MOOSE LAKE STAR GAZETTE JUNE 17, 2021 Area Soldier Brings Dog Home from Afghanistan
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MOOSE LAKE TAR AZETTE THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021 S G NO. 25 $1.00 SERVING CARLTON AND PINE COUNTIES SINCE 1895 FATHER’S DAY: Kids of all ages celebrate their proud papas this Sunday. P7 Fun at the Fairgrounds makes summertime sweet BY JAMIE LUND nized the corn hole tourna- [email protected] ment and was happy with the 24 team turn out. The smell of food, sounds Peggy Sway, Barnum, of animals and sights of cheered enthusiastically small children playing for her husband Mike and brought a small sense of brother-in-law, Sol Cama- normalcy after an unpre- rada, California, as they dictable pandemic year. played. Sway waved her People of all ages wan- single, dark blue pom-pom dered around watching a in support of the men. corn hole contest, Mutton “We love it,” Sway said as Busting, and enjoying the her cousin, Deb McCarty, various food vendors on a Albertville, Minnesota, perfect, sunny day at the nodded in agreement. “It’s Fun at the Fairgrounds in finally feeling normal. We Barnum, Saturday, June 12. need this.” “People are ready to get Wright said the Moose JAMIE LUND | STAR-GAZETTE out and about and do things Lake Brewery donated the Grownups had a good time at the cornhole contest. again,” said Lindsey Lar- use of their boards and son, Carlton County Fair bags. The money collected Manager. She said she is for the event was returned happy with the turnout at as prizes for first through the first time event. The third places. Justin Joslin, original plan was to hold the Moose Lake, took first place event as a part of Barnum’s and Mark Korhonen, Kettle Spring Fever Day, but it was River took second place. canceled this year. Larson “It went really well,” Lar- explained that the fair board son said. “The food trucks felt it was important to bring were very busy, the weather the community out and back was beautiful and there together again. The Barnum were decent crowds for both Municipal Liquor Store the car races and the bands. helped Larson pull together She said the Carlton Coun- bands to end the evening ty Fair is in the planning after the car races. stages and will be held Aug. “There were more people 19-22. JAMIE LUND | STAR-GAZETTE than we expected,” Larson JAMIE LUND | STAR-GAZETTE Just getting together in the sunshine was one of said. Brave youngsters took a woolly ride at Fun in the Fairgrounds. the best parts of Fun in the Fairgrounds. Nick Wright said he orga- Willow River considering annexing Former Shopko could property from Kettle River Township become surgery center BY ALANEA WHITE they needed more time to review before making BY ALANEA WHITE sale of the building and a [email protected] an official decision. [email protected] sunset clause of June 1, 2023 Country Side Loop and Walter’s Road mainte- for progress to be made. A possible property annexation from Kettle nance has been an issue of discussion between The Moose Lake City River Township into Willow River was the sub- Willow River and Kettle River Township. Council has approved rezon- WATER TOWER PROJECT ject of a public hearing at the June Willow River Mayor Brent Switzer had a discussion with ing the the former Shopko Once the water tower City Council meeting. the council and both the Township and mayor building from a commercial project has begun it should A public hearing is the opportunity for the agreed it would be mutually beneficial to sign a property to medical, open- take approximately three public to raise concerns or questions about a three year contract between both parties. This ing the way to a possible months. Half of this project decision being considered by a city council or discussion was also tabled pending the property new day surgery center on will have the water tower government. annexation determination after more review of the site. out of commission. Taking Zoning for the property was discussed at the city attorney’s recommendation. St. Luke’s approached the the tower down for ser- length, with no clear decision made by the end council with the intention of vice has never been done of the meeting. A further consultation between WILLOW RIVER DAM purchasing the building and in Moose Lake. If the city the city attorney and the council needed to take Currently the city has the property around leasing portions of it to med- loses power while the tower place for clarification. The zoning for the prop- the Willow River Dam signed as a construction ical practicioners and other is down the city will lose erty would need to be changed from residential zone and no trespassing. The city and Minne- health related businesses. water. to multi-use. sota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) The main reason for the Barnum and Kettle River The property in question would be annexed are working together to protect the vegetation purchase of this property have been notified of this into Willow River from Kettle River Township. planted around the site of the dam. would be the creation of project and will be on stand- At this point the property owner is using the lo- Switzer asked Councilmember Vicki White- a day surgery center in by in case of fire. cation for 17 unit sites for recreational vehicles. house what residents who see people down by partnership with Gateway Part of this project also They do not allow tent camping. the area of the dam should do. “Are they sup- Family Health Clinic. The involves pressure reducing Discussion of the conditional use permits also posed to call 911?” asked Switzer. property would still remain valves being installed on took place. If a conditional use permit is granted Whitehouse recommended that they should. on the tax rolls. hydrants. These valves will then it would stay with the property if it was In a call to Pine County Sheriff Jeff Nelson, he The council approved the release water if the pressure sold as long as all of the conditions of the permit said, “We would certainly assist the DNR and rezoning based on the rec- reaches a certain level. If are continued by the new owners. city if called upon in enforcing that,” referring ommendation of the Moose water is being released from Information about the annexation and condi- to the joint effort between the Willow River City Lake Planning Commission. these hydrants it is normal. tional use permit was sent to the council in an Council and Minnesota Department of Natural The council included condi- email from the city attorney, but the council felt Resources. tions on the approval of final SEE MOOSE LAKE, 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 JUNE 17, 2021 www.MLStarGazette.com Area soldier brings dog home from Afghanistan JENNIFER YOCUM-STANS to help them bring home the companions they grow [email protected] to love while serving overseas. Nowzad helps with the necessary paperwork, shots, microchipping and even United States Army Specialist (P) Curley Elliott, spays or neuters them. has always loved animals, and has been known to find The cost to send each dog back to the states is ap- them and rescue them, something that is definitely proximately $5,000. “They never asked for anything passed down from his parents, Jennifer and Wayne from us,” said Elliott. A Go-Fund me page was set up Elliott. by the Medevac unit to help get Chunda and Charlie When Elliott, who is the great grandson of Melvin back to the states, the funds were donated directly to Elliott Sr., first arrived in Afghanistan he didn’t think Nowzad. there was any way to get a dog home, so he tried his According to the Nowzad website, over 1600 dogs best not to get attached. It didn’t last long, especially or cats have been reunited with soldiers all over the after meeting Chunda. world including USA, UK, Australia, Belgium, Can- In February of 2020 his Commander and First ada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Jordan Sergeant went for a run and saw this little puppy Thailand and South Africa. laying near the fuel point, no big dogs or other puppies Due to COVID-19, Chunda and Charlie would end up around. Then the maintainers for the Apache helicop- spending about seven months in the kennel in Kabul ters brought her back up to the base. before their flight to the states. Chunda stayed in New “She was maybe a month old, she was small enough York until coming to Pine County in December of to fit in our hands,” said Elliott. 2020. Chonk, her original name, given to her because she was a chunky little puppy, became a community dog, LIFE IN THE STATES they all took care of her and she became part of the Chunda is a very smart dog, Elliott said. “She medevac unit. Since they had no dog food over there, knows the cats aren’t supposed to be on the counters she ate what the soldiers ate. Anything from green and will bark at them. She knows the chickens aren’t beans to bacon and eggs, even prime rib on occasion. supposed to eat the outside cat food and she barks at “She loved bacon. She would follow the guys, know- them too.” ing what the to-go plates from the chow hall looked Her new best friend is one of Elliott’s horses, if she is like and what they meant.” on her chain by the house she will bark and the horse will come to visit.