PINEPINE CITYCITY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 VOL. 134 NO. 40 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00 HOME SWEET HOME: Dragon football earns Homecoming win over Aitkin. P9 Murder charge follows Pine County drug death STAFF REPORT The deputy found the [email protected] deceased man lying on his back over a spare Jacob Avald Howard, tire on the fl oor, four feet 26, of Saginaw, MN from the bed. His body has been charged with was cold and rigor mor- third-degree murder tis and livor mortis had for allegedly selling a set in. On the fl oor and 24-year-old Pine County near Winter’s body was man the illegal opiate a capped hypodermic drugs which caused his needle that appeared to death. have been fully plunged According to the crim- Jacob Avald Howard and contained no liquid. inal complaint fi led in There was a fresh needle Pine County Court, on a Finlayson residence track on the deceased Aug. 5 at 9 a.m. a deputy where Austin Michael man’s arm. of the Pine County Sher- Winter had been found iff’s Offi ce responded to dead in a fi sh house. SEE MURDER, PAGE 20 Hagestuen honored for service, named 2019 Citizen of the Year S O P H I A C H R I S T E N BY MIKE GAINOR [email protected] Homecoming royalty crowned Lyndon Hagestuen, Pine City’s 2019 Citizen of the Year is almost a Pine The annual Pine City High School coronation ceremony was held on the afternoon of Fri- City local. Not quite – but almost. It day, Sept. 27. Top photo: Allyson Chromey (Homecoming Queen), Alaina Steele, Aaleaha makes him chuckle.“Somebody said, Thieman, Kelsey Erickson and Lexi Havel. Bottom photo: Nathaniel Webster (Homecom- ‘How long have you been here?’ And I ing King), Koleman Lind, Konnor Juszcak, Christian Fromm and Dustin Bergstrom. say, ‘Fifty years.’ ‘Oh, so you’re not a local.’” But he well remembers that day he came here back in 1970. Hagesteun was hired by Clarence Espeseth to teach Special Ed at Pine City schools and he didn’t waste any time getting Libraries celebrate 60 years to town from Moorhead State Univer- sity. “I graduated on a Saturday, and DELL GROSS BY CJ GUSTAFSON came out here Sunday night with no After 50 years in Pine City, Citizen of the [email protected] • PART 1 OF 2 place to stay,” Hagesteun said. “And Year Lyndon Hagestuen is almost a local. this is what made me fall in love with In 1959, an idea that had been Pine City was, I ended up at the motel, discussed for several years became and the people there said, ‘Oh, you lot of close friends, and he did his best a reality when Pine, Isanti and Mille can’t afford to stay here. We know of a for his students. Lacs counties decided to join together place that has a basement for rent.’ So “They were good years,” he said. “I to provide library services for resi- she took me over there and introduced had good kids.” dents in their areas. This marked the me and they accepted me. And that He and his wife Ann raised their fi rst time that multiple rural counties was Hank Mellium. And that is where daughter Jennifer in Pine City, and in Minnesota chose to pool library I found out about Pine City friendship. they joined Our Redeemer Lutheran resources under one entity. Sixty They came downstairs after I had Church. years later, East Central Regional emptied my little suitcase and said, “My church – my faith – is very Library system, with its network of 14 ‘Why don’t you come up for pie and ice important to me,” he said. libraries and outreach services in six cream?’” He served on the board of the counties, is celebrating a history of MIKE GAINOR | THE PIONEER He spent the next 35 years in Pine Singer/songwriter Becky Schlegel sang a City’s Special Ed program. He made a SEE CITIZEN, PAGE 18 SEE LIBRARY, PAGE 20 set of tunes at the Pine City Library. NEED AN AUTO LOAN? WE CAN HELP! Stop at Northwoods Bank today or call one of our personal bankers. PINE CITY 320-629-5000 The perfect loan is waiting for you! We’ll help you drive away with an auto loan that fi ts your needs WWW.NORTHWOODSBANK.COM CLASSIFIED ADS NEWS ADVERTISING PUBLIC NOTICES SUBSCRIPTIONS BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES 320-629-6771 320-629-6771 320-629-6771 320-629-6771 320-629-6771 Whenever, wherever you are! [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Scan me with your smartphone & OCTOBER 3, 2019 Submit community events to [email protected] or online at www.pinecitymn.com PINE CITY PIONEER 3 SATURDAY Author visit at learn the