Monday, October 08, 2007

The Wright - Cromwell News

10/08/2007

The Wright - Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson October 8, 2007

You’ve probably all seen them lately.  They’re everywhere.  They are crawling across the roadways and highways.  What are they, you may ask?  Well, I’m talking about the annual migration of the Woolly Bear Caterpillars.  You know those cute little fuzzy black and brown caterpillars that seem to be going nowhere at this time of year.  It doesn’t seem to matter which way they are traveling, but there they are.

Well, there is a legend that goes along with these little creatures.  Folklore tells us that these fuzzy critters can forecast winter.  As the legend goes, expect a mild winter if woolly bears wear a broad reddish-brown band across their middle.  But if the bug’s decked out mostly in the black that starts at its head and rear, it’s time to plan an extended Southern vacation.

Science tells us that the reddish-brown can simply reflect a woolly bear’s age and feeding habits, but I prefer to believe the legend.  I did see a woolly bear this week that was almost all black, so look out, it could be a very hard winter!

The latest online seasonal forecast offered by the experts at the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center calls for an increased chance of above-normal temperatures this winter, so we’ll see who is more accurate, the woolly bear or the scientists?  Check back with me next spring.

Yvonne Peterson informs me that her sister, Myrna Smith Knight, 67, died on September 19, 2007 in Denver, Colorado.  Myrna was in the class of 1957 and would have dearly wanted to attend her 50th Cromwell High School reunion this year, but was just too sick.  Myrna leaves behind a loving family of husband, Dean Knight; son, John and Gail Nelson; daughters, Robin Nelson, Beth Nelson and Pamela Holmgren; brothers, Leo Smith, Gerald (Birdie) Smith, and Albert “Skip” (Mary) Smith; sisters, Yvonne Peterson, and Peggy (Bob) Decaigny, and several grandchildren.  Family and friends met at Bethany Lutheran Church after her ashes were buried on Friday, October 5, 2007.

Our sympathy goes out to the family of Hartley Anderson, 77, of Prairie Lake, Mn who died on October 1, 2007.  Hartley worked at the Duluth School District in Elementary Education for over 30 years.  He leaves behind his wife, Dorothy; 4 children and their spouses and 4 step-children and many grandchildren and great grand children.  His funeral was held on October 6, 23007 in he Lincoln Park Community Church in Duluth, Mn.

There will be a gathering of friends and family at the home of Dwaine Bruchu in Wright on Saturday, October 13th from 2 – 4 PM.  Dwaine, 56, died on September 22, 2007.

We want to wish Fred Olesiak a very Happy 50th Birthday on October 11th.  Fred was one of my 1st 4th Graders, so you know how old that makes me?  You can send him a belated birthday card or just a greeting from time to time at:  Fred Olesiak 224177, MCF, 2305 MN BLVD St E, St. Cloud, MN 56304-2424.  Thanks, I’m sure he would appreciate hearing from all of you.

Barb Dahl wants to announce that her son, Allen and his wife Liz Dahl just had a new baby girl.  Ella Louise was born on September 28th, 2007.  Little Ella is welcomed into the family by her sisters Claire and Alaura and brother Keenan.

It was nice to see so many pictures of Andrew French in the latest Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce News.  Andy helped welcome several new businesses to Cloquet and it is great to see another one of Cromwell – Wright High School’s graduate’s doing so well.

Recent visitors at Doug and Margaret Sewell’s was Margaret’s daughter, Kathleen and husband Urs Eggenschwiler of Switzerland with two of their oldest company employees who were given an all expense paid two weeks vacation trip to America including all the western parks, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.  Then they flew to Mpls and toured the city and were shown where Kathleen grew up and went to school.  They also came to Doug and Margaret’s for a dinner including her uncle George Westerlund.  Then they traveled to Duluth to see Lake Superior, took a cruise on the lake and up to Two Harbors.  The Swiss people certainly enjoyed their first trip to America.  The next evening, Doug and Margaret met them all in Cloquet for supper.  Margaret says that their visits were short, but very much appreciated.  Two days later, Doug’s daughter Diane and her daughter Rachel came over for the day and dinner.  That was also a fun day.

Please remember to attend Art Jauss’ 90th Birthday Party at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cromwell on Saturday, October 27th from Noon to 3 PM.  Art’s actual birthday is February 2, 2008, but do to the unpredictability of winter, he is celebrating a little early.

Diane Hansen and Bob and Sandy Howard will be welcomed into membership at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on October 14, 2007.  These folks have been very active in the church and now want to become official members.  WELCOME!

