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The Eigth grade blue boys' basketball. 2.10.18

February 14, 2018, 1:59 pm
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Sports
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EIGHTH GRADE BLUE Boys Basketball, took first place in the Monticello tournament. It came right down to the wire in double overtime with sudden death! The boys never gave up and won the championship game with a score of 54-52! Left to right: Coach Scott O’Brien, Coach Derek Birdsall, Clayton Birdsall, Johnny O’Brien, Ryker Stukenholtz, Brady Plattner, Dawson Remer, Tyler Gangnon, Hayden Thieke, Matt Denzen, Kyle Segner, Coach Chad Plattner, and Coach Jared Remer
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Meet your performers in “Alice’ - 2.17.18

February 16, 2018, 12:54 pm
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Keon McGarvey, Staff Writer

The entire auditioned cast of Alice in Wonderland. (Photo by Keon McGarvey)

Alice, the Caterpillar & the flowers sing No it isn't

The Queen of Hearts leads the cards in Say it is

Alice has tea with the Mad Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse

Tweedle Dummer, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee meet Alice
   Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre and Big Lake Community Education teamed up to present two shows of Alice in Wonderland. The first and the second show was last Saturday afternoon. Both shows were performed on the stage of the Big Lake High School auditorium. Prairie Fire supplied two adult actors, Shannon Fields, and Will Rutkowski, to play the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter, respectively. The rest were filled with area children ages seven and up who auditioned just a few days prior-on Monday. After auditioning, all 51 characters were rehearsed from 4 - 7:30 pm every day up until the Friday night performance, meaning they took only four days to prepare.
   Alice, the star of the show, was performed by Emilee Doperalski. She had solos in the songs If I were and No it isn’t. The always late White Rabbit was played by Evan Blackman. Caterpillar was played by Mary Carlin. Emily Selbischka played the Duchess and April Gerth was the Cook. Claire Ireland played the Cheshire Cat. Jonah Blackman played the March Hare while Dormouse was played by Kalie Osowski. Grace Heider, Cassie Holman, and Isaac Carlson took on the respective roles of Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dummer.
   In addition to the queen of hearts, there were 15 additional playing card characters. David Kielty was the King of Hearts, Graham DeCamillis was the Jack of Hearts, and Ben Nau was the Joker. Hearts were played by Adeline Hitter, Lila Gardner, and Myla Haberman. Clubs were played by Cameron Dittrich-Bigley, Brooklyn Chojnacki, and Grace Gjerstad. Diamonds were played by Erica Remberg, Madelyn Fredrickson, and Evan Hitter. Spades were played by Jackson Holman, Elise Derksen, and Jade Whitcomb. Birds were played by Amelia Gardner, Morgan Carlson, Aspen Erickson, Nick Gjerstad, Ronny Hinrichs, Bradley Ausk, Willow Stevens, Josiah Carlson and Olivia Solinger.
   There were 14 flower characters. Louise Rose-Green and Georgia Morris played Rosey 1 and Rosey 2. Anna Carlson and Emma Conklin played Gladiolas. Quinn DeCamillis and Tessa Wagner played Daffydills. Kaysen Solorz and Thea Roberts played Impatiens. Allie Cross and Quinn Grove played Pansies. Creeping Charlies were played by Mallory Carlson and Eleanor Voigt. Sophie Marier played a Shrinking Violet, and Macy Cox played Baby’s Breath. The play was split into nine scenes with eight songs.
   The first scene was “Stay Awake,” during which was the song If I Were while the character Alice poses for a sketch while playing with a deck of cards. The second scene, the beginning of the journey through Wonderland, was “Deck of Cards.” Deck of 52 was sung by the Queen of Hearts & The Cards after they meet Alice and present her with an invitation to the queen’s “un-birthday party.”. The third scene was “The Birds,” with birds repeating everything that’s been said followed by the fourth scene, “The Caterpillar,” during which the Caterpillar, Alice and the Flowers sang No it isn’t.
   “The Duchess” was the fifth scene, during which Time to start cook was sung by the Duchess, Cook and Cheshire Cat et al. The sixth scene, “The Tea Party” introduced the Mad Hatter having tea as it “is always 3:00” and featured the song I’ll worry about. Scenes seven and eight, “The Un-birthday Song” and “Who Stole The Tarts” concluded the wonderland adventure with the songs The Queen of and Alice performed by all the characters. The final scene, “I Must Have Been Dreaming” concluded the performance when Alice wakes up, discovering she may have been dreaming, or was she? The show lasted not quite 1.5 hours. At the conclusion, the entire cast lined up for photos followed by the individual scene groups.
   Prairie Fire Theatre was founded in 1987 and tours throughout the year, bringing professional theatrical experiences to 200 or more communities in just a week’s time. Though it specializes in touring original adaptations to children’s classics, the organization also has junior and senior high school touring programs. For more information, visit prairiefirechildrenstheatre.com. 
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Few fish for the ‘Little Hole’ - 2.17.18

February 16, 2018, 1:02 pm
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Maggie Newman, Staff Writer

Layers of clothing were key to staying warm during the Little Hole on Big Lake ice fishing tournament on Saturday. (Photos by Maggie Newman)

Pao Lee won the first-place prize of a Clam Thermal X ice fishing house.

A group of girl scouts from Albertville braved the cold and came to the Little Hole on Big Lake to sell some delicious cookies on the ice. In one hour they sold over 80 boxes.
   It was a chilly day for anglers Saturday during the Little Hole on Big Lake ice fishing tournament put on by the Big Lake Lions. 
It was a high of 10 degrees with a bit of wind. However that didn’t stop hearty Minnesotans from braving the elements to try and catch a fish to win the top prize! There was a smaller crowd than years past but there was still plenty of fun to be had. The day began with the free kids fishing clinic from 10 until 11:30 a.m. before the main fishing contest. 
   This event was free for local families to attend and was geared towards kids 12 and under. The first 100 kids received a rod and reel combo. There were also free hot dogs and hot chocolate to help them stay warm.  The Little Hole on Big Lake Fishing tourney began at noon and went until 3 p.m. Over the course of those three hours, only 12 fish were caught, which some believe was due to the location of the tourney on the lake. Out of those 12 fish, the biggest one was a perch that weighed in at only .29 lbs. Pao Lee, who caught the perch, won the first-place prize of a Clam Thermal X ice fishing house.
   Erick Larson took second with a .2 lb. perch, Myron Dewey took third with a .13 lb. perch, Joni Charno took fourth with a .12 lb. perch, Kris Knodle took fifth with a .07 lb. walleye, Luke Senger took sixth with a .07 lb. perch, Brad Brey took seventh with a .06 lb. perch, Mathias Deba took eighth with a .06 lb. walleye, Tyler Sanford, took ninth with a .06 lb. perch, Sai Lee took 10th with a .06 lb. perch, Mike Bies took 11th with a .05 lb. and Matt Thies took 12th with a .04 lb. perch. 
   Since no fish were caught in the youth category all the prizes were given out through a raffle drawing as well as the left over adult prizes.
Although most folk did not even get a bite, there were plenty of door prizes given away.  One of the tournament sponsors, Fish MN Reality was giving out hats and t-shirts as well as a truck load of wood for the person who went on Facebook and guessed the closest number of pieces of wood in the trailer.  There was plenty of hot food for sale and cold beverages, thanks to Lupulin Brewing. 
Some of the bigger prizes given away during the tournament were, $2500 cash, Ion-X auger, Ion auger, Humminbird Helix 7, K drills, Eskimo Quick Fish 3 House, Eskimo Quick Flip 2 House, 8'x8' Otter Lodge, 8'x8' Clam Lodge, Recon Shuttle, Runnings Ice jacket and bibs, Polaris jacket and bibs and many more combo pack prizes valued from $150 to $300 that include Yetti Buckes, Rod and Reel combos, chairs, sleds, rod bags, bait coolers with aerators, cutting boards and knives.
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5th Annual ECFE Sweetheart Ball brings in a crowd - 2.17.18

February 16, 2018, 1:09 pm
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Maggie Newman, Staff Writer

Amelia, Talulah, Briella and Aurora were all oufitted in pretty pink dresses during the sweetheart ball. (Photos by Maggie Newman)

Ava and Sister Sienna, have attended the ball in years past and love to come out for an evening of fancy dresses and lots of dancing.

