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MOOSE LAKE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 TAR AZETTE NO. 9 $1.00 SSERVING CARLTON AND PINEG COUNTIES SINCE 1895 REBELS BASKETBALL: Boys’ basketball takes frst loss of season . P7 $93 for 93 years ALANEA WHITE [email protected] Turning 93 is not an every day occurrence and neither is receiving $93 with the instructions to help others. For Elaine Zwickey who just turned 93 years young, this year seemed like the perfect opportunity to give her rela- tives and friends this once-in-a-life-time chance. To celebrate her birthday she did something diferent. She wanted to spread good will and help as much as she could, especially during this difcult year of COVID-19 challenges. While reading a magazine she read about a woman who had sent out $75 to others on her 75th birthday with the instruc- tions that they should pass the funds on to someone who truly needed them. Zwickey decided that for her 93rd birthday, she would do the same. Friends and relatives were sent $93 checks by Zwickey on her birthday with the instructions that they should share the money with someone else who was hurting. COVID-19 has caused massive increases in unemploy- ment. In April of 2020 the United States unemployment rate bottomed out at 14.8%, a low that hadn’t been reached since the end of World War II. Changing social distancing practices and COVID-19 safety precautions have decreased the numbers of unemployed or furloughed workers in the United States. The financial impact of unemployment and the pandemic is still being felt by many. This is what Zwick- ey wanted to help with by sending out her $93 checks. Her hope is that others will do the same. Some recipients shared the funds with teachers to help support students and classrooms. One person went to the electric company and paid someone’s outstanding utility bill. Joanna Engstrom thought what Zwickey was doing was so extraordinary that she called the newspaper ofce when she got her own $93 to share. As far away as Washington, funds sent by Zwickey were being used to help those in need. A relative in Washington helped someone they had seen standing on a corner needing help by taking them into a store. With the help of the $93 sent by Zwickey this person purchased necessary supplies. “I have gotten a whole lot of satisfaction out of doing MIKE DRAHOSH | PINE COUNTY COURIER this,”said Zwickey. She has hopes that by sharing her story others will be encouraged to reach out and help people who may be struggling during these difcult times of pandemic Lights, power, transformer and isolation. The story Zwickey wanted to share was not of her own Moose Lake Power should be running on regular power soon. An explosion was reported on Feb. 8 a the North good deed in sending out the funds, but of the good deeds substation for Moose Lake Power. A regulator had failed causing a transformer to go down and the city to lose that are happening all over when the recipients of the $93 power. Over night repairs had the city running on their backup generators until parts could be ordered to replace found people who were hurting and gave them some much those damaged. Shown above, a new transformer is installed at the substation. needed extra help. “I hope this inspires others to do the The North substation should be complete by Thursday. Feb. 25. The cutover is currently scheduled for 10:00 a.m. same,” Zwickey said. on Thursday, February 25. Customers should not notice any changes during the transition. Persistence, problem solving, breathe life into failing program BY JAMIE LUND ing to the FIRST website. [email protected] The students also practice gracious professionalism and coopertition. Gra- The Moose Lake FIRST Robotics cious professionalism is the idea that team lives to see another year thanks to students can be competitors while also the eforts of the lone return student on helping and respecting each other. the team. Theissen, a junior, has been with the Louis Thiessen recruited younger program three years. He said a demon- students and is teaching them the fun- stration presentation from the robotics damentals of the robotics program, said team several years ago piqued his David Lingle, head coach. interest. “It’s been a rough year for almost “After the presentation I approached everything,” Lingle said. “We almost and asked if I could take a closer look at didn't have a team.” the robot,” Thiessen said. “When I got There are nine students on the 6044 close I saw a really complex system that Circuit Breakers team, up from four I didn’t understand and I was curious.” students last year. The program accepts Lingle said the team