Learn to camp or refresh rusty camping skills at Zippel Bay State Park on Thursday and Friday, August 12 and 13 during an overnight “I Can Camp!” workshop.
A group of up to six people pays $55 for an entire day of outdoor recreation and quality camping instruction. The workshop includes a wide range of activities such as wildlife watching, geocaching and nature walks and at Zippel Bay  State Park it will coincide with the park’s annual Meteor Shower Party too, a chance to enjoy the Perseid Meteor Shower at the big beach, far from city lights.

Residents and staff of LakeWood Care Center extend a warm invitation to the community to attend their annual Ice Cream Social, planned for Friday, July 30 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Ice Cream Social is a perfect summer afternoon activity, located in a great location with wonderful people.
It is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy time together in the beautiful backyard garden at LakeWood Care Center. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Highway 11 Ramblers for your listening pleasure.

The Gastric Bypass support group meeting is every second and fourth Monday of the month. Meetings are located in the old part of the hospital in conference room 1 or 2. For more information, call 634-2108.

The Evangelical Covenant Church of Baudette is having Vacation Bible School, August 2 through 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. for age 3 to 6th grade.  The theme this year is “Son Quest Rainforest.”  We are co-hosting VBS along with Cornerstone Assembly.  Come for music, games, crafts, Bible story time and memorization.  If you have any questions contact Kris Berthiume, 634-2462 or Cathy Christensen, 634-1856.

Pequana Playhouse presnts An Evening of Good Taste on Thursday, August 12, at 7 p.m., at the First Lutheran Church in Baudette.
Come and enjoy the musical talent of local artists and sample a taste of opera, listen to a medley of songs from Phantom of the Opera.
Also enjoy a taste of dessert after the show, join us for refreshments and visiting.
There is no charge for admission to this event.

Finally, summer is here in Baudette.
The Northern Loons Chapter of Red Hat Society gathered at Queen Jean’s and then moved to Mary ‘s house, how’s that for spontinaity? Lots of quality conversation was had plus coffee and dessert.
A trip to Mahnomen Shooting Star Casino and a Red Hat Extravaganza is taking place on September 25.
Any questions? Call Queen Jean at 634-2515 and leave a message.

On August 12th, Zippel Bay State Park will host its second annual Meteor Shower Party! Bring your lawn chair, your picnic basket, your blanket and your bug spray!

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Hot summer weather continues in Minnesota, and families are enjoying summer vacations that include long weekends at the beach or pool. Unfortunately, as cool and refreshing as it may look, water can be dangerous.
A person can drown in as few as ten seconds and drowning can occur in just inches of water -- including wading pools, hot tubs and even buckets. The DNR offers these tips to help make it a safer summer in Minnesota:

USDA Rural Development in Minnesota has received an additional $20 million in Recovery Act funds to help low and very-low income individuals and families achieve home ownership.
To qualify, applicants must purchase or build in a rural area, generally defined as a community with a population of 20,000 or less. Applicants also must be considered low or very-low income, meet income and credit standards and demonstrate repayment ability. Funds can be used to purchase an existing home or build a new one.  

Monica Verhelst and Thomas Wilson, both of Minneapolis, MN are proud to announce their engagement. 

Sharyn Adell (Bitzer) Young, 64 of Williams, MN passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at home surrounded by her family. She loved to read, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.

The 29-mile “Wildlife Drive” for vehicular access to the Roseau River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), 20 miles northwest of Roseau, will be open from July 17-25 and weekends thereafter through August 22.
The drive traverses wetland, woodland, brushland, and farmland habitat, allowing visitors ample opportunity for wildlife viewing. Roseau River WMA is one of 45 viewing stops along the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail.

The Lake of the Woods girls' basketball team played in the Pacesetter Varsity MIT (Minnesota Invitational Tournament) on Saturday and Sunday, July 24-25 in St. Cloud at the College of St. Benedict, Whitney Rec Center and St. Cloud State University.
The 18 girls' teams playing include New London-Spicer, Sebeka, Champlin Park, St. James, St. Francis, St. Cloud Cathedral, Crookston, Pequot Lakes, Litchfield, Eden Valley-Watkins, Isle, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, Perham, Montevideo, Lake of the Woods, Rogers, Foley, and Burnsville.

The Lake of the Woods girls’ softball team had a picnic and awards ceremony July 3rd at coach Doug and Pat Nosan’s home.
Ally Moeller was awarded the most improved and rookie of the year awards. Most dedicated player was Shelby Nosan.
The unsung hero of the team was Deanna Olson.
Jennie Buegler and Shelby Nosan tied for the Leadership award.
The most valuable player was pitcher Ali Hasbargen.
Hasbargen and Nosan were named to the Sub-Section North 8A team and Buegler got an honorable mention.

Residents of Lake of the Woods County and surrounding areas, Lake of the Woods School continues to collect UPC bar codes from both “Campbells Labels for Education” products and “Our Family Labels for Learning” products. These are two separate programs that both benefit the school in many different ways.