Grant and his sister Amelia were having a fun time at the annual ECFE Sweetheart ball!
   The Big Lake Early Childhood Family Education held their fifth annual sweetheart ball and fundraiser, at Liberty Elementary school last Friday.  It was the perfect time to get dressed up in fancy attire for a night of family fun with music and dancing, face painting, food and friends! The event began at 6 p.m, and for two hours 150 parents and over 200 children were seen dancing, laughing and just having a great time. The Sweetheart Ball cost was 10 dollars per family to attend, and all the proceeds go back to the Big Lake Early Childhood programs.
   Many of the families who came out have been to the ball before and look forward to this event each year as a way to celebrate Valentines with their sweethearts! Pizza was being served for a small cost and was a hit with a lot of the children who needed a break from all the dancing. There were also flowers and glow sticks for sale, along with free face painting by the Jr. Big Lake Ambassadors!
   A fabulous part of the fundraising, was the tables filled silent auction items which were all donated from local businesses and organizations! There were flower arrangements, gift cards toys and so much more. The evening was a tremendous success and could not have happened without the ECFE faculty and volunteers!
 
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Vendors Fair (Expo) Coming up March 4 - 2.17.18

February 16, 2018, 1:11 pm
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Maggie Newman, Staff Writer
   The 2018, Big Lake Vendors Fair is right around the corner and all are welcomed to join in the fun! There will be plenty to see and do, including free entertainment, food samples, raffle items, and activities for kids! The Big Lake Vendor Fair (formerly the Big lake Expo)  will be held on Sun. March 4, at the Big Lake High School gymnasium, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. This free, family fun event and will feature dance performances as well as skilled karate enthusiasts and more! Businesses will be showing off what they do best and offering people a chance to see what sets their business apart from others. When visiting the booths, event goers are greeted with smiles, door prizes, and lots of information from Business’s in and around the Big Lake Community.
   Not only is this a great event for family fun and entertainment but it’s a great place to promote a business as well! There is still time to register and if readers are interested in being a part of the 2018 Vendor Fair, contact the Chamber Office to find out more about volunteering and vendor opportunities.
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Looney Lutherans coming to Big Lake - 2.17.18.

February 16, 2018, 1:14 pm
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Maggie Newman, Staff Writer
   The Looney Lutheran, are a company of professional actresses who travel the country as Lois Jenson, Ginger Johnson and Bella Anderson. 
Their shows are musical, comedic, family friendly and highly interactive. The performance is about these gals who are on tour promoting their new cookbook and lifestyle guide, “the Lutheran way.” Using music, comedy, and some help from the audience, these gals share some age-old wisdom for living a long and healthy life, the Lutheran way.
   Performances include a variety of segments on healthy living, including discussion of the Lutheran food wheel, where all roads lead to hot dish. A performance of the Lutheran food rap, how to eat like a Lutheran, and a demonstration of exercising the Lutheran way, by using products from your pantry, can create a healthy body. The idea for the “Looney Lutherans” was cooked up in 2006 when the founding members were in the cast of the hit musical Church Basement Ladies at the Plymouth Playhouse in Plymouth, MN. These talented women have been performing for years as professional actresses, writers, singers, and improvisers.
   As the Looney Lutherans they have appeared together around the country.This hilarious comedy will take place at the Big Lake High School, March 3, from 1 p.m. until 2:30. Tickets for the show are $20 and for an additional five dollars, event goers can have a hot dish luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Tickets for the hot dish luncheon need to be purchased by Feb. 20 and can be paid for by going to biglake.feepay.com, in person at the community ed. office located at Liberty Elementary. Show only tickets can be purchased at the door before the event begins.  
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A Fine Evening of Art - 2.17.18

February 16, 2018, 1:25 pm
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Aleah Stenberg Contributing Writer

In the most spine-tingling event of the night, Choir Director Mary Ebanks sings the solo line of Dolly Parton's "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" with the Chamber Singers backing her up with beautifully intricate vocals. Don't miss this special piece being performed next at the concert on February 26th. (Photos by Aleah Stenberg)

Taylor Weidner had a whole panel of her artwork displayed at the Evening of Fine Arts Thursday night. Here, she stands next to her favorite piece of a cat behind a flower vase which is rendered pencil and colored pencil.

Members of the saxophone section were highlighted in the songs "Buffalo Head" and "The Blues at Frog Bottom" during the Jazz Band's twelve-song set which featured many favorites such as "Jailhouse Rock", "Lean on Me", "Wipe Out", and "Go Daddy-O".

Evi Wandersee and her sister Georgia Wandersee (on the right) enjoyed viewing the art gallery at the Evening of Fine Arts. Evi shows off a watercolor and pencil work by Kaitlyn Cox while Georgia points to a pencil and color pencil drawing by Beth Miller.

Senior Becca Renslow read a piece of original short fiction entitled "My Bear" during the Literary Art section of the Evening of Fine Arts. The short story is told from the perspective of a beloved teddy bear.

