Serving Carlton and Pine Counties Since 1895

Frontpage

Young anglers fish for knowledge

Tony Roach

Sixth grade students from both Moose Lake and Willow River Schools took to Echo Lake at Moose Lake State Park for the annual Fishing for Knowledge adventure on February 26. Sponsored by the Finlayson-Giese Sportsmen Club, the event brought in state conservation officers who were on hand for a brief overview of fishing and ice safety and gave students a hands on look at the DNR plane.

kids fishing

Expert angler Tony Roach joined the youth in support of teaching youngsters the joy of fishing. He says that, statistically, if children don’t fish while they’re young, they may never get interested in the sport. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it wasn’t for fishing as a kid,” said Roach, outdoor sports TV personality, promotional speaker, and operator of Roach’s Guide Service at Mille Lacs Lake.
Raised along the shores of Moose Lake, Roach attended Moose Lake School until his sophomore year in 1994, when his family moved to Burnsville. His attributes his love of fishing to his dad, a tournament angler, who taught Roach the art of fishing “up and down the shoreline of Moose Horn River.”
Having the opportunity to experience fishing through the Fishing for Knowledge outing, says Roach, “is good for the kids.”
“We’d like to thank all our sponsors,” said Dennis Salmela, president of Finlayson-Giese Sportsmen Club.

Write comment (0 Comments)

Sturgeon Lake Fire Department nears contract agreement with outlying areas

Officials of Stugeon Lake Township are gearing up for its annual meeting on March 9 to discuss the pending increase in fire KathleenMandy

protection rates from the Sturgeon Lake Fire Department. While the township is discontent with the nearly double increase in fees, “We’re not changing our request,” said fire chief Mike Mikrot at the February 23 Sturgeon Lake City Council meeting.

Four communities in contract with the fire department, i.e., the cities of Denham and Sturgeon Lake and the townships of Birch Creek and Sturgeon Lake, learned last fall of a pending increase in expected contributions to cover an anticipated jump in the fire department’s 2010 budget. After hearing concerns from Mikrot over rising costs and insufficient funding, the Sturgeon Lake City Council, which oversees the fire department, since set the 2010 budget at $50,000.

While the four entities are expected to cover the $20,000 increase from 2009, the contract that expires in January has yet to be signed by all parties. At issue for the Sturgeon Lake Township is the marked increase in expected funding and the budgeting restraints of the township. Last year the township paid $6,700 for fire protection, and the rate increases to about $13,000 for 2010.

Mikrot plans to attend the township meeting to further explain the fire department’s budget, which currently covers basic costs of trucks and equipment maintenance, fuel, fire hall usage, administration, insurance, and first responders. “They can’t get a better deal anywhere else,” said Mikrot.

Because of the proximity of Sturgeon Lake Township, neither Willow River nor Moose Lake Fire Departments cover the area, except in mutual aid efforts. And even if contract coverage could be obtained from the other cities, the expected contribution from the township would likely run much higher.

The pending 2010 contract of the Sturgeon Lake Fire Department is recommended by the Minnesota State Fire Department Association, as well as the League of Minnesota Cities. Criteria used to determine the amount each community is to contribute is based on population, number of structures at each site, and property market values. The number of fire calls within each entity over the past five years is also a determining factor.

Along with some state aid, proposed amounts of funding from each entity had initially been figured at $15,267 for Birch Creek Township, $1,947 for Denham, $14,756 for city of Sturgeon Lake, and $18,030 for Sturgeon Lake Township. However, these numbers may change.

Because the rates are substantially higher than in previous years, Sturgeon Lake City Council has suggested that the fire department possibly increase its budget in increments, rather than doubling the budget in one year. This could translate to lower expected contributions for this year, with steady increases annually.

City clerk Elizabeth Cisar expects to collect pertinent criteria figures from Pine County and plug those numbers into the formula used to determine equitable funding for all entities. She plans to have the information to the respective officials, including Sturgeon Lake Township prior to its annual meeting next week. “Hopefully everybody will have (contracts) passed before the end of March,” said Cisar in a follow-up conversation.

Cisar acknowledged the monetary concerns of the township yet says that all entities are seeing a large increase in contributions because of the fire department’s need for more funding. “It’s necessary in order to keep the department running and functioning properly,” she said. “They wouldn’t be (increasing the budget) if it weren’t necessary.”

The fire department has had a partnership with the serviced townships and cities since 2000. And despite Sturgeon Lake Township’s unrest over the pay increase, Cisar expects the area will continue to be covered. “But we do need a contract with them -- something in place,” she said. Once the contract is available, Cisar noted that the fire department expects it to be signed, giving them power and jurisdiction over those areas.

Write comment (0 Comments)

Star Gazing

Y.O.T Dance being held at the Cromwell Pavilion
March 25th. Performing will be Mr. Morgan. All dances are from 1-4 p.m. BYOB - setups, ice, pop & water available.

Sonshine pantry - Moose Lake
Remember the new time!
The next Moose Lake food distribution on Saturday March 13th at Evangelical Covenant Church in Moose Lake. Suggested $15 donation. Anyone can participate. Bring boxes or tubs to carry the food. New registration time - 9:00 a.m. Food distribution approximately 10 - 11:00 a.m. Student and adult volunteers are welcome beginning at 8:00 a.m. For more information - 372-8212 or 485-4800

All Senior Citizens
Got cabin fever? Come join us for a pot luck luncheon March 11, 2010 at noon in the Barnum Senior Center. Beverage and utensils will be furnished, because March is food shelf month. Please donate a non-perishable item for the Moose Lake Area Food Shelf.

Pederson Maunula Am. Leion and Auxiliary of Moose Lake
Will meet Monday March 15th at the Moose Lake Community Center meeting at 5:30 p.m. Potluck at 6:30 p.m. All members are encouraged to attend.

Lenten Lunch and Devotions
Willow River Presbyterian Church, March 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th, 11:45AM to 12:45PM. Everyone welcome!

The Moose Lake State Hospital retirees and former employees
Will have lunch together on March 17th at 1 p.m. at Gamper's. All are welcome.

Hand Drum Workshop
Learn to make a traditional Mille Lacs, two sided hand drum to take home
Saturday March 13th & 14th, noon to 4 p.m. & Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $50, Minnesota Historical Society members $45 or Mille Lacs Band Members $45. Additional supply fee $30. Register by March 10th
Reservations call 320-532-3632

Free community
tax preparation
Wednesdays starting on February 3rd thru April 14th in the
Moose Lake community center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
VITA/TCE Program sponsored by AARP. VITA/TCE programs offer free assistance to those with low to moderate incomes, including persons with disabilities, limited English proficienc and older taxpayers who file Form 1040EZ, Form 1040A or basic form 1040 s.
Call 485-8225 for more info.

Winter Snowshoe Hike
Saturday, January 16, at 1 p.m. snowshoe basics explained Call ahead to reserve a pair 218-384-4610. Info on the web www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/jay_cooke/

ALS Bookmobile Schedule
Local stops and times :
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 23; Mar. 16
Mahtowa - Store 3:45 - 4:30
For further information on the Bookmobile or Mail-A-Book services, write or call the Arrowhead Library System, 5528 Emerald Ave., Mt. Iron, MN 55768 (218) 741-3840, or check our web site at www.arrowhead.lib.mn.us

A look inside

Stats report: click here email: Webmaster