The Big Stone County Cancer Support Group does it again!   For 2019, the Big Stone County group donated $14,365 to the research efforts at the NDSU Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies for Pancreatic Cancer. The picture attached shows Dr. Sanku Mallik, director of the Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer at North Dakota State University, accepting a generous donation to cancer research from Linda Krogsrud, treasurer of the Big Stone County Cancer Support Group at a check presentation on Friday, June 7 at NDSU. Here is the Link to the story on the INFORUM Facebook page. Dr. Yongki Choi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at NDSU had originally planned to be in Graceville on April 11th to accept the check but due to the weather, that event was postponed and members of the group traveled to NDSU.  They were able to tour the facility and present the check in person. Those with Facebook, can see more photos and more information on the Big Stone County Cancer Support Group Facebook …

Saint Mary’s Catholic Parish in Beardsley will have its’ final mass on Saturday, June 15, beginning at 5:00 pm.  This mass will conclude over 135 years of ministry and sacraments. The church building will be sold to the city of Beardsley, and will be used as a community center and city hall.  The public is invited to use the building for wedding receptions, graduation, birthday, and anniversary parties.  The kitchen will stay fully stocked with dishes, and cooking utensils.  The building will be sold as is, with all the current supplies and furnishes.  To reserve the building for an event, please contact the city council. The stain glass windows will stay in the church.  At a later date, if the church is ever torn down, the windows will be removed, sold, and the profit from the windows will be given to Saint Mary’s cemetery Perpetual Care Fund account, for the upkeep of the cemetery. The church bell will be removed and will be set in a steeple like structure in the cemetery later this summer. …

Our local communities will be honoring the sacrifice and service of our local veterans on Monday, May 27, 2019.   The communities in the #MNbump have had a long history of programs and parades on Memorial Day each year.   Programs that we are aware of are listed below with their starting times.   Ortonville – 9:00 AM – Program at Ortonville High School Gym    Mound Cemetery Program and Wreath at Big Stone Lake Pier Clinton – 9:45 AM – Program at CGB Elementary Gym in Clinton    9:00 AM – Meet at Memorial Building    9:15 AM – Flag Raising Ceremony at Village Square    Cemetery Ceremony following program at school    Community Pot Luck at Memorial Building following Graceville – 11:00 AM – Program at CGB High School Gym    Followed by Community Pot Luck at Community Building Beardsley – 10:30 AM – Beardsley Auditorium    Parade to City Park for Roll Call of Deceased following Eidskog Cemetery – 10:30 AM Program    Coffee and bars at 10:00 AM Bellingham – 10:30 AM at Community Center Big Stone City, SD – 10:00 …

Story courtesy of The Northern Star Newspaper, Clinton, MN Work of Graceville Mercy Center  To Help Those in Need of Basics The Work of Mercy Center has been established by a group of local volunteers to help individuals and families in need of basic household items. The Mercy Center is a ministry to serve Big Stone, Traverse, Lac qui Parle and Stevens counties, as well as the surrounding area. Father Brian Oestreich, Pastor of the local Catholic churches and church members developed the idea of The Work of Mercy Center. “Our mission is to have basic items available to individuals and families in need at no cost. Some of the items we try to have available include clothing, hygiene items, shoes, dishes, pots, pans, diapers, bedding and many others,” said Katie Jensen, church member. “Everyone is welcome at The Mercy Center”, Oestreich stated. “We offer special hospitality to our guests, to care for their basic human needs and to treat them as respected people of God”. The Work of Mercy Center is located in the old school …

Clinton native Royce Williams is pictured here with David Torgerson in May of 2017 at Clinton’s Memorial Day program where he spoke.

Thank you to State Senator Torrey Westrom and State Representative Jeff Backer for the legislative updates and an opportunity for residents to visit about topics that are important to Big Stone County! It was certainly not an ideal travel day for them to make the trip. I’ve attached the two handouts that were distributed to everyone as they each gave a brief update on their work in St. Paul. Once they’d given their update, the residents kept them engaged past the 9:00 a.m. scheduled closing for the meeting. Topics that were discussed: concerns regarding the low reimbursements that threaten the viability of small-town hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies; status of the licensing bureau, daycares (Kendra Moberg made some very good points on changes that could help rural daycare programs – and maybe a trip to St. Paul is in her future!); the guidance document that was recently put out by the DNR on County ditches; rural grocery stores & the Good Food Access; diversifying crops; rain tax; LGA; Border City Tax Credits/Enterprise Funds – and others. …

By Dillon Dwyer, The Northern Star and Ortonville Independent There is an uniquely Minnesotan  tradition that takes place every winter in Big Stone County. The Clinton Community Service Club (CCSC) and other  local businesses host the Arctic Open, a six-hole charity golf tournament on the frozen surface of Lake Eli.  Ralph and Illa Strand  and Illa’s sister, Mrs. Manty Jallen came up with the original idea as a way to raise money for the Good Samaritan Center in Clinton. They pitched the event to Doug Anderson, Randy Stattelman, Curt Bystol and  Jerry Stattelman, who agreed with the idea and formed the original board of directors.  The first annual Arctic Open was held on March 9 in 1979. It featured fair weather and approximately 75 golfers. Judy Drewicke and Randy Stattelman won the event, but no prizes were given out. All the earnings from the afternoon were donated to the Good Samaritan Center.  “That first year was just so much fun for everybody,” Randy Stattelman said. “There were even a lot of people who weren’t golfers …