Junior Richard Lange sang the piece he is preparing for the Solo and Ensemble Competition during the Evening of Fine Arts. "Nel cor piu non mi sent" is an Italian song by Giovanni Paisiello about what it feels like to go through heartbreak and the torment that goes with it.
   Thursday evening, February 8, 2018 held the 3rd Annual Evening of Fine Arts hosted at Big Lake High School. While parent-teacher conferences took place in classrooms throughout the building, the atrium hosted an array of artistic presentations and displays.
Chamber Singers
   Starting the evening off was the upbeat musical invitation to "Sing a Song", arranged by Paul Langford, from the BLHS Chamber Singers. The group also performed "Red River Valley", an a cappella version of the traditional American folk song arranged by Jeffrey Douma, and "Imagine", the popular John Lennon song, arranged by Mac Huff, with the indelible lyrics: "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one." The BLHS men's ensemble, Do Re Migos, performed the Van Morrison song, "Brown Eyed Girl", arranged by Mac Huff, that had the entire audience clapping and Sha-la-la-ing along to the refrain: "Do you remember when we used to sing?"
   Interspersed between the large group numbers were individual pieces being prepared by Chamber Singers members for the upcoming Solo and Ensemble Competition on February 27, 2018 at Andover High School. "The students have worked very hard to prepare these pieces," said Choir Director Mary Ebanks of students Richard Lange, Abby Warnke, Kaitlyn Knodle, Cheyenne Backlund, Zach Kuehn, and Megan Martin. Many of these solos were performed in Italian.
Everything's Gonna be Alright
   The last song of the Chamber Singers' set was "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" arranged by Craig Hella Johnson. A complex vocal underscore backs up a focal solo line in this Dolly Parton song.  Ebanks recounted that they worked diligently on the intricacies and blending of the parts. One day as they were rehearsing, Ebanks sang the solo line so they could hear what they were oohing and ahhing under. When she signaled the final cut-off, everyone was silent. The students wholeheartedly decided their director needed to sing the solo part in performance.
   With the Chamber Singers gathered around her, Ebanks delivered a moving piece which brought tingles and a reverent atmosphere to close the set. Even though the song heavily features the soloist, the ensemble has never felt more united in sound and spirit.  Some selections from the Chamber Singers' set will also be performed during the Choir Concert February 26th. These songs will not want to be missed. 
Visual Arts
   As guests listened to the music wafting from nearby, they perused the visual art that was exhibited all evening in the high school foyer. These selections from Jared Czech's Intro to Art, Watercolor I & II, and Soft Mediums classes and Claudia Forsberg's Pottery I & II and Drawing II courses were a delightful assortment from the different mediums and showcased various techniques. Students proudly stood next to their artwork as parents and grandparents snapped pictures, and patrons would suddenly point to a particular drawing or sculpture that piqued their interest. One of these students was Taylor Weidner, who posed with an entire panel full of her artwork and then pointed out her favorite piece: a pencil and colored pencil drawing of a feline  with its fluffy tail wrapped around a vase of flowers. Weidner mostly works with the pencil and colored pencil mediums, but has recently started branching out to incorporate watercolor into her work. 
Original Literary Art 
   "This part of the evening is the literary side of the events," explained English Teacher Ryan Purdy as he welcomed guests to the lecture hall to hear original compositions and Poetry Out Loud pieces. Rachel Miesen and Chloe Hess performed an original two-voice poem titled "I Saw a Vicious Killer Once". The poem covered the same subject through two different perspectives, with the two voices performing both unison and separately.  The original poem "Red, White, and Blue" described different vignettes of the flag and was performed by author Molly Caouette. 
Other works of original poetry included "Untitled" by Jade Kissel, "Untitled" by Reba Sartwell, "Easier as a Kid" by Enjolie Yang, "Memory Lane" by Terri Thompson, and "What Comes and Goes" and "Fish Kites" by Nathan Mua.
   Korri Wojack planned on performing her Poetry Out Loud piece, but decided that evening to present an original work instead. She selected the poem "Tired", a piece of "angsty eighth grade teenage writing" that was much more sophisticated than she introduced it as.  Coreyana Adail performed "10,000", an original poem about "10 out of 10,000 people who made history, and they didn't do regular things that you read out of a book." Adail also recited her Poetry Out Loud piece, "Hip Hop Gazelle" by Patricia Smith. "My Bear" was an piece of short fiction written and read by Becca Renslow. The story is told from the perspective of a teddy bear and alternates between when the bear is given to its owner, a little girl; waiting in storage; and being taken out of the attic to see that the owner is now an old lady. 
   Also performed that night were student-written essays. Jenna Wendlandt eloquently read "The Power of Art" which addressed her experience last year in the One-Act Play and attending a Frank Iero (the former rhythm guitarist of "My Chemical Romance") concert in Madison, Wisconsin. She masterfully asserted that art is essential to self-discovery and has the power to bring the intangible to life. "Justice" was the title of the original essay by Rosalie Ferrand. "This idea popped into my head and I wrote it at 3:00 a.m.," said Ferrand regarding her composition which explored thought-provoking ideas about the concept of justice. Molly Baumgardner, the self-proclaimed Big Lake Writers Workshop Dictator, read her essay, "The Everlasting Existential Crisis", a "This I Believe"-style essay about her writing journey and existential crises. 
Poetry Out Loud
   Earlier this year, students competed in the BLHS Poetry Out Loud competition. Students memorize a poem from the Poetry Out Loud anthology and perform it from memory. Recitations are judged on physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy.  Sophomore Trent Ramert took first place with his presentation of "The Gaffe" by C.K. Williams. Freshman Taylor Edmonson recited the second place poem, "Famous", by Naomi Shihab Nye. "The Obligation to be Happy" by Linda Pastan was the third place poem performed by senior Megan Martin. The top two performers, Ramert and Edmonson, will perform at the Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition held March 6, at the Open Book venue in downtown Minneapolis. Third place, Martin, will act as an alternate.
Jazz Band
   Back in the foyer, syncopated strains sprung from the Big Lake High School Jazz Band. Their twelve song set included jazz favorites such as: "Jammin' With Charlie"; "How High the Moon"; "Swing Fever"; "Uncle Milo's Side Show"; "Jailhouse Rock"; "Lean on Me"; "The Blues at Frog Bottom"; "Buffalo Head"; "My Dinner with Ronald"; "Wipe Out"; "Here, There & Everywhere"; and "Go Daddy-O". "This is just a fun set because we get to play a lot of music," said Band Director Heidi Olson, noting that this event gives the Jazz Band ensemble the opportunity to play more songs than just the usual three or four pieces during the combined band concerts. 
   The larger set also gives the students more opportunity to have solos, and any student who wants a solo receives one. Featured students included: Amanda Nelson on alto saxophone; Kamryn Robarge on trumpet; Valerie Childs on trumpet; Sam Hagberg on drumset; Mason Krause on trombone; Noah Hart on tenor saxophone; Casey Bunting on baritone saxophone; and Emily Vetter on trumpet.
   The evening concluded with the final performance of the One-Act Play, "Flowers for Algernon", by David Rogers. Concessions were also available at the event, with the profits going to Hornet Hospitality, a school-wide program that runs a food pantry with nutritious, easy to prepare meals; hygiene products; and some clothing available to students and families in need. The Evening of Fine Arts was recorded by Gwen Toppe's Hornet Broadcasting class and is available to view at NFHSnetwork.com. 
Section: 
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Lake groups planing response for more AIS - 2.17-18

February 16, 2018, 1:37 pm
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Gary W. Meyer, Editor

BLCLA Officers Sanford Smith and Brad Johnson met with the Big Lake City Council Wednesday to share information about their ongoing fund drive for a rapid response plan for AIS invasion into Lake Mitchell and Big Lake. (Photo by Gary W. Meyer)

THE MAP shows (in green) treated AIS vegetation in the lakes in 2016.
   It’s been about eight years since the Big Lake Community Lakes Association discovered invasive plant species in Big Lake and Lake Mitchell. The BLCLA, city, Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District and Minnesota DNR have had annual treatments of  areas of the lakes where Eurasion milfoil and curley leaf pondweed have taken hold. And with pretty fair success, it has been noted. Those annual treatments, controlled by the DNR will go on.
   But if additional invasive species, like zebra mussels and spiny water flea, wound up in the lake, what would be their course of action? Brad Johnson and Sanford Smith, BLCLA boardmembers, met with the Big Lake City Council for a short time Wednesday in workshop session, outlining what they hope can be an rapid response plan to counteract such new infestations. The lake group is seeking $10,000 to ensure the plan has financing to immediately put into gear response measures. Johnson told the council his group has secured $3,300 of that contingency plan.
   “It’s a pretty good plan,” he said. “It’s the first plan (of a lake group) in Sherburne County. The plan has been forwarded to the SWCD and the Sauk Rapids DNR office. The BLCLA would hope there could be money forthcoming from the city. Meanwhile, BLCLA members will continue to study the lakes and take water samples twice monthly (May through September) to learn if additional AIS has visited. The BLCLA, in cooperation with the DNR, conducted a two-month study of incoming and outgoing boat traffic on the two lakes last summer, learning there remains significant transfer of AIS vegetation. Boat owners are reminded to help combat the spread of all AIS, they must drain their boats and eliminate all weeds from their boats and trailers.
 