If there are others that want to join a church in the area, please contact their respective pastor’s as I’m sure you would be welcome to get involved in a church family.

Our football team keeps on winning, but McGregor sure gave them a run for their money last Friday night.  The night was cold, rainy and very windy, but that didn’t stop hundreds of folks from attending the game at McGregor.  The final score was 23 – 20, but the game could have gone either way.  Let’s hope we can keep winning without any major injuries.

Also, remember that Friday, October 12th is Parents night for Football and Cross Country.  There will also be a brief recognition for Keith Bergstedt’s induction into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame during half time of the game.

There will be NO SCHOOL on October 18th and 19th and November 5th.  School Conferences will be on November 7th and 8th starting at 3:30 PM.

The Wright Seniors will be holding a Cash BINGO on Saturday, October 27th at 7 – 9 PM.  Please were costumes if you like.  There will be a mystery guest, so come and try to figure out who he or she is!

The Community Craft Sale is just around the corner.  Plan to attend on November 3rd at the Cromwell Wright School from 9 AM – 2 PM.  Call Peggy Olson at 644-3746 or Pauline Strand at 644-4713 if you want to sign up for a spot at the craft sale.

The Area Clothing Depot, located in the old Wright School, has a FREE coat and sweater give-away on October 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th.  The depot is now open on Thursdays from 10 – 3 also.

From time to time the depot gets requests for free clothing from area residents.  The depot policy states that requests for free clothing must be in writing from the person or organization making the request and what they need.  (Such as t-shirts, large sizes, etc.) Then the staff of the depot will be responsible to fill that request.  There is a 3-bag limit.  Remember that on the first Saturday, Tuesday and now Thursday of the month the cost is only $1.50 a bag, (other days it’s only $3.00 a bag) so you can really get a bargain on those days.  The depot has kept prices the same for over 10 years now, so please respect our policies.  Donations have also been coming in very nicely, thanks so much for making the depot a success.  The next regular monthly Depot meeting is at 3 PM on October 16th.  Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings.

The area Boy Scouts will be out and about selling Popcorn until October 31st.  This year they will deliver the popcorn when you order so this should be more convenient.  They will also be selling popcorn at the Clark Station on Saturday, October 13th.

The Mini Bus goes to Duluth on the 12th and 26th and to Cloquet on the 18th.  Call Edna Samuelson, at 357-2701 to sign up.

That’s all the news from Lake Igotuptooearlytodothenewstoday (4AM) and Hello to all the Cribbage players in the area.  Remember Cribbage at Lake Side on October 11th and 25th at 7 PM this month! 

Monday, October 01, 2007

Wright/Cromwell News

10/01/2007

Wright/Cromwell News by Jennie K. Hanson October 1, 2007

I got a note from Kevin Davis and he writes: “I would like to thank everyone involved in the Chili Feed Fundraiser that was held in my behalf on Saturday, September 22, 2007.  I would also like to thank everyone that attended and those that donated their time, money, prizes and baked goods. It’s nice to know so many people care.”

We are asking for people to form the Luminary Service Committee.  This is a community event we would like to keep going!!! Call Jeanne Weimer at 218-644-3953.  Just a reminder, start collecting your jugs for the service!!! You can drop them off at Jeanne’s house behind the Trolley!!!  Just drop them by the pole barn.... 

There will be a Chili Feed and all the fixin’s at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Saturday, October 6th from 5 – 7 PM.  $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children.

There will be a 90th Birthday Celebration for Art Jauss at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell from noon to 3 PM on Saturday, October 27, 2007.  Art’s actual birthday is on February 2, 2008, but with the unpredictability of the weather in February, the celebration will be in October.  Let’s hope we don’t get a snowstorm in October!

Over 75 people attended the Benefit for Tad Walli at Lake Side School on September 25, 2007.  Tad was overwhelmed with the support and financial gifts he received.  This was an “Old-Fashioned” community get together, which was really fun for everyone that participated.  Phillip Neese was also there to tell stories and get information on Lakeside or Nelson Lake Schools.  According to Margaret Webster, “A good time was had by all and a Big Thank You to you all, too!!

A huge Thank You goes out to everyone who participated in the Pork Supper at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on September 28th.  The food was great and the committee worked well together.  There were many, many volunteer hours that were needed to make this event possible and also thanks to Thrivent for the matching funds that were made available.  Bob Pearson donated all the rutabagas and they were delicious, Thanks, Bob!

There will be a Baby Shower for Sara Smith on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church starting at 1 PM.