basics on dissolutions miniature Ojibwe birch bark MEETINGS Pine City Public Library and custody, receive helpful canoe. In addition, spend the OCT. 5 The community is invited materials and have questions day on the shores of Lake Mille THURSDAY 10/3 Garden Club Octoberfest to a special author visit fea- answered by an attorney. There Lacs and enjoy family-friendly TOPS-Take Off Pounds Sensi- Join the fun at the Rush City turing Lucie Amundsen, an may be an opportunity for two games and programs around bly: Pine City Library Communi- Garden Club Octoberfest on award-winner for her book, individuals to meet with an the theme of water, including ty Room, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Rushse- “Locally Laid,” at 6:30 p.m. attorney individually after the coloring, puzzles, beading, sto- NAMI peer support: Cam- ba Town Hall at 51445 Forest Monday, Oct. 7 at the Pine City main presentation. Consulta- ry time and more. For informa- bridge Medical Ctr., 6:30 p.m. Blvd., Rush City 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Public Library. Amundsen is a tions will be on a fi rst come, tion, call 320-532-3632 or email: Pine City Music Boosters: There will be dried fl owers, writer, marketer, community fi rst serve basis. Visit www. [email protected]. Pine City Pizza Pub, 6:30 p.m. painted pumpkins, gourds, gar- volunteer, and reluctant farmer familypathways.org or call 763- den produce and chili for lunch. who co-owns Locally Laid Egg 689-3532 with questions. Creative Canvas at PCftA SATURDAY 10/5 Proceeds will be used toward a Company, a Minnesota farm Get together with friends at Model RR club: Askov, 10 a.m., scholarship for Rush City stu- that aims to change the way Pine Center for the Arts, 265 Pine County History Museum dents. Email aljeanhoffman@ eggs are produced in America. THURSDAY 5th St. SE, Pine City, on Satur- yahoo.com with any questions. Her book, Locally Laid, a 2016 OCT. 10 day, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon SUNDAY 10/6 Midwest Booksellers Choice to paint a reusable sunfl ower AA (Big Book-open mtg.): Award winner, is a humorous Red Cross blood drive journal cover. Space is limited; Evangelical Free Church, 7 p.m., SATURDAY & SUNDAY telling of how a Midwestern An American Red Cross call 320-629-4924 or visit www. Mary: 320-438-9121 OCT. 5 & 6 family with no agriculture blood drive will be held on pinecenter.org for cost, infor- experience went from a few Thursday, Oct. 10 at Welia mation or to register. MONDAY 10/7 Create an Ojibwe puzzle pouch backyard chickens to a plucky, Health, 1425 Main St. N, Pine Celebrate Recovery: Pine City, Learn leatherworking industry-changing egg farm. City, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For Journey North Church, 6 p.m. techniques to create an Ojib- All ages are welcome and reg- an appointment to donate, call SUNDAY Pine City Blue Star Moms: we puzzle pouch to hide your istration is not necessary. Call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 OCT. 13 Pine City VFW Post, 6:30 p.m. treasures in and amuse your 320-629-6403 with questions. or visit redcrossblood.org. AA: 7:30 p.m., Our Redeemer friends at the Mille Lacs Indian PFLAG meeting Lutheran Church Museum and Trading Post Magnifi cent Red Hatters The next meeting of the East in Onamia, noon to 4 p.m. on TUESDAY On Thursday, Oct. 10 the Central MN Parents, Fami- TUESDAY 10/8 Saturday, Oct. 5 and 10 a.m. OCT. 8 Magnifi cent Red Hatters of lies and Friends of Lesbians American Legion & Auxiliary: to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. Pine City will enjoy a Hallow- and Gays will be held Sunday, Pine City American Legion, 7 p.m. Children under 18 must be ‘Every Voice’ launch party een luncheon at the American Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. at Common Pine County Republicans: accompanied by an adult. Reg- Join Family Pathways at the Legion in Pine City. Gather Ground, the Cambridge United 7:30 p.m., Tobies, Hinckley istration is required three days Three Twenty Brewery, 35 5th at 11:30 a.m., lunch is at noon. Methodist Church, at 404 North prior; call 320-532-3632 or visit St. SE, Pine City, to celebrate RSVP by Oct. 7 to Mary Flesh- Cypress in Cambridge. Anyone WEDNESDAY 10/9 [email protected]. the launch of their Strategic er at 320-438-0797. Friends are in need of support or answers Woodcarving club: Askov, Plan and Vision for equity, always welcome. on LGBT issues is encouraged 9 a.m., Pine Co.