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Details outlined for 2018 street projects - 2.17.18

February 16, 2018, 1:45 pm
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Gary W. Meyer, Editor
   The Big Lake City Council received an in-depth update on proposed 2018 street projects when meeting with Engineer Layne Otteson Wednesday evening. Otteson informed them bids for the various street projects will be awarded in April, leading a start-up of work in May - through September, with a final assessment hearing in October. Several of the streets (which haven’t been upgraded since built in the early 1980’s) will require significant work.
   Most notably, Rose Drive, which extends from Fern Street (near the Big Lake DQ) easterly to Co. Rd. 43. It quite likely will be the most sensitive work because it fronts on businesses at the Lake Shopping Center, the Coborn’s Annex and easterly to Big Lake Lumber. A new 30-foot street surface will be constructed, sloping to ease runoff water to the MnDOT ditch. A six-foot sidewalk will be built on the north side of the street the length of the project.
   Otteson said he has consulted with a Lake Shopping Center businessman and informed him there will be various abuttments at the south side of the shopping center to better direct traffic in and out of that parking lot. Key element of that work is the sidewalk, which “will keep pedestrians off the street,” he said. Manitou Street will be rebuilt, with a 24-foot surface from Lakeshore Drive to Co. Rd. 73. A new six foot sidewalk will be constructed on the north side of that street. Tarrytown Road will be rebuilt with a 26-foot driving surface, a south side six foot sidewalk, then ditching to allow for storm water runoff.
   There will be no parking restrictions on the Manitou, Tarrytown Road and Rose Drive projects. Surfaces of all those streets will remain the same width as present. He said additional street lighting will be part of the projects. He added the Brom Lane-Tarrytown water collection lot will be deepened to hold more water and could be incorporated into a recreation area. The 2018 street improvements will be the first of an every-other-year set of projects to upgrade deteriorating city streets over the next 10 years. Cost of the 2018 work, most of which will be assessed to benefitting property owners, will be over $2 million.
A Parks Director
   The city decided two months ago not to go ahead with the hiring of a $75,000-a-year new parks director. Wednesday, they agreed to piecemeal the job description, hiring a person for 27 hours a week at an expected cost of $28,491. The job-posting action is expected to come at an upcoming regular meeting. City Administrator Clay Wilfahrt lobbied for the job, saying the work now being done by various departments is “not very streamlined, no consistency.”
   The job description would include overseeing all parks development and projects, ECFE in the Park, Music in the Park and coordinating with the Farmers Market, which has been hired out. He said there is interest in the position and “we’ll get qualified candidates.” Mayor Raeanne Danielowski did her best job to convince fellow councilmembers the job was worthwhile. “It is a great way to start. It is a good way to grow things,” she said. Councilmen Mike Wallen and Duane Langsdorf accepted the idea as proposed. Councilman Dick Backlund said he was not in favor of the job becoming fulltime. Councilman Seth Hansen, opposed to the idea from the get-go, voiced his concern it wasn’t the best spending of city money. It should be spent on public safety, rather than parks, he maintained.
   The council visited three other items at their workshop. They met with Big Lake Community Lakes officers and agreed to a new invasive species control program (see separate story.) They also met with Greg Zulbey, Lake Liquors manager, and agreed the liquor store will not be open on Easter Sunday. They also agreed to spend $24,600 to contract with Wenck Associates to do a study of the city’s wastewater treatment capabilities, in advance of future growth.
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BL Twp. looks at building issues - 2.17.18

February 16, 2018, 1:48 pm
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Maggie Newman, Staff Writer
   Bill and Deb Boettner came before the Big Lake Township Board Wednesday to ask for a variance in size for a pole barn structure they wish to build. The building code for constructing an out-building in the township states that one structure cannot be more that 1,800 sq. ft., so the Boettners requested that instead of constructing two buildings at 1,800 sq. ft., they should  obtain a variance to build just one at 3,000 sq. ft. The Boettners will also be building a home on the same property but were advised that the building permits for the house and garage need to be applied for at the same time and that the house would need to start construction within six months of getting those permits.
   After discussion the board decided to forward a recommendation to the county to provide a variance for the out-building, but also stated that if construction has not begun within six months of getting the permits, that the pole barn will be taken down at the owner’s expense to ensure that the house will be built.
   Mike and Korrin Kaufmann came before the board with the request of a drainage easement. Mike elaborated that he would like to install a yard drain with a catch basin at the low point in his yard and connect another basin with a socked, drain tile to relieve the water runoff in his yard.  The county and the DNR are involved as they are located near the Elk River. The DNR suggested cutting the ditch deeper, but the land owner would like to install a drainage system to avoid having to cut down trees.
   Board members decided to refrain from making any comments until Engineer Ross Able with towns and roads can view the property to make a recommendation. The Kaufmanns’ request will be tabled until the next township meeting. The Thelens came before the board a few weeks ago with the hopes to build a horse boarding and therapy facility on township land. In the CUP application they would like the township to amend a variance on the towns agricultural animal ordinance, revise the town ordinance and grant amendment to Thelens for a CUP. 
   After discussion the board decided that the land is just not conditioned for use and Supervisor Norm Leslie made a motion to follow their ordinance and to not grant the variances, Supervisor Steve Pfleghaar seconded and it was passed.    
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Haunted Minnesota - 2.17.18

February 16, 2018, 1:50 pm
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Maggie Newman Staff Writer
   Get ready to be scared, during an evening filled with bizarre ghosts, wicked spirits and deadly poltergeists, during the Haunted Minnesota presentation by Chad Lewis at the Big Lake Public Library. This creepy presentation will be held on Feb. 21, beginning at 5 p.m. The cost for this event is free and open to all ages. This presentation takes the audience on a ghostly journey to some of the most haunted places in MN. It covers the entire state including a witch haunting a cemetery in Jackson, a haunted bed and breakfast in Wabasha, phantom creatures prowling the woods and graveyard apparitions. The presentation is complete with photos, case history, eyewitness accounts, ghost lore, and directions to these places.
   Chad Lewis is a paranormal researcher and author for Unexplained Research. Chad has a master of science degree in applied psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.Chad has trekked across the world in search of the paranormal. From tracking vampires in Transylvania, chasing the Chupacabras in Puerto Rico, searching for the elusive monster in Loch Ness to pursuing ghosts in Ireland's castles.Chad has been featured in hundreds of radio interviews, TV appearances, and newspaper articles. Chad is also the co-author of the Road Guide to Haunted Locations book series.  
 
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Hornets in 2 more games. 2.17.18

February 21, 2018, 1:15 pm
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Staff Writer
Ken Francis

DEVONNE HARRIS turns a rebound into a score in the first half against Rogers Tuesday. He finished with 10 points in Big Lake's 57-48 win. He also had 13 points and 19 rebounds in a 56-47 win over St. Francis last Friday. (Photo by Ken Francis)

