Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper
Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper
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by Jeff Olsen Head coach Mike Lundbolm and his long-time assistant Paul Grafstrom were honored recently as the Class 2A coaches for 2023. "It certainly is a nice honor when you've been doing it a long time," said Mike, who appreciates Roseau's golf teams - the most recent ones and in the years past for their exceptional play. "To get this honor, you have to have pretty good programs to start with in order to be considered for it." He noted that the Rams have had success for a long time. "We've... Full story
Henry Boucha was Warroad. He was blue collar and a gifted athlete who overcame serious setbacks. He was a unifier, a fighter in the best sense of the word, and a proud Ojibwe. He is Warroad, he will always be Warroad, he will always be a Warroad Warrior. When Henry died on Monday, my first thought was the first time I ever heard of him. Sorry, I didn't live up here 54 years ago. It was the 1969 Minnesota State Hockey Tournament, and little Warroad was playing the powerful Edina Hornets in the... Full story
by Jeff Olsen So much for Dee's plans! Roseau native Deanna "Dee" Decimus Holmes talks fast, so hang onto your helmet. Yes, it's been her dream after earning her master's degree in sports administration from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Dee, the daughter of Vangie and Robert Byfuglien, is 39 and a 2001 Roseau High School graduate. "I earned my bachelor's degree in Recreation Sports Management at St. Cloud State University," she said in early April. With the B.A. and then the...
by Jeff Olsen Here came the judge! On Tuesday morning in the Roseau County Boardroom, Judge Donna Dixon conducted the swearing-in ceremonies for the recently elected public officials, starting with District 1 Roseau County Commissioner Glenda Phillipe. The oath of office is similar to the president of the United States swearing to faithfully execute the duties of his or her office. Judge Dixon smiled when there were occasional slip-ups by the public officials saying their oaths. In consecutive o... Full story
by Jeff Olsen Brooke VonEnde, 18, recently was crowned the 2023 Minnesota Miss United States Agriculture pageant winner in Fairbault. It was an initial surprise to her parents last May when Brooke announced that she had completed all the paperwork to enter the Roseau County pageant. She is a perfect fit for it - a spunky lass with a love of agriculture and riding high in the saddle - okay, the tractor seat, according to her mom, Jandi. "She does everything from helping with the field work,...
Everyone has heroes. Mine is Mike Royko, the esteemed late Chicago columnist, who was the best there ever was. He was only 64 when he died in 1997 after suffering an aneurysm. Royko wrote great columns. He went after politicians, especially crooked ones, the muckety mucks, and had his readers laughing with his humorous takes on society and the working class. He was the son of a saloon keeper, and he spoke their language. Here's his piece on Saloon Etiquette: Never talk to someone who drinks with...
by Jeff Olsen On Sunday, Mr. Battles mentioned he was 68 and was told that he didn't sound that old. "Well, I golf a lot," he laughed. A week ago Friday at the Warroad Estates, he got a hole in one while golfing with a couple of pals, Gary Pieper and Dick Merriman. He's no hack on the golf course with his 11 handicap. Plus, he shoots in the low eighties. What hole was it on? "It was on number 16, and I was using a 5 iron," he said, estimating a distance of somewhere in the range of 130 yards. Se...
Ever overstay your welcome? Ever worry that some relative might be mentally deranged and in the Twilight Zone. I found a perfect example, which shows that doing a good deed can be hazardous to your health. The person in this case had a screw loose and promptly ended his in-laws' visit. "Hello, Jesus, I wasn't expecting to meet you this soon." And the headline, please: Man pleads guilty to killing family because they 'wouldn't leave' Immediately, I paid attention because I have also overstayed...
by Jeff Olsen There are all kinds of cops, sheriffs, and peace officers. Some are quick with a quip and even loquacious while others say very little or nothing. Last week, Roseau County Sheriff Steve Gust talked about one of his new deputies, who fits in well with the department. This is very appropriate because Deputy Damian Moore won't have a problem finding the Skime Store out in the boonies. He's from here. Hire locally might be Sheriff Gust's modus operandi. "He's a well-rounded guy and... Full story
I'm a dad watcher. You can learn a lot from observing dads at their finest or not quite their finest moments. We all have those moments. I haven't found a perfect dad yet, but I've been close. I will mention a few dads and a grandpa in this space and you'll ask, "Where's my Melvin?" He's a great dad!" Tell him that this Sunday. Tell him often. That you're proud of him. That you love him. As a kid, I always worried my dad would die before I grew up. He died at 67. He should have stuck around long...
by Jeff Olsen Behind the bench, Judge Donna Dixon of the 9th District Court can occasionally be imposing like an old schoolmarm receiving late assignments that are also poorly done. But there are times in her courtroom at the Roseau County Courthouse when she breaks out in a smile. Even laughs. "I've been a judge since November 5, 2001. So, it's over 20 years now. I'm in the courtroom most days." On that particular day in January, she was not at the courthouse. "Unfortunately I had close...
