Monday, August 13, 2007

The Wright and Cromwell Area News

08/13/2007

WRIGHT - CROMWELL NEWS BY JENNIE K. HANSON AUGUST 13, 2007

Hi, welcome to the lazy, hazy days of summer.  At least that’s what I’ve always heard about August.

One of the fondest memories of summer for me growing up on a farm in rural Cromwell were the trips to the hayfield during haying season.  My mom would fix a big lunch and then she would load up the kids and drive out to the hayfields.  We would usually sit under some nearby trees for shade and enjoy the homemade sandwiches, cold chicken, cakes, cookies or whatever she would put together for a meal.  We would usually sit and rest after the meal and just enjoy each other’s company.  The men that worked in the field, my dad and Uncle Einar and my brothers, were always covered with hayseeds and sweat.  I always admired their strong muscles and their “Farmer Tan”.  What are you summer memories?

I got a call from Bonnie (Solomon) Potter and she asked me to ask if anyone had an extra copy of the 1957 Cromwellian as hers were destroyed years ago.  She had to move several times and they just didn’t make all those moves.  If you do have a copy, Please let me know.

Are any of your kids going off to college or tech school?  Please let me know as it would be great to write a little about their career choices.

Last week I accidentally bought and tried to use the wrong ink cartridge for my computer printer.  It’s an HP # 94 type, so if you use that type of ink, give me a call and you can have it.  I tried to return it to Wal-Mart, but they won’t take an item back if it has been opened and I don’t blame them.  Who would buy an opened ink cartridge?

Jeff and Star (Houck) Anderson are the proud parents of a son, Phoenix Allen, born on July 23, 2007. Congratulations, all!

Lutheran World Relief is looking for people to help fill school bags for their relief project.  Items needed are Rulers, Notebooks, Scissors with blunt blades, plain pencil sharpeners, pencils, erasers, construction paper, and crayons.  If you can donate any or all of these items please drop them off at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright or let me know.  Bethany in Cromwell is also collecting.

Did you know there are over 22,000 homeless youth in Minnesota? Well, according to statistics there are.  The Lutheran Churches are also collecting items for the Youth Outreach in Duluth.  Items needed for this are: deodorant, diapers, white T-shirts, socks, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, new towels, soap, shampoo, sleeping bags, famine hygiene products, and gift certificates to grocery stores or fast food places.

The Cromwell Harvest Fest Committee is planning their Annual event on September 7, 8, and 9th.  Roger Harp’s name was accidentally omitted from the posters and fliers, as he is the contact person for the crafters.  His number is 644-3430 if you are interested in reserving a spot for Harvest Fest.

Congratulations to Clint Disterhaupt of Moose Lake and Tara Haugse of Tamarack on their upcoming wedding on August 25, 2007 in McGregor, Mn. Parents are Alden and Cindy Disterhaupt and Sam and Kathy Haugse.  Did you notice that both of these last names have a H-A-U in them?  (Hay-You) Interesting?

With the school year only a couple of weeks away, there is a need for anyone who has used guitars.  MaryRose Varo has been teaching guitar lessons and there are some kids who don’t have a guitar and would love to get one so they too could take lessons.  If you can help out, let me or MaryRose know.

Don’t forget to attend the 50th Wedding Anniversary for Arnold and June Collman on Saturday, August 18th at Bethany in Cromwell, Mn.

This is also the weekend of the Carlton County Fair so try to take that in, also.

The Farmer’s Co-op Store held their 88th Annual Meeting at the Wright Senior Building on Thursday, August 9, 2007.  The store is doing well, but there have been several unexpected expensives that need to be taken care of. The pump in the well needed to be replaced and now a new heat pump system is being looked into.  Lois Sulkowski was elected new board member as her daughter, Lori didn’t want to take it again and the other board members are Madelyn Adelsgruber, Leland Tippett, Janet Hansen, and re-elected Board Chair:  Jennie K. Hanson. Stop in and see what’s happening at your local store.  There’s a unique country store that you don’t see everyday.

The Huhta Family (that’s Connie’s family) held their 19th Annual Family Reunion at Island Lake in Cromwell with over 55-60 relatives in attendance.  Grandpa Ed helped welcome Dan Collier, Jr. back from Iraq, too. He is the grandson of Goldie and Hulda Huhta.  Dorothy and Howard Saari were also there.

Robert Kedrowski was awarded the Senior Airman Quarterly Award Plaque at Shepherd AFB in Texas recently.

Logan Shiflett is at Fort Benning, Georgia for his Army National Guard AIT Training.  He should be back home by September 14th when he will attend Staples College.

The family of George Balsness would like to thank everyone who attended George’s funeral.  They are grateful for all the cards, and wishes of sympathy for them.  Your friendship is appreciated. George was a very unique gentleman.  He was born on October 6, 1915 in Cromwell to Thomas and Hazel Schmitt Balsness.  He was the 2nd of 8 children.  He graduated from Cromwell High School in 1934.  After graduation, he entered President Roosevelt’s newly formed Civilian Conservation Corps.  He served for 3 years at the Kabetogama Camp near International Falls, MN.  In 1937, George began a new job as a Postal Clerk in the Cromwell Post Office for the next 4 years.  In October of 1941, George accepted a position in Washington, D. C. in the Insurance Claims Dept of the Veteran’s Administration.  2 months later Pearl Harbor was attacked. The claims department was kept very busy from that until the end of WWII. In 1952, George was able to transfer to a job he really loved.  He became a surveyor’s assistant with the National Parks Service.

He worked outdoors at many parks, memorials, and monuments in the Washington, D. C. area.  George had many interesting stories to tell of his Washington, D. C. experiences and really enjoyed telling them.

George retired in 1971 and returned to Cromwell in 1972.  In Cromwell, he was very active in the senior citizens, Forest Hill Cemetery, Bethany Lutheran Church, and was a volunteer driver and delivered Meals on Wheels. He was Carlton County’s Senior Citizen of the year in 1986.

George spent the last 3 years of his life at the Villa Vista Care Center in Cromwell.  He was thankful for the excellent care he received, the kindness of the staff and especially enjoyed the musicians who performed.

George was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Dorothy, Bernice, Betty, Lila, and Bud and survived by his sister Rose and brother Floyd and many nieces and nephews.

Our sympathy to the family of Joe Karpik of Floodwood who died at age 78 on August 9, 2007.  Joe was Karen Tamminen’s dad.  Karen is married to Bruce Tamminen and they also live in Floodwood with their three kids, Scot, Emily and Kyle. It is never easy to lose a parent.  Our sympathy to all.

Ten teams from Cromwell, Floodwood, McGregor, and Mountain Iron participated in a 3 on 3 basketball league this summer.  Cromwell’s Gray team won Division II with a record of 8-2.  Team members were Kaylee Johnson, Brittany Johnson, Ann Collman, Lenore Collman and Christina Stenson.

That’s all the news for this week from Lake Gotothefair.