Big Stone County, Minnesota - Living Rural and Loving it!
Sheila Smith (Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and Chair, Creative Minnesota) presented the Big Stone County Report on March 22nd at the Ortonville Community Center. Creative Minnesota, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Big Stone Arts Council, Big Stone Area Growth and the Ortonville …
The Big Stone Arts Council “Music On Main” continues its twice-monthly jam sessions! Next session will be Tuesday, April 3rd at 6:30, in the lower level of the Community Center (on the corner of Third & Monroe in beautiful downtown Ortonville!)Â They are also meeting …
It has been fun to watch the engagement rise on our MNbump Facebook page! I’m hoping that is an indication that you find our posts both helpful and enjoyable. Some might wonder ‘just how engaging is it’ and ‘how many people does this community Facebook page reach’ ??
I’ll just share the actual analytic screenshots for clean review – with one small narrative as a lead-in: The first capture is the comparable – this is engagement over the last week and how MNbump compares to other sites that have a community or area focus with very similar ‘hopes’ to engage & provide information about their area – A couple notes… Otter Tail Lakes Country is pretty much always the #1 (and with greater numbers than reflected in today’s report) – Artie’s Bait – today’s number is the lowest I’ve seen it and that is likely because we are in between fishing seasons (hunting, etc.) – they are normally second or third on this report (between them and MNbump for the #2 & #3 spot!). So although this is a 7-day engagement snapshot (as of today), the order of things and numbers are generally within this range. Of course, there will be days that anyone of us has a very special post and there is a spike – and others that are much lower – this is a good reflection on a steady on-going view.
Let us know if you’re having an event that you’d like MNbump to cover – or if you have an idea on how your business or organization could collaborate with MNbump (we are a Big Stone Area Growth Initiative – click on this link to see who the MNbump bloggers are & what organizations have been instrumental in our MNbump creation!)
Below… and the % of up/down is gauged from the previous 7 day period – so again, that varies based on any given 7-day run.
All of the posts below were posted one time and were not “boosted”.  Generally, the post reach for any given post as a “people reach” of 700 and up.
#MNbump life… Living Rural & Loving it!
It was an awesome weekend at the Sports & Leisure Show! We’ve put together a few highlights from the show – starting with a quick video to see a few of the vendors as they were completing their set-up before the start of the Show. …
Fun to see all of the interest! We’ll post links & latest information on this page as we get teams organized and ready to start. Would you like to be connected with a team in your community? Please complete this short form & we’ll match …
Sandy Hanson with her “A Camel’s Story Trilogy” and now Michael Larson’s “Easter Sparrows” have been translated in both Russian and Ukrainian and published in Ukraine! They shared their story at a celebration hosted by Living Hope Fellowship Assembly of God in Ortonville and during Sunday service at New Life Community Baptist Church in Ortonville the following day. You will find the video of the stories shared below.
Bill Arvan of READ Ministries shared his passion for Ukraine. READ’s motto is “Taking Truth to Tough Places”. Bill is often referred to as ‘a bridge to Ukraine’.
The first Camel Story was ‘born’ as a puppet play performed at Living Hope Fellowship in 2000 – The play and presentations were held in almost every church in the region over the years. New Life Baptist has a passion for Ukraine – who knew it would spark a mission for our books to get 
there too?  So far 14, 350 of Sandy’s Camel stories have been distributed in Ukraine through READ Ministries. Recently a pastor from southern Ukraine has requested READ to help him place Camel stories in 1,000 schools there. (His targeted readership is grades 1-5 and he can place a set of the stories in each classroom. So there are in effect 5,000 classrooms in which the Camel Story trilogy can be placed!) READ has already committed $3,000 to help him launch his initiative. More money is needed! Living Hope Fellowship offered a free will offering and New Life Baptist Church took a special offering to offer support.
Mike Larson has been notified by Smyrna (4th largest Christian publishing company in Ukraine) that his book, “The Easter Sparrows” is set to be released just in time for the Passover season in Ukraine!
Authors Sandy Hanson and Mike Larson would like to express their appreciation to the community, churches, and all who have supported their work over the years. Special thanks go out to Elaine Gable (as Sandy says she is “the heart of the Big Stone Arts Council) who invited Kristi Delage (Camel Story Artist) and Sandy Hanson to join in the Meander several years ago – (that’s where the two authors first met). Sandy and Mike are members of the Big Stone Arts Council.
Video:Â Author Mike Larson talks about his book (& beginnings)
Video:Â The Camel Story in Ukraine (interesting there is a connection to Odessa, MN!)
Video:Â And, parting words (& songs!) from Xavier B. Haven (Camel puppet)
… and a shout out to Mary Hillman on the awesome cakes that were made for this event!
Dr. Yang Song’s NDSU Landscape Architecture Program students along with Brian Leaders of the National Park Service were in Ortonville on Monday (February 12th) presenting the work they’ve done so far to the Ortonville Park Board along with providing an overview of what they found …
They are busy… and adults are so busy making sure that their kids are where they need to be for their next activity that sometimes we forget to stop. Take a breath… and celebrate their accomplishments and all that they are involved in! Take this …
So many are offering to help that we thought we’d share a post with links to the various avenues that you can help this family!
Note from Becky Stattelman’s Facebook page:
(and much help from Amanda Tatro on the post with information!)
I’ve taken a few calls asking about our neighbors; the Billy and Dara Gibson family, who lost their home and all possessions in a house fire yesterday. Talked with them last night and they are being brave and thankful for each other. Kids are sweet as ever. Will take a bit to organize thoughts and future. Our good neighbors, Brian and Arleen, have shared a house on our same road so the family has immediate temporary housing. There is a Go Fund Me page set up if you would like to help with getting them back on their feet. If you prefer to help them in another way; cash or check in a card, grocery gift card, bag of groceries, etc. you may certainly connect with me and I will drop it off for them. They are very grateful for any and all support.
Sizes:
Boys are men’s 32×30 and 29×30 pants and size medium shirts and girls size 8-10
Shoe size 4 girls and boys are men’s 9 -10
For adult clothes Billy wears a 36/34 jeans and Xl shirts. Dara is Xl in yoga pants and shirts. Also, women’s small shirts and size 4 jeans
Link to the “Meal Train” if you’d like to help provide a meal.
GoFund Account has been set up for them.
Drop Location in Ortonville is Radio Shack
Bonnies Hometown Grocery has an account set up for Gibson family for all there grocery and necessity’s so if anybody would like to donate please call the store 320-325-5144
We accept credit cards also
Or mail checks to po box 294 clinton mn 56225
Monetary donations can also be left at First Independent Bank in Beardsley
We take our youth sports seriously – and enjoy a good Saturday morning basketball tournament! After watching the older teams play with serious reffing, it was fun to watch the refs taking their time and giving some great teaching/coaching pointers to the players… and they …