Six juveniles from Mission Creek Ranch tied up counselor and ran

As the high school band plays “Pomp and Circumstance,” Valedictorian Anna Scholin and Salutatorian Shannon Toman will lead the procession of seniors into the gymnasium and the class of 2002 will bid farewell to high school days.

The non-profit organization, Tree Trust, along with East Central and Great River Energy provided a grant for the huge planting project at Pine City Elementary school. Science teacher Jane Carlson was the local coordinator of the Tree Trust project.

After Pine City resident Vicky Workman spoke to their class about her dad’s death in Vietnam, his Missing In Action status and her years of not knowing what happened to him, students in Jennifer Hunt’s class wrote letters to Vietnam veterans. Vicky will share the letters with servicemen she has met during her search for answers about her father’s death. His remains were recovered in Vietnam in 2000 and returned to Alabama, his home state, for burial.

Pine City Activities Director Wally Connaker is retiring after 32 years with Pine City Schools. A luncheon in his honor was held in the school board room.

Top honors in the annual Black and White drawing contest went to Kristina Borich, a sixth grader at Pine City Elementary.

Kayla Pavelka, third grade, and Joe Tilbury, ninth grade, are Student Achievers of the Week. Kayla is the daughter of James and Theresa Pavelka. She has a good work ethic and a very pleasant personality. Joe is the son of Kathleen Tilbury.

At the Dragons Senior Athletic Banquet, B. J. Samuelson and Ashley Mettling received the Coaches Athletes of the Year Award. 

Young and old Pine Citians paused this Memorial Day to reflect on the dear price that is paid for freedom. 

25 Years Ago, 1987

On a misty Monday morning, hundreds of Pine City area residents gathered in Birchwood Cemetery for the annual Memorial Day service. Forty-five local organizations marched in the parade and helped remember America’s war dead in the ceremony in Memorial Circle of the cemetery.

Jeff Adams, Pine City, is one of 10 area students to receive a $500 Gladys L. Johnson Scholarship for the 1987-88 school year. Adams, a senior at Pine City High School, will attend the College of St. Thomas. 

Nine girls seeking the dairy princess titles are Lonna Steele and Kala Hanson for Pine County Princess, and Junior Dairy Princess candidates are Shannon Brigan, Michelle France, Lila Dubos, Clarice Emslander, Gail Roubinek, Lisa Johnson and Lee Ann Colsrud.

Six juveniles who were living at Mission Creek Ranch, west of Pine City, will be charged with robbery, false imprisonment and auto theft. Four girls and two boys allegedly left the shelter after tying up a counselor, stealing cash and then taking a car that was parked there. Kanabec County deputies located the stolen car a couple hours after the incident was reported and all six juveniles were taken into custody following a chase.

Crafters share a common bond with journalists. Because they plan their work around deadlines, time flies so fast they must snatch a part of each day just to keep up. While the average person is thinking spring flowers, fishing, graduation parties and weddings, crafters like Mary Kroll are thinking Christmas. There is no limit to what she can produce on her knitting machines. Time is her only problem and she works year round to prepare for winter craft shows. 

What a catch five-year-old Elden Ouverson has to brag about. The youngster managed to reel in a 14-and-3/4 pound northern from Lake Pokegama. He had to get a little help from his sister Kathy in order to hold the 40-and-1/2 inch fish up for a photo. Elden and Kathy are the children of Steve and Shirley Ouverson of Pine City.

Students of the gunsmithing technology program at Pine Technical Institute competed at Grand Island and won the 60-yard National Trap Shooting title.

50 Years Ago, 1962

During the height of the wind and rain storm, a bolt of lightning struck a large tree in the back yard of the Melvin Kutzke home causing it to fall on the southeast corner of the house.

A fly-up ceremony for Brownie Troop 9 was held at the community room. Special guests were Marie Peloquin, president of the Pine City Girl Scout council and Mrs. Edith Beckstrom, past president.

The Macalester college news service announced that Martha Gillespie was honored for academic achievement at their Honor Day convocation.

Elton Cleaver, a brother of Mrs. Forrest Ward, was appointed flight engineer instructor at Washington, D. C. for Eastern Airlines.

75 Years Ago, 1937

H.H. Grandt, Vern Loken and Melvin Anderson, members of the county committee on the Soils Program, attended a meeting at the Cloquet Forest Experimental Station.

Students named by President Coffman for honors at the U of M traditional cap and gown day ceremonies included Muriel Torrey from the College of Pharmacy.

100 Years Ago, 1912

Harry Mills and son and Mr. Lenneroth and Mr. Sauer, autoed out to Rush Lake and reported a dandy time and nice string of beauties.