich and myself as your coaches!  I think we learned more from you than you ever learned from us!!

Be sure to remember Arnold and Marcella Dahl’s 90th Birthday Party at their home on Tamarack Lake (6646 Tam Acres) on Sunday July 29th from 1 – 4 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend and No Gifts, Please!

Wendy Tillman just got back from her daughter, Shelly’s wedding in Oregon. Shelly got married on 07-07-07 at 7:07 PM.  Wendy’s other daughter, Leslie and granddaughter Brianna and grandson, Corbin were there, also.

Pastor Janeva Stromberg did a great job flipping pancakes on Sunday, the 22nd, from 8 – 9 AM at the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast.  It was raining so hard that when she got to the church the congregation was already singing the opening Hymn: “Shall We Gather At the River?”

The Cromwell United Methodist Church is sponsoring a Pie/Ice Cream Social on Friday, August 3, beginning at 6:30.  Delicious pies will be joined with a small Silent Auction and a Hymn Sing.  Please come and join the festivities. I think they are planning a fundraiser picnic for the benefit of Kevin Davis the next weekend.  Kelly Johnson has the details.  (591-7671)

Mae Maruski moved into the Villa Vista last week.  This will be a difficult adjustment, I’m sure, so please try to stop in for a visit with her as well as the other residents at the Villa.  They always enjoy having friends stop in for a chat.

I’d like to close this week’s news with a very touching poem by Verlena Jones who recently lost her son Josh in a car accident.  There are so many people hurting in our community with all the deaths we’ve had to deal with, I’m hoping this poem makes us all think, pray, visit , and share our feelings with each other.

Nowhere to run, no place to hide It’s always there so deep inside

The pain, the grief that never ends Who are these people we call friends? Some may search for which words to say Others simply stay away

Paint a picture, take a walk Call me if you need to talk Go on vacation, get some rest I know it’s hard but do your best

Do the things you used to do We are always here for you They stop by because they care But are they really ever there?

I know you don’t know what to say In hopes my pain will go away It’s my new life it’s part of me I’m not the same I’ll never be

Nowhere to run, no place to hide He should be here by my side

My son is gone why don’t you see I’m standing here but it’s not me A piece is missing from my heart From the very deepest part

Nowhere to run, no place to hide It’s always there so deep inside

You say that time will heal all things I know that isn’t true My child is forever gone While yours is home with you

My last thought before I sleep The first when I awake You don’t understand this kind of grief It’s something you don’t shake

So do stop in when passing by Just bare with me if I cry You can’t erase this pain and sorrow It will still be mine tomorrow

Nowhere to run, no place to hide Not since the moment my son died

by Verlena Jones 2007

Bible Verses for the week:  Matthew 6: 33 and 34.  Seek yea first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.

That’s all the news from Lake Wefinalygotsomerain and Hello to all the Wrong Days Volunteers.