From the Pen of the Mayor: May Day: Special spring day has unusual history—from labor union movement to baskets

by Mayor, Brent Frazier
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By Brent E. Frazier, mayor City of Pelican Rapids The 2024-2025 school year concluded with graduation commencement May 23. As our students prepared for the last week of classroom activities, there was a lot of “hustle and bustle” that took place. Cramming for final exams to get one’s GPA from a C+ to a B or an A- to an A can take a lot of “burning of the midnight oil” as the wheels of the mind turn in constant motion. Then again, school is not just for learning book knowledge, but also the opportunity to grow in social skills and learn several general ideas and principles that can be applied throughout one’s lifetime. Interaction with others can make one a stronger individual, think “outside the box,” and become a collaborator in the presence of others. However, amid all the learning and academic pursuits taking place within the confines of the classroom walls, there are many other activities related to the genesis of being a student. As adults, we now have the opportunity to partake in our children’s and grandchildren’s track and field events at both the elementary, junior, and high school levels. Spring choral and band concerts are always a joy to attend this time of year. Under the direction of their prestigious directors, students sing and play their instruments as upcoming virtuosos in their professional-looking manner. Come springtime, many sporting events are jammed into a very short timeframe. They were all planned many months in advance and always subject to change with the volatile spring weather as provided by Mother Nature. We can follow our local Pelican Rapids High School sports teams as they compete in softball, baseball, dance, spring soccer, golf, and track & field. We also hear about events and competition contests of the math team, speech team, knowledge bowl, and the FFA, With the last day of school scheduled for May 21, many plans and much preparation behind the scenes took place prior to the Pelican Rapids High School Commencement Exercise on May 23. To all the Senior Graduates, we say “thank you.” Thank you for the school and community memories that you have provided for all of us. Some of you will go on to college, some of you to a vocational school, some of you to the military, and some of you to the workforce. As you now seek other opportunities in your future, we hope that you will always consider Pelican Rapids as your hometown. If you should relocate after high school, please remember that you are always welcome back to Pelican Rapids. We hope that you will always say, “Pelican Rapids Really Makes Me Feel At Home.”
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: 𝖱𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝗅𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝖼...
Doug Bruggeman offering some farewell remarks at the Pelican Rapids Fine Arts Auditorium May 21. A Mahnomen area native, Bruggeman worked in the Worthington school district before arriving in Pelican in 1992. “I really have been blessed to have spent thirty-three years of my career here in Pelican,” wrote Bruggeman in his farewell column in the school newsletter. “Whether it was as a teacher, coach, advisor, or administrator, I have experienced so many rewarding experiences over the years.”
𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿... 𝗮𝗻𝗱 ‘𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿...
Like a billion or more around the globe, the Pelican area Catholics are excited about the new pope—especially Rev. Lucho Palomino, right, and Deacon Mario Mancilla—posed here with a photo of the Pope Leo with St. Leonard’s Church in the background.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐨—𝐏𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝖥𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖫𝗎𝖼...
Chet Nettestad, pictured here in 2012, when he ran for the Minnesota State Legislature—as a Democrat. Otter Tail County is missionary territory for Democrats—so needless to say: Chet lost. The consolation for Chet: He didn’t lose quite as bad as previous Democratic candidates.
As a Democrat ‘missionary’ in Republican territ...
𝗣𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻; 𝗹𝗼...
On Friday, June 14, the 20th International Friendship Festival will transform Sherin Park into a global crossroads, with a highlight performance by the Minnesota-based Duniya Drum & Dance Group, Members of the ensemble are pictured here. PHOTO COURTESY DUNIYADRUMANDDANCE.ORG
𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐦-𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦𝐬 𝐭...
Lower-potency hemp-derived edibles and beverages containing concentrated or artificially derived cannabinoids have been available for three years. Sugar Shack in Fergus Falls opened in 2022 and serves as a dispensary for ingestible items, bath and skincare products, and consulting business. Their business plan includes expanding to marijuana.
𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 ‘𝗚𝗼 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄’ 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗮...
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