New Hayes Lake State Park Manager is No Rookie

by Jeff Olsen

Meet Allen Larsen, a sizable chap who isn't complaining about his newest gig, which is overseeing Hayes Lake State Park where the denizens include bear, deer, bobcat, fox, an occasional cougar, and 10 million mosquitoes when it is the monsoon season up here.

Most recently, it's been fairly dry and Mr. Larsen, who hails from Tower, Minnesota, was done with work for the day and enjoying life with his family and all the amenities.

He's been with the Minnesota DNR for 12 years and had been the operations supervisor for the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area in Gilbert dur...