Track teams take second at Conference meet THIEF RIVER FALLS Softball team bounces back with win over Green Wave Sports - Page 1B EDNESDA W Y, MAY 19 , 2021 $ 00 1 Volume 110, Number 20 • www.trftimes.com Newsstand Price Music, racing and crashing featured in front of the grandstand at the Pennington County Fair by David Hill with action. It all begins on classic ’80s rock, creates an motocross race on Friday, a race like this go on, espe- strider races, and electric Editor July 15 with performances instant party scene where July 16, will thrill crowds in cially because they have to bike races during intermis- by Shell Shock and Rock friends raise their glasses the grandstand. build the track overnight sion. Are you ready to party Godz. and sing along to their fa- Dylan Langevin, who has and be ready for the show. For more information, and wreck stuff? That’s a fig- Shell Shock is northern vorite songs – all night long. been racing all his life and Langevin said Jeff Olson call Langevin at 689-5907. ure of speech, of course, and Minnesota's premier classic Rock Godz features music has been running the Green- from Olson Construction has Baja Racing in no way meant as encour- rock band. The band consists from all of your favorites, in- bush motocross races for been a huge help. He said he “Truly, rubbing is racing,” agement to do anything un- of four seasoned musicians cluding Def Leppard, Bon three years, will be in charge couldn’t ask for a better guy said Dan Vandeventer. Sat- lawful. But, following a year that have come together to Jovi, Cinderella, Motley of the motocross race during to be in his corner with all urday, July 17, the St. Hi- of COVID restrictions, there play music and have a great Crue, Journey, Guns N’ the Pennington County Fair. his equipment needs to put laire Lions Club will present is a fun and safe way to time! Their performance be- Roses, AC/DC, Poison, “Every year,” said Langevin on a show for the hometown Baja Races, beginning at party and watch stuff get gins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Prince, Ozzy, Led Zeppelin, of the Greenbush races, “we crowd. 2:30 p.m. wrecked, and in the process, July 15. Quiet Riot, Bullet Boys, get better and better, and The race will feature 22 Baja racing is described work off some of the frustra- Beginning at 8 p.m. the Slaughter, Steel Panther … now I’m going to be given classes, with two heats and as grassroots racing. Vande- tion of a long year. You’ll find Rock Godz will perform. A and many more. the chance to run a race in a final in each class with rac- venter of the St. Hilaire it at the Pennington County Rock Godz performance Motocross front of my hometown at the ers ranging in age from 4 to Lions Club, the sponsoring Fair. takes the audience on an It has been a long time Fair. It’s pretty exciting for 40. There will also be a dash organization, said it’s basic The grandstand line-up over-the-top, wildly fun trip since a motocross has been me and my crew.” for cash. racing, meaning there aren’t for the 2021 Pennington through the era of ’80s rock held in Pennington County, Langevin acknowledged Registration is from 4:30 a lot of rules. County Fair has been an- and metal. Their arena rock let alone at the Pennington that it takes a small army to 6 p.m. Practices begin at The St. Hilaire Lions are nounced. The line-up is filled production, combined with County Fair. This year, a and lots of sponsors to make 6:30 p.m. There will be (Continued on Page 9) The celebrations begin Northland holds virtual graduation strated through all your Oh, the places studies are all the more re- markable in light of all the they will go! challenges this global health crisis has thrown your way. by April Scheinoha Your academic accomplish- Reporter ments are truly impressive,” said Dr. Devinder Malhotra, Oh, the places they’ll go. Minnesota State chancellor. Northland Community and The graduates have faced Technical College held its a college experience like no commencement ceremony other and have faced many virtually Thursday, May 13. challenges in their quest for About 700 students gradu- learning. They have faced ated from the college, which those challenges with has campuses in both Thief tremendous tenacity and River Falls and East Grand adaptability, Malhotra said. Forks. Dr. Shannon Jesme, in- Resiliency seemed to be terim president at North- For a first celebration after the relaxation of pandemic rules, fantry Battalion and was awarded eight Bronze Stars, which land, encouraged the Nordic Fest, a celebration of all things Scandinavian, at- is almost unheard of. Members of his family were awarded