Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Veteran's Day Services Held

Missy Rogers, wife of a veteran who was deployed to Iraq, was a speaker at the Veteran's Day service at Viking Middle School held on Monday. Seated behind Mrs. Rogers are her husband Steve who served in Iraq, daughter Katie, John Terkelsen, Chaplain of the Woodville American Legion Post and Principal Hank Dupuis.

Mrs. Rogers said it was difficult having her husband deployed in Iraq. "A lot of prayers took place. I prayed for the safety of my husband and other soldiers." Her recommendations for family members of military personnel deployed to Iraq include: don't watch the news because news focuses on the negative; try to keep things normal; and use resources available such as mentoring programs and kindness of neighbors.

Steve Rogers finished his deployment in October of 2005.

Mrs. Rogers said she would be interested in starting a support group for family members of military personnel deployed to war zones. She said her number is in the book for those who are interested.

Three Generations

There are three generations now at work at McGee's Fix-It Shop on the east end of Baldwin's Main Street.

Harry started the business in the fall of 1961 and bought the shop from Leo Strain. He said he has enjoyed his years in the fix-it business. "I must-I'm still here."

His son Don joined the business in 1979. He also currently serves as Village President for Baldwin.

Matt is a 2002 graduate of Baldwin-Woodville High School and then spent four years in the Marines, including 18 months in Iraq. He was discharged from the Marines in 2006 and started in July of this year at the Fix-It Shop.

Dancing for Darfur

Many people do not know of the horror going on in a place called Darfur. It is time that we raise awareness everywhere so we can come together and help stop the oppression and genocide that lies therein. Darfur is in the western part of Sudan, a country in middle east Africa. Since 2003 as many as 400,000 civilians from Darfur have been murdered. As many as 2.5 million have been forced to leave their homes and have had to move to refugee camps to avoid violence, rape, torture, and murder. About 1 million Darfurians still live in their villages and are in grave danger of becoming the next victims of the Janjaweed, the local tribal and other militias that are responsible for this genocide. All though we seem so far away from a place like Africa, there are still ways we can help.

On November 30, we will "Dance for Darfur." The Baldwin-Woodville chapter of FCCLA (Family Careers and Community Leaders of America) will be holding a "Dancethon" to raise money for Darfur. The eight hour event will be open to the public and is for all ages. It will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 30 at Baldwin-Woodville High school and will end at 2 a.m. the following morning. We will take you back to the days of swing! There will be refreshments, swing dance lessons, and an opportunity to dance the night away!

All who plan to attend are encouraged to pick up a pledge sheet prior to the event to help raise money to be sent to Darfur. Pledge sheets will be available at Treasures from the Heart, First Bank of Baldwin, and the Baldwin-Woodville High School. If you are unavailable to raise money prior to the event, there will be a $5 entrance fee to get into the dance. Any and all donations are also welcome at the door.

If you have any questions at the event please call Angela Schmoker at (715)684-3321 ext. 114. All are welcome to attend this worthy cause. Please help us end the genocide in Darfur!

Snow Sends Vehicles Sliding

Just the small amount of snow last Friday morning resulted in a few traffic mishaps.

According to Gary Newton, Chief of the Baldwin Station of United Fire and Rescue, the Department was called to several traffic accidents Friday morning as a result of snow.

Newton said a couple of vehicles slid in ditches along I-94. He said the Department was called to three separate incidents and there were others throughout St. Croix County to which other departments responded.

At the incidents to which United Fire responded, Newton said there appeared to be no serious injuries.