is further ahead students in grades 7-12 this year, a this year than last year due to Thies- change that helped add eight students sen's persistence and hard work. LOUIS THIESSEN | SUBMITTED to the program this year. “He really stepped up and took a lead- The FIRST robotics program en- ership role with the team,” Lingle said. Hally Miller, a member of the Moose Lake FIRST Robotics team is shown above sketching courages youth to use STEM skills and Thiessen said he enjoys mentoring design ideas for a ball intake. improve life skills including budgeting to purchase parts for the robot, accord- SEE ROBOTICS, PAGE 2 NEWS ADVERTISING SUBSCRIPTIONS & PUBLIC NOTICES CLASSIFIEDS (218) 485-4406 (218)384-1855 (218) 485-4406 (608) 733-8105 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 2 MOOSE LAKE STAR GAZETTE FEBRUARY 25, 2021 www.MLStarGazette.com Snug as a bug in a pile of leaves? BY MARISSA SCHUH reaching for an extra bugs gone? The multicolored Asian They may do this by pro- elements. Other caterpil- UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA sweater, blanket or space ladybeetle is an invasive ducing an antifreeze-like lars seek out leaf litter or EXTENSION heater. Our plants are all SOME INSECTS ARE “SNOWBIRDS” ladybug species that can substance in their bodies. debris, which gives them tucked in for the winter Just like Minnesotans be helpful in the garden Others minimize their ac- more protection, especial- As a polar vortex hun- or getting ready to be who opt to spend the win- and in agriculture be- tivity and body functions, ly once they are insulated kers down over Minneso- started from seed. ter in warmer climates, cause it feeds on aphids. almost like hibernation. by a layer of snow. ta, you may find yourself But where have all the some insect species But in the fall it becomes Some insects are capable Cleaning up the garden choose not to spend the a nuisance as large of freezing and surviving. after the growing season winter in Minnesota. The numbers congregate on Generally, insects do is over can reduce the most obvious example of and in our homes. They better with snow cover, places where insects can PINE COUNTY CARLTON COUNTY this is the monarch but- don’t pose a risk to us, which can insulate their hunker down for winter. terfly, which flies thou- though they are annoy- hiding places, and when Clean up plant residue COVID UPDATE COVID UPDATE sands of miles to Mexico ing and produce a strong temperatures are stable and leaves at the end of each fall. There are also odor when threatened or as opposed to fluctuating. the season to help reduce Total number of cases: 2,800 pests with a similar cold crushed. One of Minnesota’s the number of over- New cases last week: 36 Total number of cases: 2983 weather strategy. A newer pest to Min- most frustrating pests, wintering squash bugs, Positive cases incarcerated at New cases last week: 22 Some vegetable insect nesota that spends the the Japanese beetle asparagus beetles and Willow River: 77 Positive cases incarcerated at pests can’t survive a winter in our homes is spends the winter outside. imported cabbage worms, Positive cases incarcerated at FCI MSOP Moose Lake: 89 Minnesota winter and the brown marmorated The grub stage of this in- for example. Sandstone: 751 Patients who no longer need to be instead spend most of the stinkbug (BMSB). Min- sect spends the winter in Patients who had to be hospital- hospitalized: 2,900 year in warmer climates. nesota is home to many the soil under lawns and SO, DOES A COLD WINTER MEAN ized: 145 Moose Lake cases: 415 They come to Minnesota native stink bugs; some other grassy areas. FEWER BUGS? Age range of patients: 0-98 Barnum cases: 208 on weather fronts in the are predators that help us Some other insects are Not necessarily. Insects years old Deaths: 44 spring and summer, and manage pests. slightly more vulnera- have many adaptations to Deaths: 16 People with at least one vaccine the winter will wipe out ble to cold weather. The deal with frigid tempera- People with at least one vaccine dose: 7,799 any of the past year’s SOME INSECTS ARE OUT HERE codling moth spends the tures. It is also important dose: 3,482 People who have completed the arrivals. JUST CHILLIN’ winter as a caterpillar in to note that windchill vaccine series: 3,603 Some insects bear out a cocoon. How well they does not impact insects, Statistics provided by Pine SOME BUGS WANT TO SHELTER IN the winter in leaf litter, will survive the winter so it feels a little warmer County Public Health and Min- Statistics provided by Carlton OUR PLACE tree cavities and in the depends on where the for the bugs than it does nesota Public Health.