Monday, August 06, 2007

The Wright and Cromwell Area News

08/06/2007

Wright News by Jennie K. Hanson August 6, 2007

Hi, Welcome August!  I’ve heard so many folks commenting that it’s August, then the county fair and then summer is over.

Well, to many of you this is probably true.  As I sit down to write this, there are less than 30 days left till school starts and the fair will already be over in 2 weeks!  So, I’m sure it seems that summer will be over too soon.

The United Methodist Church held a Pie Social/Silent Auction/Music Event last Friday night and it was great.  The pies were wonderful the music was inspirational and the Silent Auction held many surprises.  Among these was an original painting by my mom, Katharine Dahlman.  Of course I got it and will be grateful to the folks who donated it to the auction.  I got to thinking about all the paintings mom did over the years and wondered where they all are?  She started painting in the early 1970’s and continued till she was 84 years old.  So if you have an original Katharine Dahlman and no longer have a use for it, please let me know, as I would be interested in acquiring it.  The members of the UMC Thank everyone for attending and the support of this event.  The money will go towards paying the fuel bill this winter.

John Sathre, formerly of Wright, along with the rest of the 3rd yr and staff of Masters Commission will be here on Friday, August 10th.  The schedule right now is to be in the Ma and Pa Day parade with the West Side float and then Saturday night doing something at West Side I believe at 7 pm.  Sunday, they will be leading the Service at West Side 10 AM.  Free afternoon in Duluth and Sunday eve at The Encounter Youth for Christ center. On Monday they will be teaching a drama workshop at 10 AM at West Side, which is open to all churches. Monday eve is to be a bon fire at Homeland Ranch (Tim and Vicki’s).

Jennie Sathre writes. “ It was really nice to be at Wrong Days.  Tell Beanie again what a great Job she is doing. I am so glad to see The Depot doing exactly what God intended. The Gospel music was very good. My favorite Hymn when I was a little girl was In The Garden and I haven’t sung it in quite a while. It brought tears to my eyes to know that God sung that to me so long ago and continues to sing it today. Bless you for bringing such a gift to me and others.”

There will be a 50th Anniversary Celebration for Arnold and June Collman at Bethany Lutheran Church on Saturday, August 18th at 2 P.M.  You are welcome to come help them celebrate this milestone in their lives.  They will be pleased by your presence, and have requested “No Gifts Please”! Did any of you see the photo of Lonny Gervais and his granddaughter, Aurora, in last weeks Duluth News Tribune?  Sure was cute! I think it was in the July 31st issue.  Lonny and Sandi’s daughter, Carrie married Andy Knutson a couple of weeks ago, too.  Congratulations to all. Also appearing in the paper (DNT) was Dorothy Groth and most of her great grandchildren on July 31st.  She has 11 of them.

Kiiera Anderson and her cousin Lexy also went to Bible Camp this summer. So, all together there were over 10 kids that were able to attend this summer.

The Mini bus goes to Cloquet on Thursday August 16th and to Duluth on August 10th and 24th.  Call Edna Samuelson at 357-2701 to sign up in advance. The bus stops in Wright, Cromwell and the Villa Vista.

Lake Country Power is again taking a bus to Bismarck, ND to the Coal Creek Station on September 12-14th and then September 18 – 19th to the Wind Farm Tour in Trimont, MN.  Sign up soon or you will “Miss the bus!” Go to their website at www.lakecountrypower.coop sign up or get more information or you can call 1-800-421-9959.

Art Jauss was honored to be one of the Grand Marshal’s at the Hey Days Parade in Tamarack on August 4th.  I think the other Grand Marshal was Rob Laucamp’s mother.

Leo Westerlund celebrated his 93rd birthday on Sunday, August 5th with his family in New Brighton. Mr. Westerlund was the Valedictorian of the Cromwell High Class of ‘33. He is one of the oldest living alumnus of the school. Leo was in Cromwell recently to visit his Brother George, Sister Margaret and Brother-in-law Doug Sewall.

Do you have an I-35W story to share?  I’m sure many of you knew someone who had used that bridge the day of the collapse.  I know that my niece and nephew and their 2 small daughters had just cone over it the day before it collapsed.  I also heard that Mark Bauman was working on the bridge that day, but didn’t happen to be on it when it went down.  Please email me with your stories to share.

Congratulations to Earl Riggs, Esther Broadway, Wilmer Martin, Esther McGuire, Mary McAllister, Harry Seppanen, Carl Pohjola, and Dora Huhta who will be celebrating their birthdays this month at the Villa Vista.  Please feel free to send them cards as I’m sure they always enjoy getting mail.

I was at the bedside of George Balsness, 91, when he passed away on Friday, August 3, 2007.  I had just happened to stop by to see him and then he died. His brother Floyd and sister-in-law Joyce were also there when he died. His funeral was on August 7, 2007 at Bethany Lutheran church in Cromwell, MN.  George was preceded in death by his brother Bud, and his sisters, Bernice, Lila, Betty and Dorothy.  George is survived by his brother Floyd (Joyce) and sister Rose Zacher.  George lead a very interesting life.  He worked in a CCC Camp, and worked in Washington, DC at the National Park Service for over 30 years.  He worked on the grounds of the White House starting when Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President. He retired in 1971 and moved back to his hometown of Cromwell.  George was a real asset to our area.  He kept the History of Cromwell alive and well.  We will all miss him.  He was a kind and gentle man.

The next Senior Dance at the Cromwell Park Pavilion will be on Thursday August 23rd from 1-4 PM.  Les Harkonen is scheduled to play for the dance.

Mayor, Dick Huhta has asked me to announce that on August 22nd, there will be a meeting at the Cromwell Park Pavilion at 6:30 PM on a report that is out on the Comprehensive Land Plan Study that the City of Cromwell has and at 7 PM people concerned will be able to ask questions or make comments with your elected government representatives.  Please Attend!

There will be an Organ Recital at the Bethany Lutheran Church on August 14th at 1:30 Pm.  The Bethany church as purchased a new church organ and the former owner will give a performance, so it should be great.

Siiena Lee Anderson, Daughter of Lea (Tiili) and Tom Anderson, was Baptized on July 29, 2007 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wright, MN by Pastor Janova Stromberg.  Her sponsors were Blaise Johnson, a cousin from Colorado, and Brandy Connelly, Lea’s friend from Illinois.  Grandparents are Connie Lind and Joey and Geno Anderson.  God Bless this little one.

Has Logan Shiflett gone into active duty in the military?  Please let me know if he is in training or on active duty.  Thanks.

It may be hard to believe, but August 4th, was the 5th Anniversary of Skye Rinta’s untimely death.  I visited her grave and noticed that some fresh roses were placed on the headstone that day.  Her memory is still with so many.

Please remember to register at school soon if you have new students that will be attending Cromwell/Wright School this fall.  School resumes on September 4th.

Wesley Heikkila says, “Thank You, Thank You” for all the calls, visits, cards and prayers while recuperating from a total hip replacement.  His health has been restored!

Kari Heikkila will be attending Carthage College this fall majoring in Nuro Science and doing research into Stem cells.  She recently graduated from Bemidji High school 10th in a class of over 300 students and was also the youngest in the class.

Get well wishes go out to Marian Wydra after recent surgery.

Dennis Cieluch and the whole Wrong Days committee want to send out a special Thank You to Cody Goranson for his unwavering help during Wrong Days this year and for all his help in the past years.  Dennis says he couldn’t have done his job with out Cody!

The Area Clothing Depot has really picked up a lot of business since they relocated in the Old Wright School.

That’s all the news from Lake Gotothefair and Hello to Leo Westerlund and the family of George Balsness.