Fergus Falls Forum

The Fergus Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau has just launched its annual photo contest, which provides an opportunity for photographers to submit their best pictures of Fergus Falls and the Otter Tail County area. The best photographs, as judged by the Convention and Visitors Bureau, will also win a spot in the area visitors guide, which is printed annually.

“It’s often said by Fergus Falls residents that we get to live and work in a vacation-land.” said Jean Bowman, Executive Director of the Fergus Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re asking people to put that perspective to work for our community and share photographs that will entice others to consider a vacation here.”

If a photo is worth a thousand words, then what better way to show potential tourists the local treasures Fergus Falls has to offer? “We will use the photos in our promotional publications, including the visitors guide, our web site and other printed pieces. We allow (and even prefer) digital photography as well as 35 mm photos to be submitted.” Each photographer may submit up to 10 photographs.

Entries must be submitted by Monday, September 27. Photographs specifically depicting tourist-related activities like festivals, sports, shopping, recreation and dining are most likely to win prizes. Prizes awarded are: $100 for the best overall photograph, and five $50 honorable mentions. Entries will be judged by an independent party. Winning photos will exhibit quality in color, composition, clarity and creativity as well as their ability to tell a story about our area.

Contest rules and entry forms are available in the lobby of City Hall and at www.visitfergusfalls.com.

Fergus Forum would like to give a big birthday shout-out to the United States of America, and wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July.

While there will be no city fireworks tonight, at Krueger Field in Perham, there’ll be fireworks at the East Otter tail County Fairgrounds after the baseball game, which will be around 10:00PM.

The largest Fourth of July fireworks display will be 45-minutes north-east of Fergus Falls in Detroit Lakes on Highway 59. Fireworks will begin at approximately at 10:15PM, at the city beach on Detroit Lake.

Severe weather, which caused numerous tornadoes throughout the area, swept through on Thursday, and the latest reports are showing at least three deaths. Of those two deaths, one person died in Almora, Minn. (roughly 40 miles east of Fergus Falls), and another person died in rural Polk County. In southern Minnesota, one person was killed on a farm west of Albert Lea.

According to emergency officials, the Almora, Minn. woman was found dead in tornado debris.

The tornado in Almora was part of a severe weather system that rolled across the majority of Minnesota, as well as parts of North Dakota, which flattened  homes, wrecked a gas station, and knocked down an abundance of trees.

A tornado in Mentor, Minn., a community located roughly 25 miles east of Crookston, destroyed a convenience store, and killed one person in the process according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the tornado came through town and traveled northwest, changed directions, and damaged cabins on Maple Lake. The only remains of the convenience store in Mentor is the north-facing wall, a small portion of the west-facing wall, a few 2×4′s, and corrugated metal.

In addition to damage in Almora and Mentor, the city of Wadena, Minn. was in the process of having a parade to celebrate an “all-school” reunion when a tornado tore through the city.

Just after 5:00PM, several buildings were completely destroyed, including the Wadena-Deer Creek High School, and the Wadena Area Community Center. As of late Thursday night, there were thirteen reported injuries, however no fatalities. Mike Carr, a Wadena County Sheriff, said that damage is so severe in Wadena, its not safe to enter the city.

The above photos are courtesy of Kevin Winkler.

Was your afternoon affected by severe weather? Did you have to seek shelter? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

After running upwards of 3,000 miles, Jasmine Jordan, or “Jazzy” as she’s become to be known, has arrived in New York City after beginning her nine month run from Los Angeles, CA to benefit the St. Christopher’s Truckers Development and Relief Fund, which assists truckers around the country who are unable to afford health insurance.

17-year-old Jordan decided to make the cross-country trek after a family friend died of a disease at a time when she was unable to afford medical insurance at the age of 38. It all started when her dad, Lee Jordan, said, “If you want to make a statement, run across the country”, though he was joking at the time, Jordan took it seriously.

While her cross-country run has had some road bumps, such as pulled tendon, which side-tracked her for a month, and a car accident, she has kept running through it all.

“Jazzy” has inspired people all across the country to get out and improve their own health after hearing her story. In an interview with Fast Lane, a Department of Transportation blog, she had this to say:

“I met a truck driver named Ed German who weighed over 400 pounds. Then, he said he heard about what I was doing and decided to change his lifestyle. He cut out the three or four quarts of pop he drank every day and started getting more exercise. By the time I met him in person, he was already down below 300 pounds! That’s the kind of story that keeps me going for the long haul.”

She arrived in Times Square at around 12:30PM, central time, with a crowd awaiting her arrival.

“Jazzy” has a fan page on the popular social networking website, Facebook, where she has been able to communicate with her over 5,000 fans.

For more information on “Jazzy”, visit her website, http://www.runwithjazzy.com/ or be sure to check out her Facebook page by clicking here.

The Fargo Marathon is quickly approaching, and the group behind the annual Dough 4 Joe motorcycle run is hoping to generate even more funds for area cancer patients by starting “Running 4 Joe”.

Running 4 Joe is being organized to represent the Dough 4 Joe efforts. All participants who represent “Running 4 Joe” are being asked to collect pledges, which the members behind Dough 4 Joe hope will increase donations to their cause.

Dough 4 Joe is asking that all Fergus Falls community members as well as their friends who are interested in joining their efforts are encouraged to register for the Fargo Marathon. The Fargo Marathon is on May 21st through May 22nd.

All participants will be recognized and receive a t-shirt the weekend of the Dough 4 Joe motorcycle run that kicks of at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Elizabeth, MN on July 24th, 2010.

Those who are interested are asked to contact either Les or Laura. They can be reached at (218) 205-7694 or at ls_sk8er@hotmail.com, respectively.