     The Big Lake boys basketball team won two more games over the past week.Tuesday, the Hornets used a tight zone defense to prevent inside scoring in a 57-48 win over Rogers at home. The Hornets had lost to the Royals (13-8) earlier in the season, 63-51. Big Lake opened the scoring when Logan Nagorski connected from long distance just 15 seconds into the game. The Royals put in a rebound a few seconds later, and the Hornets had a chance to open a bigger lead but turned the ball over on their next two possessions.
    But the defense was keeping Rogers from getting any shot attempts. Drew Rudlong stole a pass and fed Nagorski for a layup and a 5-2 lead. Then DeVonne Harris used his jumping ability to score two baskets inside for a 9-4 lead with 12:53 left in the first half.
    But the Royals came right back. They hit a three-pointer, then had a three-point play after a steal. Rudlong got a basket on a drive, but Rogers hit a short jumper and layup for their biggest lead, 14-11 with 9:31 left.
    Big Lake Coach Kyle Johnson called a time out to get his team back on track, and it calmed things down a little. Spencer Hinrichs hit a three-pointer to tie the game and Nagorski had a pull-up jumper to give the Hornets the lead again. After the Royals put in a layup to tie the game, neither team had much of a scoring streak. Both defenses played well, and in the final eight minutes of the half there were only eight baskets.
    It was deadlocked at 24-24 at the break.
The back-and-forth game continued early in the second half. Rogers opened the scoring with a layup and Trey Teige tied it 30 second later on a drive. Rogers sank two free throws to get back on top, then tried to force a turnover with their pressing defense. But it backfired when Harris found himself all alone under the basket. His slam dunk tied the game and brought the Big Lake fans to their feet. They were still standing when Hinrichs followed with a three pointer for a 34-30 lead with 14:38 left. The Hornets would never trail the rest of the way.
    The Royals got some points back on a three-pointer, but Big Lake’s defense was solid, forcing turnovers and turning them into points. Rudlong muscled his way inside for three scores over a three-minute span. Jake Ireland got open underneath for an easy layup and Nagorski had another three-pointer, and suddenly the close game had turned into a 10-point Hornet lead with 9:42 left. The Royals had a steal and a three-point play to pull a bit closer, and the Hornets went into a cold spell for the next three minutes before Harris put in a rebound to end the drought.When Big Lake slowed the game down to run off some time, the Royals were forced to commit fouls. When Nagorski sank two free throws with 2:31 left, Big Lake went ahead, 51-38. Then it was a game of fouls and free-throws.
    Rogers inched its way closer, but Big Lake managed to sink six of 10 foul shots the rest of the way to hold on for the win. Nagorski led Big Lake with 18 points. Rudlong scored 12. Hinrichs had 11 and Harris finished with 10. The Hornets held the Royals’ top scorer, 6’6” Jordan Belka, to 12 points. He started the evening averaging 23.6 points a game.
    Defense was also the name of the game last Friday when Big Lake beat St. Francis, 56-47. The Hornets wouldn’t allow anything easy for the Saints, who hit just five of 27 shot attempts in the first half. Meanwhile the Hornets were pulling down rebounds and passing the ball around and getting production from all five players on the court. Nagorski had six points in the first half. Hinrichs had five and Harris and Rudlong each scored four for a 23-11 lead at the half.
    The game opened up in the second half, with each team increasing their scoring. The Saints began hitting a higher percentage of their shots, but Big lake still dominated the boards, preventing second shot attempts. Jacob O’Brien hit a three pointer off and Ireland had four points the bench. Nagorski also had one from long distance and added nine points. Harris scored on all four of his shot attempts, and Big Lake held their lead the rest of the way. Nagorski led Big Lake with 15 points. He also had 10 rebounds. Harris had a great game, scoring 13 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. Rudlong finished with 10 points.
   The Hornets are 6-14 on the season. They played Buffalo Friday, results to follow next week. They visit Monticello Tuesday, host Sauk Rapids-Rice Thursday at 7:15 p.m. and visit Zimmerman on Friday.

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Sports
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Big Lake girls win 2 of 3 on the road. 2.17.18

February 21, 2018, 1:18 pm
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Staff Writer
Ken Francis

REAGAN STERNQUIST scored 24 points against Rogers Tuesday.

       The Big Lake girls basketball team won two of its last three games on the road over the past week. In a close game Thursday, the Hornets beat Buffalo, 60-57.
    They led, 27-23 at the half and scrambled the rest of the way to hold on to their lead. Caela Tighe led Big Lake with 18 points. Annika Poe scored 11. Emma Anderson had 10. Reagan Sternquist and Kayla Donais each finished with eight.
    Tuesday, the Hornets trailed early, fought back, but lost in overtime to Rogers,  76-74. Sternquist had her best game of the season on offense, leading the Hornets with 24 points. Tighe had 17 and Anderson scored 15. Last Friday, Donais had the hot hand, scoring 26 points and leading the Hornets over St. Francis, 69-62.
    Big Lake opened up a seven-point lead by the end of the first half, then matched the Saints point-for-point after the break. Sternquist also had a good game, scoring 13 points. The rest of the team contributed as well. Tighe and Poe each had eight points. Mia Huberty scored seven and Anderson finished with six.
    Big Lake is 11-13 on the season and 6-6- in the Mississippi 8 Conference.  They  finish the regular season at Monticello Tuesday. Even though their record is under .500, the Hornets have been in close games that could have gone either way. In their last nine games, Big Lake is 5-4, with three of their losses in overtime.
    The Hornets will host a section quarterfinal game Tuesday, Feb. 20.

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Sports
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Lots of SCORE  funds on the table - 2.24.18

February 23, 2018, 1:16 pm
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Ken Francis, Staff Writer
   The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved the 2018 SCORE budget in the amount of $758,874. The SCORE (Select Committee on Recycling and Environment) program is a state funding source for counties to develop waste reduction, recycling and solid waste management programs. Each year, SCORE funds eligible programs throughout the county.
   Solid Waste Administrator Dave Lucas said there was a larger than usual carryover of funds ($401,607) that weren’t used in 2017, making this year’s balance much higher. “There was turnover of staff and staff shortages last year. Some programs weren’t fully implemented,” he said. “We only did half of our household hazardous waste collection events because we didn’t have the staff to oversee some of them.”
   Some cities and townships didn’t use all their allotted grant dollars, so there was roughly $35,000 carried over. Some townships sent their municipal solid waste to landfills and didn’t get SCORE funding.  “If you landfill waste collected at these events, the county can’t reimburse you for those dollars,” said Lucas. “If you take your material to a resource recovery facility, such as GRE or Pope-Douglas, that is an eligible expense.” City yard-waste sites didn’t use their full allotment of grant dollars, so  about $60,000 was carried over. And because of the tornado that hit the county, the vendor who usually does wood chipping and grinding wasn’t available to do the same in cities last year.
   Lucas said because of the larger budget, the county is going to be more proactive in 2018. “This year’s budget provides for additional money to cities and townships. We’re going to reimburse them 100%,” he said. “And we’re strongly encouraging them to take material to  resource recovery facilities so we can reimburse them.” City township cleanup day events will receive $121,968.
   The allocation for household hazardous waste (HHW) collection events is $100,000. The Stearns County HHW facility will receive $30,000.
Zimmerman Girl Scouts Paper & Cardboard Recycling Program gets $6,300. Becker Boy Scouts Paper & Cardboard Recycling Program receives $6,160. Public yard waste sites will get $130,000. It includes $40,000 for Elk River and $30,000 each for the cities of Becker, Big Lake and Zimmerman.
   The pharmaceutical collection and disposal program is budgeted $5,000. The battery recycling program will get $12,500. Grass clippings and leaf drop events receive $4,000. The Environmental Educator Newsletter will get $30,000. Administration costs to the county total $3,500. The remaining $308,661.81 is unallocated and can be awarded to SCORE eligible projects and proposals by staff, said Lucas.
Elections
   The board approved a service agreement with  KnowInk for $118,060 electronic poll books for use in primary and general elections in 2018 and future years. The county will be receiving $55,740.42 from the State of Minnesota  to assist with the total cost. The County will be providing the balance of $62,319.58.
Other Business
In other action the board:
* Approved the final contract payment of  $142,152.07 to Knife River Corp. for bituminous reclaim and overlay and reconstruction on Co. Rd. 24;
* Approved the final contract payment of $190,923.90 to Knife River Corp. for Co. Rd. 4 reconditioning, Fremont Drive realignment, and Hwy. 169 traffic signal replacement;
* Approved an agreement with WSB & Associates to provide engineering services for the reconstruction of Co. Rd. 16 from Co. Rd. 11 to Co. Rd. 93 in the amount of $337,458;
* Approved an agreement with Bolton & Menk to provide engineering services for the Co. Rd. 13 and Twin Lakes Road Corridor Study in the amount of $85,940.
 
