Werner Joseph Herzog



Werner Joseph Herzog, age 84 of Mt. Iron died Saturday, November 5, 2011 in St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. He was born January 19, 1927 in Melrose, MN the son of Herman and Dorothy (Nienaber) Herzog. Werner was an Electrical Welder, worked for Malton Electric, and was the co-owner of Willow Manufacturing until his retirement. He was a member […]

Marcella V. Buchwitz



Marcella V. Buchwitz, 78, Hibbing, died Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at Guardian Angels in Hibbing. A Service will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hibbing, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Erik Holleque will officiate.  Casketbearers will be her grandchildren.  Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.  Range […]

Kathryn (Kay) M. (Boyle) Marks



Kathryn (Kay) M. (Boyle) Marks, 91, of Buhl, died on Monday, November 14, 2011 at Cornerstone Villa in Buhl. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 12:00 noon at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Buhl, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. to the service at 12:00 noon. Rev. Father Fredrick Method will be the Celebrant. Interment will […]

A curmudgeon sees the light of Thankfulness




I’ve never been much of a holiday person. It is the ANTI in me. I have a horrible affliction that causes me to take in my surroundings, evaluate the situation, and then form feelings that go against the majority. For 40 some years it has been my way of entertaining myself. Whatever psychological name you want to attach to that […]

Loss of a limb: A motorcyclist’s story




It was a cloudy, misty morning on June 5, 2008. My husband and I had a motorcycle trip planned to go out west, Colorado being our destination. I was so excited packing up my Harley Davidson Heritage Softail and thinking of all the fun we were going to have. We were only four hours into our trip and the unthinkable […]

The Meaning of COMMUNITY




Exactly one year ago, I moved to Virginia, Minnesota. My husband Erick, 5-year-old daughter Holly, and 3-year-old son Jack and I decided it was time for a change. Erick took a job as the Youth for Christ/Virginia Teen Center Director here in town. We moved from Duluth, which is the place we had lived all our lives up to this […]

Pride: The relationship kind




Not so long ago I was telling a friend that my daughter had landed a part in the production of “Hairspray” at Chanhassen Dinner Theater. They said “you should be so proud.” My initial thought was I didn’t have anything to be proud of. After all, it is my daughter, Kaija, who has done all of the work to get […]

Business Bits




When seeking a business loan, it is important to be as transparent as possible with the lender. Not only will this aid in the loan decision, but it will show the lender you understand your business and all of its variables. Jennifer Pontinen is a Business Consultant with the UMD Small Business Development Center, at Mesabi Range College in Virginia, […]

Holiday Fare:

An Italian crown roast entrée and Gracie’s turkey soup


Twice I have been a guest during the holidays when a crown roast of pork was the main entrée. Both dinners were wonderfully memorable. Nothing is quite so impressive when it arrives on the table as a glistening crown roast. You don’t have to be Italian to love this Mediterranean recipe with Italian seasonings and stuffing! Parsley, oregano, thyme and […]

Grace: A child, a season




The new-born breeze, a small movement she can see in the lifting circles of leaves on the lawn, moves with the infant as she becomes the family today. As she is carried from the outside and through the house, over the tables and into arms, through the rising scents of the table and kitchen onto what it is to be […]