A brief history of Dough 4 Joe

In June 2006, Joe Sampson was diagnosed with brain cancer and fought a long battle with it for 2 years. On May 3rd, 2009, Joe passed away with his family and friends by his side. Throughout his diagnoses he suffered from a total of 9 brain tumors and several other spinal tumors. He fought through various surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, as well as radiation treatments. His friends and family say he always kept a beautiful smile on his face throughout his battle with cancer.

Joe’s family quickly realized how financially stressful this type of situation can be. With piles of medical bills, not to mention caregivers losing hours at work, or in some cases not working entirely, some bills were forced to remain unpaid.

Joe’s family and friends wanted to make a difference for other area families in similar situations, and therefore started “Dough 4 Joe” in his remembrance.

After being closed for over four months, real estate officials in Alexandria have announced that Bug-A-Boo Bay has been sold.

The restaurant closed January 1, and according to the previous owner, Dave Bistodeau, a combination of the weak economy and new drunk driving laws were the major reasons he shut down the restaurant.

Bug-A-Boo Bay was sold to Randy Stodola, and the closing was made official on Wednesday. Stodola and a managing Jason Hartmann, live near the Twin Cities, but have close connections to the west-central Minnesota area.

Stodola has owned two bars, both of them being in the Twin Cities. His latest one, Down South, was sold last year, and was a Caribbean style bar/restaurant similar to Bug-A-Boo bay. Hartmann also has experience in the industry. He owned the Half Moon Saloon in Brained, as well as Hoppers Bar and Grill in Waconia.

While the property was sold for an undisclosed amount, it was listed at just under $2 million by realtor Randy Fischer, of Alexandria.

The new owners of Bug-A-Boo do not have any big changes in store, at least in the first few months of ownership, and the the Bug-A-Boo name will stay, it’ll be open year-round, and sand volleyball courts are set to open soon.

In the Tuesday edition of the Alexandria Echo Press, there were already job ads posted for positions within the restaurant. Cooks, bartenders, and hosts are just some of the positions that will be filled.

Information provided by Echo Press as well as KSAX both of Alexandria.

A multi-state drug bust led to the arrest of six people at two residences in Barnesville on Friday.

According the the Clay County Sherrif’s Department, search warrants allowed investigators to seize 8 ounces of methamphetamine, 75 grams of marijuana, 18 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, two guns, a vehicle, as well as nearly $15,000 in cash. The methamphetamine seized alone has a street value of roughly $40,000.

The Barnesville, Minn. drug raid also led to a search of a residence in West Fargo, where authorities found 6 ounces of methamphetamine and almost $15,000 in as well.

Debbie Dinae Neels, 42, of Barnesville, James Bradley Asplin, 41 of Barnesville, Shay Marie Asplin, 36 of Barnesville, Ashley Marie Haug, 23 of Fargo, Carl Mervin Renecker, 43 of Barnesville, and Aleise Nicole Lafayette, 26 of Barnesville were all arrested.

The West Central Minnesota Narcotics Task Force, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Cass County Drug Force, the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department, federal agencies, and police from Barnesville, Moorhead, and Fargo all helped the Clay County Sheriff’s Department in the bust.

When news broke that Anthony “Tony” Kjaglien was found deceased in a semi-wooded area near Nevis, Minn. on Friday afternoon, people near and far were in utter shock. Kjaglien was a remembered as a friendly guy who many people say, “gave the best bear hugs ever!”. Kjaglien was also an assistant coach who helped with the Fergus Falls Middle School boys basketball teams.

The family would appreciate for those who have pictures of Kjaglien, and want to share them to be included in the memorial service, to post them on the Facebook group, “Anthony “Tony” Kjaglien” or email them to redeske99@yahoo.com, preferably in a high-quality, .JPEG format.

Tentatively, his memorial service will be held at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls on Wednesday, March 31st from 4 to 7PM. His funeral service will then be held at First Lutheran Church at 2:00PM on Thursday, April 1st. Again, the dates and times of these services are tentative, as the family is waiting for full details regarding Kjaglien’s death.

Kjaglien leaves behind a wife, Michelle Karst-Kjaglien, as well as a tw0-and-a-half year-old son.

At around 3:00PM, a missing Fergus Falls man was found deceased near Nevis, Minn. by the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Department after a trapper discovered an abandoned truck.

Tony Kjaglien, who was missing since Tuesday, was found dead near his truck in a semi-wooded area. According to the Fergus Falls Police Department, no foul play is suspected, and his body has been taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner in St. Paul for an autopsy. Results from that autopsy could come as soon as this weekend.

Kjaglien’s family last heard from him on Tuesday afternoon, and they filed an missing persons report on Wednesday. After tracking credit card purchases, authorities can confirm he made his way through Pelican Rapids and Detroit Lakes, which led family members believe he was on his way to his cabin.

Local authorities, which included the Minnesota State Patrol and the DNR, began searching the immediate Park Rapids area, which was the last place Kjaglien was seen, in hope to find him.

Kjaglien leaves behind his wife, Michelle, and his soon-to-be 3-year-old son. Kjaglien was also a boys basketball coach with the 7th and 8th grade teams in Fergus Falls.

Fergus Forum will keep you updated throughout the weekend as autopsy reports are made available.

The Fergus Falls Police Department is seeking the public’s help in hope to locate 39-year-old Anthony or “Tony” Kjaglien, of Fergus Falls. Kjaglien was last seen at around 3:00PM in Park Rapids.

Police believe Kjaglien may have been traveling between Fergus Falls and Remer. Kjaglien is described as six feet two inches tall, weighing 275 lbs. He was last seen wearing a gray, long-sleeved t-shirt and tan pants. He drives a bluish-green 1996 Ford F-150 regular cab pick-up, with gray striping with license plate number SKV-514.

Anyone with any information is urged to call the Fergus Falls Police Department at 218-998-8555.