Lake of the Woods County
Historical Society

15 Years Ago–1995
The blueberry crop was a complete failure resulting in a bear problem in and around Baudette.
Foundation work was underway on a twelve unit family complex in  East Baudette.
Adaline Goff, receptionist and office manager of the first Baudette Clinic, died.
Funeral services were held at Birchdale for Harriet Nelson-Rasmussen.

Your July 20 Guest Column about people hating tax and the marijuana advocates want to be taxed caught my eye. Americans sure do hate tax, but our greed can make us overlook the need for government to be funded. Study the USA Alcohol Prohibition.

The Lake of the Woods Women of Today would like to thank all of the people who participated in our recent Willie Walleye Day Celebration. We had an outstanding group of vendors, and offered our young people fun, wholesome activities in downtown Baudette throughout the day.
Hosting Willie Walleye Day has been an honor and privilege for our organization, and planning for the event is one of the highlights of our year. We have purposely focused our attention on making our event as family friendly as possible.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a week. First the ups with the ground breaking for the electrical lineworkers school.
Then the downs with the announcement that Ben Franklin would go out of business. The last thing we want to see is a huge, empty building in our town.
It is happening all over the country, with locally owned businesses unable to tread water until the economy recovers.

by Penny Mio
editor

Katie Haws, DNR Nongame specialist, gave a talk about the piping plovers of Minnesota,which have been in decline for the past 30 years.
About eight people took place in the discussion last Saturday, and then walked the beach to see if they could find the bird.
The shorebirds are listed as endangered on the Minnesota Endangered Species Act, the worst of three categories; special concern, threatened and endangered.

by Penny Mio
editor

The ground has officially been broken for the new lineworkers school north of Baudette.
The project was on a fast track, the idea coming to the forefront last October and school set to begin August 23rd.

Six years ago Chelsie Fuller Bird was diagnosed with Lymphoma at the age of 19. Lymphoma is a blood cancer that strikes 102,000 Americans each year and kills over 60,000. This year marks the five year anniversary of her being cancer free. To celebrate, she and her four siblings (three sisters and one brother) are running a marathon in Dublin to raise $25,000 for cancer research.

Matthew Dyrdahl and Emily Brooks, Development Specialists from the Headwaters Regional Development Commission, recently led a group of local citizens on a walking audit of the City of Baudette as part of the Community Physical Activity implementation from the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) initiative.  A walking audit is an audit of the walkability or pedestrian access of a community.  The group completed a one-mile walk and assessed the city for barriers and assets for walking and biking.  Results of the

Lake of the Woods County
Historical Society

15 Years Ago–1995
 In an article furnished by North Star Electric, Don Dostall, Steve Ellis and Jim Levasseur gave accounts of their jobs as linemen. In the advertising of Minnekota Power Systems, of which North Star was a member, linemen were called the “uncommon people, with the common goal of keeping the lights on”.
Vernon Olson and Lenore Carlson announced their engagement and forth coming marriage.

Now that the 2010 camping season has started, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds campers that only firewood purchased at a state park or from a DNR-approved vendor may be brought onto any DNR-administered lands. This is to prevent the spread of forest pests, such as emerald ash borer (EAB), which can catch a ride to new locations.
For a list of approved firewood vendors, visit DNR website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewood_vendors/vendors/list.html.The receipt supplied by the approved vendor must be retained as proof of purchase.

Customs and Border Protection announced that new technology has been recently installed at the Baudette border crossing.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been installed at the Baudette port of entry and is now available at most Minnesota ports of entry.  The RFID receivers are positioned in the primary lanes leading up to the primary booths.  The receivers are capable of reading radio frequency identification-enabled travel documents.  

This year we have more outdoor gear to rent or borrow here at Zippel Bay State Park!

Important Dates:
August 1 - 2010 Farm reconstitution deadline
August 1 - CRP Primary Nesting and Brood Rearing Season ends
August 2 - CRP Managed Haying and Grazing begins
August 2 - County Committee Election in LAA #1 nomination filing deadline
September 1 - 2011 NAP Fall-Seeded Annual Crops and Value Loss Crops sales deadline
September 6 – Office closed for Labor Day
September 15 – CRP Managed Haying/Grazing ends; remove bales/livestock and report acres
September 30 – 2010 ACRE crop prioritization deadline

The Minnesota Historical Society has awarded a historical and cultural grant to the Lake of the Woods County Historical Society in the amount of $8,905. The grant was approved by the Society’s awards committee on May 25 and will support the purchase a microfilm reader printer for use by staff and patrons of the Lake of the Woods County Museum.

The Got Shoes? 5K in Williams July 10th raised more than $2,200 toward charity.
Gold Sponsors with monetary donation of $250 or above: Northern Excellence Seed and Northern Farmers Cooperative Exchange
Silver Sponsors with monetary donation $100-$249: RJF Agencies, Inc, Sportsman’s Lodge, Andy’s Garage, Coca Cola Bottling of International Falls, Baudette Dental, North Star Electric, Dodd’s Lumber and Howards Cenex