a the theme of the evening’s festivities as the Northland graduates to be proud of tracted a sizeable crowd in Floyd B. Olson Park. Usually, special replica of the shoulder patch worn by members of Class of 2021 has spent the their accomplishments at Nordic Fest consists of at least a week of activities; this the 99th Infantry Battalion. In addition, the event served as majority of its Northland ca- Northland, especially in year’s event consisted of a drive-thru dinner, radio shows the official book launching of the book on Furuseth’s story. reer in the midst of the light of the challenges they on Pioneer 90.1, and the celebration in Floyd B. Olson Park The book was written by Gretchen Beito and the late Millie COVID-19 pandemic. have faced. She said, “While on Sunday, May 16. Sunday was declared Leonard Furuseth Furuseth, Leonard’s wife. The event included musical per- “Graduation is a big this has been a trying year achievement under any cir- and a half, this class has Day in celebration of a Hometown Hero - Leonard Furuseth, formances by Alex Conwell and others. persevered, has shown who served during World War II as a member of the 99th In- cumstances. The resolve and resiliency you have demon- (Continued on Page 9) Even the county struggles to get job applicants its contracted custodial help. corrections officer. patch/records agreement of the dispatch and records Commissioner Bruce County and city Currently, the county uti- In separate motions, with the City of Thief salaries and benefits. The Lawrence reported that lizes its own custodial staff County Board accepted River Falls. amount varies depending Cleanup Day was well re- agree on terms of and some outside custodial Deputy Assessor Amy The agreement stipulates upon hours worked. In an in- ceived. Pennington County Law Enforcement contractors. Levenhagen’s resigna- that the city will pay $20.31 terview with The Times, and the City of Thief River In separate motions, tion, effective Thursday, per square foot for 2021. City Administrator Angie Falls teamed up to offer the Center lease County Board approved May 27, and approved That amount will increase to Philipp indicated that the annual event, which was two transfers in the sher- filling her position. $20.71 for 2022 and $21.23 city paid $299,024 in 2020. skipped last year due to iff’s office. County Board ap- for 2023. The police depart- The Thief River Falls City COVID-19. Sentence to by April Scheinoha Krystal Carlson will proved a Law Enforce- ment uses 5,601.40 square Council approved the agree- Serve provided assistance at Reporter transfer to the position of ment Center lease feet of space at the LEC. ments at its meeting a week the May 1 event. full-time records clerk. Carl- agreement and dis- The city will also pay 50% earlier. (Continued on Page 9) The Pennington County son has been working as a Board has found itself in a part-time dispatcher. Sheriff situation similar to those Ray Kuznia said he expected faced by other area employ- that Carlson will continue to ers. It had zero applicants occasionally work as a part- Restrictions put on pause for a position. At their meet- time dispatcher since the de- ing Tuesday, May 11, com- partment is short-staffed in missioners approved that area. After that staffing Superintendent awaiting further direction, June 4. Graduates will be During the meeting Mon- changing the position in an shortage has been rectified, but the Safe Learning able to participate in a pa- day, May 10, Nomeland pre- effort to entice applicants. Kuznia expected that Carl- gets favorable Model, along with its restric- rade, the route of which has sented a summary of that County Board approved son may sparingly provide tions, are still in place until yet to be finalized. “Trust earlier meeting. turning a part-time custo- assistance as a part-time job review the end of the school year. us,” said Lincoln High Nomeland said the evalu- dial position into a full-time dispatcher. There’s still some confusion, School Principal Scott ation consisted of four focus position. Commissioner Dar- Theodore Rodrigo III will she said, regarding gradua- Brekke, “we will celebrate areas - student learning, ryl Tveitbakk said if the transfer from part-time cor- by David Hill tion, and they anticipate your kids and do it well.” passage of a referendum in county were able to find rections officer to full-time Editor more information from the Superintedent 2021, communication and someone to fill the position, corrections officer. Minnesota Department of evaluation school safety. Stepan, he the county plans to reduce Both Carlson’s and Ro- Recently, Gov.