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Vendors Fair March 4 - 2.24.18

February 23, 2018, 1:20 pm
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Maggie Newman Staff Writer
   The Big Lake Vendors Fair (formally known at the Business Expo,) will be held Sunday March 4, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Big Lake High School. There will be lots to do and see, as over 50 booths/business owners are participating!Something new for this year’s Vendor Fair offers special discounts for event- goers who purchase a button, for one dollar prior to the event. Participants can buy a button at the following locations, Coborn’s, KleinBank, Crossfit Confidence, Great River Spine & Sport and Riverwood Bank, Edward Jones, Big Lake Chamber of Commerce & Industry.  
   Those who buy a button for one dollar, will receive discounts from the following locations on Friday, March 2, to Sunday, March 4.Lupulin Brewing is offering one dollar off a pint, or two dollars off a growler. The Third Rail is offering a free pizza fry app with purchase of two full price entrees. Hwy. 10 BBQ is offering a free soda with purchase. El Loro is offering 2 for 1 drinks, and Dojo Karate of Monticello is offering five dollars off registration.
   Entertainment and presentations during the Vendors Fair will include Evolution Tae Kwon Do, DOJO Karate, Tempo Dance Studio and Lucille Murray's School of Dance. Event-goers are welcomed to sit back and enjoy the entertainment while sampling delicious food from, Coborn's, Hwy. 10 BBQ and El Loro!Entertainment at the 2018 Vendors Fair will include, DOJO Karate Bounce House, Reptile Side Show with Angie Cairl, Facepainting by Big Lake Ambassadors, Pure Platinum DJ Services, Spinning Sound Entertainment and Sherburne County Sheriff's Office Activities.
   Businesses who will have booths and information at the Vendors Fair will be: Abba Pregnancy Resource Center, Able Bodies Massage & Wellness, All Climate Mechanical, LLC, All Energy Solar, Amber Danielzuk - Promised Land Homes, Angell's Construction, Anytime Fitness, Big Lake Lions Club, Big Lake Police Dept., Big Lake School District, Cain Murray - Keller Williams Classic Realty, Cherrywood Advanced Living, City of Big Lake, Crossfit Confidence, Culligan Water.Custom Remodelers, Inc., Dojo Karate, Edward Jones, Evolution Tae Kwon Do, Freedom Strategy Group, Friendly Buffalo, Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Great River Spine and Sport, Guardian Angels Senior Services, Heitz Group - Edina Realty, Home Depot, JR Distribution, Keller Williams Classic Realty NW, KleinBank, Living 2B, Majestic Creations, My Exteriors, National Cremation Society. New Creations Child Care & Learning Center, Options, Inc., RetroGreen Energy, Senator Mary Kiffmeyer & Representative Nick Zerwas, Sherburne County BRIDGES Education Committee, Sherburne County Master Gardeners, Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, Sherburne County Veterans Services, Sherburne History Center, SkyNet Broadband, Inc., Town of Big Lake, Tri-CAP, Vision Transportation, West Sherburne Tribune, Window Concepts of Minnesota, Inc., Wright Technical Center and the Big Lake Women of Today.   
   The Big Lake Chamber is still offering booth space to last minute registrants. If readers are interested, contact Corrie Scott, at cscott@biglakemn.org, or call 763.228.1361. 
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School has funding shortfall - 2.24.18

February 23, 2018, 1:27 pm
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Gary W. Meyer, Editor

ANGIE MANUEL, Big Lake Schools finance director, & JANICE RODRIQUEZ, retiring middle school library support staff. (Photos by Gary W. Meyer)
   Just as the Big Lake Board of Education was settling in on a budget for their 2018-19 year, they got a curveball. Finance Mgr. Angie Manuel reported to them Thursday evening a state funding shortfall of between $608,000 and $654,000. Money they had counted on from the state by a state-funding-student enrollment formula was off by that amount, Manuel told the Tribune following their meeting. She said the school was expecting about $24 million in state aids for the coming year, based on that formula.
   In late January, she was busy doing projections for revenue when she noted “things were off.” She consulted with Forecast 5 professionals, district finance consultants who later suggested “We have a problem.” “It was a formula error,” she said. “Our general education aid was overstated by about $550,000.” Manuel reported the formula for forecasting such aid had been used by her during her 12 years in the school office and had never caused problems before. She contacted Supt. Steve Westerberg and within days they communicated with staff the problem. “It wasn’t that we lost money,” she said. “But we’re not in a position we thought we were.”
   Board action Thursday was to trim spending in nine various areas for the coming year. The cuts, Board Chair Dan Nygaard emphasized, would not cut present teachers nor curriculum for the year.
Budget shifts and reductions enacted were as follows:
1. They would reduce one elementary teacher, three title education assistants and do fund shifts to save from $48,000 to $89,000;
 2. Re-use staff development funds amounting to $83,176;
3. Reduce general funding building and departmentment non-staff budgets, $67,581;
4. Reduce operating capital building and department budgets, $103,000;
5. Reduce communication specialist budget, $12,000;
6. Decrease transportation budget due to purchase of two district vans, $35,000 to $40,000;
7. Change budgeted enrollment parameter for change in early graduation policy, $150,000;
8. Utilize federal special education carryover funds to offset costs of general fund special education expenditures, $100,000.
   A potential funding source would be to reinbursement of special education cooperative funds of $100,000 to $115,000. The board for some time discussed their overall funding status and pointed to several state funding issues that continue to cause them problems. Key issue is the district, like all in the state, continues to receive significantly less money to finance special education programs and those monies need to come out of the general fund. The district is receiving $1,100 less per special education student than the budget calls for. By comparison, the excess levy referendum approved by district voters two years ago provides an additional $475 per student. Manuel’s forecast was for Big Lake Schools to have drawn down its unappropriated education funds by the 2023 year; now it may be gone by 2021.
In Other Action
The board had a busy agenda Thursday, hearing a report from Liberty Principals Caryl Gordy and Teresa Smock-Potter, and approving the proposed new graduation credits policy from BLHS Principal Bob Dockendorf and David Bernard. Details on their presentations in next week’s Tribune. They also met with retiring Middle School Librarian Assistant Janice Rodriquez and provided her a plaque. She served in that capacity for 24 years; and more earlier in the classroom.  They also met with Brad Schnitzler, community education director,  and approved a Little Learners-Hive Time parent handbook.
 
 
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Go Fish (Fry) - 2.24.18

February 23, 2018, 1:33 pm
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Keon McGarvey, Staff Writer

Big Lakers gathered to enjoy the Big Lake Lions annual fish fry.

The Lions serve up fried fish with all the fixings. (Photos by Keon McGarvey)
   The Big Lake Lions Club hosted their annual fish fry at Lion’s Park last Friday. The fish fry began around 4:30pm and lasted until 7:30pm. It was a heavy turnout with 75-100 being served and eating at any given time. “This is a great way to give back to the community,” said Mayor Raeanne Danielowski, who was serving food. “It’s great to see so many people here.”
   Adult meals were $10 while children under 10 were $5. The meal included all you can eat fish, baked beans, potato, dinner roll, coleslaw, and a beverage of choice. Beverages included milk or coffee. All proceeds will go towards scholarships for Big Lake HS students. Guests paid at the door then walked over to the serving line and were served the meal. Drinks and tartar sauce were picked up at a second station.
   Big Lake Lioness Club was selling dessert. Big Lake Lions were also collecting old eye-glasses. The Big Lake Ambassadors and Junior Ambassadors were present to assist with serving and cleaning. Girl Scouts were selling cookies and Boy scouts were also on hand to help out.
 
