Letters to the Editor

Cast an educated vote on County

Attorney race

I would like to urge the voters of Carlton County to get informed on the County Attorney’s election. A simple Google search on the current county attorney’s name may give some insight. As a 27-year veteran law enforcement officer who has worked hand-in-hand with the Carlton County Attorney’s office, I know just how important this position is. I have seen the office go from being respected in the criminal justice community to something less than that. To me, it’s about LEADERSHIP. There are many talented assistant county attorneys as well as hardworking support staff that will make a wonderful team with a change in leadership. Please inform yourselves.

Bryce Bogenholm, Moose Lake

Wrenshall resident has referendum

concerns

As the vote on the referendum nears in Wrenshall, here are some concerns:

Is the $13 million-referendum about needs and not wants? Is a new gym (plus redoing the existing gym) a need or want? Is there such a thing as a building trades academy? Is it used to sell the referendum? What is it? Who runs it? What are the details of this “academy”?

Is the administration ignoring the coming impact of the utilities settlement and the “tax shift”? Call the county auditor and/or the county assessor for yourself.

Some of the utilities have settled, some are in the process. Enbridge’s 2011-2013 refund is estimated at $2.5 million: $1.1 million to the county, $200,000 to townships, $400,000 to school districts (Wrenshall’s is 40 percent of $160,000), $700,000 to the state; this we likely have to pay back. Then we get a “tax shift,” which means the lower evaluations will cause the above government bodies to require more in local property taxes.

Considering all this, shouldn’t we, the taxpayers, be informed so we, who pay, have all the facts?

Tony Sheda, Wrenshall

Promote to Prosper

Thoughts on the Wrenshall school’s referendum’s past and present differ community-wide. This time around, many of the retirees will see a utility tax increase as well as the school’s portion if the referendum passes.

Many within the district are against open enrollment as the school’s enrollment is, to this date, 100 below its maximum capacity. Two hundred of its current 400 students are open-enrollees, and without them this school would not support itself and staff.

The days of families of eight- to 14 children are over. Although quite common in days gone by, it would seem to this writer and businessperson the best investment to save the school would be to fill it by advertising and promoting its uniqueness, to be able to participate in sports and events and have a feeling of self-worth, falling in love with not only the school but the Wrenshall community and, hopefully, wanting to be future residents.

One hundred more students would add approximately $800,000, and at this time voters would be more sympathetic toward spending.

Very few open-enrollees are bad apples; a friend says one of his daughters attended a different school, got mixed up with the wrong crowd, transferred to Wrenshall, turned her life around, and was the valedictorian of her class.

Fill the school up, and your chances of passing a referendum are better.

Tim Kaspari, Wrenshall

American Legion thanks all veterans

American Legion Post 262 salutes and thanks all veterans who have served their country. Special thanks to the following Post members who served during WWII: Lawrence Anderson, Nicholas Burggraff, Dale Crocker, Donald Diesen, Doris Erkkila, Gerald Hovis, John F. Johnson, Floyd Kruger, Ray Langenbrunner, Rudolph Lundstrum, Joe Miller, Walter Novacinski and Ted Skare. Special thanks also to the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. The Honor Guard is made up of members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and veterans from the Fond du Lac Band.

Rick Mackey, Adjutant, Cloquet