In honor of the memory of her parents, who both had a love of music and were musicians at the Christian Reformed Church many years ago, Doris Bakker donated a Boston baby grand piano to the church. The piano was officially “dedicated to the Glory of God,” at the Sunday morning service March 21.According to Pastor Anson Veenstra, pictured above with Doris, both Doris’ parents, Elva and Arnold, were at one time organists at the church, back in the days when pump organs were in use. Alva Bakker died last November at the age of 101.
Photo courtesy of James Lokker.
Catch the Comedy March 25
Laughter is often the best medicine. So get your health back without a prescription this Thursday, March 25 at the Orchard. Our own Trevor Anderson is bringing his award winning team of comedians to entertain us in a family friendly venue. Be prepared to laugh often and hard.
Your ticket includes a chicken and beef meal, beverage and a show all for twenty-five dollars. Remember this is a Baldwin-Woodville Area Foundation fundraiser. We need your help to provide grants and scholarships for our communities. We need your support.
New equipment at United Fire and Rescue
A new piece of rescue equipment has been puchased by United Fire and Rescue Department. The rescue tube is manufactured by an Iowa company and can be used to rescue someone stuck in corn in a corn bin. The tube is lowered into the corn bin in four pieces and then assembled and pushed down around a victim stuck in corn. Then a vaccum is used to suck the corn out from inside the tube to free the victim.
According to United Fire Secretary-treasurer Bill Peavey, the rescue tube can be used in other situations involving a cave-in, such as mud or sand. The approximate price of the potentially life-saving piece of equipment is $2,400.
News from the Exchanges
Interesting items from
Surrounding communities
CENTRAL ST. CROIX NEWS: Known by many at St. Croix Central simply as “Senor” high school Spanish teacher Tom Martin has long been a favorite teacher and now he has received statewide recognition being selected as one of 100 recipients of the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship Program. Fellowship recipients are chosen for their superior ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, their ability to motivate others and for their leadership and service within and outside the classroom. Each Fellow’s school also receives a $1000 grant. “It is an honor to earn a Kohl’s Fellowship,” Martin said. “It is very much a recognition of the entire school district, as many of the teaching ideas and strategies I have implemented in my classes which led to the Fellowship have been the result of many conversations with staff members.
SUN-ARGUS (SPRING VALLEY): Talk about coming full circle. Dennis Sorenson began his career in law enforcement in Spring Valley as a part-time police officer in 1983. He worked three years for the department before being hired as a full time deputy for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department in 1986. Flash forward 24 years. Sorenson is now back as a part-timer with the Spring Valley Police Department, this time in the capacity as the Chief. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department lieutenant was approved as the new Spring Valley Chief of Police last week and began his duties this past Monday on a part-time basis.
NEW RICHMOND NEWS: This was not the news supporters of the new river crossing at Stillwater wanted to hear. U.S. District Judge Michael Davis on Thursday issued an opinion to stop the proposed new bridge over the St. Croix River, after considering the matter since September 14, 2009. On Monday, John Soderberg, a New Richmond banker who has worked on the bridge proposal for years said he hasn’t been able to sleep since hearing the news. “But we’re not going to stop,” he vowed. “We’re going to move ahead until we get this thing done. You haven’t heard the end of it.” Soderberg said he’d been talking with national and area leaders about what the next step will be. Whether or not there will be a legal appeal is uncertain at this time point, he added. “Everybody knows the bridge has to be replaced at some point,” he said. “And the longer we wait, the more it’s going to cost.” Elected officials representing the region also voiced their displeasure over the new developments. “I think it’s a very disappointing decision,” said U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-Third District) on Thursday afternoon. “This is a setback in the progress of the bridge, but hopefully only one that is minor.”
HUDSON STAR~OBSERVER: Glen Hartman, a paramedic with St. Croix EMS, has been named 2010 recipient of the Dan O’Connell Outstanding Performer Award. The honor is bestowed annually by the Hudson Noon Rotary Club to a member of the local ambulance and rescue service selected by his or her peers. “His dedication is second to none in the organization.” St. Croix EMS Chief Eric Christensen said of Hartman in presenting the award at last Thursday’s meeting of the Noon Rotary. Christensen said Hartman played a leading role in St. Croix EMS’s move to full -time paramedic level service six years ago.
PIERCE COUNTY HERALD (ELLSWORTH): A Maiden Rock man faces three felony charges for allegedly assaulting a man outside a Pierce County bar then threatening witnesses who tried to help the victim. Kevin D. Fisher, 48, was charged earlier this month in Pierce County Circuit Court with substantial battery, two counts of intimidating a victim and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. The charges stem from a March 2 incident in Elmwood, when Fisher allegedly attacked a man, kicking and punching him in the head at The Sandbar, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities at the scene said the man likely needed stitches to fix his cut lip. The victim told police his sister is married to Fisher’s brother and there was some arguing about children, though it is unclear why Fisher became upset and the argument became physical.