 
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Lupulin tax abatement approved - 2.24.18

February 23, 2018, 1:37 pm
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Ken Francis, Staff Writer

Lupulin Brewing co-founder Jeff Zierdt.
   After a brief public hearing Tuesday, the Sherburne County Board approved a tax abatement and business subsidy agreement for The Garage Guys LLC/Lupulin Brewing in Big Lake. Sherburne County Assistant Administrator Dan Weber said the brewery occupies about 9,000 of a 22,500 sq. ft. space on Hwy. 10. Lupulin was requesting a property tax abatement of $120,975 over 15 years to help pay for an expansion that would double their production space.  Phase 1 of the expansion project will install a canning line, two fermenters, brite tanks, as well as power, plumbing and mechanical infrastructure improvements. Phase 2 of the project would add the 4,500 sq ft beer hall and an additional 8,500 square feet of manufacturing space.
   The business currently has nine full time employees and 20 part-time employees. Fulltime employees average $18.99/hr and $24.26/hr (with benefits). The project will create a minimum of 18 more full time jobs. It would add about $800,000 in value to the property, which would equate to about $8,065 in taxes per year. Weber said the project scored above average on the tax abatement policy criteria, which makes it eligible for 75% of their request of $120,975. The board approved an abatement of $90,731 over 12 years.
   Jeff Zierdt, co-founder and president of Lupulin Brewery and chief manager for The Garage Guys, said the business has grown much quicker than expected. “In 2015, we produced 330 barrels of beer had one fulltime employee. In 2017, we just finished at 1,600 barrels and had seven fulltime employees,” he said. “Projections for 2018 are running at a rate of 3,500 barrels and we have additional staff coming on board to support our distribution.”
   He said the numbers exceed their five-year business plan by four to five times. The expansion is another step in the growth process. “This (abatement) will help make Lupulin a long-term business in Sherburne County and Big Lake,” he said. “It will help our cash flow as we continue to grow our business.” The City of Big Lake also approved a 15-year, $284,000 abatement for Lupulin in January.
 
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Becker council ponders proposed Xcel tax rate - 2.24.18

February 23, 2018, 1:41 pm
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Gary W. Meyer, Editor
   There is a serious movement underway to re-do Xcel Energy property valuation formulas which will affect their tax status to their home communities. That was an issue for discussion before the Becker City Council in executive session Wednesday evening. City Administrator Greg Pruszinski and the council met for 20 minutes, outlining the details on a Minnesota Legislature House File 1985. That legislation, if approved, would combine Xcel Energy’s two tax rates into one, making it easier to compute. Xcel has for the past several years been assessed property valution for two forms - their property and for their distribution lines.
   Pruszinski and Council-man Rick Hendrickson sat in on a 2 1/2-hour conference call last week with representatives of Flaherty/ Hoods, PA., the lobbying firm for their seven-city Coalition of Utility Cities. The coalition consists of seven host cities to power generating plants in the state, including Monticello, Red Wing, Cannon Falls, Hoyt Lakes, Cohasset and Oak Park Heights. “We want to explore the merits of this (legislation),” said Pruszinski. “It looks like it’s beneficial to Becker.”
   Hendrickson agreed: “The scenario is the best for Becker,” he said. “And the legislature is only interested in this if the cities (of the coalition) and the utilities are on board with this.” They noted the utilities companies are in agreement with a single-valuation on which to base taxes, for it would make their accounting simpler. And an affect of a single tax formula would lessen the annual volatility in tax income to host communities. Pruszinski distributed a flyer to the council which could provoke additional questions regarding the makeup of the agreement.
   The information also needs to be shared with the Minnesota Dept. of Revenue and Becker Public Schools. Dan Weber, community development director with Sherburne County, was also in on the conference call. A single-formula tax proposal for Xcel, to include its plants in Monticello and Red Wing, would have an affect on their home counties. The Becker councilmembers were asked to contribute further questions and comment by Thursday.
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‘Flowers for Algernon’ completes performance run - 2.24.18

February 23, 2018, 1:52 pm
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Aleah Stenberg Contributing Writer

As Professor Nemur (Trent Ramert, center) presents their findings at a scientific conference, Charly reveals to Doctor Strauss (Richard Lange) an oversight in their experiment and points out that their conclusions are premature.

"I'm right in the middle of the biggest joke of all, and I can't afford to spend time with anyone. There's only enough left for myself," Charly professes to teacher and love interest Miss Alice Kinnian (Jenna Wendlandt) as he foresees the end of his intelligence and life approaching. "I am afraid. Not of life or death or nothingness, but of wasting it as if I had never been." (Photos by Aleah Stenberg)

A fully regressed Charly (Alexander Hugh Prom) gives his last progress report in person to end the show, as Bertha (Megan Martin) silently says goodbye.

Charly (Alexander Hugh Prom) races Algernon, the mouse, to complete a maze as part of his evaluation before he undergoes the experimental IQ-boosting surgery. "I didn't know mice was so smart," exclaims Charly when Algernon finishes first.

The cast and crew of "Flowers for Algernon" included Alexander Hugh Prom, Jenna Wendlandt, Trent Ramert, Richard Lange, Megan Martin, Makayla Danelke, Emily Selbitschka, Hailey Crowe, Ella Propeck, Dakota Scales, Jakob Osowski, Hunter Gleason, Lee Heltemes, Morgan Benner, Olivia DuPaul, Grace Green, Director Jenna Scheevel, and Student Director Jessica Stenberg.