On Monday, my wife handed me a stack of already addressed Xmas cards, the ones I'm supposed to write nice little comments on. "Is Leo Neudecker still alive?" she asked about a guy I went to high school with more than 60 years ago. "Oh, he's dead," I told her, and tossed Leo's card in the trash. It cost me just a stamp. He's still very much alive, but I did him a favor. He would have gotten tired moving his lips while reading my babbling Xmas comments. All the cards are free. Most reputable...
It was a perfect phone call last Saturday when President Donald Trump made the call from the White House to put the squeeze on Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. He wanted Raffensperger to manipulate enough votes to throw Georgia into Trump's win column. There was just one glitch. Mr. Raffensperger recorded the entire conversation. This is what every public official should do when a call comes from this president. Say this about the mafia. They always expected electronic bugs to be...
by Jeff Olsen Roseau School Superintendent Tom Jerome on Monday issued a reminder to the district's families that it is important that they have alternative plans in place in the event the present learning models need to change. "If the change does occur, families have to be ready and prepared to change as well," he said. He noted that parents with elementary school children should consider securing child care or having alternative plans in place. "That's if we change," said Mr. Jerome, explaining that the Roseau School District currently...
by Jeff Olsen Mayor Jeff Pelowski plays it close to the vest. For sure, if he were a woman, he wouldn't tell his age. Or weight! He is serving the last year of eleven two-year terms and is the longevity man. At 38, he was sworn in on January 1999 and has been the Mayor of Roseau during four presidential terms. He laughed heartily when told that being the mayor is similar to being a newspaper reporter because some people are counting on him while others are wishing he'd move on. Are you running a...
Imagine driving a school bus ever since President Gerald Ford was in office and, during that time, kids have thrown up in the bus, needed to go to the bathroom and can you drive the bus a little faster, and all the usual kid stuff like suffering nose bleeds and various unexpected emergencies. It's daycare on wheels. Roseau School District 682 bus driver Dennis Strandlund, 77, is pulling the pin after 43 years of driving kids to and from school. "It's actually 43 and a half years," he said...
We are an immigrant nation. At the beginning of the 20th Century, the White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs) didn't much care for the hordes of invading Irish, Italians, Slavs, Greeks, and Germans coming through Ellis Island and pouring into the big cities with their strange dialects, religious beliefs, and large families. Now, it's hard to tell the difference between them (the invaders) and us (we who belong here). Wait a minute. My people were the outsiders. Last weekend, my brother Rob was...
What would it have taken to defeat the Greenbush contingent of BGMR at the Section 8A Team Tournament at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls last Saturday? Possibly, a full line-up with some experienced wrestlers since the Rams coughed up four forfeits in losing on a 54-23 decision. After the Rams forfeited at 106, Connor Eidsmoe won by injury default over Tony Olson at 113 to tie the contest at 6-6. At 120, it was the coach's son, Bryce Bergeron, who held on to win on a 6-4 decision over Race Knochenmus. Next, at 126, junior Riley...
Following the noon lunch at the Four Seasons Senior Center in Roseau on Thursday, Thora Halvorson introduced the two guest speakers, DFL challenger George Bass for District 1A and incumbent GOP Representative Dan Fabian. Approximately 40 people attended the event. Mr. Ball, a Thief River Falls resident with an MBA and is the business manager for Northland Community & Technical College, spoke first and addressed his concerns about his opponent's votes on some key issues this past legislative...
For starters, they won't be serving venison at the social event of the season for area deer hunters. But they will be swapping great hunting stories as well as awarding numerous rifles and other great prizes at the 30th anniversary banquet of the Roseau River Chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) on Monday, October 10, at the Roseau City Center. Over the past 30 years, the Roseau River Chapter of the MDHA has achieved an enviable record in conservation, community goodwill, and...