I was reading some old scrapbooks articles and noticed that it was on October 4, 1954, that 2nd grader, Renee Langevin died in her home from an accidental gunshot wound in Cromwell, Mn.  Renee was one of my classmates at the time, but I can only remember a little bit about it.  This tragic accident sure must have been terrible for her family, but know that she is still remembered fondly.  Her dad had a car dealership and mechanic shop in Cromwell near where the bank is now located. 

There was a lot of activity at the school on September 20, 2007.  First of all there was a thunderstorm and lightning was hitting all over the area.  Well, at about 1 PM, lightning hit the north roof of the school.  The whole building shook and smoke could be seen coming from the building, so the Cromwell-Wright Fire Department was dispatched to the school.  No students were in danger or risk.  The fire department surveyed the location of the strike and was declared the site safe.

I just happened to be subbing that day in the 6th Grade and heard the hit.  I didn’t really think it hit the school at the time, so was not too worried.  The lights also went out a few times for only a few minutes at a time, so the afternoon was unusual.  It wasn’t till later that an announcement was made that the school was hit by lightning, but there was no reason to be alarmed.

There was a boy in 6th Grade who was supposed to go up to the Special Ed Room shortly after the hit, and he didn’t want to go because of the storm.  I told him he was a big boy and it was probably safer up there than in the 6th Grade room.  Little did I know that the lightning had hit very close to his room!  He went and all was okay in the end.

There will be NO SCHOOL on October 18th and 19th due to the Education Minnesota Teacher’s Convention.

There will be an informal Celebration of Life for Dwaine Bruchu, of Wright, Mn who died recently at his home in Wright, Mn on Saturday, October 13th, 2007 at 1 PM.  Dwaine was the late Roxanne Norton’s Significant Other.  Roxanne died on March 15, 2007.  Dwaine and Roxanne lived in the mobile home behind the mobile home behind the Wright Place Café in Wright.  I know this sounds confusing, but those are the facts!

A Parent’s Night will be held on October 12th for the Football and Cross Country players.  Watch for Bus bulletin for more information. 

There will be an informal gathering of folks at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright from 6 – 8 PM on October 25th to share stories about loved ones who have died.  Bring a picture, a memento and a favorite food of the person who has died.  Come ready to share.  Pastor Janeva will share about her sister, Catha, who died in 1974.  Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend.

The Area Clothing Depot will be having a coat and sweater give away on October 16, 20, 23,27,and 29th.  Two coats and five sweaters per visit per person.  The depot will also be open on Thursdays from now on starting on October 4th. 10 AM – 3 PM.  Volunteers will be needed to help out on Thursday if you can.  Just stop in and talk to anyone that is working there to volunteer.  Donations are also coming in on a regular basis, which is great!

Elizabeth Schafer invited all the volunteers from the Area Clothing Depot to her home on Glacier Lake North of McGregor, MN on Sunday, September 30, 2007.  Glacier Lake is near the Big Sandy Lake Wildlife Refuse.  Elizabeth provided everyone with a wonderful meal and even more wonderful accommodations.  You would have to see her home to believe it.  It’s an old lodge and houses many rooms for people to stay.  The fireplace was going and Jennie Waisenen provided piano music.  Those attending from the depot were Art Jauss, Dorothy Groth, Trudy Holm, Mary Oja, Leo Dahlberg, Madelyn Adelsgruber, Shirley Walli, Ailie Costello, Cloyce and Vivian Murdock, Jennie and Bob Hanson and their two exchange students: Sonet and Gwang Ho.  Elizabeth met all of us at the depot and has wanted to invite us to her home for quite a long time.

Elizabeth’s good friends, Mollie and Rodney helped with the food and even gave some of us a pontoon ride on the lake.  This was truly a wonderful afternoon with a wonderful lady.  Thanks, Elizabeth for your hospitality!

I’m needing more news from the Cromwell Area, so please call, write or email me with your news.  My email address is or to read past Wright News articles go to http://jkh.cwhanson.com My son Curtis has set up this website and it is very well done if I do say so myself!

That’s all the news from Lake Gototheareaclothingdepotforyourbargins and Hello to Elizabeth and friends!

ADDON:

Stan Davis’ brother, Dean Davis, will be here for a visit the week of October 7 through 13. Dean graduated from Cromwell about 1949 and now lives in Oregon. Some of those he went to school with ask about him from time to time and we would like them to know that if they would like to visit with Dean while he is here, they can call Stan and Judy Davis at (644-3652). Dean hasn’t been to Minnesota for several years.