After the operation, Charly (Alexander Hugh Prom) is instructed to listen to the teaching machine, an apparatus that subliminally feeds information visually and auditorily. Emily Selbitschka (left) and Ella Propeck (right), members of the Interactive Set, portray the teaching machine by bellowing information ad nauseam. "How'm I gonna sleep with you yellin' numbers at me all night?" is Charly's initial reaction to the contraption.
   The 3rd Annual Big Lake High School Evening of Fine Arts concluded Feb. 8, with the public performance of the One-Act Play, "Flowers for Algernon". This show was the final presentation of the play which has travelled and competed at other schools over the past weeks. "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes was originally published in a 1959 edition of "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction" as a short story, and was later expanded into a novel in 1966. The One-Act Play adaptation performed by the BLHS students was written by David Rogers and produced through special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing. 
   This science fiction story details a mouse and the first human subject to undergo an experimental surgery to boost their intelligence. One of the major themes of the play is the moral and ethical treatment of the mentally disabled as well as manipulation, love, and guilt. The cast included Alexander Hugh Prom, Jenna Wendlandt, Trent Ramert, Richard Lange, Megan Martin, Makayla Danelke, Emily Selbitschka, Hailey Crowe, and Ella Propeck. The technical and backstage team was comprised of Dakota Scales, Jakob Osowski, Hunter Gleason, Lee Heltemes, Morgan Benner, Olivia DuPaul, and Grace Green. Jenna Scheevel directed the One-Act Play assisted by a student director, Jessica Stenberg.
The Plot
   A man in a cardigan stumbles center stage, looks around, and shuffles to an armchair stage left. "His name is Charly Gordan. He's 32 years old, about 6 feet tall, rather nice-looking, blonde hair, blue eyes, and he's mentally retarded," says Alice Kinnian (played by Jenna Wendlandt) to two men in lab coats. These two men, Professor Nemur (Trent Ramert) and Doctor Strauss (Richard Lange), decide that Charly Gordan (portrayed by Alexander Hugh Prom) is the best candidate for the first trial of their IQ-boosting experimental operation. The procedure has been successful so far on a mouse named Algernon.
   The operation is projected to permanently increase the subject's intelligence to levels of genius. So far for Algernon, the procedure tripled his mental capacity. They hope the same for Charly, whose IQ is only 68, but he is strong, good-natured, and eager to learn.  While a successful operation could be very beneficial for Charly, it is not without risk. Strauss admits, "There may be no effect at all...or his intelligence might improve temporarily...or it might make him worse." This possibility concerns Miss Kinnian, and for the rest of the play, she worries if she made the right choice for Charly. 
   Charly undergoes the operation, and his learning process begins now that he is able to retain and apply his tutoring from Kinnian and lessons from the teaching machine (an apparatus that subliminally feeds information visually and auditorily). He is given a journal to write his progress reports in every day. These progress reports are used throughout the show as pre-recorded interludes between scenes to demonstrate his learning progression and hear his inner thoughts. "He's going so quickly," reports Miss Kinnian a few weeks later to Professor Nemur. "I've got him reading novels...and history...and his arithmetic is almost high school level. In a week or so, I think he can start a foreign language. But there's going to be a problem when he reaches college level...I don't think I can keep ahead of him."
   But not everything is just academic, or easy. With his new knowledge, Charly learns more about relationships and navigates a world where his coworkers at the bakery don't know how to treat him now that he is smart. They were used to just laughing at him, but now they are hostile and frightened of him. "You don't have to be ashamed of anything, Charly. You're a fine person and you're going to show them all one day....For a person God gave so little to, you've done more than a lot of people who have always had brains and never used them. And...don't feel badly if you suddenly discover that everybody isn't as smart as you think. Or as nice," mentors Miss Kinnian. Bertha (Megan Martin), a friendly laboratory technician, gives Charly advice as well, "The more intelligent you become, the more problems you'll have."
   As Charly grows intellectually, he also grows emotionally, and he finds himself falling for Miss Alice Kinnian. The two go on a strained date to a concert in the park. There, Alice admits she does have feelings for Charly, but needs to stay reserved. "Charly, don't push me. Every week you're a different person. When you mature intellectually, we may not even be able to communicate. When you mature emotionally, you may not even want me. I've got to think of myself, too." Later, Strauss and Nemur bring Charly and the mouse, Algernon, to a scientist convention. Nemur states during the conference, "Now, in place of a feeble-minded shell, a burden on the society that must fear his irresponsible behavior, we have a man of dignity and sensitivity, ready to take his place as a contributing member of society."
   Charly is furious about the conference. He confronts Strauss. "How dare you? I am a human being...a person...with parents and memories and a history...and I was before you wheeled me into that operating room." Besides the gross misrepresentation of him at the conference, Charly, who is now a genius, finds a flaw in the experiment and the findings: "You don't really know if Algernon's intelligence and mine are permanent, do you?" Charly announces that due to his superior intellect and his vested interest in the program, he is taking over the project. He learns that the provision, if he should relapse, is to send him to the Warren State Home and Training School - the very same school his mother deposited him in years earlier. 
   When Algernon takes a turn for the worst, which worries Charly since his progress has thus far correlated to the mouse's, Charly goes "sight-seeing" to the Warren State Home. Charly diagnoses the home: "They do their best. They are understaffed. They are nice people. No one is locked up except for emotionally disturbed retardates... They are devoted to their patients...they really are...but nobody said anything about rehabilitation...no one spoke of hope...The feeling was living death."
   Charly realizes that his life is falling apart due to the experiment, but he still doesn't regret having the operation. As he tragically grasps his predicament, that he was and will always be an object of ridicule to those surrounding him, he confesses, "I am afraid. Not of life or death or nothingness, but of wasting it as if I had never been." Charly is still working at a genius, break-neck speed, his work too advanced for either Strauss or Nemur to understand, when he finds Algernon dead in his cage. He does the dissection himself and realizes that Algernon's fate will soon be his own. When Strauss and Nemur push for him to write the report on the dissection, Charly realizes they don't care about him as a human, but only as an experiment.
   "We did everything we could for you," asserts Strauss. "Except treat me like a human being," Charly retorts. "I'm a person now and so was Charly before he ever walked into that lab. But you think a person with an IQ of less than 100 is expen - expenda - that we don't matter...but we do!" Charly starts relapsing. In a moment of clarity he decides to bury Algernon so he doesn't have to be put in the incinerator, and he agrees to write the report but he will not come back to the lab. "We don't belong on the same level," Charly tells the doctors. "I passed your floor on the way up and now I'm passing it on the way down and I don't think I'll be taking this elevator again."
   In the end, Charly fully relapses and admits himself to the Warren State Home to disappear after mistakenly trying to attend Miss Kinnian's class again. "That's why I'm goin' away fer good," Charly says in his last progress report. "To the Warren Home School. I don' wan' people to cry an' feel sorry. I don' know why I'm dumb again or what I did wrong. Maybe I didn' try hard enough...But I got some books...'n' even if I can't read I'll try an' maybe I'll get a li'l smarter than before the operation."
A Powerful Play
   "Flowers for Algernon" is a profound play that tackles treatment and perception of the mentally disabled as well as many other subjects such as love, friendship, learning, fear, and guilt. "We were on our toes the whole time during the show," said Trent Ramert, who portrayed the heartless Professor Nemur, about the full gamut of emotions and themes in the play. Hailey Crowe, who played one of the Interactive Set members, was grateful for what she learned from Student Director Jessica Stenberg who coached the cast on character development and choreographed the blocking.
   "Jessica was a great student director. She made us really think about things we normally don't think about and find a way to connect to them," said Crowe, who found this invaluable during this multi-layered play."Our responsibility as storytellers is generally very large, but for this show the task is exceedingly so. Accurately portraying the dense subject matter was overbearing every minute of the process," divulged Student Director Jessica Stenberg. "Like a Dr. Seuss depiction of a huge, teetering pile of food held on a tiny platter, is the weight and breadth of the subject of neurodiversity that we strive to deliver to the hearts and minds of the community."
The Rules
   Competitive One-Act Play has many rules set by the Minnesota State High School League which impact how the show is judged in competition. The rules that affect the team the most during performance are the 10 minute set-up period to prepare all the set and technical elements, the 35 minute maximum run time for the show, the 10 minute time slot to clear the stage, and fitting the entire set into a 10ft by 10ft space marked by tape. Breaking any of these rules, and more listed on the MSHSL website, results in disqualification. 
Take this Show on the Road
   The BLHS students performed in Monticello at the Mississippi 8 One-Act Play Festival Jan. 20. The festival serves as their first show in front of other schools and they are critiqued by the other directors. Participation in the festival helps the teams polish their play before the Sub-Section competition the next weekend. All Conference awards are also handed out at the One-Act Festival. Alexander Hugh Prom, Trent Ramert, and Jenna Wendlandt received All Conference awards for acting, while Hunter Gleason won All Conference for tech. Richard Lange received an Honorable Mention for acting while Lee Heltemes received the same honor in the tech realm. 
   Jan. 27, the One-Act Play crew headed to Princeton for the 7AA Sub-Section One-Act Competition. There they competed with six other schools for the chance to advance to Sections. "At the Sub-Section Competition, we placed fourth out of seven schools," Director Jenna Scheevel explained before the Evening of Fine Arts performance. "The top three teams advance to the next level of competition, and we only missed third place by two points. It was very close."
   Taking part in theater and other performing arts has been something I have enjoyed my whole life," commented Scheevel. "I remember the joy and fun I had participating in One-Act in high school and so when I saw an opportunity to direct a play, I was very excited. Working with these students has been an absolute blast. They are talented, goofy, know how to have fun but also know when it's time to be serious and work hard. They are a dedicated group, and whether it be 1st, last, or any place in between, I am so incredibly proud of these students and know they deserve nothing but the best. Go Big Lake!"
Upcoming Spring Musical
With the final performance of "Flowers for Algernon" completed, the One-Act Play run is over. However, many of the students will also be participating in the spring musical, "The Addams Family", which will be performed April 20-22 at BLHS auditorium. Tickets for the musical are already available at Big Lake Community Education.
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